What is Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification?

What does it take to become a CCIE?

CCIE certification is typically a two-step process. First, there's a comprehensive written exam intended to quantify theoretical knowledge. Second, there's a lengthy hands-on lab exam where candidates must demonstrate practical capabilities in device configuration and troubleshooting. They can select from the following eight tracks or specializations that closely align with their job or job goals.

CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure

CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure prepares IT professionals to design, deploy, operate and optimize enterprise-class infrastructure, including networks, software-defined infrastructure, transport technologies and security. It focuses on automation and programmability.

CCIE Collaboration

CCIE Collaboration is designed for architects and engineers specializing in voice, video and unified communications. Candidates must pass a two-hour written exam on Cisco Enterprise Collaboration and an eight-hour lab exam. Topics include configuration, troubleshooting and integration.

CCIE Data Center

CCIE Data Center is intended for professionals designing, planning and implementing data center infrastructure. Candidates must pass a two-hour written exam on data center infrastructure before completing a two-part, eight-hour lab exam, assessing skills in diagnosing and troubleshooting complex data center topologies.

Cisco Certified Design Expert

This CCIE specialization focuses on the design aspects of IT, helping professionals analyze existing complex networks and infrastructure, understand business and technical requirements, and design a comprehensive infrastructure that can meet business needs.

CCIE Security

The CCIE Security certification prepares engineers to architect, engineer and troubleshoot Cisco security technologies. To pass the lab exam, engineers must fully configure a secure network within eight hours.

Cisco Certified DevNet Expert

With the growth in enterprise software development and software-defined environments, this CCIE specialization focuses on software-related issues, including software design, development and deployment, infrastructure-as-code, security, and coding specifically intended for Cisco systems and devices.

CCIE Service Provider

Intended for network engineers at service providers, candidates must pass an eight-hour lab configuring service provider equipment.

CCIE Enterprise Wireless

Aimed at gauging knowledge of wireless local area networks and their theoretical underpinnings, candidates who attain this certification must pass an eight-hour lab configuring wireless networks.

Direct job experience alone is unlikely to provide enough detailed knowledge to earn a CCIE certification. Candidates can expect to invest significant time and effort in study and lab practice to gain the complex knowledge and skills needed. The preparation process can take months or even years depending on the resources a candidate can devote to the effort.

Preparing for the CCIE certification

CCIE candidates can refer to numerous training resources to aid their preparation. There are detailed books and guides on CCIE certification tracks that can help refine theoretical knowledge, including, but not limited to, the following:

• CCIE Routing and Switching v5.0 Official Cert Guide, Volumes 1 and 2.
• Routing TCP/IP, Volume 1 and 2.
• MPLS Fundamentals.
• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE 400-007) Official Cert Guide.
• IP Multicast, Volume 1.
• IPv6 Fundamentals: A Straightforward Approach to Understanding IPv6, Second Edition.

CCIE candidates must read and study the actual documentation for Cisco equipment. If their current employer already runs Cisco equipment, detailed documentation and mentoring from more experienced IT staff can accelerate learning efforts.

Candidates can also take advantage of Cisco Live sessions that are available on-demand with a Cisco Live account or through Scribd. The following is a sampling of Cisco learning sessions:

• BRKCRS-2110: Delivering Cisco Next Generation SD-WAN with Viptela.
• BRKRST-2093: Next-Gen SD-WAN (Viptela) Deployment, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting.
• BRKRST-2095: SD-WAN Routing Migrations Study Materials.
• BRKRST-2377: SD-WAN Security.
• BRKRST-2559: 3 Steps to Deploy Cisco SD-WAN On-Prem.
• BRKRST-2091: Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela) Data Center and Branch Integration Design.
• BRKRST-3310: Troubleshooting OSPF.
• BRKSEC-3054: IOS FlexVPN Remote Access, IoT and Site-to-Site advanced Crypto VPN Designs.

Cisco offers a Cisco Expert Prep Program intended to help candidates supplement their study for any expert tracks.

Candidates should look for specific online and instructor-led training courses. Major training organizations routinely support important industry certification education. One example is Udemy's Cisco CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure course.

Once a CCIE candidate is adequately prepared to tackle the certification process, they must schedule, take and pass a written exam for their selected track. A written exam typically consists of 90 to 110 questions over two hours. Once the knowledge exam is passed successfully, the candidate must schedule and take the eight-hour practical lab exam within a suitable timeframe -- generally within 18 months. A CCIE certification is conferred upon successfully completing the written and practical elements.

CCIE certifications must be renewed every three years to maintain status. Renewals can be earned through various combinations of exams and continuing education options.

CCIE prerequisites

Despite the senior-level nature of CCIE certification, no formal educational or experiential prerequisites are required for the certification process. Anyone can schedule an exam and subsequent lab at any time in their career.

However, the technical demands of CCIE certification can't be taken lightly. Candidates should have at least three to five years of extensive experience working with networks and Cisco equipment before attempting CCIE certification. Once the candidate decides to pursue a CCIE certification, it's important for them to gain confidence in the exam's theoretical and practical aspects through detailed study. Candidates should only consider certification when they can demonstrate adequate knowledge in study environments. Both the written and practical tests carry fees, so high confidence upfront can save considerable retest time and fees.

Benefits of CCIE certification

The CCIE is considered one of the most prestigious qualifications in the networking industry, and obtaining a certification is seen as a professional advantage for engineers who want to improve their career prospects. The CCIE certification has practical applications, and CCIE holders can often position themselves as industry thought leaders. The CCIE certification is a personal challenge for some and offers engineers a chance to demonstrate an industry-recognized proficiency in their networking skills. Consequently, the benefits of CCIE certification can include the following:

• Career advancement. By establishing a recognized distinction, IT professionals can more easily demonstrate their capabilities to employers. At the same time, employers can use CCIE certification as a benchmark of technical capability, often shortening the interview and evaluation process.
• New career opportunities. Candidates can pursue varied tracks or specializations to open new career opportunities and job growth that might not have been possible without CCIE certification. Numerous roles can benefit from CCIE certification, including network architect, senior network engineer, network consultant, security engineer, network operations manager, data center architect and systems engineer.
• Competitive advantage. Technical networking professionals with a CCIE can gain a competitive advantage in the job market. In addition, CCIE-certified IT staff can potentially perform more complex networking tasks and projects -- possibly boosting an organization's technical proficiencies.
• Global recognition. CCIE certification is recognized globally, allowing candidates to seek job opportunities almost anywhere in the world.

Job prospects for CCIEs

CCIEs are in demand as organizations continue to build network capabilities while ensuring security, services and other initiatives related to current CCIE specializations. The CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and DevNet tracks are currently the most popular because both focus on design and deployment.

According to Cisco, the average salary for CCIEs in the U.S. in 2024 is about $147,000 per year. However, the salary can vary by experience, job role and geographic location. For example, less experienced CCIE professionals earn around $125,000 annually, while top CCIE professionals earn around $180,000 annually.

CCIE professionals can assume various critical and challenging IT roles, which also influence pay. The top IT roles that benefit from CCIE certification include the following:

• Data center architect or engineer. They design, implement, manage and troubleshoot critical data center network infrastructure. They can earn an average of $175,000 annually per Talent.com.
• Network architect. They design and build complex networks. They earn an average of $145,000 annually per Glassdoor.
• Network consultant. These professionals advise others in designing and building specialized network infrastructures as consultants or independent contractors. They can earn an average of $113,000 annually per Talent.com.
• Security engineer. They design and maintain networks against vulnerabilities and attacks. They earn an average of $136,000 annually per Glassdoor.
• Senior network engineer. They design, build, maintain and manage network infrastructures. They earn an average of $124,000 per year per ZipRecruiter.

How much does CCIE certification cost?

Completing a CCIE certification can be a costly undertaking. Some candidates report spending over $10,000 to complete their CCIE certification successfully. The actual costs can vary, depending on the desired specialization, the amount of education and hands-on practice required, and the amount of travel required. CCIE costs usually fall into the following five categories:

• Written exam. The written exam costs between $450 to $600 for each attempt.
• Lab exam. The practical lab exam usually costs $1,600 to $1,800 per attempt. Considering the enormous cost and travel expenses per attempt, it's important for candidates to be confident in their abilities and experience before taking the lab exam.
• Training materials. The cost of training materials can vary wildly, including books, study guides, practice exams, online and live courses, access to Cisco Live, and other educational products intended to aid in successful CCIE certification. Candidates can spend several thousand dollars on various training materials.
• Practice equipment. There's no substitute for hands-on experience and focusing on Cisco hardware means that candidates must be confident with Cisco networking products. If Cisco hardware isn't available in the workplace, candidates might need to rent Cisco networking equipment to practice for the lab exam. Those rental costs can vary depending on the specific gear and length of the rental.
• Travel. Candidates must visit a CCIE lab to complete their lab exam. There are two U.S. lab sites and seven other sites worldwide. Most candidates must travel to a city where the CCIE lab is located. This can involve airfare, hotel accommodations and food for the duration of the lab exam, often adding several thousand dollars to each lab attempt.

CCIE certification modifications

Cisco periodically changes and updates its CCIE certifications. In 2016, for example, it added an evolving technologies section to the CCIE exams, covering strategic operations such as programmability, the internet of things and cloud computing. The exams were also unified with the labs, requiring candidates to show both intellectual and practical knowledge.

As another example, in April 2017, Cisco changed the CCIE certification by requiring candidates to demonstrate knowledge of Cisco Digital Network Architecture tools. DNA is a collection of software -- covering such topics as analytics and cybersecurity -- used to automate and manage networks.

Currently, Cisco provides detailed updates and roadmaps for the entire suite of CCIE certifications through the Cisco Certification Roadmaps website. Candidates can see announcements of upcoming exams and topic changes that can ensure proper study focus and preparation regardless of the specific specialization.

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