Cortex XDR Certification questions

tlmarques — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:38:03 GMT

The PCDRA exam was removed on April 30, 2025.

Now there are new certifications, Analyst and Enginee.

What is the exam code now?

I see that the study material is now only at https://learn.paloaltonetworks.com/learn/learning-plans/455/palo-alto-networks-certified-xdr-analyst. Is that correct?

And is this material for both certifications?

Re: Cortex XDR Certification questions

susekar — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 22:04:25 GMT

Hello @tlmarques ,

Greetings for the day.

Palo Alto Networks has recently redesigned its certification framework to align with real-world job roles across Security Operations, Network Security, and Cloud Security. This redesign includes the transition from established certifications such as the Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Response Analyst (PCDRA) to updated role-based certification tracks.

Exam Codes:

The available information does not specify the alphanumeric exam codes for the new Cortex XDR Analyst and Cortex XDR Engineer certifications.

For the most accurate and up-to-date exam codes, refer directly to the Palo Alto Networks certification portal.

Study Materials and Learning Resources:

The available materials do not explicitly confirm whether the URL below is the official primary learning plan for the new Analyst certification:

https://learn.paloaltonetworks.com/learn/learning-plans/455/palo-alto-networks-certified-xdr-analyst

However, the following resources are considered authoritative for preparing for Cortex analyst-level exams:

Primary Reference:

The Cortex XDR Architecture and Administration Guide is widely regarded as the most current and authoritative reference for certification preparation. Platform-based training materials may occasionally lag behind product updates.

Foundational Training

The EDU-160 (Cortex XDR: Architecture, Analytics, and Causality Analysis) course available in the Palo Alto Networks Learning Center provides foundational instruction covering architecture, analytics, and investigation workflows relevant to the Analyst and Engineer tracks.

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