- Identify and describe device selection criteria
- Demonstrate understanding of the bandwidth plan
- Identify and describe device licensing options and tiers
- Explain the assessment of existing network architecture
Palo Alto Networks Certification Training Course
Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer Certification Training Course
We'll get you ready for the Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer exam, the Specialist credential for engineers who plan, deploy, run and troubleshoot SD-WAN.
Course focus: Planning and design, deployment and configuration, operations and monitoring, Unified SASE and troubleshooting, mapped to the official SD-WAN Engineer blueprint.
Course Overview
What the SD-WAN Engineer course covers and who it's for.
Per Palo Alto Networks, SD-WAN Engineer validates the skills engineers need to plan, deploy, configure, operate, monitor and troubleshoot SD-WAN environments. It's one of the recommended paths after the PCNSE retirement.
We follow the five domains in the official datasheet. Planning and design and deployment and configuration are 24% each, troubleshooting is 20%, and we finish with operations, monitoring and Unified SASE.
Accumentum is an independent training provider. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or a partner of Palo Alto Networks, and this isn't official Palo Alto Networks training. Palo Alto Networks sets exam content, fees and policies, so check paloaltonetworks.com before you book.
Course Objectives
Get ready for SD-WAN Engineer the way the exam is built.
01
Cover the Whole Blueprint
Work through all 5 domains in the official SD-WAN Engineer datasheet, weighted the way the exam weights them.
02
Go Deep on Planning and Design
Planning and Design is 24% of the exam score per Palo Alto Networks, so it gets the most class time.
03
Practice in a Lab
Hands-on lab work on the tasks the SD-WAN Engineer blueprint lists, not just slides.
04
Be Ready for Test Day
The exam is in person at a Pearson VUE test center with multiple choice, matching and ordering items. We practice all three.
Who Should Attend
- SASE and Prisma SD-WAN engineers.
- Network engineers who run branch connectivity.
- Security engineers who work with SD-WAN teams.
- SSE consultants and support engineers.
Prerequisites
- Palo Alto Networks doesn't list a required prerequisite certification, and we don't have enrollment prerequisites either.
- Working knowledge of routing, WAN design and network security will help. Network Security Professional is a good first step.
Pathway Map
The SD-WAN Engineer course in 5 modules.
Each module is one domain from the official datasheet, with its exam weight.
Course Content
- Explain Prisma SD-WAN deployment and configuration
- Identify and describe site-specific settings
- Explain the process of developing configuration templates for data centers and branches
- Explain dynamic and static routing protocol tuning
- Demonstrate understanding of device-level statistics monitoring
- Explain controller-generated incident, alert, statistics, and audit log monitoring
- Explain alert and notification configuration
- Demonstrate understanding of WAN Clarity reports
- Explain the integration of Prisma SD-WAN with Prisma Access and Security policy setup
- Explain ADEM configuration for monitoring application performance
- Identify and describe network setting configurations to support IoT device connectivity based on Device-ID
- Explain the integration of Prisma SD-WAN with Cloud Identity Engine (CIE)
- Explain the process of troubleshooting connectivity issues between sites
- Demonstrate understanding of routing and forwarding issue resolution
- Identify and describe application performance issues
- Explain policy issue troubleshooting
Course Features
How we teach SD-WAN Engineer.
Instructor-Led Classes
Live instruction with time for questions, so you aren't figuring out the hard parts alone.
Hands-On Labs
Lab work tied to the tasks in the SD-WAN Engineer blueprint.
Blueprint Mapping
Every module maps to a domain in the official SD-WAN Engineer datasheet.
Exam Strategy
Practice with multiple choice, matching and ordering questions, plus test center tips.
Certification Exam
About the SD-WAN Engineer exam.
SD-WAN Engineer Exam Readiness
Our students pass at a 98.8% rate across Accumentum courses. We'll get you ready for SD-WAN Engineer the same way.
Per Palo Alto Networks, SD-WAN Engineer is a Specialist level exam priced at $250 USD, and taxes may apply. Since August 1, 2025, Palo Alto Networks exams are delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centers only. Exams are in English, with multiple choice, matching and ordering questions.
The certification is valid for two years and you renew by retaking the exam. If you fail, the waits before retakes are 15, 30 and then 90 days. Full details are on the official SD-WAN Engineer page.
Accumentum is an independent training provider. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or a partner of Palo Alto Networks, and this isn't official Palo Alto Networks training. Palo Alto Networks sets exam content, fees and policies, so check paloaltonetworks.com before you book.
Exam Blueprint
The full SD-WAN Engineer blueprint.
We map our lessons to the official SD-WAN Engineer datasheet. Here is that blueprint, all 5 domains and 31 objectives, so you can see exactly what is in scope.
Domain 1: Planning and Design (24%)
1.1 Identify and describe device selection criteria
1.2 Demonstrate understanding of the bandwidth plan
1.3 Identify and describe device licensing options and tiers
1.4 Explain the assessment of existing network architecture
1.5 Identify and describe data center configuration and data center interconnection (DCI) options
1.6 Explain branch (gateway) configuration
1.7 Identify and describe security requirements and configuration
1.8 Explain the process of planning for interconnectivity and high availability (HA)
1.9 Explain policy design and management
- Path policies
- Security policies
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Performance policies
- NAT policies
Domain 2: Deployment and Configuration (24%)
2.1 Explain Prisma SD-WAN deployment and configuration
2.2 Identify and describe site-specific settings
2.3 Explain the process of developing configuration templates for data centers and branches
2.4 Explain dynamic and static routing protocol tuning
2.5 Explain VRF implementation for network segmentation
Domain 3: Operations and Monitoring (18%)
3.1 Demonstrate understanding of device-level statistics monitoring
3.2 Explain controller-generated incident, alert, statistics, and audit log monitoring
3.3 Explain alert and notification configuration
3.4 Demonstrate understanding of WAN Clarity reports
3.5 Explain the implementation of network monitoring tools for real-time visibility
3.6 Demonstrate understanding of monitoring and managing SASE-related events
Domain 4: Unified SASE (14%)
4.1 Explain the integration of Prisma SD-WAN with Prisma Access and Security policy setup
4.2 Explain ADEM configuration for monitoring application performance
4.3 Identify and describe network setting configurations to support IoT device connectivity based on Device-ID
4.4 Explain the integration of Prisma SD-WAN with Cloud Identity Engine (CIE)
4.5 Demonstrate understanding of path and Security policy implementation based on User / Group ID
Domain 5: Troubleshooting (20%)
5.1 Explain the process of troubleshooting connectivity issues between sites
5.2 Demonstrate understanding of routing and forwarding issue resolution
5.3 Identify and describe application performance issues
5.4 Explain policy issue troubleshooting
5.5 Describe data analysis using the co-pilot
5.6 Explain the use of analytics to optimize network configurations and reporting
Before You Start
Who should take SD-WAN Engineer.
Here is who Palo Alto Networks says the SD-WAN Engineer exam is for and what it expects you to bring, taken from the official datasheet.
Who Palo Alto Networks wrote this exam for
This exam is designed for individuals with the following job roles:
- SASE engineer
- Prisma SD-WAN engineer
- SD-WAN engineer
- Network engineer
- Security engineer
- SSE professional services consultant
- SSE technical support engineer
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Working knowledge of network security
- Working knowledge of TCP/IP and how traffic is directed within a network, including routing protocols
- Working knowledge of networking infrastructure, protocols, and topology
- Basic understanding of endpoint OS fundamentals and security hardening methods
- Working knowledge of secure access service edge (SASE) and security automation technology
- Basic knowledge of current and emergent trends in SD-WAN and information security
- Use security models/architectures (such as Defense in Depth, Zero Trust)
- Engineering level knowledge of Prisma SD-WAN
- Basic knowledge of programming and scripting languages such as Python, Powershell, and SQL
Study Plan
How we approach SD-WAN Engineer prep.
The weights tell you where to spend your hours. Planning and Design leads at 24%.
Work in the actual console whenever you can. Questions are written around how the product behaves today, not how it looked a few releases ago.
Our course follows the same blueprint, with on demand lessons you can pause and replay, and our students pass at a 98.8% rate across Accumentum courses.
Exam Policies
What happens before and after the SD-WAN Engineer exam.
Once you pass SD-WAN Engineer, the certification stays valid for two years. Palo Alto Networks recertification means retaking the current exam.
Passing a higher level exam in the same track automatically extends your active lower level certifications in that track by two years. For SD-WAN Engineer that can include an active Network Security Professional, Cybersecurity Practitioner or Cybersecurity Apprentice certification.
If you don't pass, you get a results report broken down by domain. Palo Alto Networks requires a 15 day wait before a second attempt, 30 days before a third and 90 days before any attempt after that. After a pass you can't sit the same exam again for 18 months.
Exams are delivered in English through Pearson VUE, and candidates testing in non English speaking countries get a 30 minute time extension by default. Your badge and certificate come through Credly.
Career Outcomes
What SD-WAN Engineer does for your career.
SD-WAN Engineer suits network and SASE engineers who plan, roll out and run Prisma SD-WAN across branch sites. It is a focused credential for a focused job, and it reads clearly on a resume.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for information security analysts was $129,180 in May 2025. BLS also projects employment of information security analysts to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. That figure is a national midpoint. Where you live, how long you have been in the field and who you work for all move the number. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Funding
Ways to pay for SD-WAN Engineer training.
Our funding page lays out every way to pay for training, and PathPay lists the courses that qualify for a monthly plan.
Veterans can look at VR&E benefits for career training, and our Veteran Skill Forge programs bundle several courses into one path. Questions about your situation? Contact us and we'll talk it through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our SD-WAN Engineer course.
Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer is a Specialist level certification from Palo Alto Networks. Details are on the official certification page at https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/services/education/palo-alto-networks-sd-wan-engineer.
No. We're an independent training provider and we aren't a Palo Alto Networks partner. Our course follows the public exam blueprint in the official datasheet. Palo Alto Networks offers its own learning paths at learn.paloaltonetworks.com.
Palo Alto Networks lists Specialist exams at $250 USD, and taxes may apply. Vouchers are sold through Pearson VUE and expire 12 months after purchase. Check the current price before you buy.
No. Since August 1, 2025, Palo Alto Networks certification exams are delivered in person at Pearson VUE test centers only.
Two years from the date you pass. You renew by retaking the exam, and passing a higher level exam in the same track renews your active lower level certifications.
Palo Alto Networks doesn't list a required prerequisite certification, and we don't have enrollment prerequisites either. Working knowledge of routing, WAN design and network security will help. Network Security Professional is a good first step.
Instructor-led, with hands-on labs and practice questions. Ask us about upcoming class dates.
Use the registration page linked below, or email info@accumentum.net and we'll follow up with dates and next steps.
5. Per the official datasheet they are Planning and Design (24%), Deployment and Configuration (24%), Operations and Monitoring (18%), Unified SASE (14%), Troubleshooting (20%).
Planning and Design at 24%, per the Palo Alto Networks datasheet.
Palo Alto Networks lists SASE engineer, Prisma SD-WAN engineer, SD-WAN engineer, network engineer, security engineer, SSE professional services consultant and SSE technical support engineer.
Palo Alto Networks requires a 15 day wait after a first failed attempt, 30 days after a second and 90 days after a third. Once you pass, you can't retake the same exam for 18 months.
Our PathPay page lists the courses that qualify for a monthly plan. For anything else, contact us and we'll go over options.
Enrollment
Enroll in SD-WAN Engineer training with Accumentum.
Enroll in our SD-WAN Engineer course to get ready for the Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer exam with instructor-led classes and hands-on labs.
For dates and next steps, use the registration page linked below or email info@accumentum.net.
Ready to start on SD-WAN Engineer?
Tell us your target date and we'll help you plan the path.