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Exam Review

Key Facts: CCNP Service Provider Exam

~25-35%

First-Attempt Pass Rate

Industry estimate

825/1000

Passing Score

Cisco

300-400 hrs

Study Time

Recommended

$90-125K

Median Salary Range

Industry data

$400

Core Exam Fee

Cisco

3 years

Certification Valid

Cisco

The CCNP Service Provider (SPCOR 350-501) is Cisco's professional-level SP certification with an estimated 25-35% first-attempt pass rate. It requires 825/1000 to pass with 90-110 questions in 120 minutes. MPLS and segment routing constitute the largest domain, covering label operations, SR-MPLS, SRv6, and traffic engineering. CCNP SP holders earn a median of $90,000-125,000.

Sample CCNP Service Provider Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the CCNP Service Provider exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary purpose of MPLS in a service provider network?
A.To replace IP routing entirely
B.To provide label-based forwarding that separates routing from forwarding for scalable traffic engineering and VPN services
C.To encrypt all traffic between PE routers
D.To eliminate the need for BGP
Explanation: MPLS uses labels to forward packets instead of performing a full IP lookup at each hop. This separation of routing (control plane) from forwarding (data plane) enables service providers to implement traffic engineering, VPN services, and fast reroute mechanisms efficiently. Labels are applied at ingress, swapped at transit, and removed at egress LSRs.
2In MPLS, what does a Label Switch Router (LSR) at the ingress of a Label Switched Path do?
A.Removes the MPLS label
B.Performs a label swap operation
C.Pushes (imposes) an MPLS label onto the packet
D.Drops unlabeled packets
Explanation: The ingress LSR (also called the imposition router) pushes an MPLS label onto IP packets entering the MPLS domain. It performs an IP lookup to determine the destination, selects the appropriate label from its Label Information Base (LIB), and encapsulates the packet with the MPLS header. Subsequent LSRs use label swapping, and the egress LSR pops the label.
3What is the role of LDP (Label Distribution Protocol) in MPLS?
A.To encrypt MPLS labels
B.To distribute label bindings between LSRs for establishing LSPs
C.To perform traffic engineering path computation
D.To manage QoS policies
Explanation: LDP is used to distribute label-to-FEC (Forwarding Equivalence Class) bindings between adjacent LSRs. When two LDP peers establish a session, they exchange labels for their IGP-learned prefixes, enabling the construction of Label Switched Paths across the MPLS network. LDP operates on TCP port 646 and uses hello messages for neighbor discovery on UDP port 646.
4What is the difference between penultimate hop popping (PHP) and ultimate hop popping (UHP) in MPLS?
A.PHP pops the label at the second-to-last router; UHP pops it at the last router
B.PHP is used only in IPv6 networks
C.UHP is always faster than PHP
D.There is no difference
Explanation: In PHP, the penultimate (second-to-last) LSR removes the MPLS label before forwarding the packet to the egress LSR. This allows the egress LSR to perform a single IP lookup instead of both a label pop and an IP lookup. UHP keeps the label until the egress LSR, which is needed for certain applications like explicit-null where QoS markings in the MPLS header must be preserved.
5Which BGP attribute is the first tiebreaker in the BGP best path selection process after checking weight?
A.MED
B.AS Path length
C.Local Preference
D.Origin
Explanation: After weight (Cisco-specific, highest wins), the next tiebreaker in BGP path selection is Local Preference (highest wins). Local Preference is communicated within an iBGP domain and indicates the preferred exit point from the local AS. The full order continues with locally originated, shortest AS path, origin type, lowest MED, eBGP over iBGP, and then additional tiebreakers.
6In IS-IS, what is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 routing?
A.Level 1 is for inter-area routing; Level 2 is for intra-area routing
B.Level 1 handles intra-area routing; Level 2 handles inter-area (backbone) routing
C.Level 1 is for IPv4 only; Level 2 is for IPv6 only
D.There is no functional difference
Explanation: IS-IS Level 1 routing handles intra-area routing within a single area, similar to OSPF intra-area routes. Level 2 routing handles inter-area routing and forms the backbone of the IS-IS domain, similar to OSPF Area 0. Level 1/2 routers participate in both levels and perform route leaking between them. This two-level hierarchy provides scalability for large SP networks.
7What is Segment Routing (SR) and how does it differ from traditional MPLS with LDP?
A.SR uses source routing with segments encoded in the packet header, eliminating the need for LDP sessions between routers
B.SR requires more signaling protocols than LDP
C.SR only works with IPv6
D.SR is a Layer 2 technology
Explanation: Segment Routing encodes the forwarding path as an ordered list of segments (instructions) in the packet header. This source-routing paradigm eliminates the need for LDP sessions and maintains per-flow state on transit routers. SR leverages the existing IGP (IS-IS or OSPF) to distribute segment identifiers (SIDs), significantly simplifying the control plane compared to LDP-based MPLS.
8What is a Node SID in Segment Routing?
A.A label assigned to a specific interface
B.A globally unique identifier assigned to a node that represents the shortest path to reach that node
C.A temporary label used during convergence
D.A label used only for multicast traffic
Explanation: A Node SID is a globally unique segment identifier assigned to a router (node) in the Segment Routing domain. It identifies the shortest IGP path to reach that node and is derived from the Segment Routing Global Block (SRGB) combined with the node's index. Node SIDs are advertised through the IGP (IS-IS or OSPF) and provide prefix reachability similar to LDP labels but without LDP.
9What is the purpose of an Adjacency SID in Segment Routing?
A.To identify a globally reachable prefix
B.To steer traffic over a specific link (adjacency) to a neighbor
C.To assign QoS markings
D.To enable multicast forwarding
Explanation: An Adjacency SID is a locally significant segment identifier that represents a specific link (adjacency) between two routers. It is used to steer traffic over a particular link, enabling explicit path control similar to RSVP-TE tunnels. Adjacency SIDs are automatically allocated and advertised by the IGP. They are essential for SR traffic engineering when the IGP shortest path is not the desired path.
10In BGP, what is the purpose of a Route Reflector (RR)?
A.To filter routes between eBGP peers
B.To reduce the number of iBGP sessions needed by reflecting routes to clients
C.To perform NAT on BGP updates
D.To encrypt BGP sessions
Explanation: A BGP Route Reflector reduces the iBGP full-mesh requirement by reflecting routes learned from one client to other clients. Without RRs, every iBGP router must peer with every other iBGP router (N*(N-1)/2 sessions). RRs allow a hub-and-spoke iBGP topology where clients only peer with the RR. The RR uses the Cluster-ID and Originator-ID attributes to prevent routing loops.

About the CCNP Service Provider Exam

The CCNP Service Provider certification validates professional-level skills in service provider networking including MPLS, segment routing, advanced BGP, IS-IS, QoS, multicast, VPN services, and network automation. It requires passing the 350-501 SPCOR core exam plus one concentration exam.

Exam sponsor: Cisco / Pearson VUE. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

825/1000

Exam / Certification Fees

$400

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: ~25-35%. estimated first-attempt for CCNP SP level exams This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

MPLS and Segment Routing

MPLS fundamentals, LDP, RSVP-TE, segment routing MPLS/SRv6, SR-TE, TI-LFA, Flex-Algo, and traffic engineering

20%

BGP Advanced

BGP path selection, route reflectors, confederations, communities, FlowSpec, RPKI, PIC, Add-Path, and Graceful Restart

20%

QoS and Multicast

DiffServ model, PHBs, H-QoS, policing/shaping, WRED, PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, mLDP, and MVPN

20%

VPN Services

MPLS L3VPN, VRF, RT/RD, pseudowires, VPLS, EVPN, inter-AS VPN options, and extranet

15%

SP Architecture and Automation

IS-IS, IOS-XR, NETCONF/YANG, model-driven telemetry, PCE/PCEP, BGP-LS, and Crosswork

Preparing for the CCNP Service Provider Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 825/1000
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $400 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CCNP Service Provider: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master MPLS and Segment Routing thoroughly — this is the largest domain and the foundation for VPN services
2Understand the complete MPLS L3VPN architecture: PE/CE/P roles, VRF, RT/RD, MP-BGP VPNv4, and label stacking
3Know BGP path selection cold including all tiebreakers; practice route reflector, confederation, and community scenarios
4Study IS-IS operations, TLV extensibility, multi-topology, and wide metrics as the primary SP IGP
5Lab segment routing concepts: Node SID, Adjacency SID, SRGB, SR-TE, TI-LFA, and Flex-Algo
6Understand QoS models: DiffServ PHBs, H-QoS, CBWFQ/LLQ, policing vs shaping, and MPLS EXP handling
7Practice with IOS-XR configuration, NETCONF/YANG, and model-driven telemetry for the automation domain

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CCNP Service Provider pass rate?

Cisco does not officially publish CCNP pass rates. Industry estimates suggest a 25-35% first-attempt pass rate for the SPCOR 350-501 exam, reflecting its challenging professional-level scope. SP topics like MPLS, segment routing, and advanced BGP require deep understanding. With proper preparation (300-400 study hours), dedicated candidates typically pass.

How many questions are on the CCNP Service Provider exam?

The SPCOR 350-501 exam has approximately 90-110 questions (the exact number varies by exam form). Question types include multiple-choice, multiple-answer, drag-and-drop, and simulation items. You have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the exam. The passing score is 825 out of 1000.

What topics does the CCNP Service Provider exam cover?

SPCOR 350-501 covers five domains: MPLS and Segment Routing (label operations, SR-MPLS, SRv6, traffic engineering), BGP Advanced (path selection, route reflectors, communities), QoS and Multicast (DiffServ, PIM, MVPN), VPN Services (L3VPN, VPLS, EVPN), and SP Architecture/Automation (IS-IS, IOS-XR, NETCONF/YANG).

How long should I study for CCNP Service Provider?

Plan for 300-400 hours over 4-6 months. Strong CCNA-level knowledge and SP networking experience are prerequisites. Focus heavily on MPLS/SR (25%) and understand the full VPN service stack. Get hands-on practice with IOS-XR, lab MPLS VPN scenarios, and segment routing configurations. Score 85%+ consistently on practice tests before scheduling.

What is the difference between CCNP Enterprise and CCNP Service Provider?

CCNP Enterprise focuses on campus, branch, and enterprise WAN technologies (SD-WAN, SD-Access, enterprise routing). CCNP Service Provider focuses on carrier-grade technologies: MPLS core networking, segment routing, advanced BGP operations, QoS for triple-play services, multicast transport, and VPN service delivery. SP requires deeper knowledge of label switching, traffic engineering, and large-scale routing.

What jobs can I get with CCNP Service Provider?

CCNP Service Provider qualifies you for roles including SP Network Engineer ($85,000-125,000), MPLS Engineer ($90,000-130,000), Core Network Architect ($100,000-150,000+), BGP/Routing Specialist ($90,000-135,000), and Network Automation Engineer ($95,000-140,000). CCNP SP is valued by ISPs, telcos, and large enterprises operating carrier-grade networks.