DevNet Professional
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ExploreAbout this exam
The DevNet Professional credential - also searched as CCNP Automation or Cisco Certified DevNet Professional - is Cisco's professional-level certification for network engineers who design, build, and operate automated network infrastructure. It sits above associate-level automation study and targets practitioners who already write code, consume APIs, and want to demonstrate job-ready automation skills across Cisco platforms and delivery pipelines.
This independent study page organizes preparation around four equally weighted domains: network automation and programmability fundamentals; Cisco platforms and API usage; automation development and CI/CD pipelines; and network automation design and operations. Each domain carries 25 percent of the blueprint, so no single topic can be skipped - candidates who over-invest in Python syntax while neglecting platform APIs or pipeline design tend to lose points evenly across the exam.
A sensible preparation path is to build fluency in one language (typically Python), then practice against real controller and device APIs in a lab, then wrap those scripts in version control and a CI/CD flow with automated tests. Design and operations topics reward hands-on troubleshooting experience more than memorization.
We are an independent study platform and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Cisco. Exam logistics such as question count, duration, passing score, fee, retake rules, and validity period are not published in the source material we verified, so we deliberately leave them unstated rather than guess; confirm current details with the certification body before booking. Always check the official blueprint for the authoritative domain list before scheduling.
What you'll study
About DevNet Professional preparation
What is the DevNet Professional exam actually testing?
It tests professional-level network automation: programmability fundamentals, consuming Cisco platform APIs, building automation code with CI/CD pipelines, and designing and operating automated networks. The four blueprint domains are weighted equally at 25 percent each, so expect breadth rather than a narrow specialty focus.
How difficult is it compared with associate-level automation exams?
Expect a clear step up. Associate material rewards recall of concepts and simple scripts; professional material assumes you can read API documentation, handle authentication and pagination, structure reusable code, and reason about pipeline and design trade-offs. Hands-on lab time matters more than flashcard volume at this level.
How many questions are on the exam and how long do I get?
Those values are not stated in the source material we verified, so we do not publish a number. Treat any figure you see elsewhere as unconfirmed until you check the official certification page or your booking confirmation, since item counts and time limits change between revisions.
What is the passing score and what does the exam cost?
We do not state either value because the verified source does not provide them. Passing scores are scaled rather than raw percentages, and fees vary by region and currency. Confirm both through the official certification or scheduling channel before you budget for a retake.
If I fail, how soon can I retake it?
The retake policy is not included in the source material we verified, so we cannot give a waiting period. Check the certification body's exam policy page, which governs retake timing and any fee implications, before assuming you can rebook immediately.
How long is the certification valid, and how do I recertify?
The validity period is not stated in our verified source, so we leave it unstated. Recertification for Cisco credentials is generally handled through continuing education credits or passing another exam at the same or higher level, but confirm the current rules on the official recertification page.
In what order should I study the four domains?
Start with fundamentals so your scripting and data formats are solid, then move to Cisco platform APIs because they give you something real to automate. Build CI/CD skills next by putting those scripts under version control with tests, and finish with design and operations, which consolidates everything into end-to-end scenarios.
What are the most common failure modes?
Three recur: writing scripts that work once but are not reusable, ignoring error handling and authentication flows in API calls, and treating CI/CD as theory instead of practicing a real pipeline. Candidates also spread effort unevenly across the four equally weighted domains, leaving an entire quarter of the blueprint underprepared.
Do I need a lab environment to prepare properly?
Strongly recommended. Reading about APIs and pipelines does not build the debugging instincts the exam rewards. A small lab with virtual devices or a sandboxed controller, plus a Git repository and a simple pipeline runner, is enough to practice the full loop from code commit to verified configuration change.