Roadmap to Success: CCIE Routing & Switching

Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and the next steps beyond certification.

UPDATED: We recently updated this article on February 14, 2017, to reflect relevant changes to the Cisco CCIE Routing and Switching certification curriculum.

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Routing and Switching (CCIE R&S) certification is an expert-level certification that demonstrates the skills required of expert-level network engineers to plan, operate, and troubleshoot complex, converged network infrastructure.

As an expert-level certification, the CCIE R&S is rare but highly sought after by the IT industry. This certification provides a lasting foundation for physical and virtual enterprise networks.

CCIE Routing and Switching

The CCIE Routing and Switching is one of the most prestigious networking certifications in the industry. Interestingly, it is an expert-level certification that has no formal prerequisites.

However, it is strongly recommended that learners have 3-5 years of experience and have earned the CCNA and CCNP Routing and Switching certifications to be well-prepared for the exams associated with the CCIE.

The CCIE Routing and Switching certification is made up of two exams, which are covered by CBT Nuggets training:

• 400-101 CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam

• CCIE R&S Lab Exam

Because the CCIE is an expert-level certification, thorough preparation is required. Therefore, CBT Nuggets has developed six courses to cover all the content addressed by the identified exam topics:

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 1.0 Network Principles

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 2.0 Layer 2 Technologies

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 3.0 Layer 3 Technologies

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 4.0 VPN Technologies

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 5.0 Infrastructure Security

• Cisco CCIE RS v5 All-In-One: 6.0 Infrastructure Services

*Please note that v5.0 of the CCIE certification, for which CBT Nuggets provides training and preparation, was retired on July 25, 2016.

The CCIE has a complex certification process, around which there are many myths and points of confusion. CCIE-certified trainer Anthony Sequeira recently facilitated a webinar addressing the myths surrounding the CCIE.

Exam Details

Because the CCIE consists of two exams, please review each detail section carefully to understand each experience's requirements fully.

• WRITTEN

• Time allotted for the exam: 2 hours (120 minutes)

• Number of questions: 90-110

• Passing score: Cisco does not publish the passing score for its exams

• Question types: Multiple choice, Drag and drop, Simulation

• Exam registration: Pearson VUE

• Exam cost: $400* *Learn more about exam fees from Pearson VUE

• Exam topics: 400-101 v5* (free resource) *Please note that v5.0 of the CCIE certification, for which CBT Nuggets provides training and preparation, was retired on July 25, 2016.

• LAB Exam prerequisite: Learners must first pass the Written exam before becoming eligible for the Lab exam

• Time allotted for exam: 8 hours (480 minutes)

• Passing score: Cisco does not publish the passing score for its exam; it is important to note that proctors will be grading learners using automatic tools to gather data from routers

• Question types: Configure and troubleshoot a series of complex networks to given specifications

• Exam registration: Cisco (learners must have a valid Cisco user account to register)

• Exam cost: $1,600 per attempt, not including travel and lodging

• Exam topics: CCIE Routing and Switching Lab Exam Topics v5.0* (free resource) *Please note that v5.0 of the CCIE certification, for which CBT Nuggets provides training and preparation, was retired on July 25, 2016.

Recertification

The CCIE Routing and Switching certification is valid for two years from the date it is earned. Learners recertify by passing the recertification exam. If the recertification exam is not completed promptly, learners risk losing their CCIE certification and the benefits associated with the status.

Suppose a learner does not reinstate his/her CCIE status within one year of becoming inactive. In that case, he/she will be required to complete the entire certification process again from the beginning (written and lab exams).

The Next Step

The CCIE Routing and Switching certification is the pinnacle of the Cisco universe of routing and switching certifications. Therefore, many learners looking toward the next steps after they earn their CCIE will often seek opportunities in other Cisco specializations. Most typically, learners will consider the following Cisco certifications following the CCIE:

• CCNA Security (made up of just one additional exam: 210-260 IINS)

• CCNP Security (made up of four exams: 300-208 SISAS, 300-206 SENSS, 300-209 SIMOS, and 300-207 SITCS v1.0 [retiring March 31, 2017] or 300-210 SITCS v1.5)

• CCNA Data Center (made up of two exams: 640-911 DCICN [retiring April 11, 2017] or 200-150 DCICN and 640-916 DCICT [retiring April 11, 2017] or 200-155 DCICT)

• CCNP Data Center (made up of four exams: {642-999 DCUCI [retiring July 3, 2017] or 300-175 DCUCI}, {642-997 DCUFI [retiring July 3, 2017] or 300-165 DCII}, 300-170 DCVAI, and {642-998 DCUCD [retiring July 3, 2017] and 642-996 DCUFD [retiring July 3, 2017] or 300-160 DCID} or {642-035 DCUCT [retiring July 3, 2017] and 642-980 DCUFT [retiring July 3, 2017] or 300-180 DCIT})

Some learners will look to diversify their experience by pursuing related networking technologies that exist outside the Cisco universe. Options include:

• Juniper JNCIA-Junos (made up of one exam: JN0-102)

• Juniper JNCIS-ENT (made up of one exam: JN0-343)

• F5 BIG-IP Administrator (made up of two exams: Exam 101 and Exam 201)

Career Considerations

Payscale.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the CCIE. Depending on professional experience, an employee who holds a CCIE can earn between $60,833 and $168,860. Typical roles for those holding a CCIE include senior network engineer, network engineer, network architect, solutions architect, senior systems engineer, and IT manager.

Cisco Certifications

Cisco certifications are layered, with each layer building upon the knowledge and skills developed at previous layers, which are structurally designed as pyramids. The layers are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect. Associate-level certifications include Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Industrial, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Once learners have earned an Associate-level certification, they can pursue Cisco Certified Network Professional-level certifications. Cisco offers a variety of Professional-level certifications, including Design Professional (CCDP), Cloud, Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Finally, learners can pursue Expert-level certifications, including Design Expert (CCDE), Collaboration, Data Center, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless.

Cisco provides an excellent certification overview that succinctly outlines each certification, its prerequisites, and related careers.

Explore other Cisco certification options for which CBT Nuggets provides training to open up even more professional development opportunities.

Concluding Thoughts

The CCIE Routing and Switching is a prestigious certification that most learners spend about a year preparing for. It is a way to truly distinguish yourself from the IT pack in the networking world. It requires significant effort, but it is certainly worth it!

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