Exam Overview

The 400-007 CCDE Written exam is Cisco’s expert-level design qualification exam. It assesses whether candidates can analyze business and technical requirements, make defensible architecture decisions, and develop high-level designs for resilient, scalable, secure networks.

• Exam Code: 400-007 CCDE Written v3.1
• Level: Expert written qualification
• Duration: 120 minutes
• Passing Score: Not officially disclosed by Cisco (commonly estimated at ~825 out of 1000).
• Number of Questions: 90–110

Exam Structure

The 400-007 CCDE Written exam uses a closed-book, proctored format to assess design judgment across enterprise architectures, business requirements, control and operational models, services, security, automation, and emerging AI/ML considerations.

• Question Types: Multiple-choice questions
• Number of Questions: 90–110
• Hands-On or Performance-Based Items: Cisco describes the written exam as multiple choice; no practical lab component is identified for this exam.

Exam Policies

Before completing CCDE Written exam registration, review Cisco and Pearson VUE requirements for identification, appointment changes, testing conduct, and retakes.

• Rescheduling: Online Proctored exams can be rescheduled up to 30 minutes before check-in. Test Center exams can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.
• Cancellation: Online Proctored exams can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before check-in. Test Center exams can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.
• Retake Policy: After a failed 400-007 attempt, wait five calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before retesting. After passing the identical written exam, wait 180 days before another attempt.
• Retake Fee: Each new attempt requires payment of the full CCDE Written exam fee unless a valid Cisco promotion or voucher explicitly provides another attempt.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the 400-007 CCDE Written exam earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Design Core credential and qualifies the candidate to proceed toward the CCDE practical exam. The full CCDE certification is awarded only after both exams are passed.

• Validity: Active Cisco Specialist and CCDE certifications are valid for three years from the date earned.
• Renewal Options: Recertify before expiration through an eligible Cisco exam or Continuing Education path. A Specialist credential requires 40 CE credits; an active CCDE expert certification requires 120 CE credits under Cisco’s current recertification policy.

Exam Fee

• Base Fee: The official CCDE exam fee is USD 450, excluding applicable taxes. Candidates may also redeem eligible Cisco Learning Credits during scheduling.
• Taxes: Local VAT, GST, or similar charges may apply, so the final CCDE certification cost depends on the country and billing location.
• Example (India): Candidates in India are subject to 18% GST, bringing the total exam fee to USD 531 (USD 450 + USD 81 GST).

Prerequisites

Cisco lists no formal prerequisite for the 400-007 CCDE Written exam, but candidates should consider the following preparation guidance:

• Expert-level experience analyzing business needs and translating them into enterprise network architecture is strongly recommended.
• Candidates should be comfortable comparing design alternatives, constraints, risks, cost models, migration approaches, security requirements, and operational outcomes.
• Dual-stack IPv4 and IPv6 knowledge is expected, together with broad familiarity across enterprise, cloud, service, automation, assurance, and security technologies.

Exam Topics

The official CCDE Written syllabus is organized into the following weighted domains:

• Business Strategy Design – 15%: Evaluate project methods, continuity, sustainability, recovery objectives, ROI, CAPEX/OPEX, risk, data sovereignty, governance, assurance, and the business impact of AI/ML solutions.
• Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design – 25%: Analyze end-to-end flows, control models, automation, orchestration, APIs, model-driven systems, CI/CD, SD-WAN, fabrics, observability, assurance, and user or application experience.
• Network Design – 30%: Build resilient, scalable, secure modular designs; evaluate constraints; create implementation, migration, and transformation plans; and apply AI/ML or pattern-recognition use cases appropriately.
• Service Design – 15%: Design modular services for voice, video, backup, replication, IoT, and storage while addressing cloud or hybrid placement, governance, compliance, connectivity, security, and AI/ML considerations.
• Security Design – 15%: Design segmentation, network access control, visibility, assurance, policy enforcement, confidentiality, integrity, availability, regulatory compliance, and security policies affected by AI.
• Design Lifecycle Application – Across all domains, candidates must recommend, justify, validate, optimize, and communicate architecture choices that align technical designs with measurable business outcomes.

Intended Audience

The 400-007 CCDE Written exam is intended for experienced professionals who make or influence strategic network-design decisions, including:

• Enterprise Network Architects
• Principal Network Architects
• Solutions Architects
• Network Design Engineers
• Technical Consulting Engineers
• Infrastructure and Transformation Architects
• CCDE Candidates

Career Opportunities

Passing the 400-007 CCDE Written exam supports advancement into senior design and architecture roles such as:

• Enterprise Network Architect
• Principal Network Architect
• Lead Solutions Architect
• Network Transformation Architect
• Technical Consulting Architect
• Infrastructure Architecture Director

Average Salary (Approximate)

Approximate network-architect salary ranges are based on current Glassdoor market data. Salaries vary by experience, employer, location, job role, and industry.

• United States: approximately $126,000–$202,000 USD per year
• India: approximately ₹14,50,000–₹32,50,000 INR per year
• United Kingdom: approximately £59,000–£95,000 GBP per year
• UAE: approximately AED 240,000–AED 444,000 per year for comparable solutions-architect roles

Exam Delivery Options

As part of CCDE Written exam registration, candidates must select an authorized Pearson VUE test center; Cisco excludes 400-007 from online-proctored OnVUE delivery.

• Pearson VUE Test Center – Take the exam at an authorized Pearson VUE testing center.
• Online Proctored Exam (OnVUE) – Not available for the 400-007 CCDE Written exam.
• Exam Rules: This is a closed-book exam. Outside references and study materials are not permitted, and a valid government-issued photo ID is required for identity verification.
• Test Center Rules: Arrive at least 15 minutes before the appointment and follow the identification and security instructions in the confirmation. Store personal belongings, phones, smart devices, notes, and other prohibited items as directed.

Exam Registration

Follow these steps to complete CCDE Written exam registration:

• Visit the official registration portal: Pearson VUE – Cisco https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/cisco.html
• Sign in with the Cisco account connected to your certification profile and select the 400-007 CCDE Written exam.
• Choose an available date, time, and authorized Pearson VUE test center.
• Review the CCDE Written exam fee, applicable taxes, appointment policies, and identification requirements, then confirm payment.

After Passing the Exam

After passing the 400-007 CCDE Written exam, use Cisco’s certification tracking system to verify the specialist credential and plan the practical stage:

• Cisco records the written result as pass or fail. Passing qualifies the candidate to schedule the CCDE practical exam while the written qualification remains valid under Cisco policy.
• Log in to Cisco CertMetrics to view your certification status: https://cp.certmetrics.com/cisco/en/login
• Open the Certifications section to access the Cisco Certified Specialist – Design Core credential, then review Cisco’s CCDE practical exam requirements and scheduling guidance.

Why the 400-007 CCDE Written Exam Is Worth It

• Earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Design Core credential
• Validate expert-level architecture and business-aligned design judgment
• Qualify for the CCDE practical exam and progress toward Cisco’s elite design expert certification
• Strengthen credibility for principal architecture roles while making the CCDE certification cost a focused investment in advanced design leadership