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 Meraki Solutions Specialist (ECMS)
The Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification validates your ability to design, implement, and operate Meraki technologies. This exam covers cloud management, design, implementation, monitoring, and troubleshooting of Meraki solutions. It is ideal for network engineers and administrators who manage Meraki networks and want to demonstrate their expertise in cloud-managed networking.
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration90 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions427
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What 500-220 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.
4domains
22objectives
131concepts
US $300exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist (ECMS) certification validates your expertise in engineering Cisco Meraki solutions, covering cloud management, design, implementation, monitoring, and troubleshooting. This certification is designed for professionals who work with Meraki technologies and need to demonstrate their ability to manage and optimize cloud-managed networks.
Earning this certification proves you can design and implement Meraki solutions that meet business requirements, monitor network performance, and troubleshoot issues effectively. It is a valuable credential for network engineers, administrators, and IT professionals who want to advance their careers in cloud-managed networking.
Who it’s for
This certification is for network engineers, network administrators, and IT professionals who design, implement, and operate Cisco Meraki solutions. It is also suitable for those who manage cloud-managed networks and want to validate their skills in Meraki technologies. Candidates typically have experience with Meraki products and a solid understanding of networking fundamentals, including switching, routing, and wireless technologies.
Recommended experience
Cisco recommends that candidates have a foundational understanding of networking concepts and some experience with Meraki technologies, though no formal prerequisites are required. Basic knowledge of networking concepts (e.g., TCP/IP, DNS, switching, routing); Familiarity with Cisco Meraki dashboard and cloud management; Experience with Meraki products such as MR access points, MS switches, and MX security appliances
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
Cisco Meraki Cloud Management
- 1.1 Explain Cisco Meraki cloud architecture
- 1.2 Explain access methods to dashboard and devices
- 1.3 Explain organizational structure, segmentation and permissions
- 1.4 Explain licensing, co-termination, and renewals
- 1.5 Compare deployment workflows
Design
- 2.1 Design scalable Meraki Auto VPN architectures
- 2.2 Explain deployment consideration for the vMX
- 2.3 Design dynamic path selection policies
- 2.4 Design stable, secure, and scalable routing deployments
- 2.5 Design Enterprise network services
- 2.6 Design Enterprise wireless services
- 2.7 Compare endpoint device and application management methods
Implementation
- 3.1 Configuring MX security appliances
- 3.2 Configuring MS switches
- 3.3 Configuring MR wireless access points
- 3.4 Configuring SM endpoint management
- 3.5 Configuring MV security cameras
- 3.6 Configuring MI application assurance
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
- 4.1 Interpret information from monitoring and reporting tools
- 4.2 Describe how to use the dashboard API to monitor and maintain networks
- 4.3 Explain firmware upgrades
- 4.4 Troubleshooting Enterprise networks
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 code500-220
CertificationCisco Meraki Solutions Specialist (ECMS)
Exam formatMultiple choice and multiple response
Duration90 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish
PricingUS $300
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 Meraki Solutions Specialist (ECMS)
Credential earnedCisco Meraki Solutions Specialist (ECMS) Certification Renewal and maintenance
Cisco certifications are valid for three years. Renew by passing another certification 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 500-220 ECMS exam relate to the retired 500-220 ECMS1 exam?
The 500-220 ECMS exam is the current version of the Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions exam, replacing the earlier ECMS1 version. The exam objectives have been updated to reflect the latest Meraki technologies and best practices.
Do I need to earn a lower-level Cisco certification before taking the 500-220 ECMS exam?
No. The 500-220 ECMS exam has no mandatory prerequisites. However, Cisco recommends foundational networking knowledge and familiarity with Meraki technologies.
Is the 500-220 ECMS exam available online and in test centers?
Yes. The exam is offered both online proctored and at Pearson VUE test centers. You can schedule through the Cisco Certification Tracking System.
What are the retake policies for the 500-220 ECMS exam?
If you fail the exam, you must wait 5 calendar days from the day after your attempt before retaking it. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
Can I use Cisco Learning Credits to pay for the 500-220 ECMS exam?
Yes. The exam price is US $300, and you can use Cisco Learning Credits to purchase an exam voucher.
What job roles does the Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification map to?
This certification is relevant for network engineers, network administrators, and IT professionals who design, implement, and operate Meraki solutions.
Can I recertify by passing a different Cisco exam?
Yes. Passing any other Cisco certification exam can renew your Meraki Solutions Specialist certification for another three years.
Are there any hands-on labs in the 500-220 ECMS exam?
The exam is a written exam with multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. There are no hands-on lab components.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 427 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.
4domains
22objectives
131concepts
96free 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
1Cisco Meraki Cloud Management67 questions
1.1 Explain Cisco Meraki cloud architecture5 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →1.2 Explain access methods to dashboard and devices3 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →1.3 Explain organizational structure, segmentation and permissions7 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →1.4 Explain licensing, co-termination, and renewals5 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →1.5 Compare deployment workflows1 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →
2Design167 questions
2.1 Design scalable Meraki Auto VPN architectures10 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →2.2 Explain deployment consideration for the vMX9 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →2.3 Design dynamic path selection policies6 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →2.4 Design stable, secure, and scalable routing deployments7 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →2.5 Design Enterprise network services10 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →2.6 Design Enterprise wireless services8 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →2.7 Compare endpoint device and application management methods3 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →
3Implementation107 questions
3.1 Configuring MX security appliances11 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →3.2 Configuring MS switches8 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →3.3 Configuring MR wireless access points7 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →3.4 Configuring SM endpoint management3 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →3.5 Configuring MV security cameras3 concepts · 2 pagesOpen →3.6 Configuring MI application assurance2 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →
4Monitoring and Troubleshooting86 questions
4.1 Interpret information from monitoring and reporting tools6 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →4.2 Describe how to use the dashboard API to monitor and maintain networks5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →4.3 Explain firmware upgrades6 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →4.4 Troubleshooting Enterprise networks6 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →
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 Explain Cisco Meraki cloud architecture5 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
25 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
427 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.
427questions
96pages
22objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Cisco Meraki Cloud Management67 questions
2Design167 questions
3Implementation107 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.
131concepts
427free 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.
3official links
131concepts 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 — 22 objectives, 131 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Cisco changes the outline, this page changes with it.
22objectives on the outline→131concepts written→427free 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.