CCNP ENCOR 350-401 v1.2 (2026): What Changed, and What to Study Now
On March 19, 2026, the CCNP Enterprise core exam moved to ENCOR 350-401 v1.2, and the biggest change is simple to state and easy to act on: all wireless topics are gone. They moved into a new, dedicated CCNP Wireless track (core exam 350-101 WLCOR). If you are studying ENCOR today, that means you can stop studying wireless for it entirely - and redirect that time toward the areas v1.2 leans into harder: SD-WAN, automation, and zero-trust security.
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In This Guide
The headline change: wireless is out
ENCOR has always been a broad "core" exam covering architecture, virtualization, infrastructure (routing and switching), network assurance, security, and automation - plus a chunk of wireless. In v1.2, Cisco removed the wireless portion completely. RF fundamentals, WLAN deployment models, wireless client connectivity, and wireless security are no longer testable on 350-401.
Where wireless went: the new CCNP Wireless track
The wireless content wasn't retired - it was promoted into its own professional track. Also on March 19, 2026, Cisco (re)launched CCNP Wireless, with a dedicated core exam:
- 350-101 WLCOR - Implementing and Operating Cisco Wireless Core Technologies (the new wireless core).
- Plus one wireless concentration exam to complete CCNP Wireless.
This is good news for two groups: enterprise candidates no longer need wireless depth just to pass ENCOR, and wireless specialists finally get a credential focused on their actual expertise instead of sharing space with routing and switching.
What v1.2 emphasizes more
With wireless out, the exam puts proportionally more weight on the topics that define modern enterprise networking. Prioritize these:
- SD-WAN - components (vManage, vSmart, vBond, cEdge/vEdge), OMP, and policy. See SD-WAN vs SD-Access.
- Automation & programmability - NETCONF/RESTCONF, YANG and model-driven telemetry, Python and REST APIs, and configuration tooling.
- Security - zero-trust concepts, segmentation, and MACsec (802.1AE).
- SD-Access - the campus fabric remains core. See LISP vs VXLAN in SD-Access.
- Core routing & switching and network assurance - still the backbone of the Infrastructure domain.
The v1.2 domains
ENCOR v1.2 keeps its six top-level domains. Infrastructure remains the heaviest, with Security and Automation the next most significant:
| Domain | Approx. weight | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | ~15% | Enterprise design, high availability, Cisco DNA / Catalyst Center |
| Virtualization | ~10% | Device virtualization, VRFs, tunneling (GRE/IPsec) |
| Infrastructure | ~30% | Layer 2/3, OSPF, BGP, IP services (largest domain) |
| Network Assurance | ~10% | Monitoring, SNMP, NetFlow, telemetry, troubleshooting |
| Security | ~20% | Device/network security, control-plane policing, zero trust, MACsec |
| Automation | ~15% | APIs, data models, Python, controller programmability |
What to do, depending on where you are
- Just starting ENCOR: use v1.2-aligned material from day one and skip wireless entirely. Weight your plan toward Infrastructure, Security, Automation, and SD-WAN/SD-Access.
- Mid-study on old (v1.1) material: drop the wireless chapters and reallocate that time to SD-WAN and automation. Everything else you've learned still applies.
- Already CCNP Enterprise certified: nothing to do - your certification stands. The change only affects new exam takers.
- Wireless is your specialty: look at the new CCNP Wireless track (350-101 WLCOR + a wireless concentration) rather than trying to get wireless recognition through Enterprise.
Make sure you're practicing the right blueprint
Old question banks still test wireless. Take a free, v1.2-aligned ENCOR practice exam and get a concept-level breakdown of where your points actually leak - across the topics that still count.
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ENCOR v1.2 Quick-Check Questions
Five questions to confirm you've got the 2026 change straight, each with a full explanation.
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You're aligned to v1.2. Here's what to study next:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wireless still on the CCNP ENCOR 350-401 exam?
No. As of the v1.2 update on March 19, 2026, all wireless topics (RF fundamentals, WLAN configuration, wireless security, 802.11) were removed from ENCOR 350-401 and moved to the new CCNP Wireless track under the 350-101 WLCOR core exam. If you are studying ENCOR today, stop studying wireless for it.
When did CCNP ENCOR v1.2 take effect?
ENCOR 350-401 moved to v1.2 on March 19, 2026 - the same date the relaunched CCNP Wireless track and its 350-101 WLCOR core exam went live and absorbed the wireless content.
What should I study for ENCOR now instead of wireless?
Redirect that time into SD-WAN (components, OMP, policy), automation and programmability (NETCONF/RESTCONF, Python, model-driven telemetry), and security including zero-trust and MACsec. Core routing, switching, SD-Access, and network assurance remain central.
Do I need CCNP Wireless now if I only want CCNP Enterprise?
No. CCNP Enterprise is still ENCOR (core) plus one enterprise concentration. The wireless split just means ENCOR no longer tests wireless depth. CCNP Wireless (350-101 WLCOR plus a wireless concentration) is a separate, optional track for wireless specialists.
Is my CCNP Enterprise still valid after the change?
Yes. If you're already certified, the v1.2 change does not affect your credential. Exam-blueprint updates apply to new test takers going forward, not to certifications already earned.