NGFW Engineer (formerly PCNSE) Palo Alto Practice Test

The NGFW Engineer (formerly PCNSE) Palo Alto Practice Test is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests readiness for Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewall Engineer certification, which replaced the PCNSE when it retired on 31 July 2025 — interfaces, zones and high availability, routing, GlobalProtect and tunnels, device settings including authentication, virtual systems, logging, certificates, decryption and User-ID, and deployment, Panorama and automation — written to the NGFW Engineer exam datasheet and PAN-OS, GlobalProtect and Panorama documentation for 2026. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Palo Alto NGFW Engineer Readiness certificate (SOA-PAP). Every question is based on published standards and research — including PAN-OS administrator documentation (Palo Alto Networks), Panorama administrator documentation (Palo Alto Networks), GlobalProtect documentation (Palo Alto Networks) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Yes. Science of Apps has a free NGFW Engineer (formerly PCNSE) Palo Alto Practice Test built on the current Palo Alto Networks exam outline for 2026 and 2027. It covers interfaces, zones and high availability, routing, GlobalProtect and tunnels, device settings, decryption and User-ID and deployment, panorama and automation, scores you instantly and issues a verifiable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Palo Alto NGFW Engineer Readiness certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: PAN-OS administrator documentation (Palo Alto Networks); Panorama administrator documentation (Palo Alto Networks); GlobalProtect documentation (Palo Alto Networks); Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall Engineer: exam datasheet (Palo Alto Networks). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Interfaces, Zones and High Availability (Interface types, Zones and policy basics and HA); Routing, GlobalProtect and Tunnels (Routing, GlobalProtect and IPSec and GRE); Device Settings, Decryption and User-ID (Authentication and VSYS, Logging and updates and Certificates, decryption and User-ID); Deployment, Panorama and Automation (Deployment options, Panorama and APIs and reporting). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Firewall or network security engineer, Palo Alto administrator, Security architect, Managed security services engineer and Former PCNSE candidate. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show PCNSE knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

No. Palo Alto Networks retired the PCNSE exam on 31 July 2025 as part of its move to role-based certifications. Existing PCNSE certifications stay valid until their expiry date. The closest replacement is the Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall Engineer.

According to Palo Alto Networks' datasheet: PAN-OS networking configuration (40%) — interfaces, zones, HA, routing, GlobalProtect and tunnels; PAN-OS device settings (40%) — authentication, virtual systems, logging, updates, certificates and decryption, User-ID and web proxy; and integration and automation (20%) — deployment options, APIs, Panorama and reports.

No. It is an independent practice test written to the publicly available PCNSE content outline for 2026 and 2027, for checking your readiness before you book the real exam. Passing earns a Science of Apps certificate rather than the official credential.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.