Cisco DevNet Professional: Exam Study Guides and Tips for Success

Quick Answer: The Cisco DevNet Professional certification is all about software development, APIs, and Cisco platform automations. You must pass both the 350-901 DEVCOR core exam and one concentration exam to get this cert. The only way to nail this exam is with hands-on practice and a solid study plan.

Networking is about more than hardware. Today’s networks rely on automation and programming to scale configuration and management, especially in the virtual space. Earning the Cisco DevNet Professional cert shows you have a mix of traditional networking knowledge and coding skills.

To get certified, you’ll need to nail two exams: the core DEVCOR exam (350-901) and one concentration exam. The core exam tests your software development skills for Cisco platforms, and the concentration exams give you a chance to specialize in areas like enterprise automation, security, data center, IoT, or Webex development.

The key point to note about these certifications is that they provide practical skills you can apply in the workplace. Let's examine the exam content, preparation strategies, and whether this certification is right for you.

What is the Cisco DevNet Professional Exam?

The Cisco DevNet Professional certification includes a mandatory core exam plus one specialized concentration exam. This combo is great because it shows that you have foundational skills and a specialization in a specific area.

Exam Details

The core exam (350-901 DEVCOR) tests your abilities with:

• Software dev practices and tools

• API design and implementation

• App security

• Infrastructure as code, as well as some automation

The exam itself includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and simulation questions that feel like real-world scenarios. You have 120 minutes to complete all of the questions, so time management is important. Cisco doesn't say exactly what the passing score is, and it varies between exam versions.

You have to have practical knowledge to get through this exam. You could find yourself analyzing code snippets, looking for security vulnerabilities, or figuring out the right API call for a task. Practicing with real-world examples leading up to the exam is non-negotiable if you don’t want to get frustrated and stuck on a question.

Prerequisites

There are no official prerequisites to take the Cisco DevNet Professional certification exams, but Cisco recommends that you absolutely have:

• Solid Python programming skills

• Basic understanding of software development concepts

• Knowledge of networking fundamentals

• Familiarity with REST APIs and JSON/XML data formats

Without these basic skills, you are going to struggle with the exam questions. Candidates who have one to two years of practical, hands-on experience with network automation and programming are going to be in a good position to pass the exam. With this much experience, you are in a good place to understand the questions, and you’ll have a better chance of success.

Topics Covered

The DEVCOR exam covers five main areas that you will need to know:

Software Development and Design (20%)

• Python, JavaScript, and other programming languages

• Version control with Git

• Software testing methodologies

Using APIs (20%)

• REST API concepts and implementation

• API authentication and security

• API versioning and documentation

Cisco Platforms (20%)

• Working with Cisco APIs and SDKs

• Automating Cisco solutions

• Understanding Cisco platform capabilities

Application Deployment and Security (20%)

• Application deployment models

• CI/CD pipelines

• Security best practices

Infrastructure and Automation (20%)

• Network programmability

• Infrastructure as code

• Container technologies

• Configuration management tools

These breakdowns show where you should focus your study time. Infrastructure and automation cover more than a third of the exam, so pay extra attention to those areas.

What are the Concentration Exam Options?

After you pass the core exam, you'll need to choose one out of six concentration exams. Your choice should be based on your interests and the career path that you want to follow. Each concentration exam focuses on different areas and methods of automating and programming Cisco technologies. Below are some quick explanations of what each one is focused on.

300-435 ENAUTO: Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions

This concentration covers enterprise network automation using Python and APIs, as well as programming network devices. It's a solid choice for network engineers who want to automate network tasks and configurations using programming languages. 

300-835 CLAUTO: Automating and Programming Cisco Collaboration Solutions

This concentration covers Unified Communications APIs and Webex automation. If you work with Cisco's collaboration tools and want to build integrations or automate collaboration workflows, then this is the exam for you.

300-635 DCAUTO: Automating and Programming Cisco Data Center Solutions

Data center specialists will find value in this exam’s focus on UCS Manager, Nexus APIs, and automation tools. It's aimed at engineers who manage Cisco data center infrastructure.

300-535 SPAUTO: Automating and Programming Cisco Service Provider Solutions

This concentration looks at YANG models, NETCONF, and RESTCONF for service provider environments. It's designed for network engineers working at telecom companies or ISPs that use Cisco equipment.

300-735 SAUTO: Automating and Programming Cisco Security Solutions

Security specialists will benefit most from this concentration. It covers secure APIs, threat defense, and identity services. It covers subjects that will help you to build automation for security operations.

300-910 DEVOPS: Implementing DevOps Solutions and Practices Using Cisco Platforms

The DevOps concentration focuses on CI/CD pipelines, microservices, and container orchestration. It helps to combine traditional networking and modern software delivery practices that are needed in modern enterprise environments. 

Practical Tools for Exam Preparation

Theoretical knowledge isn’t completely excluded from the prep for these exams, but on its own, it won't help you pass. You need hands-on experience with the tools that are used in real environments.

DevNet Sandbox

Cisco's DevNet Sandbox gives you free access to live Cisco equipment for practice and allows you to:

• Reserve time on actual Cisco devices

• Test your automation scripts in a safe environment

• Practice with DNA Center, ISE, ACI, and other platforms

• Experiment with APIs without needing physical equipment

This is hands-on practice that you really need if you don’t have access to a test environment of your own. Here, you can write Python scripts to automate Catalyst 9000 switches, create applications that use DNA Center's Intent API, or test Webex bots.

Essential Development Tools

Get familiar with these tools:

• Postman for testing and documenting API calls

• Python requests library for API integration

• Docker and Kubernetes for containerization

• Git for version control

• Ansible and Terraform for infrastructure as code

As part of your prep work, try out some practical exercises. For example, practice retrieving device inventory from DNA Center, creating network policies through Meraki Dashboard API, or automating Webex Teams spaces and memberships. 

All of these types of exercises will help you figure out how to query the data and perform the tasks that you will need to pass the exam. There are also practical benefits, too. Learning how to do all of these things on your own will help you to understand and remember the steps. 

Top Tips for Success on the Cisco DevNet

Passing the core and concentration exams takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and a smart approach to studying. Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your study time.

Create a Structured Study Plan

Map out the exam topics and assign study time based on topic weight. Treat this like a marathon and not a sprint—schedule lots of smaller study sessions instead of cramming them too close to the deadline. A study plan helps break down massive amounts of work into smaller, more manageable sections.

Utilize Hands-On Labs

Theory has its place in certification, but reading about APIs and how automation works isn't going to be enough. You have to practice, practice, practice. If you can, set up a lab environment so that you get a chance to:

• Write Python scripts to automate tasks

• Make API calls to real Cisco devices using Postman

• Build and deploy containers with Docker

• Create infrastructure as code deployments

If you understand the concepts but cannot apply them, you will have a hard time on exam day. Doing the actual work with labs will help cement the theory into action. 

Review Exam Topics and Blueprints

Cisco publishes exam blueprints that provide explanations and general guidelines. Keep reviewing the blueprint often to make sure that you're covering all the topics that you need to ace the exam.

Leverage Online Communities

Some good places to start are the Cisco Learning Network forums for DevNet, GitHub communities created around network automation topics, and DevNet community events. Online communities can answer your questions, help you with study material advice, and encourage you to keep studying and practicing.

Test Your Knowledge Regularly

It’s tempting to wait until the end to check your progress, but you should try to review your knowledge retention throughout your studies. Use practice tests to find gaps in your knowledge and skills early, and get comfortable with the exam format.

Emerging Career Paths

The DevNet Professional certification can help you with some exciting career paths. Here are some of your options, along with a brief description of the kind of work you can expect to do:

Network Automation Engineer

Design and plan comprehensive network automation strategies, develop automation frameworks, and lead transformation initiatives for large-scale networks. These positions average around $140,900, but the range is $103,000-$157,000 depending on the industry and experience level.

NetDevOps Engineer

Combine network engineering with DevOps practices to automate and orchestrate network management tasks, and maintain efficient and reliable networks. This role usually pays around $135,000 per year, with salaries ranging from $115,000 to $167,400, depending on experience and location.

Cloud Networking Engineer

Build network automation for multi-cloud environments and implement service mesh architectures. Multi-cloud strategies are becoming more common, which makes these specialists able to earn salaries of $122,500-$196,000.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Prepping for DevNet Professional isn’t smooth sailing for everyone. Here are some challenges you might face and some of the ways you can get past them:

Balancing Study with Work Commitments

Finding time to study while working full-time is tough. Make time for small sessions for yourself throughout your day. Watch training videos during your commute or lunch break. Even if you only get 20 minutes a day, it adds up quickly when you stick with it consistently.

Understanding Complex Topics

Topics like infrastructure as code can be confusing if you're from a traditional networking background. CBT Nuggets' bite-sized videos help here—watch one short lesson, then practice that specific skill right away. Sometimes, explaining a concept out loud shows you where your understanding is a little cloudy.

Staying Motivated

Certification burnout happens. But if you set small, reachable milestones, you can make great progress instead of worrying about the final exam. Find someone to study with, or join an online group if you can. If you know that your study buddy is expecting progress updates, that accountability will keep you moving forward.

Hands-on Practice Limitations

Without access to Cisco hardware, practice can be very tricky. CBT Nuggets Virtual Labs and Cisco's DevNet Sandbox both give you free environments to test your automation skills without investing in pricey equipment. The act of running scripts against simulated devices builds experience that will help you in the exam. The devices might be virtual, but your experience through practicing certainly won't be.

Is Cisco DevNet Professional Certification Worth It?

For most IT professionals, it is. The DevNet Professional cert offers serious value:

• Better Job Prospects: More companies need network engineers who can automate and develop solutions for their networks.

• Higher Salary Potential: Network pros with automation skills can earn 15-25% more than traditional network engineers.

• Relevant Skills: The certification focuses on practical skills you'll actually use, which is also useful for technical interviews where you might need to work on test systems to show off your real-world ability.

• Career Progression: Networks are becoming more software-defined, and these skills can help future-proof your career.

Networks are changing fast. Manual configuration isn’t optimal anymore. Automation and programmability, along with API-based operations, are where things are headed. This cert gives you an opportunity to ride the current wave of network advancements, and get in while organizations are beginning their own automation transformations.

Conclusion

The Cisco DevNet Professional certification takes your existing networking skills and guides you toward automation and programmability. When you pass these exams, you prove that you can build modern, automated networks that businesses need.

Ready to take your first step? The Cisco DevNet Professional DEVCOR 350-901 training course helps you build the core skills you'll need. For those interested in the DevOps concentration, check out the Cisco DevOps training that covers container technologies and CI/CD pipelines in depth.