Is the Network Automation & SDN certificate verifiable?

Yes. Every issued Hootix Academy certificate carries a unique credential code that anyone can verify online.

How is the Network Automation & SDN exam structured?

It is a 130-minute proctored multiple-choice exam of 88 questions; you need 75% to pass.

Do I need to buy the course to take the exam?

You can purchase the certification exam on its own, or bundle it with the full study course at a reduced price.

How long does the Network Automation & SDN course take?

About 30 hours of self-paced study.

Network Automation & SDN Certification

Automate, program and software-define modern networks end to end

Key facts

Level: Professional
Field: Networking & Infrastructure
Estimated study time: about 30 hours
Credential price: $149
Exam: 88 questions · 130 minutes · pass mark 75%

About the Network Automation & SDN certification

The Network Automation & SDN certification validates that you can replace manual, box-by-box network operations with programmable, automated and software-defined workflows. You will reason about imperative vs declarative configuration, idempotency, and the model-driven stack that underpins modern network engineering. The exam covers the case for automation and infrastructure as code; data formats (JSON, YAML, XML) and data models (YANG); the API landscape (REST, RESTCONF, NETCONF, gRPC/gNMI); model-driven telemetry versus SNMP; Python for network automation (requests, Netmiko, NAPALM); Ansible for networking (playbooks, inventory, modules, idempotency); Git and CI/CD for network config; SDN fundamentals (control- vs data-plane separation, the controller, OpenFlow); SD-WAN and SD-Access / intent-based networking; network controllers and orchestration; VXLAN/EVPN overlays and underlays; NFV and virtual network functions; cloud networking and APIs; configuration drift management; pre/post-change testing and validation; observability and assurance; event-driven automation; and the security of automation (secrets management, RBAC). It is vendor-neutral: the principles transfer across Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Nokia, open-source controllers and the public clouds. Candidates should already hold the Routing & Switching associate credential or equivalent hands-on experience, and be comfortable reading small snippets of YAML, JSON, Python and Ansible.

What you will learn

The official Network Automation & SDN study course covers:

Why Automate & the Mindset Shift — The business case for automation, imperative vs declarative thinking, and idempotency — the mental model the rest of the field rests on.
Data Formats & Models — JSON, YAML and XML — how to read them — plus data models and YANG, the schema layer beneath model-driven networking.
APIs & Telemetry — REST, RESTCONF, NETCONF and gRPC/gNMI — when each fits — plus model-driven streaming telemetry versus SNMP polling.
Python & Ansible for Networking — Practical automation: the requests/Netmiko/NAPALM toolbox and Ansible playbooks, inventory, modules and idempotent tasks.
IaC, Git & CI/CD — Infrastructure as code with Git as the source of truth, and CI/CD pipelines that lint, test, deploy and verify network changes.
SDN, SD-WAN & Intent-Based Networking — Control/data-plane separation, controllers and OpenFlow, SD-WAN, intent-based networking, overlays/underlays, NFV, observability and event-driven aut…

Prerequisites

Routing & Switching Associate

Frequently asked questions

Is the Network Automation & SDN certificate verifiable?: Yes. Every issued Hootix Academy certificate carries a unique credential code that anyone can verify online.
How is the Network Automation & SDN exam structured?: It is a 130-minute proctored multiple-choice exam of 88 questions; you need 75% to pass.
Do I need to buy the course to take the exam?: You can purchase the certification exam on its own, or bundle it with the full study course at a reduced price.
How long does the Network Automation & SDN course take?: About 30 hours of self-paced study.