You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
CISCOCisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
The Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) certification validates your expert-level skills in designing complex network solutions. This exam proves you can gather and clarify network functional requirements, design networks to meet those requirements, develop implementation plans, and convey design decisions with rationale. Earning CCDE distinguishes you as an elite designer of IT solutions, ready to lead complex network architecture and design projects.
Exam formatMultiple-choice written exam + scenario-based practical design exam
Duration120 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions417
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What 400-007 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
5domains
16objectives
132concepts
US $450exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
Includes a hands-on lab exam
Beyond the written/multiple-choice exam, this certification also requires a separate hands-on lab (or practical) exam on live equipment. Practice here prepares the written qualifying exam — the lab itself needs real hands-on experience, not just study.
About this certification
The Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) certification is the pinnacle of Cisco's design track, validating your ability to translate business requirements into resilient, scalable, and secure network architectures. The 400-007 CCDE v3.0 written exam is a 2-hour, multiple-choice test with 90-110 questions that assesses your expert-level knowledge across the entire network design lifecycle — from gathering and clarifying functional requirements to developing implementation plans and communicating design decisions effectively.
Earning the CCDE demonstrates that you possess the breadth and depth of knowledge required to navigate complex IT projects in network architecture and design. This certification is for senior network architects and design engineers who are responsible for creating solutions that meet the strategic goals of their organizations. As a CCDE, you will be recognized as a leader capable of designing even the most complex network solutions, setting you apart in the field of IT.
Who it’s for
This certification is for experienced network architects, senior network designers, and technical leaders who are responsible for designing complex network solutions that align with business objectives. It is ideal for professionals who need to demonstrate expert-level skills in network architecture and design, including gathering requirements, developing implementation plans, and conveying design decisions. You are likely a network architect or designer with deep experience in routing, switching, and network design principles. You are comfortable working with stakeholders to understand business needs and translating them into technical requirements. You are ready to validate your expertise and stand out as an elite designer in the IT industry.
Recommended experience
Cisco recommends that candidates have a thorough understanding of network design principles and experience with complex network solutions. While there are no formal prerequisites, a strong background in network architecture and design is essential. Experience with network design and architecture in complex enterprise environments; Knowledge of routing and switching protocols, including BGP, OSPF, and MPLS; Understanding of network security principles and design considerations; Ability to gather and analyze network functional requirements; Experience developing implementation plans and conveying design decisions
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Cisco measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1.0 Business Strategy Design
- 1.1 Impact on network design, implementation, and optimization using various customer project management methodologies (for instance Waterfall and Agile)
- 1.2 Solutions based on business continuity and operational sustainability (for instance RPO, ROI, CAPEX/OPEX cost analysis, and risk/reward)
- 1.3 Environmental sustainability
- 1.4 AI/Machine Learning
2.0 Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design
- 2.1 End-to-end IP traffic flow in a feature-rich environment
- 2.2 Data, control, and management plane technologies
- 2.3 Centralized, decentralized, or hybrid control plane
- 2.4 Automation/orchestration design, integration, and on-going support for networks (such as interfacing with APIs, model-driven management, controller-based technologies, and evolution to CI/CD framework)
- 2.5 Software-defined architecture and controller-based solution design (SD-WAN, overlay, underlay, and fabric)
- 2.6 Visibility, observability, and assurance
- 2.7 User and application experience
3.0 Network Design
- 3.1 Resilient, scalable, and secure modular networks, covering traditional and software-defined architectures, considering:
- 3.2 AI network design use cases (such as machine learning, large language models, and pattern recognition)
4.0 Service Design
- 4.1 Resilient, scalable, and secure modular network design based on constraints (such as technical, operational, application, and business constraints) to support applications on the IP network (such as voice, video, backups, data center replication, IoT, and storage)
- 4.2 Cloud/hybrid solutions based on business-critical operations
5.0 Security Design
- 5.1 Network security design and integration
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Cisco publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam code400-007
CertificationCisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
Exam formatMultiple-choice written exam + scenario-based practical design exam
Duration120 minutes
Questions90–110 questions
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish
PricingUS $450
Certification levelExpert
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Cisco lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
Credential earnedCisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) Expert level certification Renewal and maintenance
Cisco certifications are valid for three years. You can recertify by passing a qualifying exam or earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Cisco maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Cisco
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Cisco’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Cisco certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the CCDE written exam relate to the CCDE practical exam?
The 400-007 written exam is the first step toward earning the CCDE certification. After passing the written exam, you must also pass the CCDE practical exam, which is offered in-person and tests your hands-on design skills.
Do I need to earn a lower-level Cisco certification before taking the CCDE written exam?
No, there are no mandatory prerequisites for the CCDE written exam. However, passing this exam also earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Design Core certification, which can be used toward the CCDE.
How do I schedule the CCDE written exam?
You can schedule the exam through the Cisco Certification Tracking System. First, create a Cisco account and complete your candidate profile, then schedule your exam with Pearson VUE.
What are the retake policies for the CCDE written exam?
If you do not pass the CCDE written exam, you must wait 15 calendar days from the day after your exam before retaking it. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
Can I use Cisco Learning Credits to pay for the CCDE written exam?
Yes, Cisco Learning Credits can be redeemed for exam vouchers to pay for the CCDE written exam.
Is there a hands-on lab component in the CCDE written exam?
No, the 400-007 written exam is a multiple-choice test. The hands-on component is the CCDE practical exam, which is a separate, in-person exam.
What job roles does the CCDE certification map to?
The CCDE certification is designed for network architects and senior network designers who are responsible for designing complex network solutions. It validates expert-level skills in network architecture and design.
Can I recertify the CCDE by passing a different Cisco exam?
Yes, you can recertify by passing a qualifying Cisco certification exam or by earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Passing a higher-level exam may also renew your certification.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 417 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Cisco measures — each one written out.
5domains
16objectives
132concepts
90free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
11.0 Business Strategy Design135 questions
1.1 Impact on network design, implementation, and optimization using various customer project management methodologies (for instance Waterfall and Agile)10 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →1.2 Solutions based on business continuity and operational sustainability (for instance RPO, ROI, CAPEX/OPEX cost analysis, and risk/reward)10 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →1.3 Environmental sustainability9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →1.4 AI/Machine Learning9 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →
22.0 Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design129 questions
2.1 End-to-end IP traffic flow in a feature-rich environment6 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →2.2 Data, control, and management plane technologies5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →2.3 Centralized, decentralized, or hybrid control plane4 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →2.4 Automation/orchestration design, integration, and on-going support for networks (such as interfacing with APIs, model-driven management, controller-based technologies, and evolution to CI/CD framework)6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →2.5 Software-defined architecture and controller-based solution design (SD-WAN, overlay, underlay, and fabric)7 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →2.6 Visibility, observability, and assurance5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →2.7 User and application experience7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →
33.0 Network Design49 questions
44.0 Service Design78 questions
4.1 Resilient, scalable, and secure modular network design based on constraints (such as technical, operational, application, and business constraints) to support applications on the IP network (such as voice, video, backups, data center replication, IoT, and storage)14 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →4.2 Cloud/hybrid solutions based on business-critical operations17 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →
55.0 Security Design26 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
1.1 Impact on network design, implementation, and optimization using various customer project management methodologies (for instance Waterfall and Agile)7 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
34 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
417 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
417questions
90pages
16objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
11.0 Business Strategy Design135 questions
22.0 Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design129 questions
33.0 Network Design49 questions
55.0 Security Design26 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
132concepts
417free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Cisco
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
5official links
132concepts mapped
The source
Cisco’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Cisco outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 16 objectives, 132 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Cisco changes the outline, this page changes with it.
16objectives on the outline→132concepts written→417free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.