Introducing the Cisco CCNP Data Center Certification and Training Program
Introducing the Cisco CCNP Data Center Certification and Training Program
Validate your Cisco Data Center networking solutions skills
Introducing you to the Cisco CCNP Data Center certification program
Data is being generated more than ever before with technological progressions; by facilitating new applications and businesses that connect everything – people, devices, and machines. Accompanied with intent-based networking, data center teams can take advantage of automation to scale and secure their infrastructure.
Today’s data center professionals require an extensive range of skills and a deeper focus in strategic technology areas to maximize and capitalize on these opportunities. The CCNP Data Center certification program is your solution to this learning gap, providing you with exactly that breadth and depth. The CCNP Data Certification is designed to help you demonstrate your skills in the ever-changing landscape of data center technologies. This certification covers core technologies and a data center focus area of your choosing.
Software and networking grow more and more
interconnected everyday
Exam and Recommended Training
You will decide on what you would like to focus on and where you want your career to take you. Among the industry’s most widely recognized and respected certifications, CCNP sets you apart. It tells the world that you know what you are doing. Additionally, completing any Cisco CCNP certification exam earns you a Cisco Specialist certification, so you are recognized for your accomplishments along the way.
Gaining CCNP Data Center certification proves your skills with data center solutions. To earn CCNP Data Center certification, you pass two exams, one that covers data center technologies and one data center concentration exam of your choice, so you can customize your certification to your technical area of focus.
- The core exam focuses on your knowledge of data center infrastructure. The core exam is also the qualifying exam for CCIE Data Center certification. Passing the core exam will qualify candidates to schedule and take the CCIE lab within the validity of their core exam.
- Concentration exams focus on emerging and industry-specific topics. You can prepare for concentration exams by taking their corresponding Cisco training courses.
| Core exam | Recommended training |
|---|---|
| 350-601 DCCOR
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies |
Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) |
This exam tests your knowledge of implementing core data center technologies, including:
|
The Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) v1.1 course helps you prepare for the Cisco CCNP Data Center and CCIE Data Center certifications for advanced-level data center roles. In this course, you will master the skills and technologies you need to implement data center compute, LAN and SAN infrastructure.
You will also learn the essentials of automation and security in data centers. You will gain hands-on experience deploying, securing, operating, and maintaining Cisco data center infrastructure including Cisco MDS Switches and Cisco Nexus Switches; Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) B-Series Blade Servers, and Cisco UCS C-Series Rack Servers. This course also earns you 64 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. I Upon passing the 350-601 DCCOR exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Core certification and you satisfy the core requirement for these certifications:
|
| Concentration exam (Choose one) | Recommended training |
|---|---|
|
300-635 DCAUTO |
Implementing Automation for Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUI) |
|
This exam and course builds your expertise in:
) |
The DCAUI course equips you to harness the power of automation and programmability within Cisco-powered data centers—boosting agility, efficiency, and scalability. Through instructor-led instruction and hands-on labs, you’ll explore key platforms including Cisco ACI, NX‑OS, and UCS, and delve into an ecosystem of APIs, development toolkits, and modern workflows based on open standards and tools like Python, Ansible, Git, JSON/YAML, NETCONF/RESTCONF, and YANG. You’ll also gain practical experience in scripting, API integration, telemetry, and orchestration workflows—empowering you to automate configurations, verify states, and monitor infrastructures across multiple Cisco domains. This 3-day course (ILT, VILT, or e‑learning) includes 24 Continuing Education (CE) credits and prepares you for the 300‑635 DCAUTO exam. Note that the foundational course CSAU (Introducing Automation for Cisco Solutions) must be completed before registering for DCAUI |
|
300-615 DCIT |
Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) |
|
This exam tests your knowledge of troubleshooting a data center infrastructure, including:
|
The Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT) v7.0 course shows you how to troubleshoot LAN, SAN, Cisco® Data Center Unified Fabric, Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®), and Cisco Application-Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®). You will learn methodologies and tools to identify issues that may occur in data center network architecture. You will get extensive hands-on practice troubleshooting installation, configuration and interconnectivity issues on Cisco Multilayer Director Switch (MDS) switches, Cisco Nexus® switches, Cisco Fabric Extenders (FEXs), Cisco UCS, Cisco ACI, and more. This course earns you 50 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-615 DCIT exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center Operations certification and you satisfy the concentration exam requirement for new CCNP Data Center certification. |
|
300-620 DCACI |
Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI) |
|
This exam tests your knowledge of Cisco switches in ACI mode including:
|
The Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (DCACI) v1.1 course shows you how to deploy and manage the Cisco® Nexus® 9000 Series Switches in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®) mode. You will learn how to configure and manage Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches in ACI mode, how to connect the Cisco ACI fabric to external networks and services, and the fundamentals of Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) integration. You will gain hands-on practice implementing key capabilities such as fabric discovery, policies, connectivity, VMM integration, and more. This course earns you 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-620 DCACI exam, you earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – Data Center ACI Implementation certification and you satisfy the concentration exam requirement for the CCNP Data Center certification. |
| 300-630 DCACIA | Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure – Advanced (DCACIA) |
|
This exam tests your knowledge and skills of Cisco switches in ACI mode, including:
Automating Cisco Data Center Solutions (DCAUTO) |
The Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure–Advanced (DCACIA) v1.1 course shows you how to integrate the capabilities of the Cisco® Nexus® 9000 Series Switches in Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (Cisco ACI®) mode. You will learn how to configure and manage Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches in ACI mode providing enhanced management and policy framework, along with the protocols used in the underlying fabric. The course also covers how to use Cisco ACI as a policy-driven solution that integrates software and hardware, and how to implement Cisco ACI Multi-Pod and Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator (NDO) deployments. You will gain hands-on practice implementing advanced ACI capabilities such as Rogue Endpoint Feature, Transit Routing, VRF Route Leaking, Contracts and Zoning Rules, Policy Based Redirect to Layer 4–7 Service Node, Multi-Pod Fabric and Cisco ACI® Nexus Dashboard Orchestrator. This course earns you 40 Continuing Education (CE) credits towards recertification. Upon passing the 300-630 DCACIA exam, you will earn the Cisco Certified Specialist – ACI Advanced Implementation credential. |
Technology areas include:
Enterprise
Data Center
Security
Service Provider
Collaboration
Here are some of the benefits that you achieve when you become certified:
Show the world you know your stuff with a high-value certification
- Customize your certification within your technical focus
- Position yourself for advancement in the fast-paced world of information technology
- Add automation skills to your areas of expertise
- Earn a Specialist certification for passing any CCNP exam-core or concentration
- Qualify for CCIE lab exams by passing CCNP core exams
- Link that CCNP certification badge to all your social media profiles.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for CCNP Data Center, but you should have a good understanding of the exam topics before taking the exam.
CCNP candidates often also have three to five years of experience implementing data center solutions.
The Continuing Education program is intended to encourage candidates to maintain, grow, and diversify skillsets by offering flexible, configurable pathways to validate skills and recertify existing certifications. This will result in IT professionals bringing value to their organization and the industry by maintaining their status as a Cisco professional.
The Cisco Continuing Education Program offers Associate, Specialist, Professional and Expert level Cisco certification holders’ flexible options to recertify by completing a variety of eligible Continuing Education (CE) items.
In this certification, you’ll explore networking, compute, storage networking, virtualization, and automation within a Cisco-powered environment—preparing you for more advanced Cisco Data Center training and certifications.
Keen to know more about Cisco CCNP certifications? Check out our list of Cisco CCNP certifications below:
Prove your skills with CCNP Security Training and Certification
Your Guide to Cisco Certified DevNet Professional Certification and Training
All you need to know – CCNP Collaboration Certification and Training
All you need to know about CCNP Enterprise Certification and Training
