Nokia NRS II
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NRS II is the second tier of Nokia's routing and switching certification path, aimed at network engineers who design, deploy, and operate IP/MPLS networks built on Nokia service router platforms. Nokia describes its industry-recognized certification programs as a way to "build your technical expertise and enhance your professional standing," and the IP networks solution area is framed around building "scalable, secure, and adaptive networks." The exam is organized into four equally weighted domains: IP networks; IP routing, switching and aggregation; IP network automation; and IP network security. That split tells you a lot about the intended candidate: you are expected to be as comfortable with segment routing, BGP policy, and IGP scaling as you are with model-driven automation and hardening an edge. Preparation should be lab-led. Build a small topology in a virtual lab, configure and break it, then read the theory behind each failure. Work domain by domain in the order above, since routing fundamentals underpin both automation and security tasks. Practice reading configuration output and predicting forwarding behavior rather than memorizing CLI. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nokia; always confirm current exam logistics, pricing, and objectives with Nokia's own certification pages before booking.
What you'll study
About Nokia NRS II preparation
Who should take NRS II?
Engineers with hands-on IP/MPLS experience who already understand basic routing and switching and want to demonstrate deeper design and operational skill on Nokia platforms. It suits design, operations, and automation roles in service provider or large enterprise transport networks.
How is the exam structured?
Our study profile divides the content into four domains of roughly equal weight: IP networks, IP routing/switching/aggregation, IP network automation, and IP network security. Confirm the current official structure, item count, and time limit with Nokia before you schedule.
How long should I plan to study?
Most candidates need several weeks of consistent effort, weighted toward the routing and automation domains where practical repetition matters most. Spread lab sessions across the whole period rather than cramming; retention of configuration patterns and troubleshooting logic comes from repeated exposure.
What is the best study order?
Start with IP fundamentals, then routing and switching, then automation, then security. Automation tasks assume you already understand what is being automated, and security tasks assume you can read a routing table and a policy. Reversing the order tends to produce shallow memorization.
How difficult is it?
It is an intermediate-to-advanced certification, so expect scenario-based questions rather than simple recall. The hardest part for most candidates is predicting behavior in failure and policy-edge cases. If you can explain why a route was preferred or rejected, you are on track.
What are common failure modes?
Three recur: weak IGP/BGP policy reasoning, treating automation as tool trivia instead of understanding the data models underneath, and shallow security knowledge limited to ACL syntax. Another frequent problem is never labbing, which leaves candidates unable to reason about real forwarding outcomes.
Do I need hands-on lab access?
Strongly recommended. Reading alone rarely builds the intuition needed for scenario questions. A virtual lab with a few routers and a Linux host lets you practice routing policy, automation workflows, and filtering, which is where most exam difficulty lives.
What happens if I fail?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and fees are set by Nokia and are not stated in our sources, so verify them directly before booking. Plan your first attempt when you are consistently scoring well on practice scenarios rather than scheduling early to 'see the format'.
How current is this page?
Our sources were retrieved in November 2026 and cover Nokia's program positioning only, not exam logistics. Exam objectives are revised periodically, so treat this material as study support and check Nokia's certification pages for the definitive, current blueprint.