The Cisco 500-220 ECMS exam, Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions, is the single required exam for the Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification. It tests whether you can plan, design, implement, monitor, and troubleshoot Meraki deployments covering wireless, switching, security appliances, SD-WAN, cameras, and endpoint management. It suits network engineers, solutions architects, and managed service staff who work in the Meraki Dashboard daily. Cisco lists no formal prerequisites for it.
Meraki hardware is configured and monitored from a cloud Dashboard instead of device by device. The Specialist certification confirms you can run that model well. Cisco describes it as certifying the ability to plan, design, implement, and operate Meraki solutions across the full product suite: wireless LAN, switching, security and SD-WAN, wireless WAN, Meraki Insight, smart cameras, and mobile device management.
Because it is a specialist level credential, it signals depth in one product family. It is not a general networking exam, and Cisco notes that other exams containing Meraki topics do not count as prerequisites or as a way to recertify this one.
Cisco specifies no prerequisites, and the exam is open worldwide. In practice, you will find it easier if you have already built or maintained Meraki networks. You should be comfortable with VLANs, routing, firewall rules, wireless fundamentals, and VPN concepts, since the exam applies them inside Meraki’s feature set.
Cisco recommends two courses: Engineering Cisco Meraki Solutions Part 1 and Part 2. Cisco also lists a Cisco U. learning path and instructor led training as preparation options.
The exam runs 90 minutes and is offered in English. Cisco does not publish a fixed question count or a passing score, so any specific figure you see elsewhere should be treated as unofficial. Expect a mix of knowledge and scenario questions, but confirm the current question styles and delivery options (test center or online proctored) on Cisco’s exam page before booking.
The fee is listed at $300 USD, and Cisco Learning Credits are accepted as payment. Regional pricing and taxes can change the final amount.
Cisco’s blueprint divides the exam into four weighted areas. Cisco notes that the topics are general guidelines and may change without notice, so always compare against the current PDF.
Cisco Meraki Cloud Management (15%). Cloud architecture, access methods for Dashboard and devices, organization structure and permissions, licensing and renewals, and a comparison of deployment workflows.
Design (30%). The heaviest domain. It covers scalable Auto VPN architectures, vMX deployment considerations, dynamic path selection, and stable, secure routing. It also covers enterprise services such as high availability, QoS for voice and video, Layer 2 security, firewall and IPS rules, and network access control. Wireless design includes high density, enterprise, and guest access scenarios, and there is a section on comparing endpoint and application management methods.
Implementation (25%). Configuring MX security appliances (SVIs, dynamic and static routing, Auto VPN, traffic shaping and SD-WAN, threat protection, 802.1x), MS switches (QoS, access policies, replicating configurations), and MR access points (SSIDs for enterprise and BYOD, RF profiles, Air Marshal). It also covers Systems Manager profiles and policies, MV camera retention and alerting, and Meraki Insight application thresholds.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting (30%). Alerts through Dashboard, SNMP, Syslog, and Netflow, the Dashboard API, firmware upgrades, and troubleshooting Layer 2 and Layer 3 issues, wireless client connectivity, local status pages, security threats in Security Center, and application performance in Meraki Insight.
Design and Monitoring together make up 60% of the exam, so scenario reasoning matters more than memorizing menu locations.
Cisco lists the exam on its certification site, where you can find scheduling steps and exam logistics. Registration is handled through Cisco’s official process, so start from the 500-220 ECMS page on sign in with your Cisco account, and follow the scheduling instructions shown there. Check the current ID requirements, rescheduling rules, and retake policy before you pay, because these can change.
The Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist certification is valid for three years. Published recertification routes include passing one Cisco technology core exam, passing two professional concentration exams, passing a CCIE lab, or earning 40 Continuing Education credits. Confirm the current list with Cisco before your expiry date.
The credential is most relevant to roles that deploy and support Meraki across branch offices, campuses, and distributed sites. That includes engineers at managed service providers and consultancies who run many Meraki organizations for different customers. The Design weighting and the coverage of Auto VPN, SD-WAN policies, and API based monitoring reflect how Meraki is used in multi site environments, and the certification shows you can reason about those designs rather than only click through the Dashboard.
Because the exam rewards scenario judgment, timed practice helps most after you have worked through the Cisco courses and some lab time. The free practice tests on AllExamQuestions.com let you check yourself against the four domains above, read the explanations for questions you miss, and see which areas, such as design or troubleshooting, need another pass before you book.
Last updated on Oct, 17 2026
