Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert is Cisco’s most prestigious and most delicate certification to achieve, generally taking times of assiduity experience and a deep understanding of networking technologies. The lab portion of the test alone is eight hours long and costs around $1,600, and campaigners generally spend much further than that on introductory courses. But professionals with the expert-position CCIE networking certification are in demand, and the value is reflected in significantly advanced hires.
New Changes to the Cisco Certification Track“It’s a preeminent certification in the assiduity,” says Nick Marentic, elderly director for IT structure and security at cybersecurity training establishment Cybrary. “It requires times in the assiduity to understand the generalities contained.” Getting the CCIE is not a commodity to do with vagrancy. “It relies heavily on hands-on gests,” Nick says. He recommends seven to 10 times of assiduity experience before taking the test. The CCIE is one of the top 10 technology certifications that employers seek, according to staffing specialist Robert Half Technology, which surveyed further than elderly directors for its periodic payment companion.
According to PayScale, the average base pay for a CCIE- certified professional is $128,000 per time. It’s the loftiest-paying certification on PayScale’s list (a designation it shares with ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager certification). Networking certification, on average, increases base pay by about 5% annually, according to David Foote, principal critic at Foote Mates, which lately released exploration for the first nine months of the time, based on data on more than 82,000 tech workers at more than 3,800 employers. The CCIE comes in above that, at an 8% standard increase to the base payment. “The CCIE gained 14.3% in request value in the third quarter,” Foote says.
Today’s CCIE
Cisco’s network certification lineup passed a major overhaul in 2020, and one of the big changes is that there is no longer a separate written test for the CCIE. The CCIE shares a written test with a themed-level CCNP certification. The written test can be taken online. Also, to get a CCIE certification, the test taker needs to pass an eight-hour, in-person, hands-on lab test.
That written core technology test is good for three times, says Joe Clarke, distinguished mastermind at San Jose, Calif.- grounded Cisco Systems, and is a qualifying test for both the technical CCNP tests and for the CCIE lab- grounded test. Someone who has taken the core technology test as part of the CCNP certification within the former three times does not need to take it again before doing a CCIE lab test. Unlike the written test, the lab test has to be taken in person, Clarke says, and it takes eight hours in aggregate. There’s a separate lab for each CCIE attention.
“ When you sit down with the lab, you ’re first presented with a three-hour, low-position design,” he says. “ That’s the first module. It tests how well you can understand the generalities and apply them on a design position.” The alternate module takes five hours. “ Can you walk the walk?” he says. “ Can you apply, optimize, troubleshoot those technologies?
Concentrations
There are six main CCIE concentrations:
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.0
The CCIE Enterprise Structure certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex enterprise structure results. The qualifying test focuses on knowledge of enterprise structure, including dual-stack architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, network assurance, security, and automation.
CCIE Enterprise Wireless v1.0
The CCIE Enterprise Wireless certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex enterprise wireless results. The qualifying test is the same as that for CCIE Enterprise Structure and focuses on knowledge of enterprise structure, including dual-stack architecture, virtualization, infrastructure, network assurance, security, and automation.
CCIE Data Center v3.0
The CCIE Data Center certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex data center results. The qualifying test focuses on knowledge of data-center structure, including network, compute, storage network, automation, and security.
CCIE Security v6.0
The CCIE Security certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex security results. The qualifying test focuses on knowledge of security structure, including network security, cloud security, content security, endpoint protection and detection, secure network access, visibility, and enforcement.
CCIE Service Provider v5.0
The CCIE Service Provider certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex service provider results. The qualifying test focuses on knowledge of service provider structure, including core architecture, services, networking, automation, quality of services, security, and network assurance.
CCIE Collaboration v3.0
The CCIE Collaboration certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills with complex collaboration results. The qualifying test focuses on knowledge of collaboration results including, structure and design, protocols, codecs, and endpoints, Cisco IOS XE gateway and media coffers, Call Control, QoS, and collaboration operations.
CCDE and DevNet
There are also two new CCIE- positions certifications, the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) and the Cisco Certified DevNet expert. The CCDE certification is designed to demonstrate expert-position skills in designing and architecting complex enterprise network results and prepares people for expert-position jobs in network armature and design. The CCDE has been lately revamped, says Clarke, to concentrate on advanced-position design, business integration, and architecture.
The Cisco Certified DevNet Expert certification is designed to demonstrate expert-level skills in network automation, programmability, and secure automation tools. This is a brand-new certification. The first date to take the lab exam is in May of 2022. “We realize that there are people building cultures around automation and changing how the network interacts with the business,” says Cisco’s Clarke. That is where the Cisco Certified DevNet Expert comes by. “It’s a different realm,” he says. “Concentrated more on the software side of effects.” Someone who has this certification is a leader in network automation, he says.
CCIE logistics
It costs around $1,600 to take the lab test, not including trip and lodging charges. Test takers may also want to take introductory courses, which vary greatly in price. To subscribe for the lab test, test-takers need to pass the written test during the former three times. The written test depends on the area of attention. For the enterprise structure and enterprise wireless attention, for illustration, the foundational test is the 350-401 ENCOR, named “Enforcing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies.” It can be taken both in-person and online and costs $400.
During the epidemic, numerous testing centers were shut down. Clarke declined to say how numerous people were suitable to get their CCIE commissions during this time, but he did say that the figures are back over again now that restrictions have been lifted. “The epidemic is waning a little bit,” he says, “and testing centers are opening up.” Cisco has lately added more mobile options, where the proctors go out to different spots with all the gear, to make it easier for test-takers to find a position. Regular test locales ( published then) cover eight different countries the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, China, and India.
Mobile test locales (published then) change constantly. There are eleven mobile labs listed in November in theU.S., China, the UK, and South Africa. The timetable presently goes through July, and it includes tests in Mexico, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Denmark, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Cisco is also piloting a “bring your own device” test, where test-takers bring their own computer and get the lab accouterments on a USB stick.
“It’s monstrously popular,” says Clarke.”A lot of people inked up for the airman. You get the comfort of using your own outfit. And we do not have to bring a tackle, so we can gauge better.”
While the bring-your-own-device program is being piloted, Cisco is also waiving the$ mobile test figure. Other than the core technologies written qualifying test, there are no other prerequisites for taking the CCIE lab examinations, but campaigners are recommended to have five to seven times of applicable assiduity experience.
Different Specialisation Certification of CCIE:
Certification cycle
- Certified Feb 1, 2019, expiration Feb 1, 2022
- Recertify Nov 1, 2019, expiration Nov 1, 2022
- Recertify Aug 1, 2020, expiration Aug 1, 2023
- Expert position certifications are now valid three times. The suspended status no longer exists. All other recertifications conditions apply.
Recertification requirements
Certification Level & Duration | Exam Only | Exam and Continuing Education Options |
Associate – 3 years |
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Specialist – 3 years |
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Professional – 3 years |
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Or
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CCIE – 3 years |
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Or
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CCDE – 3 years |
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Or
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Recertification Details
For maintaining active status, CCIE recertification would be having the inflexibility for recertifying every 24 months using one of the options which would be mentioned below before the expiration date of the certification:
- Earning the needed credits through the Cisco Continuing Education Program
- Passing any current CCIE written test or CCIE lab test
- Passing the current CCDE written test or current CCDE practical test
- Passing the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview as well as the CCAr board review for extending lower certifications.
CCIE certification would be automatically extending other Cisco certifications, like the CCNP or CCNA. So, if you wish to have any Cisco-related Certification, you could have it through the 591Lab Cisco Certification Modules.
Candidates would have to stay 15 calendar days between attempts at the written test. Certification campaigners would be responsible for keeping track of their certification expiration dates. You have to plan your recertification accordingly. However, your CCIE certification would be suspended for one time, If your CCIE recertification conditions aren’t completed on or before the expiration date of the certification. Candidates would be having one time to recertify their CCIE certification by clearing the needed written test.
Employer will be notified If a candidate doesn’t recertify before the one-time deadline. Candidates who are suspended would be having one-time CCIE recertification by clearing the needed written test or practical lab before their expert position certification becomes inactive permanently. Inactive CCIE professionals would lose all the benefits as well as have to pass both the CCIE written as well as lab examinations again.
As far as how to recertify, you now have some fresh options. You can still recertify using CE credits. The quantum has gone up from 100 to 120 credits to reflect the fresh time to CCIE recertification now. There’s also a new way to recertify using a combination of CE credits and tests. You can take the Core Technologies test and use 40 CE credits to recertify. You can also pass two Specialist examinations and use 40 CE credits to recertify.
This is a great way to pick up skills in a new discipline and learn new technologies. You can choose to pass a single Specialist test and use 80 CE credits to recertify within the three-time period. This change is huge for those of us that need to recertify. It’s a great option that we don’t have a moment. The cold-blooded model offers great inflexibility for those that are taking tests but also taking learning or classroom training. The biggest change, still, is in the test-only option. Historically, all you demanded to do is pass the CCIE written every two times to recertify. With the changes to the written test used to qualify you to take the lab, that’s no longer an option. As listed over, simply taking the Core Technologies test isn’t enough. You must also take 40 CE credits.
So, what tests will recertify you? The first is the CCIE lab. If you take and pass a lab test within the recertification period you’ll be recertified. You can also take three Specialist examinations. The combination of three will qualify you for recertification. You can also take the Core Technologies test and another professional test to recertify. This means that passing the test needed for the CCNP will recertify your CCIE. There’s still one Expert- position test that will work to recertify your CCIE – the CCDE has written. Because no changes were made to the CCDE program in this design, the CCDE written test will still recertify your CCIE.
Also, your CCIE recertification date is no longer dependent on your lab date. Historically your recent date was grounded on the date you took your lab. Now, it’s going to be whatever date you pass your test or submit your CEs. The good news is this means that all your certifications are going to line up. Because your CCNA and CCNP dates have always been 3 times as well, recertifying your CCIE will sync over all your certification to the date you recertify your CCIE. It’s a veritably welcome quality of life change.
Another welcome change is that there will no longer be a program figure when submitting your CE credits. As soon as you have amassed the right combination you just submit them and you’re good to go. No $300 figure. There’s also a great chance for anyone that has been a CCIE for 20 times or further. If you choose to “retire” to Emeritus status you no longer have to pay the program figure. You’ll be a CCIE ever. Indeed if you’re an active CCIE and you choose not to recertify after 20 times you’ll be automatically enrolled in the Emeritus program.
Managing Change
So, this is a big change. A single test will no longer recertify your number. You’re going to have to expand your midairs by investing in continuing education. You’re going to have to take a class or do some outside study on new content like wireless or security. That’s the stimulant from Cisco going forward. You’re not going to be suitable to just keep learning the same BGP and OSPF- related motifs over and over again and hope to keep your certification application.
This is going to work out in favor of the people that complain the CCIE isn’t applicable to the IT world at the moment. Because you can learn about effects like network automation and programmability and similar from Cisco DevNet and have it count for CCIE recertification, you have no reason not to bring yourself current to ultramodern network armature. You also have every occasion to learn about new technologies like SD-WAN, ACI, and numerous other effects. Adding your knowledge takes care of keeping your CCIE status current.
Yes, you’re going to lose the capability to horrify after two and a half times and the cram to take a single test one or two times to reset for the coming three times. You also need to be on top of your CCIE CE credits and your recent date. This means you can’t be lazy any longer and just assume you need to recertify every odd or even time. It means that your life will be easier without tons of cramming. But it means that the way effects used to be aren’t going to be like that any longer.
Final Thought
Change is hard. But it’s ineluctable. The CCIE is the most venerable certification in the networking world and one of the longest-lived certifications in the IT space. But that doesn’t mean it’s sculpted in gravestone as only being a certain way ever. The CCIE must change to stay applicable. And that means forcing CCIEs to stay applicable. The addition of the continuing education piece a couple of times agone is the biggest and most stylish thing to be in times. Expanding the capability for us to learn new technologies and making them eligible for us to recertify is a huge gift. What we need to do is embrace it and keep the CCIE applicable. We need to keep the people who hold those certifications applicable. Because the fastest way to fade into obscurity is to keep effects the way they’ve always been.
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