Cisco CCNP Routing and Switching: What Replaced It

Cisco retired the old CCNP Routing and Switching certification on February 23, 2020. A current candidate cannot book its historical exam sequence to earn that retired badge. Cisco CCNP Enterprise is the modern professional-level pathway for enterprise networking, but its scope is wider than a simple name change.

The durable skills are still important: routing protocol behavior, redundant switching, WAN connectivity, troubleshooting and change verification. Newer CCNP Enterprise preparation adds network assurance, automation, SD-WAN and other technologies reflected in current Cisco objectives.

Understand the certification transition

The retired Routing and Switching track involved historical exams whose codes and combinations no longer represent current certification eligibility. Existing earned badges follow Cisco’s individual certification-validity policies; retirement does not rename an old credential in a candidate’s record.

Today CCNP Enterprise requires 350-401 ENCOR plus one active concentration exam. There is no mandatory lower-level certification prerequisite, although a CCNA-quality networking foundation makes the professional syllabus much easier to practice.

What ENCOR covers

Cisco describes ENCOR across dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 architecture, virtualization, network infrastructure, network assurance, security and automation. The core is not only an exercise in configuring OSPF and switching VLANs.

Use the Cisco 350-401 ENCOR landing page as an ExamSnap learning resource while checking current Cisco exam topics. Its legitimate main exam href is preserved; vendor-qualified labeling prevents confusion with a retired CCNP track.

Choose concentration by specialization

300-410 ENARSI is a strong candidate for engineers focused on routing and advanced enterprise services. Other active choices address SD-WAN, wireless design, network assurance or cloud connectivity. Cisco updates its exam lineup, so check the official active list before paying for a course.

A technician solving routing redistribution and VPN issues benefits from different practice than an engineer responsible for campus design. Your concentration should deepen the work you can already observe and verify.

Build practical routing and switching evidence

Set up redundant network paths and document how a link failure affects OSPF or BGP reachability where supported by your environment. Include VLAN segmentation, gateway availability, IP addressing and controlled filtering.

Before changing a policy, capture baseline routes, neighbor states and access-control behavior. After the change, verify both the intended path and undesired access denial. Reboot or simulate a failure so you understand convergence and operational safety.

Add automation and telemetry deliberately

Use configuration templates or an API to apply a small authorized network change, then detect drift and roll back an incorrect result. Familiarity with version control and structured data is now part of the professional networking role.

Measure network health from relevant interface, route, device and application signals rather than treating a successful command response as proof that users still have connectivity.

Choose by career relevance

CCNP Enterprise remains a defensible next credential for experienced enterprise network engineers because it maps to real routing, switching, security and assurance work. The badge itself cannot guarantee a senior title, a salary or an employer’s confidence in your independent change decisions.

If your main responsibilities instead involve data-center fabrics or provider MPLS and segment routing, a different CCNP specialization may fit better. Preserve the historical CCNP Routing and Switching name when documenting an award actually earned under that retired program.