JNCIS-SP
Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist – Service Provider Routing and Switching (JNCIS-SP)
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist – Service Provider Routing and Switching (JNCIS-SP) is a mid-tier certification for network engineers who design, build, and operate service provider infrastructures on Junos OS. It sits above the associate-level JNCIA-Junos and below the professional JNCIP-SP, so it is the natural stepping stone for engineers moving from device-level configuration into protocol-level troubleshooting.
The exam is written for people who already work with Junos on a regular basis - field engineers, NOC and operations staff, design and implementation consultants, and lab engineers preparing for larger service provider roles. Rather than testing isolated CLI syntax, it probes how protocols behave under stress: how OSPF areas and LSA types interact, how IS-IS levels and metrics shape path selection, how BGP attributes and policy decide the best path across a full table, how MPLS label stacks and L3VPN route targets carry customer traffic, and how edge switching and high-availability features keep the forwarding plane stable.
Preparation should be hands-on. Build a small lab - physical, virtual, or containerized - with at least three routers and a CE/PE/P topology, then break things deliberately: filter a prefix, change an area type, move a route reflector, remove a targeted LDP session. Candidates who only read configuration guides tend to recognize terms but stumble on "what happens next" questions. Combine lab work with the official Junos OS documentation and Juniper's published exam objectives, and verify current logistics on Juniper's certification site before you book.
What you'll study
About JNCIS-SP preparation
What format is the JNCIS-SP exam?
It is a multiple-choice exam delivered at Juniper-authorized testing centers and via online proctoring. Juniper publishes the current delivery options, objectives, and any lab or simulation elements on its certification pages, so check the official listing rather than relying on older study guides, which describe formats that have since changed.
How long is the exam and how many questions does it have?
Juniper does not guarantee a fixed count or duration across deliveries, and the figures change between exam revisions. The official certification page states the current numbers for each exam code. Plan for a focused session and confirm the exact details when you register through the testing vendor.
How difficult is it compared with JNCIA-Junos?
Noticeably harder. JNCIA checks whether you can configure and verify Junos. JNCIS-SP asks you to reason about protocol behavior - why a route was preferred, why a session stayed down, what a label stack will look like at each hop. Candidates with real operational exposure usually find it manageable; pure self-study readers often do not.
How much does it cost and what is the passing score?
Both the fee and the passing scaled score are set by Juniper and revised periodically, so this page deliberately does not quote them. Your testing provider shows the fee at checkout, and Juniper's certification site lists the current passing standard for the exam code you are taking.
What happens if I fail - can I retake it?
Yes, retakes are permitted, subject to Juniper's waiting period between attempts on the same exam. The current retake policy and any cooling-off interval are published on Juniper's certification site. Use the score report's per-domain breakdown to target the weakest areas before rebooking rather than repeating the same study plan.
Which domain should I study first?
Start with OSPF and IS-IS, because BGP path selection and MPLS depend on a stable, well-understood IGP underlay. Move to BGP next - it carries the most weight - then MPLS and L3VPN, then edge switching, and finish with policy and high availability, which are easiest to absorb once the protocols they filter are familiar.
How long is the certification valid?
JNCIS-SP is valid for three years from the date you pass. Recertification typically requires passing the current exam or advancing to a higher-level Juniper certification; Juniper's certification site lists the exact recertification paths, which can change between program revisions.
What are the most common failure modes?
Candidates lose marks on BGP best-path ordering and on route-reflection and confederation rules, where they memorize the sequence but cannot apply it to a tie-breaker scenario. Weak MPLS label-stack intuition and shallow RSVP-TE versus LDP comparisons are also frequent. Lab every one of those until you can predict the outcome before you check.
Is this the right exam if I work in an enterprise, not a service provider?
It can be, but check the fit. The content assumes provider-scale concerns: multi-area IGPs, full BGP tables, MPLS transport, and PE-CE routing. Enterprise engineers running Junos with MPLS or large BGP estates benefit; those working only on campus switching may find JNCIS-ENT a better match.
Does this page or this site have any official connection to Juniper?
No. This is independent study material prepared for exam preparation, and it is not endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by Juniper Networks. Always treat the vendor's published objectives and documentation as the authoritative source when the two appear to conflict.