- The SCOR (350-701) exam fee is US$400 plus applicable tax, payable via Cisco Learning Credits.
- The exam runs 120 minutes and is offered in English and Japanese at Pearson VUE or via OnVUE online proctoring.
- Failing means a mandatory five-calendar-day wait before you can retake and pay again.
- SCOR only covers the core; full CCNP Security requires an additional concentration exam and fee.
The Core SCOR Exam Fee
Before you build a study plan, it helps to know exactly what you're paying for. The Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies (350-701) exam - SCOR for short - is priced by Cisco at US$400 plus any applicable local tax. That single fee covers one attempt at the closed-book, computer-based exam, which runs for 120 minutes and is available in English and Japanese.
You can sit the exam at a physical Pearson VUE test center or remotely through OnVUE online proctoring, and the fee is identical either way - the cost difference between formats is really about convenience (travel, scheduling, home setup requirements) rather than price. There's no separate "online surcharge" or "in-person discount" baked into Cisco's pricing for this exam.
Payment Methods and Cisco Learning Credits
Cisco accepts standard payment methods through the Pearson VUE scheduling system, and importantly, it also accepts Cisco Learning Credits (CLCs) as payment for the exam fee. This matters for cost planning in two ways:
- Individuals paying out of pocket will typically use a credit card at checkout, with the US$400-plus-tax total charged at booking.
- Organizations that have already purchased Cisco Learning Credits for training or other Cisco programs can apply those credits toward the exam fee instead of new cash outlay, which is common for employers sponsoring multiple team members through certification.
If your employer is funding your attempt, ask specifically whether they hold CLCs - it can change how the expense is tracked internally, even though the out-of-pocket amount to you personally is the same either way.
Beyond the Fee: Retakes, Materials, and Training
The advertised US$400 fee is only the floor of what SCOR might cost you. The real total depends on how many attempts you need and how you choose to prepare.
Retake Costs
If you don't pass on the first try, Cisco's retake policy requires you to wait five calendar days, starting the day after the failed attempt, before you're eligible to schedule again. Each retake is billed at the same full US$400-plus-tax rate - there's no discounted "second attempt" pricing. This is exactly why understanding the exam's difficulty profile matters before you book: our breakdown of how hard the SCOR exam really is and the honest look at the SCOR pass rate data can help you gauge whether you're actually ready or likely to pay twice.
Study Materials and Training
Materials range widely in cost, from free to several hundred dollars:
- Free/low-cost: Cisco's own exam topics list, community forums, and practicing with resources like those on our SCOR practice test platform.
- Mid-range: Structured guides such as our SCOR study guide, official Cisco Press books, and paid practice question banks.
- Higher investment: Formal instructor-led SCOR training courses, which cost more but add structure for candidates who don't have a strong self-study routine.
None of these are mandatory. Plenty of candidates pass using only free resources plus disciplined practice testing - but if you've already failed once, spending modestly on better materials is usually cheaper than paying for a third US$400 attempt.
Key Takeaway
Treat every retake as a US$400 line item. Investing US$50-150 in quality practice questions and a structured guide is almost always cheaper than a failed attempt.
Budgeting for the Full CCNP Security Path
SCOR itself earns you the Cisco Certified Specialist - Security Core credential, and it satisfies the core exam requirement for CCNP Security. But SCOR alone does not equal full CCNP Security status - that requires passing an additional concentration exam on top of SCOR. If your goal is the full CCNP Security title (or you're eyeing the CCIE Security practical exam, for which passing SCOR is a qualifying step), your realistic budget needs to account for two exam fees, not one.
| Milestone | What You Pay | What You Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Pass SCOR (350-701) only | US$400 + tax (one attempt) | Cisco Certified Specialist - Security Core |
| Pass SCOR + one concentration exam | US$400 + tax, plus concentration exam fee | Full CCNP Security certification |
| SCOR as CCIE Security prerequisite step | US$400 + tax (SCOR portion only) | Qualifies you to sit the CCIE Security lab |
For a clearer picture of how the exam requirements interlock, our SCOR requirements guide walks through eligibility and how the core-plus-concentration structure fits together.
Renewal and Continuing Education Costs
Certification isn't a one-time purchase - SCOR's certification validity and written-exam credit both last three years. Before that window closes, you need to renew, and the renewal path you choose affects cost:
- Renew by exam: Pass an eligible qualifying exam again before expiration. This means budgeting for another exam fee, similar in structure to the original US$400-plus-tax SCOR cost (or the fee of whatever eligible exam you choose).
- Renew by Continuing Education (CE): Earn 40 CE credits for Specialist-level renewal or 80 CE credits for CCNP-level renewal instead of retesting. CE activities (training, conferences, eligible courses) may have their own costs depending on what you select, but you avoid the exam fee entirely.
One nuance worth budgeting around: CE-only renewal does not extend the window for combining exam passes toward other certifications. If you're stacking SCOR toward CCNP Security or CCIE Security, plan your renewal method with that combination timeline in mind, not just the cheapest option in isolation.
Cost vs. Value: Is the Spend Justified?
A US$400 exam fee, potentially multiplied by a retake or paired with a concentration exam for full CCNP Security, is a real expense. Whether it's worth it depends heavily on what the certification unlocks for your specific role. SCOR validates skills across six domains that map directly to real security operations work:
Domain 1: Security Concepts (20%)
Foundational knowledge candidates must master before anything else, weighted second only to Network Security.
- Common attack techniques and mitigation, including emerging AI/LLM vulnerability considerations
Domain 2: Network Security (25%)
The single largest domain - practical configuration and troubleshooting of network-layer defenses.
- FTD VPN configurations and related firewall security features
Domain 3: Cloud Security (15%)
Securing workloads and traffic as organizations shift infrastructure to cloud environments.
- Cloud security posture and access controls relevant to modern deployments
Domain 4: Secure Service Edge (10%)
Understanding how secure access is delivered at the edge, including modern protocol shifts.
- Cisco Secure Access, QUIC, and MASQUE considerations in secure edge architectures
Domain 5: Endpoint Protection and Detection (15%)
Detecting and responding to threats at the endpoint level using Cisco's detection stack.
- Cisco XDR workflows and endpoint telemetry analysis
Domain 6: Network Access, Visibility, and Enforcement (15%)
Identity-driven access control and visibility across the network.
- ISE, Duo, and Splunk integration for enforcement and monitoring
For candidates weighing whether this investment pays off relative to the effort and cost, our dedicated ROI analysis on whether SCOR certification is worth it and the broader SCOR salary guide go deeper into the value side of the equation. For a full walk-through of every domain's expected depth, see the complete SCOR exam domains guide.
A Cost-Aware Prep Timeline
Since every failed attempt costs another US$400-plus-tax and forces a five-day wait, the smartest way to control your total spend is to prepare efficiently rather than rush a booking. Structure your remaining weeks around the domain weights so your study time - and your money - go toward what's actually tested most.
Security Concepts + Network Security
- These two domains total 45% of the exam; master them first using free resources and a structured study guide before spending on anything else
Cloud Security, Endpoint Protection, Network Access domains
- Work through Cisco XDR, ISE, Duo, and Splunk-related scenarios; this is where targeted paid materials pay off most if self-study alone feels thin
Secure Service Edge + full-length practice
- Cover Cisco Secure Access, QUIC, and MASQUE, then run full timed practice exams on our SCOR practice test site to confirm readiness before booking
Final review and booking decision
- Only schedule your US$400 attempt once practice scores are consistently solid - booking too early is the most common cause of an avoidable retake fee
If you're unsure exactly what score you need to clear before booking, check our breakdown of the SCOR passing score requirements, and confirm testing windows and scheduling logistics through our SCOR exam dates guide so you don't pay a rescheduling fee on top of the exam fee.
Key Takeaway
The cheapest path through SCOR is almost never the fastest booking - it's the one where you pass on your first attempt because prep time was spent on the 25% Network Security and 20% Security Concepts domains first.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam fee is US$400 plus applicable tax, whether you take it at a Pearson VUE test center or through OnVUE online proctoring. Cisco Learning Credits are also accepted as payment.
No. Every attempt, including retakes, is billed at the full US$400-plus-tax rate. After a failed attempt, you must also wait five calendar days, starting the day after the attempt, before you're eligible to retest.
Passing SCOR only earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Security Core credential and satisfies the core requirement for CCNP Security. Full CCNP Security certification requires passing an additional concentration exam, which has its own separate fee.
Certification validity is three years. You can renew by passing an eligible exam again (incurring that exam's fee) or by earning Continuing Education credits instead - 40 CE credits for Specialist-level renewal or 80 for CCNP-level renewal - which avoids a new exam fee but has its own time/course costs.
No. SCOR has no formal prerequisites, so there's no required course purchase before booking. Training, guides, and practice tests are optional expenses you choose based on how much structure you need.