Cisco Certified Design Expert exam price, length, validity and renewal

Cisco · 400-007 CCDE

Price	$400 per attempt, US list priceUSD 400 on the exam page; the CCDE certification page lists $US450. Cisco Learning Credits accepted
Length	120 min
Questions	90-110
Format	Multiple choice, proctored, pass/fail
Valid for	3 years
Renewal	Recertify within three years by earning 120 Continuing Education credits or passing qualifying exams.
Prerequisites	None
Level	Expert (Cisco calls it Expert (CCDE written, core))
Delivery	Online proctored or in person at a Pearson VUE test centre
Languages	English
Status	ActivePrice conflict between official pages (exam page $US400, CCDE page $US450).
Source	cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/exams/ccdew.htmlLast checked Nov 6, 2026

Changes

AddedSep 25Cisco Certified Design ExpertAdded by research; values read on the official pageOfficial page ↗

Other Cisco exams

Cisco program

Exam	Level	Price	Length	Valid for
Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity100-160Validates entry-level cybersecurity knowledge: security principles, network and endpoint security, vulnerability assessment and risk management, and incident handling.	Foundational	$125	50 min	5 years
Cisco AI Technical Practitioner810-110 AITECHFor technical IT professionals, solutions architects and technical leads who use generative AI, prompt engineering, AI for code and workflows, and agentic AI.	Associate	$150	60 min	3 years
Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms200-901 CCNAAUTOEarns the CCNA Automation certification; tests software development and design, APIs, application deployment and security, and infrastructure automation on Cisco platforms.	Associate	$300	120 min	3 years
Cisco AppDynamics Associate Administrator500-425 CAAAFor people who configure, manage and optimize AppDynamics, including core APM, Business iQ and End User Monitoring, in the cloud and on-premises.	Associate	$300	90 min	3 years
Cisco AppDynamics Associate Performance Analyst500-420 CAAPAFor people who use AppDynamics to monitor systems, applications and business process performance and to recognize, analyze and remediate performance issues.	Associate	$300	90 min	3 years
Cisco Certified Network Associate200-301 CCNAEarns the CCNA certification (v1.1); covers network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity and services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.	Associate	$300	120 min	3 years
Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals200-201 CCNACBREarns the CCNA Cybersecurity certification (v1.2); covers security concepts, security monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis, and security policies.	Associate	$300	120 min	3 years
Automating and Programming Cisco Enterprise Solutions300-435 ENAUTOConcentration exam (v1.1) for CCNP Enterprise and CCNP Automation covering Python, APIs, controllers and automation tools for enterprise networks.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Automating Cisco Data Center Networking Solutions300-635 DCNAUTOConcentration exam (v2.0) for CCNP Data Center and CCNP Automation covering infrastructure as code, network element programmability, operations, and AI in automation.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Cisco AppDynamics Professional Implementer500-430 CAPIFor people who deploy AppDynamics controllers, agents, analytics and EUM servers and use AppDynamics APIs to extend the platform.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Conducting Forensic Analysis and Incident Response Using Cisco Technologies for Cybersecurity300-215 CBRFIRConcentration exam (v1.2) for CCNP Cybersecurity covering forensic analysis and incident response fundamentals, techniques, and processes.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Conducting Threat Hunting and Defending using Cisco Technologies for Cybersecurity300-220 CBRTHDConcentration exam (v1.0) for CCNP Cybersecurity covering threat modeling, threat actor attribution, and threat hunting techniques, processes and outcomes.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Designing and Implementing Secure Cloud Access for Users and Endpoints300-740 SSCAConcentration exam for CCNP Security covering cloud security architecture, user and device security, application and data security, visibility and threat response.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Designing and Implementing Secure Cloud Connectivity300-440 ENCCConcentration exam (v1.0) for CCNP Enterprise covering cloud connectivity architecture models, IPsec, SD-WAN, operation and design.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure300-610 DCIDConcentration exam for CCNP Data Center covering data center infrastructure design for network, compute, storage network and automation.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Designing Cisco Security Infrastructure300-745 SDSIConcentration exam (v1.0) for CCNP Security covering security architecture design, risk, AI, automation, and DevSecOps.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine300-715 SISEConcentration exam for CCNP Security covering Cisco ISE architecture and deployment, policy enforcement, guest services, profiling, BYOD, compliance and device administration.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure300-620 DCACIConcentration exam for CCNP Data Center covering Cisco switches in ACI mode: configuration, implementation and management.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Implementing Cisco Data Center AI Infrastructure300-640 DCAIConcentration exam for CCNP Data Center on designing, implementing, monitoring and troubleshooting AI infrastructure: network, compute, storage and orchestration.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Securing Networks with Cisco Firewalls300-710 SNCFConcentration exam for CCNP Security covering Cisco Secure Firewall and Secure Firewall Management Center policy, integration, deployment, management and troubleshooting.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure300-615 DCITConcentration exam for CCNP Data Center covering troubleshooting of data center network, compute, storage network, automation and operations.	Professional	$300	90 min	3 years
Designing, Deploying, and Managing Network Automation Systems350-901 AUTOCORCore exam for CCNP Automation and CCIE Automation (v2.0); covers infrastructure as code, operations, and AI in automation.	Professional	$400	120 min	3 years
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies350-601 DCCORCore exam for CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center covering network, compute, storage network, automation and security in the data center.	Professional	$400	120 min	3 years
Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies350-701 SCORCore exam for CCNP Security and CCIE Security covering network, cloud and content security, endpoint protection and detection, secure network access, visibility and enforcement.	Professional	$400	120 min	3 years
Performing Cybersecurity Using Cisco Security Technologies350-201 CBRCORCore exam (v1.1) for CCNP Cybersecurity covering cybersecurity fundamentals, techniques, processes, and automation.	Professional	$400	120 min	3 years
CCIE Automation practical examHands-on practical exam (v1.1) that tests planning, designing, developing, testing, deploying and maintaining software solutions in automation-driven networks.	Expert	$1600	480 min	3 years
CCIE Data Center Lab ExamHands-on lab exam (v3.1) to plan, design, deploy, operate and optimize complex data center networks.	Expert	$1600	480 min	3 years
CCIE Security lab examHands-on lab exam (v6.1) that tests designing, deploying, operating and optimizing end-to-end security of an enterprise dual-stack network.	Expert	$1600	480 min	3 years
Cisco Certified Design Expert Specialist - AI InfrastructureCCDE practical exam v3.1 with the AI Infrastructure elective: designing, provisioning and optimizing networks and compute for AI workloads.	Expert	$1600	480 min	3 years
Cisco Certified Design Expert Specialist - On-Prem and Cloud ServicesCCDE practical exam v3.1 with the On-Prem and Cloud Services elective: transport, layer 3 control plane, network virtualization, automation, and data center application, storage and compute design.	Expert	$1600	480 min	3 years

Track

Architecture

Certified Technical Architect (CTA)The Certified Technical Architect is responsible for analyzing and translating business information and technical requirements into architectural blueprints, proposing solutions to achieve complex business objectives.ServiceNow · CTA · Expert · 90 min Architecture$165

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertFor solutions architects who design cloud and hybrid solutions on Azure and translate business requirements into designs.Microsoft · AZ-305 · Expert · valid 1 year Architecture$1500

Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect EvaluationDuring this evaluation, you’ll work 1:1 with a Certified Technical Architect (CTA) to assess your architectural knowledge.Salesforce · Plat-Arch-401-Eval · Expert Architecture$400

Salesforce Certified Heroku ArchitectCertified Heroku Architects are skilled at architecting scalable solutions, deploying and managing apps, and managing teams and build-workflows on Heroku.Salesforce · Plat-Arch-206 · Specialty · 105 min Architecture$400

Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform ArchitectCertified MuleSoft Platform Architects have proven knowledge and skills to define and be responsible for an organization's Anypoint Platform strategy.Salesforce · Mule-Arch-201 · Specialty · 120 min Architecture$400

Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform Integration ArchitectCertified MuleSoft Platform Integration Architects have proven knowledge and skills to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders to translate functional and non-functional requirements into integration...Salesforce · Mule-Arch-202 · Specialty · 120 min Architecture$400

Salesforce Certified Platform Integration ArchitectCertified Platform Integration Architects are experts at assessing architecture environments and requirements in order to design sound and scalable technical solutions on the Salesforce Platform that meet end-to-end...Salesforce · Plat-Arch-204 · Specialty · 105 min ArchitectureNew

Oracle AI Database@AWS Architect ProfessionalFor architects who design, deploy and manage Oracle AI Database@AWS environments.Oracle · 1Z0-1146 · Professional · 90 min

Exam	Level	Price	Length	Valid for
Certified Technical Architect (CTA)CTAThe Certified Technical Architect is responsible for analyzing and translating business information and technical requirements into architectural blueprints, proposing solutions to achieve complex business objectives.	Expert	-	90 min	-
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect ExpertAZ-305For solutions architects who design cloud and hybrid solutions on Azure and translate business requirements into designs.	Expert	$165	-	1 year
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect EvaluationPlat-Arch-401-EvalDuring this evaluation, you’ll work 1:1 with a Certified Technical Architect (CTA) to assess your architectural knowledge.	Expert	$1500	-	-
Salesforce Certified Heroku ArchitectPlat-Arch-206Certified Heroku Architects are skilled at architecting scalable solutions, deploying and managing apps, and managing teams and build-workflows on Heroku.	Specialty	$400	105 min	-
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform ArchitectMule-Arch-201Certified MuleSoft Platform Architects have proven knowledge and skills to define and be responsible for an organization's Anypoint Platform strategy.	Specialty	$400	120 min	-
Salesforce Certified MuleSoft Platform Integration ArchitectMule-Arch-202Certified MuleSoft Platform Integration Architects have proven knowledge and skills to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders to translate functional and non-functional requirements into integration...	Specialty	$400	120 min	-
Salesforce Certified Platform Integration ArchitectPlat-Arch-204Certified Platform Integration Architects are experts at assessing architecture environments and requirements in order to design sound and scalable technical solutions on the Salesforce Platform that meet end-to-end...	Specialty	$400	105 min	-
Oracle AI Database@AWS Architect Professional1Z0-1146NewFor architects who design, deploy and manage Oracle AI Database@AWS environments.	Professional	-	90 min	-

About this exam

Written core exam (v3.0) for CCDE that validates expert-level skills in gathering requirements, designing complex networks and conveying design decisions.

What the official page says

Price: "$US400, or use Cisco Learning Credits"
Duration: "is a 2-hour, multiple-choice test"
Questions: "a 2-hour, multiple-choice test with 90-110 questions"
Validity: "Valid for: 3 years"

Most Cisco certifications stay active for three years and renew with Continuing Education credits, a retake of the exam, or a higher-level exam; CCST certifications earned on or after 2025-07-15 last five years.

After a failed written exam wait five calendar days (30 days after a failed expert lab or practical exam), and wait 180 days before retaking a passed exam with the same number.

Cisco policy

Also read: cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/certifications/design/ccde/exams-and-training.html, cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/exams/list.html, cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/exams/policies.html

Exam facts

Changes

Other Cisco exams

Cloud architecture exams from other vendors