SRA Certification

What the Nokia SRA Certification Actually Is

Nokia Service Routing Architect (SRA) is the architect-level credential in Nokia's service routing certification track. It is built around the Nokia 7750 Service Router family and the SR OS operating system, and it validates that a candidate can design, implement, and troubleshoot complex carrier-grade service networks, not just recite protocol definitions.

Two things separate SRA from the entry-level credentials in the same program. First, it is a multi-exam certification: you do not sit one test and receive a certificate. You work through a series of written exams and then a hands-on practical assessment. Second, it is distinct from NRS I and NRS II, which sit earlier in the Nokia ladder. If you are new to the acronym itself, our explainers on what SRA certification is and what SRA stands for cover the naming ground, and this article focuses on how the credential is structured and what it demands.

The Current Route: Five Written Exams Plus a Lab

Effective September 8, 2026, Nokia's program update defines the current route to SRA as five written exams followed by the practical lab. The written components are:

1. 4A0-102 - BGP for Internet Routing
2. 4A0-105 - Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS)
3. 4A0-106 - Virtual Private Routed Networks (VPRN)
4. 4A0-107 - Quality of Service (QoS)
5. 4A0-115 - Ethernet VPN Services (EVPN)

After those, the capstone is the SRA Practical Lab, ASRA4A0, a 7-hour hands-on assessment. The six items map directly to the six content areas we discuss below, and our complete guide to all six SRA content areas gives a broader orientation to how they fit together.

An important caution: because the route consists of several separate written exams, there is no single "SRA exam" with one question count, one duration, or one passing threshold. Any source that quotes one number for the whole certification is oversimplifying. Individual written exams are scheduled and delivered through Nokia's testing process, and specifics such as item counts and scoring are not something this guide will assert beyond what Nokia publishes. For a deeper look at how scoring questions are typically framed, see our discussion of the SRA passing score.

The 4A0-C02 Composite: What It Replaces and What It Doesn't

Nokia offers an optional composite exam, 4A0-C02, as an alternative to taking certain written exams individually. The scope of the substitution is narrow and easy to misread, so it is worth being precise:

In other words, the composite consolidates four written exams into one sitting but leaves the EVPN exam and the practical lab fully intact. Candidates who choose the composite route still need to prepare for BGP, VPLS, VPRN, and QoS in the same depth; they simply face them in a different delivery format. Whether the composite or the individual exams suit you better depends on your study style: some prefer to bank each topic with a separate result, others prefer a single consolidated effort.

Domain 1: BGP for Internet Routing (4A0-102)

The BGP domain is where inter-domain architecture meets SR OS configuration. It treats BGP as a design tool for service providers, not just a protocol to memorize.

The pattern to notice is that every bullet pairs a concept with an operational verb: configure, verify, troubleshoot. Expect the exam to probe whether you can predict behavior, such as which path a route reflector will advertise or how a policy change will alter selection, rather than simply define terms. Advertise-external, add-paths, and fast reroute are the most "SR OS flavored" items here, because they address convergence and path diversity in ways that depend on how Nokia implements them.

Domain 2: Virtual Private LAN Services (4A0-105)

VPLS is a large domain because it spans foundations, resilience, and scale. The topic list reads like a progression from "build a service" to "keep it alive at scale."

Two themes recur. The first is loop prevention and redundancy: RSTP, M-VPLS, MC-LAG, and pseudowire resilience are all different answers to "how do I stay up without creating a loop?" The second is MAC-table pressure: FDB maintenance, H-VPLS, and PBB all exist because flat VPLS designs learn too many MAC addresses. Understanding why each mechanism exists makes it far easier to choose the right one in a scenario.

Domain 3: Virtual Private Routed Networks (4A0-106)

VPRN is Nokia's term for MPLS Layer-3 VPNs. This domain moves from the basic architecture to the advanced topologies that appear in real carrier networks.

Inter-AS Options A, B, and C and carrier-supporting-carrier are the conceptual hurdles. Each changes where VPN routes and labels are exchanged and which routers must hold which state, so a candidate who can sketch the control-plane and forwarding-plane path for each model is well placed. Note the overlap with the BGP domain: VPRN relies heavily on MP-BGP, so strength in 4A0-102 pays dividends here.

Domain 4: Quality of Service (4A0-107)

QoS is the most granular of the written domains, with a long list of mechanisms that interlock. It rewards candidates who learn the packet's journey through classification, queuing, scheduling, and marking in order.

Domain 5: Ethernet VPN Services (4A0-115)

EVPN is the newest written component and the one the composite does not cover. It addresses Layer-2, Layer-3, and data-center services under one BGP-based control plane.

The IRB variants and the multihoming mechanics are the densest areas. Distinguishing asymmetric from symmetric IRB, and knowing how designated-forwarder election and aliasing behave under failure, is typical of the reasoning this domain demands. Candidates with a strong VPLS background will recognize several problems EVPN was designed to solve, which makes the contrast a useful study device.

Domain 6: The ASRA4A0 Practical Lab

The lab is the defining element of the SRA. It is a practical assessment, not a multiple-choice test, and there is no item count to speak of. Nokia describes the objective as designing and implementing live 7750 SR service networks, interoperating, diagnosing performance, and resolving faults using either classic CLI or MD-CLI.

Format

• Total length: 7 hours of working time
• Structure: two independent 3.5-hour sections, with a 1-hour lunch that is not counted in the 7 hours
• Task style: topics must be both configured and verified, although not every topic necessarily appears
• CLI choice: classic CLI or MD-CLI

Nokia states that the lab content is unchanged by the September 2026 program update, so existing lab preparation remains relevant.

Practical Scope by Technology

Notice what the lab scope emphasizes: configuration speed and verification discipline. Knowing a feature exists is not enough; you must apply it correctly under time pressure and prove that it works. For that reason, lab-oriented preparation should involve repeatedly building services from scratch and validating them with show and OAM commands. Our broader difficulty guide for the SRA exam discusses why hands-on assessments feel different from written ones.

Eligibility Traps and Outdated Information

The September 2026 program update introduced changes that make older material misleading. Three points deserve attention.

• Multicast 4A0-108 is retired. It is not a current SRA requirement, even if older study resources list it.
• Prior eligibility is protected. Candidates who were previously eligible for the lab retain that eligibility under the announced transition.
• Training is not mandatory. Course prerequisites are preparation recommendations, not additional examination requirements. You can attempt the exams without taking the associated courses.

Also keep program changes in their proper lanes: NRS I changes announced for March 2027 must not be applied to the current SRA scope. For a full walkthrough of qualifying steps, see our SRA requirements guide, and for scheduling logistics, check SRA exam dates and scheduling.

Sequencing Your Preparation Around the Domains

The domains are not independent, and a sensible order exploits their overlap. The following timeline is one reasonable arrangement, tied to dependencies rather than generic scheduling advice.

To test written-exam recall along the way, use the original supplemental questions on our practice test site. These are independent study materials, not actual exam questions, and they carry no issuer endorsement or guarantee of results.

Who Benefits From This Credential

SRA is aimed at engineers who build and operate service-provider and large-enterprise transport and services networks on Nokia platforms. Typical beneficiaries include network architects, senior IP/MPLS engineers, and design or pre-sales engineers at carriers, as well as integrators and vendors that deploy 7750 SR-based services. The six domains read like a carrier's service catalog: Internet peering, E-LAN and E-Line services, Layer-3 VPNs, differentiated QoS, and data-center interconnect through EVPN.

Because the credential ends in a practical lab, it signals hands-on competence rather than test-taking skill, which employers in this space tend to value. For market perspective, explore our pieces on SRA-related jobs, the cost of the certification, and the return on investment. This article deliberately avoids salary figures or fees, since no verified single overall exam fee is established here; check Nokia's current program pages for pricing before budgeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a foundational overview before diving into exam details, revisit what SRA is, then use the practice test site to reinforce each domain as you progress.