CCIE News and Announcements
Stay Informed of CCIE Program Updates and News
Find important announcements
regarding CCIE exam changes, program policies and special offers.
In the News
NetworkWorld interviews Program Manager, Mike Reid about CCIE Assessor Lab.
Article explains how CCIE develops lab exams.
Feature story and related articles include real-life stories of folks pursuing networking’s
highest-level certification.
CCIE awarded number one Most Respected High-Level Certification for fourth consecutive year
and number six Hottest Cert for 2006.
Article on CCIE Assessor Lab for Routing and Switching.
Survey features perennial top-five salary leader—CCIE.
CCIE featured in review of certifications to advance your career.
Cisco is a founding member of the Performance Testing Council (PTC), a consortium of IT
industry leaders working to promote the use of hands-on testing as an accurate and reliable
measure of competency. For more information on PTC, visit
www.performancetest.org .
Spotlight:
Cisco Launches New Cisco 360 Learning Program for CCIE Routing and Switching
Cisco Offers Pre-Lab Assessment for CCIE Certification
Now candidates for CCIE Routing and Switching can assess their readiness for the lab exam from
their own desktop, using Cisco-authored CCIE practice lab scenarios and remote live equipment.
After taking the lab, candidates receive a detailed assessment of their performance, including
the correct command lines and suggestions for further study.
Find out more
about the CCIE Assessor Lab for Routing and Switching .
14 October 2008
Effective April 2009, important content changes will be implemented in the CCIE Security Lab exams. Candidates for lab exams scheduled mid-April 2009 or later should prepare using the v3.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions and v.3 Blueprint . Candidates prior to mid- April 2009 should continue using the v2.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions and v 2.0 blueprint .
29 August 2008
In effort to improve the availability of CCIE lab exams Cisco has updated the CCIE lab payment process.
On September 6, 2008 the payment policy for CCIE labs will be as follows:
Payment in full is due 90 days (calendar) prior to your lab date. Payment must be received to confirm your date. After 90 days refunds will not be available for cancelled lab dates.
The change in this policy will allow for lab seats to be open in a timely manner and create more desirable time frames.
If you have questions or want to confirm you are within the 90+ day window please contact customer support .
22 August 2008
On Sept 24 2008 CCIE labs will no longer support using the UniversCD documentation for the lab exam.
All labs are migrating to Cisco Documentation only. For those scheduled to take the CCIE lab prior to Sept 24 access will still be available for UniversCD.
The Cisco Documentation pages have the same information that currently resides on UniversCD, please refer to the links on the CCIE web pages to view these pages and become familiar with the new format.
Cisco Documentation: http://www.cisco.com/web/psa/products/index.html
After Sept 24 2008 only the Cisco Documentation web pages will be available for CCIE labs.
5 May 2008
The new address is:
3 March 2008
Beginning April 3, 2008, a beta version of the new CCIE Storage qualification exam will be available at all testing centers for a reduced price.
For complete information, visit the CCIE Storage Networking page.
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31 May 2007
As of June 5th, the CCIE lab in Sydney, Australia, is moving to a new location in St. Leonards.
For complete information on the Sydney lab, visit our Sydney, Australia lab exam page.
7 May 2007
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam (v3.0) will be released on June, 19, 2007 at all testing locations worldwide. The new version will include previously untested topics, such as MPLS and IPv6. Candidates preparing for the Routing and Switching written exam on or after this date should refer to the CCIE RS for a detailed outline of topics that will be covered. Candidates planning take the exam BEFORE June 19th, should continue to refer to this blueprint.
Passing the Routing and Switching written exam qualifies a candidate to schedule the CCIE Routing and Switching lab in addition to meeting recertification requirements where applicable. Find out more about scheduling CCIE exams .
20 March 2007
The CCIE Security written exam v1.0 will continue to be offered at all worldwide testing centers until April 24th, 2007. Candidates planning to take the Security written exam after April 24th, 2007, should be familiar with the topics on the CCIE Security written exam v2.0 blueprint .
24 Jan 2007
Due to overwhelming demand, CCIE has decided to extend the CCIE Security written beta period through February 6, 2007.
CCIE
Security written exam v2.0 (3.1) blueprint (351-018)
for a detailed outline of the topics covered. Please remember that
candidates may only attempt a beta exam once during the beta period and
individual scores are generally available six to eight weeks after the close of the beta period.
19 Jan 2007
As first announced July 13, 2006, Cisco has completed a series of changes to the CCIE Service Provider track, reflecting the growing use of packet-based networks to deliver rich managed services. As of February 1, 2007, candidates for CCIE Service Provider must pass a comprehensive written exam (#350-029), followed by the hands-on lab exam. Specific exam topics can be found online in the CCIE SP written exam blueprint and CCIE SP lab exam blueprint .CCIE SP certification .
17 Jan 2007
Cisco has deferred availability of the download for IOS 12.2T, used in the CCIE Security lab exam on Cisco series 2600/3600/3725 router platforms. Consequently, candidates studying for the CCIE Security lab exam will need to download IOS 12.3 mainline, which includes the Enterprise/FW/IDS/IPSEC features from IOS 12.2T. Please note that candidates will not be tested on any new features in IOS 12.3, and the exam will continue to cover only the features indicated from IOS 12.2T.
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14 Dec 2006
The CCIE Security written exam v2.0 (3.1), originally scheduled to replace v1.0 in early January,
will now be released as a beta exam at all Cisco-authorized testing centers on January 2nd,
2007 through January 23rd, 2007. Beta exams are offered at a discounted price of US$50, with
full recertification or lab qualification credit granted to all passing candidates.
Candidates preparing for this exam should refer to
CCIE Security
written exam v2.0 (3.1) blueprint (351-018)
for a detailed outline of the topics covered. Please remember that
candidates may only attempt a beta exam once during the beta period and
individual scores are generally available six to eight weeks after the close of the beta period. CCIE Security
written exam v1.0 will continue to be offered at all worldwide testing centers until
March 31, 2007. Candidates planning to take the security written exam before March 31, 2007,
should be familiar with the topics on the current CCIE Security v1.0 blueprint.
13 Dec 2006
The CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam v3.0 (351-001) will be available at all worldwide,
Cisco-authorized testing centers from December 6th, 2006 through December 30th, 2006. The
beta exam will be offered at a discounted price of US$50, with full recertification or lab
qualification credit granted to all passing candidates. Candidates preparing for this
exam should refer to CCIE
Routing and Switching 3.0 beta bluebrint (351-001) for a detailed outline of topics covered.
01 Nov 2006
Effective November 1, 2006, Cisco will migrate CCIE support to the Cisco Certifications Online Support tool and retire the current CCIE email-based system.www.cisco.com/go/certsupport . For the first couple weeks of November emails
sent to ccie@cisco.com will automatically be sent to the new tool. After that, users will
receive an automatic message reminding them they need to use the tool. Certification Online Support tool at the following links, or submit
a question online using the Contact Us button. Certification Online Support Overview Creating a Support Account Profile Checking the Status of or Updating my Case Subscribing to Instant Answer Notifications
27 Oct 2006
Cisco is pleased to announce the availability of the CCIE Security
lab exam in Tokyo, Japan beginning January 2, 2007. To serve the growing number of worldwide
candidates pursuing CCIE Security certification, Cisco now offers the lab exam in Beijing,
China; Brussels, Belgium; Dubai, UAE; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Jose, California; Sydney,
Australia; and Tokyo, Japan.Lab Exam
Blueprint
as well as a list of Lab
Equipment & IOS Versions .
09 Oct 2006
The CCIE program is pleased to announce the availability of the CCIE
Storage Networking lab exam in Brussels, Belgium. In efforts to serve the growing number of worldwide
candidates pursuing CCIE Storage Networking certification, the locations offering the CCIE Storage Networking
lab now include RTP, North Carolina and Brussels, Belgium.
08 Sep 2006
Cisco has introduced new options for purchasing the CCIE Assessor
Lab. Each four-hour CCIE practice lab now comes with two additional hours of practice time on
the live equipment, all for US$279. Also, a second and different four-hour version of CCIE
Assessor for Routing and Switching has been released, covering additional topics found on
the eight-hour CCIE lab exam. Candidates purchasing both versions together pay a discounted
price of US$399 for the two four-hour practice labs and a total of four additional hours of
equipment time. See Exam Preparation
for more details.
17 Aug 2006
A revision to the Voice written exam will be released between
October 31st and November 2nd, 2006 in all testing locations worldwide. The new version will replace the
current version and will include several previously untested topics, such as
CallManager Express, Cisco Unity
Express, and Integrated Contract Distribution. Candidates preparing for the Voice written exam
on or after these dates should refer to the
CCIE
Voice Written Exam 2.0 Blueprint for a detailed outline of topics that will be covered.
Passing the Voice written exam qualifies a candidate to schedule the CCIE Voice lab in
addition to meeting recertification requirements where applicable. Find out more about
scheduling CCIE exams .
13 July 2006
Effective November 13, 2006, CCIE Routing and Switching
labs will begin replacing the Catalyst 3550 by introducing the Cisco Catalyst 3560
Series enterprise-class switches.
All CCIE R&S candidates taking exams on or after that date should be familiar with
the new switches and associated IOS, although installation of the new equipment will
take place over several months and some candidates may not see the new equipment in
their exams right away. No changes are being made to the lab exam blueprint at this
time and candidates should continue to refer to the existing CCIE
R&S Lab Exam Blueprint
for exam topics.
For additional details, see
R&S Lab Equipment
and IOS Versions on the CCIE website.
13 July 2006
Cisco Revises CCIE Service Provider Track
Cisco is announcing changes to the CCIE Service Provider track to align
more closely with the complex packet-based networks used to deliver rich managed services . The
changes include release of a single comprehensive written exam including additional topics and the
introduction of new equipment in the lab. The new SP written exam will eventually replace the
eight current written exams candidates choose from to qualify for the lab exam.
All changes will be announced in advance of their effective dates to allow candidates sufficient
time to study.
Specific changes included in this announcement are:
Lab Exam: Effective November 1st 2006, all CCIE Service Provider labs will begin introducing
Cisco Series 7200 routers into the lab. All CCIE candidates taking Service Provider lab exams
after November 1, 2006 should be familiar with this equipment. The worldwide installation of
the routers will physically take place over several weeks and it is possible that some candidates
may not see the new equipment in their exams. Candidates should refer to the CCIE SP Lab Equipment and IOS Version web page for details. Please note that the CCIE Lab Exam blueprint remains unchanged
at this time.
New Written Exam: Also, in 2006 (Date to be announced), Cisco will introduce
a single, comprehensive written exam which will focus more on packet architecture and other technologies
used to deliver rich and flexible new services to SP customers. Candidates interested in the new
comprehensive exam should review the new CCIE SP Comprehensive Written Exam Blueprint (351-029)
on the web. Initially this exam will be available as a choice among the existing written exams.
Eventually, as the current SP written exams are either repositioned for recertification only,
or retired (see table below), exam number 350-029 will become the only available qualifying
exam for the SP track. The transition to a single written exam is expected to be complete on
February 1, 2007 and candidates planning to take their written exam on or after that date,
should prepare using the new blueprint.
Beta Test: A beta test of the new comprehensive CCIE SP Written Exam (351-029) will
be available at all worldwide, Cisco-authorized testing centers from August 1, 2006 through
August 29th, 2006. The beta exam will be offered at a discounted price of US$50, with full
recertification or lab qualification credit granted to all passing candidates. Candidates
preparing for this exam should refer to
CCIE
SP Comprehensive Written Exam Blueprint (351-029) for a detailed outline of topics covered. Please remember that candidates may only attempt a
beta exam once during the beta period and individual scores are generally available six to
eight weeks after the close of the beta period.
Current Written Exams: Other changes to written exams are summarized in
the following table.
31 May 2006
Changes to CCIE Security Lab and Written Exams
Effective January 2, 2007, there will be some important
content changes in the CCIE Security Lab and Written exams. All CCIE exams are revised
regularly in response to changes in networking practices and feedback from customers and
partners. Candidates for written and lab exams scheduled on January 2, 2007 or later
should prepare using the v2.0 blueprints below. Candidates prior to January 2 should
continue using the prior blueprints (now known as v1.0).
Troubleshooting techniques will now be integrated into the lab exam.
In addition, the following changes--shown in the posted blueprint--will be introduced in
the lab effective January 2, 2007:
Upgrade of Cisco PIX Firewall Appliance to Software Version 7.x.
Addition of two ASA-5510 Firewall Appliances running v7.x.
Upgrade of Cisco Intrusion Prevention System to Software Release 5.x.
Upgrade of Cisco VPN3000 Concentrator Series to Software Release 4.7.x.
Upgrade of Cisco Catalyst 3550 switches to Software Release 12.2SEE.
Upgrade of CiscoSecure ACS to Software Version 4.0.
Addition of PC to test Remote Access VPN, admission control, packet capturing and various other
applications.
Eliminate preconfigured ACS and require candidates to configure.
26 Apr 2006
CCIE Security Lab Opens in Dubai, UAE
The CCIE Program is pleased to announce the availability of the
CCIE Security lab exam in Dubai, UAE. In efforts to serve the growing number of
worldwide candidates pursuing CCIE Security certification, the locations offering CCIE
Security lab now include Sydney, Australia; RTP, North Carolina; San Jose, California;
Brussels, Belgium; Beijing, China and Dubai, UAE.Lab Exam Blueprint as well as a list of Lab Equipment & IOS Versions .
29 Mar 2006
Annual Customer Survey Available Online
The annual CCIE customer survey is available online now at
http://www.surveysoftware.net/hostia/ciscoccie.htm
through April 2, 2006. All CCIEs and candidates for CCIE are requested to please submit answers one
time only. If you recently received an email request about participating in a survey, this is the
same link and same set of questions. If you pressed the submit button, your answers were received.
For those who did not receive an email, each year the CCIE team collects feedback from existing CCIEs
and potential candidates regarding CCIE program benefits, policies and exam content. Depending on your
answers, the survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. Cisco appreciates your time and carefully
considers all feedback given. Note that we cannot confirm whether your specific answers were entered
into our database. Please assume that if you pressed the submit button at the end of the questions,
your answers have been received and will be counted in our analysis.
10 Mar 2006
Change to Documentation Access in Lab Exam
While access to Cisco product documentation will still be available
during CCIE lab exams at the Documentation Website (UniversCD) at
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/home/home.htm , candidates will no longer be able to use the
search function on that site. The search has been disabled due to a change in the way product
documentation is maintained at Cisco. Instead, candidates should be prepared to use the drop-down
index to navigate the Documentation Website (UniversCD).
https://tools.cisco.com/CCIE/Schedule_Lab/CCIEOnline/CCIEOnline . No changes are
allowed after the Lab Exam Due Date. Candidates who do not show up on the day of their scheduled
exam will not be eligible for a refund.
contact CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool . for
questions or assistance.
03 Mar 2006
CCIE Voice Lab Opens in Sydney, Australia
In conclusion to the announcement posted October 31 2005, the CCIE
Program is pleased to announce the availability of the CCIE Voice lab exam in Sydney, Australia. In efforts to serve the growing number of worldwide candidates
pursuing CCIE Voice certification, the locations offering CCIE Voice lab now include Sydney, Australia; RTP, North Carolina; San Jose,
California; and Brussels, Belgium.Lab Exam
preparation and
Lab Exam Blueprint .
22 Feb 2006
In general, candidates receive their test score sheets within six to
eight weeks after the close of a beta exam. However, the CCIE Voice Written Beta Exam v2.0 (351-030)
test results have been delayed due to process changes. We will release the results for the 351-030
Voice exam by March 15th. We apologize for the delay.
25 Jan 2006
CCIE Voice Exam Updates
Effective July 17, 2006 all CCIE Voice lab locations will begin introducing Cisco Unity
Express Network Module (NM-CUE) into the exam racks. Along with the NM-CUE introduction, the
lab will also be upgrading to IOS version 12.4 (3a) and the equipment software to the following
versions: Voice Lab
Equipment and IOS Version .
09 Jan 2006
Beginning January 9th, 2006, Cisco's Technical Assistance Center (TAC) will begin
piloting a new capability for CCIEs with valid support contracts. On that date, CCIEs will be
allowed to submit Severity 2 cases using the online TAC Service Request Tool as an alternative
to the current practice of initiating S2 cases by telephone. In recent advisory group sessions,
customers have said they believe online initiation can speed resolution by allowing for documentation
of troubleshooting steps already attempted and the attachment of relevant documents and diagrams.tsrts2comments@cisco.com .
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15 Dec 2005
The results of CertCities.com's annual reader survey for 2005 were recently announced
and once again, Cisco has made a strong showing in this competition. For the fourth year in a row,
CCIE won in the "Most Respected High-Level Certification" category. CertCities.com states, " The key
to the CCIE's success lies in the respect it commands from IT professionals for the painful (but
worthwhile) difficulty of its hands-on practicum, which puts candidates' book knowledge to the test
-- for eight hours. "http://certcities.com/editorial/features/story.asp?EditorialsID=94 http://certcities.com/editorial/features/story.asp?EditorialsID=95
01 Dec 2005
Due to the fast and enthusiastic response of worldwide CCIEs,
Network General will be ending the Sniffer Portable promotion as of December 31, 2005 and
not extending it until April 30, 2006 as originally announced. If you are interested, please visit the
Network
General registration website before December 31st.
04 Nov 2005
Network General today announced a special promotion--only for
CCIE certified professionals. From now until April 30, 2006, active CCIEs
can register to receive a free copy of the award-winning Sniffer Enterprise
Portable software. Sniffer Portable helps identify and solve network performance
issues using an impressive set of analysis capabilities including real-time and
historical monitoring, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and more. The software
comes with free technical support for one year and a free certification test for those
who wish to become Sniffer certified.
Find out more about this exclusive
offer from Network General .
31 Oct 2005
The CCIE program is pleased to announce the opening of two new CCIE Voice
lab locations in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina; and in Sydney, Australia.
The new locations join San Jose, California; and Brussels, Belgium, in serving the
growing number of worldwide candidates pursuing CCIE Voice certification.
26 Oct 2005
The CCIE Voice Written Beta Exam v2.0 (351-030) will be available at all worldwide,
Cisco-authorized testing centers from November 14 through December 5, 2005. The exam will be offered
at a discounted price of just $50, with full recertification or lab qualification credit granted to
all passing candidates. The beta exam will include several previously untested topics, such as
CallManager Express, Cisco Unity Express, and Integrated Contract Distribution. Candidates
preparing for the exam should refer to the
CCIE Voice Written Exam 2.0 Blueprint for a detailed
outline of topics that will be covered. Online scheduling opens November 14th.
16 Aug 2005
Cisco CCIE Updates Lab Exam Equipment and IOS
Effective January 1, 2006 all CCIE Routing and Switching lab locations will begin
introducing the Cisco 3825 Integrated Services Router into the exam racks. These routers support
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and will eventually replace the Series 2600
and Series 3600 models. Along with the router change, the CCIE R&S lab will be upgrading the IOS
to 12.3 mainline (for the Cisco 2600 and 3600 Series Routers), 12.4 mainline (for Cisco 3700 and
3800 Series Routers) and 12.2 for Cisco Catalyst 3550 switches.Lab Equipment
and IOS Version .
01 Aug 2005
Cisco CCIE Updates Lab Exams
Effective January 1, 2006, there will be some important content
changes in Cisco CCIE lab exams. Our ongoing review of exam content and feedback
from customers indicate certain adjustments should be made to reflect current
networking practices. No new technologies have been added; exam points will be
reallocated among the track's existing blueprint topics. Therefore the following
changes will be made:
CCIE Routing and Switching written and lab exams will no longer include the following
protocols or media types: DLSW, IS-IS, ISDN, PPP over Ethernet, and ATM.
01 Aug 2005
Cisco CCIE Updates Lab Exams
Effective January 1, 2006, there will be some important content changes in Cisco CCIE
lab exams. Our ongoing review of exam content and feedback from customers indicate certain adjustments
should be made to reflect current networking practices. No new technologies have been added; exam
points will be reallocated among the track's existing blueprint topics. Therefore the following
changes will be made: Written
Exam Blueprint and the
Lab Exam Blueprint for more information.
22 July 2005
Change in CCIE Lab Exam Payment Process
Effective August 15 there will be important changes to the collection process
for CCIE Lab payments. All credit cards will be processed precisely 28 days prior to your test
date; they will not be processed earlier regardless of when a candidate enters his/her credit
card information into the system. It will be critical that the company name, invoicing address
and email address are completed and contain accurate information. During the transition to this
new payment process, credit card payments entered after August 1st will not be processed until
August 15th.
contact CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool .
28 June 2005
Service Provider Lab Opens in Beijing
Effective July 1, 2005, the Service Provider CCIE lab will be offered in Beijing,
PRC. Online scheduling is now available for lab examinations starting in July.
13 May 2005
Change in Cisco Certifications Retake Policy
Effective May 14, 2005, the following changes will be effective immediately
at all Thomson Prometric and Pearson VUE testing centers. The changes are being made to
strengthen non-disclosure policies and apply to written exams taken for any Cisco Career
Certification, including CCIE written qualification exams.
02 Mar 2005
Cisco TAC Changes Service Routing for CCIEs
Cisco's Technical Assistance Center has changed the routing process
for service requests initiated by CCIEs. As of December 20, 2004, requests from
CCIEs at companies with valid support contracts are being routed directly to the
more experienced core support team. This change is designed to ensure a better match
between the technical skills of Cisco support representatives and the company's most
highly-skilled customers.
Cisco Technical Support.
17 Feb 2005
CCIE Releases Metro Ethernet Written Exam
On March 17, 2005 CCIE will release the Service Provider—Metro Ethernet
written exam into production in all testing locations worldwide. Metro Ethernet allows service
providers to offer premium services such as VPN, QinQ and QoS, utilizing a rich source of
implementation options including MPLS, large-scale bridging and fiber optic technologies.
Candidates should refer to the
Metro Ethernet blueprint for more details on exam topics. Passing the Metro Ethernet written
exam qualifies a candidate to schedule the CCIE Service Provider lab. Find out more about
scheduling CCIE exams .
17 Feb 2005
CCIE Releases Storage Networking Written Exam
The written exam for the new CCIE Storage Networking certification, announced October
25, 2004, will be generally released to all testing facilities sometime between March 17 and March 18,
2005. The variability in date is due to time zone differences. Candidates preparing to take the exam
should refer to the CCIE Storage
Networking Written Exam Blueprint on the web for a detailed outline of topics that will be
covered.contact
CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool .
Candidates for the lab exam should refer to the
CCIE Storage Networking
Lab Exam Blueprint for a detailed outline of topics that will be covered.
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03 Dec 2004
CCIE Releases Revised R&S Written Exam
A revision to the Routing and Switching written exam will be released between
January 17th and January 19th in all testing locations worldwide. The new version includes
questions on wireless mobility and eliminates questions on VoIP, due to the availability of
a separate voice-focused CCIE exam. Candidates should refer to the revised
Routing and
Switching Exam Blueprint for more details.
01 Dec 2004
CCIE tops U.S.-wide salary survey among Cisco certified professionals with an average $102,000
and an average bonus of $17,109.
01 Dec 2004
CCIE leads the list for the second consecutive year, with CCIEs averaging an annual salary
of $105,140.
01 Dec 2004
Cisco CCIE Earns Top Ranking from CertCities
Each year the editors of CertCities.com release the results of their annual readers'
choice awards. CCIE certification once again earned the top spot as the
Hottest
Certification for 2005 , after debuting in the top spot in 2003 and placing second last year.
Additionally CCIE was voted the Most Respected High-Level Certification for the third year in a row.
Read all the
results .
03 Dec 2004
CCIE Releases Revised Routing and Switching Written Exam
A revision to the Routing and Switching written exam will be released
between January 17th and January 19th in all testing locations worldwide. The new version includes
questions on wireless mobility and eliminates questions on VoIP, due to the availability of a separate
voice-focused CCIE exam. Candidates should refer to the revised Routing and Switching Exam Blueprint
for more details.scheduling CCIE exams .
25 Oct 2004
Cisco Launches CCIE Certification for Storage Networking
On November 18, 2004, CCIE will begin offering expert-level certification exams in Storage
Networking. Like other CCIE certifications, a CCIE in Storage Networking will require passing
both a written qualification exam and a hands-on lab exam demonstrating real-world experience.Online scheduling opens on
November 18th as well and candidates may only schedule and take the exam once during the beta test
period. Individual scores on beta exams are generally available six to eight weeks after the close
of the beta period. The general release of the Storage Networking written exam, as well as the
corresponding CCIE Storage Networking lab exam, are expected to be available in the first quarter
of calendar year 2005. To begin, the exam will be available at Cisco offices in San Jose, CA; RTP,
NC; and Brussels. Find out more at Storage
Networking on the CCIE website.
13 Oct 2004
CCIE Written Recertifies Other Certs
Effective October 1st, 2004, Cisco certified professionals who pass a CCIE written
exam will be able to use that passing score to recertify any associate, specialist and
professional level certifications. The policy change is designed to encourage the pursuit
of lifelong learning. The requirement for CCIE level recertifcation remains unchanged and
requires a passing score on any of the ten available CCIE written exams. More information
on recertification policies can be found at www.
cisco.com/go/recertification .
06 Oct 2004
CCIE R&S Track To Cease Testing VoIP
Beginning January 1, 2005, Cisco will remove questions regarding VoIP concepts from its
CCIE Routing & Switching lab exam. In addition, a new version of the CCIE R&S
written exam, also with VoIP removed, is currently being prepared for general release
sometime in December of 2004. A beta test of the revised written exam recently concluded on
September 22, 2004 and is being analyzed. VoIP was originally included in CCIE R&S exams
when it emerged as a new use for enterprise IP networks. Presently, VoIP has matured to the
point that organizations rely more on voice technology experts, with specialized skills and
experience, to implement and maintain their VoIP solutions. In September 2003 Cisco began
specifically certifying CCIEs in Voice. With the availability of CCIE certification in Voice,
the CCIE R&S exam will now refocus on core networking issues. For more details, see the
revised R&S written exam
blueprint , the R&S lab
blueprint , and other information on the CCIE web site.
07 Sep 2004
CCIE Ranked Number One by Solution Providers Exam
CCIE earned top honors in the 2004 CRN Certification Study. This year CRN took a balanced look
at IT certifications using five different measures: importance of cert, ROI to employer, improvement
in ROI, ability to generate new business, and highest pay raises. Solution providers gave Cisco’s
CCIE the number one overall position.
Read
the full study .
04 Sep 2004
Discount Available on Service Provider Metro Ethernet Written Beta Exam
From October 1st through October 22nd CCIE will offer a beta version of the newest exam in the
CCIE Service Provider track. The SP Metro Ethernet Beta exam will be available at a discounted
cost of $50. Passing the Metro Ethernet beta exam gives candidates full credit toward lab
qualification, or satisfies the requirement for recertification. The beta will be available at
testing locations worldwide and scheduling opens October 1st.
04 Sep 2004
Revision to SP Optical Written Exam
A revision to the CCIE Optical written exam will go into production on October 1st, 2004
in all testing locations. Candidates taking the Optical written exam October 1st or later
should refer to the 2.0 Optical Written Exam Blueprint posted on the web for a description
of topics that will be covered. The 2.0 revision will test candidates' knowledge of Optical-specific
technologies, and General Networking.
31 July 2004
Discount Available on Revised Routing and Switching Written Beta Exam
A beta version of the revised Routing
and Switching Written exam at a discounted cost of $50. Passing the Routing and Switching beta exam
gives candidates full credit toward lab qualification, or satisfies the requirement for
recertification. The beta will be available at testing locations worldwide and scheduling
opens August 31st.
31 July 2004
Augustus Eshiet is CCNP Winner for June
Augustus Eshiet of Task/Philips Project Centre was randomly selected to receive CCIE Practical
Studies, a two-volume set of self-study material, in the June CCNP drawing. Mr. Eshiet passed
the written exam for the Routing & Switching track on June 16, 2004. Congratulations
Augustus and good luck on your lab!
09 July 2004
Exam Seats Limited in Hong Kong Lab during September and October
Due to personnel changes, the CCIE lab in Hong Kong will experience limited availability
during the months of September and October. Candidates who need to schedule their lab exam
during that period may want to consider the Beijing, Dubai or Sydney locations to increase
the chance of obtaining their desired date. The Hong Kong lab currently offers CCIE Routing &
Switching and CCIE Service Provider exams. More information on
lab exam availability by location
is available online.
21 June 2004
Clarification of August Upgrade to R&S Lab Exam
As previously announced on April 10th, CCIE will update to IOS version
12.2T in the R&S lab exam. However, at that time the exam will not include
the IPv6 feature set included in that release. Instead, candidates can expect
the R&S lab exam to include the IPv6 feature set beginning on January 1, 2005.
15 June 2004
Xu Liang is CCNP Winner for May
Xu Liang of China Mobile was randomly selected to receive CCIE Practical Studies, a
two-volume set of self-study material, in the May CCNP drawing. Mr. Xu passed the written
exam for the Routing & Switching track on March 31, 2004 and is scheduled to take the
R&S lab exam in August in Hong Kong. Congratulations Liang and good luck on your lab!
12 May 2004
Content Revision for Security Exam
Effective October 1st, 2004, the content of the Security lab will be revised. The Security
lab, which was introduced in 2001, will be revised so much of the core routing and switching
is preconfigured on the devices, giving the candidate more exam time to work on security-specific
technology. Detailed information on the Security exam can be found at Security Lab Blueprint.
12 May 2004
New Lab Blueprints Available
For the first time, the CCIE program is publishing lab blueprints to assist candidates
preparing for the challenging eight-hour lab exam. The hands-on lab, taken in addition to
a two-hour written exam, distinguishes CCIE from other industry certifications. The blueprint
is a detailed outline of topics likely to appear on the lab exam. The topics listed are guidelines
and other relevant or related topics may also appear. In general, new product features become
eligible for testing on CCIE lab exams six months after general release.
12 May 2004
CCNP Winner Chosen for April
Daniel Kutchin of Siemens was randomly selected to receive CCIE Practical Studies, a
two-volume set of self-study material, in the April CCNP drawing. Daniel passed the written
exam for the R&S track on March 22 2004 and has not yet scheduled his lab exam. Congratulations
Daniel and good luck on your lab!
10 May 2004
Content Networking Exam Available June 1st
On June 1st CCIE will release its Content Networking written exam into full production in all
testing locations worldwide. Content networking supports the delivery of advanced online services,
secure e-business transactions and streaming content over public and private networks. A blueprint
of the topics covered in the exam can be found on the web at
/web/learning/le3/ccie/sp/contentnetworking_blueprint.html ./web/learning/le3/ccie/exam/ .
28 Apr 2004
Salaries Up for CCIEs
According to TCPmag.com’s 2004 Compensation Survey, average salaries are up 3% for
those with CCIE titles. Results for other Cisco certifications were mixed, with salary
changes ranging from a reported 10% decrease (for CCNA) to a 10% increase (for Cisco Design
Professionals).
12 Apr 2004
CCNP Winner Chosen for March
Peter Kaliszewicz of Telekomunikacja Polska was randomly selected as the first CCNP to
receive CCIE Practical Studies, the free two-volume set of CCIE self-study materials. Peter
passed the written exam for R&S on March 4, 2004 and is scheduled to take the lab exam
later this year. Congratulations Peter and good luck on your lab!
01 Apr 2004
Upgrade to R&S Lab Exams Scheduled for August 1st
Effective August 1st, 2004 CCIE will update to IOS version 12.2T in its R&S Lab Exam.
Prior to that date, candidates may see 12.2T installed in the lab, but will not be presented
with questions covering its new features. The IPv6 feature set, however, will not be covered
in the R&S lab exam until January 1, 2005. (Clarification added 15 JUN 2004.)
01 Apr 2004
Upgrades to Security and SP Lab Exams Scheduled for July 1st
Effective July 1st, 2004 CCIE will update the software versions tested in its Security and
Service Provider Lab Exams. Prior to that date, candidates may see the new software versions
installed in the labs, but will not be presented with questions covering the new features. Changes
going into effect on July 1st are:
- Security track will begin testing IOS version 12.2T,
and PIX version 6.3.- Service Provider track will begin testing IOS version
12.2T on 2600 routers and IOS version 12.3T
on 3600 and 3700 routers.
29 Mar 2004
Discounted Beta Available for Optical Written Exam
From April 26th through May 21st CCIE is offering a beta version of a new optical written exam
at a discounted price of $50. Passing the optical exam qualifies a candidate to schedule the Service
Provider lab exam. The beta will be available at testing locations worldwide and may be attempted only
once during the 4-5 week beta period. Scheduling opens on April 26th. Find out more about
scheduling a beta exam .
26 Feb 2004
Revision to Security Written Exam
A revision to the CCIE Security written exam will go into production on June 1, 2004 in all
testing locations. Candidates taking the Security written exam June 1st or later should refer
to the 2.0
Security Exam Blueprint posted on the web for a description of topics that will be covered.
The 2.0 revision incorporates the current technologies enterprises use to create highly secure
business-ready networks and covers the use of standalone Intrusion Detection System (IDS) sensors,
standalone VPN concentrators, Cisco's VPN/Security Management System (VMS), and the AES and EAP
wireless protocols. Periodic revisions to CCIE exams reflect Cisco's enduring dedication to
identifying those experts capable of implementing and maintaining secure state-of-the-art networks
in the worlds' most challenging environments.
12 Feb 2004
Voice Lab to Open in Brussels
CCIE Voice candidates will soon be able to take their lab exam in Brussels, Belgium.
Online scheduling is now available for lab examinations scheduled for April 13th, 2004
and beyond. Candidates thinking of taking their exam in Brussels should be aware that the
$1250 US cost of the CCIE lab is subject to VAT taxes in Brussels.
16 Jan 2004
Unpaid Exams to be Automatically Dropped
On May 15, 2004 the CCIE program will implement a new policy to automatically drop scheduled exams
that remain unpaid 4 weeks before the exam date. The program has always required full payment 28
days before the exam date, but previously has not automatically dropped unpaid exams. Instead,
candidates have been required to cancel the reservation themselves before the due date, or incur
a charge for the full fee. The change in policy will lessen the chance a candidate who decides not
to take the exam, will still end up being charged the fee. However, it also requires candidates who
do intend to take the lab to be more careful to pay by the cancellation date, or they risk having
their lab reservation cancelled. See Lab
Exam: Payment Policies for more information.
16 Jan 2004
Price Change for Sydney Lab Location
All candidates taking the CCIE lab exam in Sydney, Australia will be charged and additional
GST tax of 10%. The exam price for this location only will now be $1375.00 USD.
6 Jan 2004
CCIE Tops Salary Survey
Certification Magazine has released the results of their
annual salary survey --declaring CCIEs the most highly-compensated IT professionals.
Input was received from over 19,000 IT professionals in 136 countries. As the editors reported:
"It should come as no surprise to IT experts that earning and maintaining professional certifications
has a positive impact on their bottom lines" and "Not surprisingly, CCIE led the pack, with an
average salary of $96,870 annually." CCIE topped other popular certifications such as Nortel's
Certified Design Specialist, (ISC)2's Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP)
and Check Point's security certifications.
"the number two Hottest Exam for 2004" by CertCities.com, an online journal that tracks the
intentions of professionals pursuing certification in the coming year. These new awards, in addition
to those received in November 2003 (see prior announcement) prove that, in an industry with a
proliferation of professional exams, CCIE continues to maintain its highly coveted position at
the top of the heap.
01 Jan 2004
CCIE Security Featured in CertCities Security Certification Resource Guide
“For the most experienced candidates, Cisco offers a security track for its CCIE title.
Typical study methods won’t get you a CCIE. The focus in on identifying those experts
capable of understanding and navigating the subtleties, intricacies and potential pitfalls of
end-to-end networking.”
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01 Dec 2003
This international survey found CCIE led the pack with an average annual salary of $96,870.
18 Dec 2003
CCIE Security is Second “Hottest Cert for 2004”
This award is a reflection of how fast a particular cert is growing. “For the coming year,
readers of CertCities reported CCIE Security is the second “Hottest Cert for 2004” .
Reader interest in CCIE dipped a bit from last year (CCIE was #1 Hottest Cert in 2003). “Not
that this makes the title any less desirable. Cisco continues to be one of the (if not THE) most
respected certifications, and its buzz score reflects that.”
10 Dec 2003
“Most Respected High-Level Certification” and “Best Overall Program” for 2003
CertCities Second Annual Readers’ Choice Awards again gave CCIE top honors in the high-level
certification category. Additionally, Cisco again received the award for best certification program
overall.
2 Dec 2003
New Payment Process for CCIE lab in Hong Kong
We are pleased to announce new payment methods for Hong Kong candidates.
Candidates can now pay by credit card on-line or they can pay by wire transfer to a US
account. The wire transfer account for JP Morgan is no longer available. Please see the
details below and send us email if you have further questions.Credit card payments: https://tools.cisco.com/CCIE/Schedule_Lab/CCIEOnline/CCIEOnline Wire Transfer payments:
contact CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool .
18 Nov 2003
New Exams for Security, Content Networking and Dial
Three new exams are being released by the CCIE program. A beta for a revision
to the Security written exam (#351-018) and a beta for a new Service Provider
written exam in Content Networking (#351-026) will be available December 15,
2003 through January 6, 2004. The Content Networking exam covers the technologies
and products that service providers use to optimize the security, scalability and
reliability of Web-enabled applications and services across their networks. Both betas
are available at a discounted cost of $50 for the duration of the beta period. Also on
December 15th, the final version of the Service Provider--Dial exam (#350-025) becomes
generally available to all CCIEs. The cost for the written Dial exam is $300. All written
exams are scheduled through Prometric and Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide
(see Exam Information) .
03 Nov 2003
Cisco Honors CCIEs on 10th Anniversary
This month Cisco celebrates the 10th anniversary of its expert certification program,
and honors 31 CCIEs with a special award marking their decade of membership in this
elite group. Cisco was one of the first to use hands-on exams to certify experts in
the configuration and testing of internetworking equipment. Today CCIE is widely considered
to be the industry's most rigorous IT certification program, and CCIEs are required to pass
recertification exams every two years. A special "10-year" logo has been designed for those
who reach their 10th anniversary, for use on business cards and personal merchandise.
03 Nov 2003
Industry Accolades for CCIE Program
Last month Certification Magazine ranked Cisco's CCIE the number one "Best Hands-On Program"
and the number one "Most Technically Advanced Program" in their Certification Top Ten lists .
"At a time when many organizations have limited IT resources, CCIE certified individuals are
able to work more efficiently and reduce the implementation risk of IT solutions in the
enterprise," says Cushing Anderson, program director of IT education and certification
research at International Data Corporation (IDC). "More and more, complex technical
environments require a higher level expertise for IT professionals and CCIE is widely
seen as the pinnacle of IT certification programs."
30 Oct 2003
E1 Protocol Being Added to Voice Lab
On February 2, 2004 the CCIE program will be adding the E1 wide area digital transmission
protocol to its CCIE Voice lab in San Jose. The E1 protocol is predominately used in
Europe to carry data at rates of 2.048 Mbps. Please refer to the equipment list for
other detailed hardware specifications for the Voice Lab.
8 Oct 2003
Hong Kong Lab Moving
The Hong Kong CCIE lab is moving effective November 11, 2003. All candidates
scheduled after this date will take their lab exam at:
05 Sep 2003
“Most Important Cert” and among Top Ten “Fastest Growing Certs”
Computer Reseller News surveyed service providers worldwide and found CCIE certification wa among the
top ten “Fastest Growing Certs” for its CCIE Security and CCIE Voice tracks. The same
survey found that in the increasingly important area of security, respondents considered the CCIE
Security certification the “Most Important Cert”.
25 Aug 2003
CCIE C&S Track Renamed to Service Provider
To align more closely with the segment of the IT community it serves, the CCIE
program will rename its Communications and Services certification track to CCIE
Service Provider. Certification in this track indicates expert level knowledge
and skill in the fundamentals of IP and core IP technologies as well as specialized
knowledge in at least one of the networking areas specific to service providers.
These areas include Dial, DSL, Cable, Optical, WAN Switching, and IP Telephony.
Candidates attain CCIE Service Provider certification by first passing a written
exam covering the specialty area of their choosing, and then passing a hands-on lab
exam which covers core IP technologies and products. More information on the CCIE program
and Service Provider certification is
available here .
31 July 2003
CCIE Lab to Relocate to Dubai
Effective December 1, 2003, the CCIE program will discontinue the CCIE lab
in Johannesburg, South Africa and a new CCIE lab will begin operation during
December in the Cisco office in Dubai, centrally located in the Middle East.
The current location in South Africa was originally opened in June 2000. This
change is being made to accommodate the shifting demographics of CCIE candidates
in the Middle East and Africa. Online scheduling for exams held in Dubai is now available.
22 July 2003
New Lab Locations Added
The CCIE Security lab exam will be offered in two new locations—in RTP,
North Carolina starting July 2003 and in Beijing, China starting on August 4, 2003.
Security labs are also currently available in San Jose, Brussels, and Sydney.
Online
scheduling begins July 28th for RTP and on August 4th for Beijing.Online
scheduling begins July 28th.
23 June 2003
Security Lab Equipment Changes
Effective September 29, 2003, VPN concentrators and IDS sensors will be added to
the CCIE Security lab exam.
16 June 2003
Voice Exam Update
The CCIE Voice lab exam will debut on September 2, 2003 in San Jose.
Qualified candidates who have passed the Voice written exam can
schedule
the lab exam online beginning June 16th. Additionally, the
Voice
written exam is being put into general release on June 16th. The Voice track was first
announced in March of 2003 and over 800 professionals took the Voice written exam during its
month long beta-a record number for any track in the CCIE program.
11 June 2003
Changes in Lab Hardware and IOS
On July 7, 2003 the CCIE program will be adding the 3700 series router to all CCIE lab locations
worldwide. Please refer to the equipment list for detailed hardware specifications for each CCIE
track.
11 June 2003
Service Provider Written Exam Update (formerly known as Communications and Services)
The Service Provider IP Telephony written exam (#350-024) is now generally available to
all CCIE candidates through Pearson VUE and Prometric testing centers worldwide. A certification
in Service Provider IP Telephony identifies networking experts in a service provider environment
with a high degree of VoIP literacy. Candidates attain SP certification by first passing a
written qualification exam covering a SP specialty of their choosing, and then passing a
hands-on lab exam with covers core IP technologies and products. The track also offers
specializations in Optical, Dial, DSL, Cable and WAN switching.More information on SP
certification
28 Apr 2003
Change in Administration of CCIE Recertification Exams
Effective June 15, 2003, the CCIE program will discontinue the use of specific CCIE
recertification exams and, instead, allow a passing grade on any of the currently available
CCIE written exams to satisfy the testing requirement for recertification. Recertification is
required every two years to maintain status as an active CCIE.More information on
recertification
03 Mar 2003
CCIE Predicted to Be Top Paying Cert in 2003
Ed Tittel, VP of IT Certifications at iLearning.com predicted CCIE would be among the top
five paying certifications in 2003. Tittel bases his predictions on technology trends and
compensation and employment data from Foote Partners.
11 Dec 2002
CCIE Voted “Hottest Cert for 2003”
CCIE enjoyed an upsurge in popularity late in 2002, making this list for the first time.
Respondents remarked, “With so many more certs on the market, reputation means more”
and “CCIE is the best certification to have; everyone knows there are no paper CCIEs out
there.”
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