Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for CCIE certification. Other professional certifications or training courses are not required.
Required Steps to Attain Certification
Candidates must first pass a written qualification exam and then the corresponding hands-on lab exam. You are expected to have an in-depth understanding of the topics in the exam blueprints and encouraged to have a minimum of seven years job experience before attempting certification.
Steps to Certification
Step One: CCIE Data Center Written Exam
Candidates must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam prior to scheduling the Lab exam. The Written exam tests candidates on their knowledge of data center requirements, how different data center components interoperate, and their ability to translate it into the device configurations. It is a two-hour test with 90-110 questions. It certifies that professionals have the expertise to design, implement, diagnose, and troubleshoot complex Data Center technologies.
- Written Exam
- Study Material Exam Resources
- Evolving Technologies Study Resources
Step Two: CCIE Data Center Lab Exam
The Cisco CCIE Data Center Lab exam is an eight-hour, hands-on exam which requires a candidate to configure, diagnose, and troubleshoot a series of complex Data Center scenarios for a given specification. Knowledge of troubleshooting is an important skill and candidates are expected to diagnose and solve issues as part of the CCIE Lab exam. You must pass the Lab exam within three years of passing the Written exam to achieve certification. Your first Lab exam attempt must be made within 18 months of passing the Written exam.