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Exam Information
Official specifications published by CWNP
Exam Format
90 min
60
70%
Professional
Registration
$349.99 USD
Prometric
English
Validity
3 years
Pass the current version of the CWAP exam before expiration; Maintain a current CWNA certification (required for CWAP validity); Passing CWAP renews your CWNA for another 3 years
CWAP-405 Exam Topics and Domains
CWAP-405 is organized into 6 weighted domains.
1
Protocol Analysis
15%
Capture 802.11 frames using the appropriate methods
Select capture devicesInstall monitor mode driversSelect capture location(s)Capture sufficient data for analysisCapture all channels or capture on a single channel as neededCapture roaming events
- Select and configure appropriate capture devices for various scenarios
- Install and configure monitor mode drivers
- Determine optimal capture locations
- Capture sufficient data for comprehensive analysis
- Execute single and multi-channel captures
- Successfully capture roaming events
Understand and apply the common capture configuration parameters available in protocol analysis tools
Save to diskPacket slicingEvent triggersBuffer optionsChannels and channel widthsCapture filtersChannel scanning and dwell time
- Configure capture-to-disk options
- Implement packet slicing for storage optimization
- Set up event triggers for automated captures
- Configure buffer options appropriately
- Capture on various channel widths
- Create effective capture filters
- Configure channel scanning and dwell times
Understand and apply common protocol analyzer features and functions
Use appropriate display filters to view relevant frames and packetsUse colorization to highlight important frames and packetsConfigure and display columns for analysis purposesView frame and packet decodes and understand the information shownUse multiple adapters and channel aggregationImplement protocol analyzer decryption proceduresView and use a capture's statistical information for analysisUse expert mode for analysisView and understand peer maps
- Create and apply effective display filters
- Use colorization for visual analysis
- Configure custom columns
- Interpret frame decodes
- Perform multi-adapter captures
- Decrypt captured traffic when possible
- Analyze capture statistics
- Utilize expert mode features
- Interpret peer maps
Utilize additional tools for 802.11 analysis
WLAN scanners and discovery toolsProtocol capture visualization and analysis toolsCentralized monitoring, alerting and forensic toolsClient experience monitoring tools
- Use WLAN scanning tools effectively
- Apply visualization tools for analysis
- Implement centralized monitoring
- Monitor client experience
Ensure appropriate troubleshooting methods are used with all analysis types
Define the problemDetermine the scale of the problemIdentify probable causesCapture and analyze the dataObserve the problemChoose appropriate remediation stepsDocument the problem and resolution
- Follow systematic troubleshooting methodology
- Define problems accurately
- Determine problem scale
- Identify probable causes
- Collect and analyze appropriate data
- Observe and replicate issues
- Select and validate remediation
- Document findings and resolutions
2
Spectrum Analysis
10%
Capture RF spectrum data and understand the common views available in spectrum analyzers
Install, configure and use spectrum analysis software and hardwareCapture RF spectrum data using handheld, laptop-based and infrastructure spectrum capture solutionsUnderstand and use spectrum analyzer views
- Install and configure spectrum analyzers
- Capture spectrum data using various devices
- Navigate and interpret spectrum analyzer views
- Use real-time FFT displays
- Analyze waterfall and spectrogram views
- Understand utilization and duty cycle displays
Analyze spectrum captures to identify relevant RF information and issues
Signal amplitude vs frequencyRF noise floor in an environmentSignal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for a given signalSources of RF interference and their locationsRF channel utilizationNon-Wi-Fi transmitters and their impact on WLAN communicationsOverlapping and non-overlapping adjacent channel interferencePoor performing or faulty radios
- Measure signal amplitude and frequency
- Determine RF noise floor
- Calculate and interpret SNR
- Identify and locate interference sources
- Measure RF channel utilization
- Identify non-Wi-Fi transmitters
- Recognize CCI and ACI
- Identify faulty radios
Analyze spectrum captures to identify various device signatures
Identify various 802.11 PHYsIdentify non-802.11 devices based on RF behaviors and signatures
- Identify DSSS, OFDM, and OFDMA signatures
- Recognize different channel widths
- Locate primary channels
- Identify frequency hopping devices
- Recognize IoT device signatures
- Identify microwave oven interference
- Recognize video device signatures
- Identify RF jammers and other interference
Use centralized spectrum analysis solutions
AP-based spectrum analysisSensor-based spectrum analysis
- Use AP-based spectrum analysis features
- Deploy and use spectrum sensors
- Leverage centralized spectrum management platforms
3
PHY Layers and Technologies
10%
Understand and describe the functions of the PHY layer and the PHY protocol data units (PPDUs)
DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)HR/DSSS (High Rate/Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing)ERP (Extended Rate PHY)HT (High Throughput)VHT (Very High Throughput)HE (High Efficiency)EHT (Extremely High Throughput)
- Understand DSSS and HR/DSSS operation
- Explain OFDM and ERP principles
- Describe HT (802.11n) features
- Explain VHT (802.11ac) operation
- Understand HE (802.11ax) efficiency mechanisms
- Describe EHT (802.11be) advancements
Apply the understanding of PHY technologies to captured data
PHY headers, preambles, training fieldsFrame aggregationData rates and MCS index
- Analyze PHY headers in protocol captures
- Identify frame aggregation
- Understand data rates and MCS indexing
- Apply PHY knowledge to troubleshooting
Identify and use PHY information provided in pseudo-headers within protocol analyzers
Pseudo-header formatsKey pseudo-header content
- Read and interpret Radiotap headers
- Understand PPI headers
- Extract key PHY metrics from pseudo-headers
- Use pseudo-header data for troubleshooting
Recognize the limits of protocol analyzers in capturing PHY information
NULL data packets and PHY headers
- Understand protocol analyzer limitations
- Recognize uncapturable PHY data
Use appropriate capture devices based on an understanding of PHY types
Supported PHYsSupported spatial streams
- Select capture devices based on PHY requirements
- Understand spatial stream support needs
4
MAC Sublayer and Functions
25%
Understand frame encapsulation and frame aggregation
Frame aggregation (A-MSDU and A-MPDU)
- Understand A-MSDU operation
- Understand A-MPDU operation
- Analyze aggregated frames in protocol captures
Identify and use MAC information in captured data for analysis
Management, Control, and Data framesMAC frame formats and contents802.11 Management Frame FormatsData and QoS Data Frame Formats802.11 Control Frame Formats
- Identify all 802.11 frame types
- Analyze MAC header fields
- Understand To DS and From DS logic
- Read and interpret management frames
- Analyze data and QoS data frames
- Understand control frames and their use
Validate BSS capabilities through protocol analysis
Country codeMinimum basic rateSupported rates and coding schemesBeacon intervalWMM settingsRSN settingsHT/VHT/HE/EHT capabilitiesChannel widthPrimary channelHidden or non-broadcast SSIDs
- Validate country code configuration
- Verify basic and supported rates
- Analyze beacon interval
- Validate WMM configuration
- Verify RSN settings
- Analyze HT/VHT/HE/EHT capabilities
- Validate channel width and primary channel
- Identify hidden SSID configuration
Identify and analyze CRC error frames and retransmitted frames
CRC/FCS errorsRetransmitted frames
- Identify FCS errors in protocol captures
- Analyze retransmitted frames
- Understand causes of errors and retries
5
WLAN Medium Access
10%
Understand 802.11 contention algorithms in-depth
Distributed Coordination Function (DCF)Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) and Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)
- Understand DCF operation and components
- Explain carrier sense mechanisms
- Understand NAV and virtual carrier sense
- Explain backoff algorithm
- Understand interframe spacing
- Explain EDCA enhancements
- Understand WMM access categories
- Analyze WMM parameters
Analyze QoS configuration and operations
Verify QoS parameters in capture filesEnsure QoS is implemented end-to-end with proper QoS Mappings
- Verify QoS configuration from captures
- Analyze QoS data frames
- Validate QoS mappings
- Troubleshoot QoS implementation
6
802.11 Frame Exchanges
30%
Capture, understand, and analyze BSS discovery and joining frame exchanges
BSS discovery802.11 Authentication and Association802.1X/EAP exchangesPre-shared key authenticationFour-way handshakeGroup key exchangeSimultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE)WPA2WPA3Fast secure roaming mechanisms
- Analyze BSS discovery processes
- Understand authentication and association
- Analyze 802.1X/EAP exchanges
- Understand PSK authentication
- Analyze four-way handshake
- Understand group key exchanges
- Analyze SAE (WPA3-Personal)
- Understand OWE operation
- Compare WPA2 and WPA3
- Analyze fast roaming mechanisms
Analyze roaming behavior and resolve problems related to roaming
Sticky clientsExcessive roamingMultiple channel capture
- Identify and troubleshoot sticky clients
- Identify and resolve excessive roaming
- Capture roaming events across channels
- Analyze complete roaming sequences
Analyze data frame exchanges
Data frames and acknowledgement framesRTS/CTS data frame exchangesQoS data frame exchangesBlock Acknowledgement exchanges
- Analyze basic data/ACK exchanges
- Understand RTS/CTS protection
- Analyze QoS data frames
- Interpret Block Acknowledgement exchanges
Identify MIMO and multiuser-specific transmission methods
MIMOOFDMA
- Understand MIMO and spatial streams
- Analyze beamforming
- Understand MU-MIMO
- Analyze OFDMA and trigger frames
Analyze behavior and resolve problems related to MAC layer operations
Power Save operationsProtection mechanisms
- Analyze power save operations
- Understand TIM and DTIM
- Analyze TWT (802.11ax)
- Understand protection mechanisms
- Troubleshoot power save issues
How do I earn this certification?
Passing CWAP-405 earns the CWAP certification. It sits in the Wi-Fi Professional track.
Current Level Exams
- CWSP - Certified Wireless Security Professional
- CWDP - Certified Wireless Design Professional
Next Level Options
- CWNE - Certified Wireless Network Expert CWAP is one of three required professional certifications for CWNE
- CWNT - Certified Wireless Network Instructor
Alternative Paths
- CWISA - Certified Wireless IoT Solutions AdministratorCross-track synergy - IoT and Wi-Fi integration skills
- CWIIP - Certified Wireless IoT Integration Professional Advanced IoT integration complements wireless analysis
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for CWAP-405 is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Wireless Network Engineers and Network Administrators.
Certification: CWNA; Description: Current and valid Certified Wireless Network Administrator certification; Validity Note: Must be current - CWNA cannot be expired
- 1-2 years of experience with enterprise wireless LANs
- Hands-on experience with protocol analyzers (Wireshark or similar)
- Understanding of 802.11 frame formats and frame exchanges
- Basic knowledge of RF fundamentals
- Experience troubleshooting wireless network issues
- Familiarity with spectrum analyzers