Please review the FAQ before registering for the NCP exam.
Online Testing Frequently Asked (FAQs) CTA
The NCP exam requires an active NCA certification.
The Nautobot Certified Professional (NCP) is an advanced certification that validates your ability to design, build, and operate Nautobot-driven automation workflows in production environments. It demonstrates that you have the skills to extend Nautobot, integrate it with external systems, and apply professional-level NetDevOps practices.
The NCP certification is ideal for:
The Nautobot Certified Associate (NCA) certification is required before taking the NCP exam. Your NCA must be active (not expired) at the time of registration.
In addition, we recommend:
No. The NCP certification is open to anyone with an active NCA certification, regardless of whether they are a Network to Code customer.
The NCP exam consists of:
The exam covers five domains with the following weightings:
| Domain | Weight |
| Advanced Nautobot Administration and Management | 15% |
| Nautobot Extensibility and Custom Development | 25% |
| APIs and Integration Development | 20% |
| Infrastructure as Code and NetDevOps | 20% |
| Golden Configuration Management | 20% |
For a detailed breakdown of skills and topics, refer to the Exam Blueprint.
For security reasons, individual question results are not provided. You will receive a pass/fail result and a domain-level performance breakdown showing your strengths and areas for improvement.
To register for the NCP exam:
No scheduling required – once you purchase, you can take the exam at any time.
There is no appointment to cancel or reschedule. Unlike traditional testing centers, the NCP exam is on-demand. Once purchased, you have 12 months to take your exam whenever you’re ready.
Exam pricing varies by region. Current pricing information is available on the Nautobot Certification Portal.
Payment Method: Credit card only
Contact certifications@networktocode.com for:
Contact certifications@networktocode.com for discount eligibility and pricing.
No refunds are available. Because the NCP exam is available on-demand 24/7, please review all requirements before purchasing:
If you have any questions before purchasing, contact certifications@networktocode.com.
We recommend a structured study approach:
Study time varies based on your experience level:
We recommend dedicating 6-10 hours per week to exam preparation.
Recommended training courses include:
Visit https://networktocode.com/training for course schedules and registration.
Hands-on labs are NOT required to take the exam, but practical experience is strongly recommended for effective preparation.
Why hands-on practice helps:
Recommended hands-on resources:
Note: You can take the exam without lab access, but hands-on preparation significantly improves your chances of passing.
The NCP exam is available as an online proctored exam only. You can take the exam from your home or office, with remote proctor monitoring via webcam.
No test centers – all exams are delivered virtually through secure online proctoring.
For online proctored exams, you must have:
Requirement Specification
Operating System:- Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+ (Linux not supported).
Internet Connection:- Minimum 2 Mbps download/upload (wired connection recommended).
Webcam:- Minimum 640×480 resolution @ 10 fps (internal or external).
Microphone:- Built-in or external microphone required.
Display:- Minimum 1024×768 resolution (additional monitors must be unplugged).
Browser:- Latest versions of Chrome.
Before purchasing: Complete the Honorlock System Check to verify your computer meets all requirements.
Your testing environment must meet these requirements:
Not allowed:
You must present one valid, government-issued photo ID that includes:
Acceptable forms of ID:
Not acceptable:
To start your online proctored exam:
No appointment needed – Start your exam whenever you’re ready.
You must comply with the following rules during your exam:
During Your Exam:
If You Need Help:
Violations:
No, breaks are not permitted during the NCP exam. The 120-minute exam is continuous. If you leave your computer for any reason, the proctor will terminate your exam session and you will not be able to continue.
Tips:
If you experience technical issues:
If anyone enters your testing room during the exam, your exam will be immediately terminated and you will forfeit your exam fee. Ensure that others in your home or office know you are testing and that the door should not be opened.
You will receive your pass/fail result immediately upon completing the exam. However, in cases of suspected test violations, a proctor review may be conducted before your results are finalized. Your official score report will be available in your certification portal within 1-2 weeks.
Your score report includes:
The NCP exam uses scaled scoring from 100-1000, with a passing score of 750 (75%). Scaled scoring ensures fairness across different exam versions with varying difficulty levels.
Upon passing, you will receive the following:
Important: Upon successful completion of all certification requirements, please allow 2-4 weeks for processing and issuance of your official certificate and digital badge. You will receive an email notification once your credentials are ready to access.
Access Your Credentials: After passing, you’ll receive an email with instructions to claim your certificate and badge.
Note: Physical/printed certificates are not available. All credentials are digital only.
The NCP certification is valid for 3 years from the date you pass the exam. You must recertify before expiration to maintain your certified status.
Yes! We encourage you to share your achievement:
Add to Professional Profiles:
If you do not pass:
Your exam purchase includes two total attempts:
Note: After 2 failed attempts, we strongly recommend taking a Network to Code training course before purchasing additional attempts.
You can recertify at any time during your active certification period by:
Option 1: Retake the NCP Exam
Option 2: Pass a Higher-Level Exam
Important: You must recertify before your certification expiration date to maintain your certified status.
If you have an expired certification, you must complete the full exam process again to earn active status:
English only.
You must be 18+ to take the NCP exam.
By taking the NCP exam, you agree to:
If exam security flags suspicious behavior:
To avoid issues:
No. The NCP exam is closed-book. You may not use:
Network to Code collects minimal information necessary for exam delivery and certification:
Information Collected:
NOT Collected:
Your exam results and certification status are used for:
Our exam platform and proctoring provider are designed to comply with GDPR and CCPA privacy requirements:
Proctoring Data:
Exam Platform Data:
For detailed privacy policies, contact certifications@networktocode.com.
Yes. Under GDPR and CCPA regulations, you have the right to request:
To request data deletion or access, contact certifications@networktocode.com with your full name and exam date.
If the proctor suspects you are using unauthorized materials:
NCP certifications can be verified online:
For Individuals:
For Employers/HR:
Verification shows:
Yes! You can add your certification to LinkedIn:
Option 1: Direct Share (Recommended)
Option 2: Manual LinkedIn Entry
Your LinkedIn network will be notified of your new certification!
NCP certification can help you pursue roles such as:
NCP certification signals to employers that you can independently design and implement production-grade Nautobot automation solutions.
The Nautobot Certified App Developer (NCAD) certification is designed for engineers who build custom Nautobot apps and extend the platform at the code level. Details on availability and requirements are available at networktocode.com/certifications.
For additional questions:
Official certification resources:
Yes! We offer partnership opportunities for:
Contact certifications@networktocode.com for partnership information.
Validate your ability to extend Nautobot at the code level — from custom models and views to full app development — and become one of the first engineers certified across the full Nautobot professional track.
Register for the ExamOverview
This blueprint outlines the NCP exam domains and the specific skills you’ll be tested on. For detailed study guidance, recommendations, and resources, see the NCP Exam Preparation Guide.
This exam tests your ability to administer and manage Nautobot at scale, extend the platform using custom Jobs, config contexts, and webhooks, integrate with REST and GraphQL APIs using tools like pynautobot and Ansible, apply NetDevOps and Infrastructure as Code practices, and implement Golden Configuration for backup, compliance, and remediation workflows.
Domain 1: Advanced Nautobot Administration and Management (15%)
1.1 System Administration
1.2 Advanced Configuration and Integration
Domain 2: Nautobot Extensibility and Custom Development (25%) — HIGHEST WEIGHT
2.1 Core Extensibility Features
2.2 Advanced Extensibility
2.3 Nautobot Jobs Development
Domain 3: APIs and Integration Development (20%)
3.1 REST API Mastery
3.2 GraphQL Implementation
3.3 Integration Tools and Libraries
Domain 4: Infrastructure as Code and NetDevOps (20%)
4.1 Data-Driven Network Automation Architecture
4.2 Infrastructure as Code Implementation
4.3 NetDevOps Pipeline Integration
Domain 5: Golden Configuration Management (20%)
5.1 Golden Config Overview and Setup
5.2 Configuration Lifecycle Management
5.3 Compliance and Remediation
About This Guide
This guide provides detailed study recommendations, resources, and a structured learning path to help you prepare for the NCP exam. For the exam blueprint showing domains and skills, see NCP Exam Blueprint.
Recommended Study Time: 80-100 hours over 12 weeks (7-9 hours/week)
Note: The NCP targets engineers with active production or hands-on lab experience with Nautobot. Candidates who passed NCA recently but have not built real automation workflows should budget additional time for hands-on practice before attempting the NCP.
Production-level administration: RBAC, NAPALM integration, CLI mastery, system health, and advanced configuration. This domain is more conceptual than others but still requires practical understanding of how these features behave.
This is the highest weighted domain and the most applied area on the exam. You need practical experience with Jobs, Job Hooks, Webhooks, and Nautobot’s extensibility features — not just conceptual knowledge.
Deep, practical ability to use Nautobot’s REST API and GraphQL for automation. You should be comfortable writing Python code that queries, filters, and modifies Nautobot data via API — not just using the browser UI.
How to use Nautobot as the source of truth in a real automation pipeline — from data modeling through to configuration generation, deployment, and validation.
The Golden Configuration app is an NCP-specific topic not covered in the NCA. You need hands-on experience installing, configuring, and running the full Golden Config workflow: backup → intended config generation → compliance check → remediation.
Lab Tip: You can test Golden Config with simulated device output using a file-based backup approach — you do not need live network devices to practice the compliance workflow.
| Week | Focus | Hours | Activities |
| 1 | Administration — Admin UI, RBAC, NAPALM, CLI | 8-10 | Permissions, config.py, nautobot-server commands, NAPALM setup |
| 2-3 | Extensibility — Custom Fields, Dynamic Groups, Config Contexts | 12-15 | Read docs, create custom fields, set up Git data source |
| 4-5 | Extensibility — Jobs and Job Hooks | 14-16 | Write Jobs, test Job Hooks, configure Webhooks |
| 6-7 | APIs — REST, GraphQL, pynautobot, Ansible | 14-16 | API calls, GraphQL queries, pynautobot scripts, dynamic inventory |
| 8-9 | Golden Configuration — Setup to Compliance | 14-18 | Install app, backup, templates, compliance rules, remediation |
| 10 | IaC/NetDevOps — Config rendering pipeline | 8-10 | End-to-end workflow: data → template → config → deploy |
| 11 | NetDevOps — CI/CD, Git workflows, testing | 6-8 | Pipeline integration concepts, version control, rollback |
| 12 | Review & Final Preparation | 6-8 | Weak areas review, practice scenarios, system check |
Total Study Time: 80-100 hours over 12 weeks (7-9 hours/week)
Best Practice: Complete at least the first 60 days of 100 Days of Nautobot for structured hands-on learning before taking the exam.
IMPORTANT ⚠️
At the NCP level, hands-on experience is critical — not just recommended. The exam includes advanced scenario-based questions that require practical familiarity with how Nautobot features actually behave. Candidates who have only read documentation consistently underperform those with real hands-on experience.
Don’t try to understand it conceptually alone; install and run it
If you can build complex Jobs confidently, you’re well prepared for Domain 2
Open it against your lab Nautobot and write real queries rather than reading about syntax
For Jobs and pynautobot, reading examples in the GitHub repos teaches more than docs alone
The NCP leans heavily on “given this situation, what’s the best approach?” — think operationally
If any NCA domains felt shaky, reinforce them before diving into NCP content
Ask questions in Network to Code Slack; Golden Config and Jobs have active channels
Official Study ResourcesOfficial Nautobot Documentation
docs.nautobot.comNetwork Automation with Nautobot Book
(Chapters 1-12)100 Days of Nautobot** (recommended: complete at least first 60 days)
go.networktocode.com/100-days-of-nautobotGolden Configuration App Docs
docs.nautobot.com/projects/golden-configNautobot Extensibility, Automating Nautobot with Python and Ansible
Instructor Led Training and Digital LearningNautobot App Development Workshop
Hands-on app and Jobs developmentNetwork Programming and Automation
(Advanced Python and Ansible Courses)pynautobot GitHub
github.com/nautobot/pynautobotautobot-ansible GitHub
github.com/nautobot/nautobot-ansibleNautobot Community Resources
networktocode.com/community/open-source/Nautobot GitHub
github.com/nautobotNetwork to Code Blog
https://networktocode.com/blog/Network to Code Slack
slack.networktocode.comNetwork to Code Podcast
https://networktocode.com/community/podcasts/Network to Code YouTube
youtube.com/@networktocode6721Network to Code Events
networktocode.com/resources/events/
Training CoursesSource of Truth and Nautobot Fundamentals, Nautobot Extensibility, Automating Nautobot with Python and Ansible – Instructor Led Training or Digital On Demand Learning
Network Programming and Automation (Python I and Ansible I) – Instructor Led Training or Digital On Demand Learning
Automating Networks with Python II and Automating Networks with Ansible II
Nautobot Compliance & Remediation, with Golden Config App
for course schedules and registration
Register NowOnce you’ve completed your study plan and feel confident:
Questions? Email certifications@networktocode.com
Validate your ability to extend Nautobot at the code level — from custom models and views to full app development — and become one of the first engineers certified across the full Nautobot professional track.
Register for the Exam
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