Exam Overview

The 300-540 SPCNI exam is a professional-level concentration and specialist certification exam in Cisco's Service Provider certification path. Passing earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure certification and satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement. Cisco currently lists 300-540 SPCNI as an active CCNP Service Provider concentration exam.

• Exam Code: 300-540 SPCNI v1.0
• Level: Professional-level concentration and Specialist certification exam
• Duration: 90 minutes. Available language: English.
• Passing Score: Not officially disclosed by Cisco (commonly estimated at ~825 out of 1000).
• Grading and Results: Cisco uses pass/fail grading and states that results are available online within 48 hours.

Exam Structure

The 300-540 SPCNI exam follows five weighted domains covering virtualized architecture, cloud interconnect, high availability, security, and service assurance and optimization.

• Question Types: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.
• Number of Questions: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.
• Hands-On Questions: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.

Exam Policies

Before completing SPCNI exam registration, review Cisco certification policies, Pearson VUE identification rules, the Cisco candidate agreement, and the appointment terms. Cisco currently lists 300-540 SPCNI as an active CCNP Service Provider concentration exam.

• 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 failing a Professional- or Specialist-level written exam, wait five calendar days, beginning the next day, before retaking it. After passing, wait at least 180 days before taking the identical exam number again.
• Retake Fee: A retake normally requires the full SPCNI exam fee unless a valid safeguard, voucher, or promotion provides different terms.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the 300-540 SPCNI exam earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure certification and starts Cisco's active certification cycle.

• Validity: Cisco Specialist certifications remain active for three years from the date earned.
• Renewal Options: Renew by earning 40 Continuing Education credits or completing an eligible Cisco exam pathway under the current recertification policy.

Exam Fee

• Base Fee: The official SPCNI exam fee is USD 300, excluding applicable taxes. Eligible Cisco Learning Credits may be redeemed during scheduling.
• Taxes: Local taxes, currency conversion, and regional checkout rules may affect the final SPCNI certification cost. The payable amount is shown during registration.
• Example (India): Candidates in India are subject to 18% GST, bringing the total exam fee to USD 354 (USD 300 + USD 54 GST).

Prerequisites

Cisco publishes no formal prerequisite for the 300-540 SPCNI exam. To earn CCNP Service Provider, candidates must pass the 350-501 SPCOR core exam and one eligible concentration exam such as SPCNI.

• Candidates should understand cloud and service provider architectures, virtualization, NFV, VNFs, containers, APIs and data models, EVPN and VXLAN, Segment Routing and MPLS, data-center interconnect, high availability, infrastructure security, telemetry, and service assurance.
• Preparation should combine the official SPCNI syllabus with practical experience designing, implementing, operating, monitoring, or troubleshooting the technologies represented in the current blueprint.
• Cisco's official learning resources are recommended preparation for the 300-540 SPCNI exam, but completing a specific course is not an exam prerequisite.

Exam Topics

The official SPCNI syllabus v1.0 covers the following weighted domains and implementation context:

• Virtualized Architecture - 25%: IaaS constraints and service models, containers and virtual machines, NFV and VNFs, orchestration, Cisco virtual platforms, NSO, NETCONF, RESTCONF, REST APIs, YANG, gNMI, gRPC, and OpenStack.
• Cloud Interconnect - 25%: Carrier-neutral facilities, WAN and direct-connect options, MPLS, Segment Routing, IPsec, and data-center interconnect using EVPN VXLAN, EVPN over Segment Routing or MPLS, ACI, and pseudowires.
• High Availability - 20%: VNF data-plane and control-plane resilience, multihoming, EVLAG, virtual private cloud, ECMP, DNS, routing, load balancing, failure domains, and service continuity.
• Security - 15%: ACLs, uRPF, RTBH, router hardening, BGP FlowSpec, TACACS, MACsec, denial-of-service protection, NFVI and API security, management-plane protection, segmentation, TLS, mTLS, and threat controls.
• Service Assurance and Optimization - 15%: NFVI, MANO, VNF and VIM KPIs; streaming telemetry; SR-PM; NetFlow, IPFIX, syslog, SNMP and RMON; cloud agents; fault management; diagnosis; SR-IOV; DPDK; and VPP.
• Implementation Emphasis: SPCNI connects virtualization and orchestration with secure cloud interconnect, resilient service design, measurable assurance, and data-plane performance optimization.

Intended Audience

The 300-540 SPCNI exam is designed for professionals who design, implement, operate, monitor, or support modern service provider environments, including:

• Service Provider Cloud Engineers
• NFV and Virtualization Engineers
• Cloud Network Architects
• Data Center Interconnect Engineers
• Network Automation Engineers
• Service Assurance Engineers
• CCNP Service Provider Candidates

Career Opportunities

Passing the 300-540 SPCNI exam supports specialist roles aligned with the knowledge and practical skills in the current blueprint, including:

• Service Provider Cloud Network Engineer
• NFV Infrastructure Engineer
• Cloud Interconnect Engineer
• Network Virtualization Architect
• Service Assurance Engineer
• Service Provider Cloud Consultant

Average Salary (Approximate)

Cisco does not publish salary data for SPCNI credential holders. The ranges below use current employment-market estimates for Network Engineers or a closely related role. Salaries vary by experience, employer, location, job role, and industry.

• U.S.: Approximately USD 98,436-156,000 per year in total pay for Network Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• India: Approximately INR 390,000-1,100,000 per year in total pay for Network Engineers in Bengaluru (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• United Kingdom: Approximately GBP 37,323-69,475 per year for Network Engineers in London (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• UAE: Approximately AED 84,000-192,000 per year for Network Security Engineers in Dubai, annualized from Glassdoor's monthly range (July 2026).

Exam Delivery Options

During SPCNI exam registration, candidates can review the delivery methods available for the 300-540 appointment and their location.

• Pearson VUE Test Center - Take the exam in a proctored environment at an authorized Pearson VUE test center, subject to local availability.
• Online Proctored Exam (OnVUE) - Cisco written certification exams, including 300-540, can be taken online, subject to country availability, system requirements, and the appointment options shown during scheduling.
• Online Exam Rules: Run the required system test, use an approved computer with webcam and microphone, present acceptable identification, maintain a clear private workspace, and remain under live-proctor supervision.
• Test Center Rules: Arrive according to the appointment instructions, bring the required identification, store prohibited items, accept Cisco's candidate agreement, and follow all check-in and proctor directions.

Exam Registration

Follow these steps to complete SPCNI exam registration:

• Open Cisco's official exam scheduling portal and sign in with the Cisco account linked to the certification profile.
• Select the 300-540 SPCNI exam and choose an available Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online-proctored appointment, where offered.
• Confirm the exam version, language, date, time, delivery method, identification requirements, and booking terms. Cisco currently lists 300-540 SPCNI as an active CCNP Service Provider concentration exam.
• Pay the SPCNI exam fee, apply an eligible voucher, or redeem Cisco Learning Credits, then save the appointment confirmation.

After Passing the Exam

After passing the 300-540 SPCNI exam, review the pass/fail result and certification record in Cisco CertMetrics.

• Passing earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure certification and satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement.
• Use Cisco CertMetrics to access exam history, score reports, certificates, transcripts, certification logos, and the credential's expiration information.
• To earn CCNP Service Provider, also pass the current 350-501 SPCOR core exam within Cisco's applicable written-exam validity window.

Why the 300-540 SPCNI Exam Is Worth It

• Earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Service Provider Cloud Network Infrastructure certification
• Satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement
• Validates current Cisco service provider expertise
• Demonstrates focused knowledge aligned with the official SPCNI syllabus