Why Become A CCIE?

The CCIE is a very difficult and expensive (potentially VERY expensive) certification. So why in the world would anyone want to spend the time and money necessary to pass the CCIE lab exam and get their digits? While each CCIE candidate has their own reasons for doing this, there are some common benefits:

1 Salary

Oh the vulgarity of chasing filthy lucre! Regardless of your views on the whole “mo’ money, mo’ problems” debate, money is one of the leading motivations for many candidates seeking the CCIE. Because the CCIE is such a difficult and highly respected certification, there is a very competitive market for CCIEs. With high demand and low supply come high salaries. The CCIE has consistently been at or near the top of the certifications with the highest salaries. The current average salary for a CCIE is somewhere in the $93,000 – $111,000 (US dollars) range. I live in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and I’ve been told that $125,000 is the average salary of a CCIE in this area. Brad Reese has a nice collection of links to various salary surveys. As with any “average” salary you need to take into account that there are likely other variables at play (years of experience, location, specialization, consultant versus permanent employee, etc) but suffice it to say, a CCIE can make a decent living.

While I would love to believe that companies pay high salaries solely based on expert level Cisco knowledge that is only one part of the salary equation when it comes to CCIE pay. Cisco’s Channel Partner Progam rewards companies by branding them as Select, Premier, Silver, or Gold partners. I won’t pretend to know much about the details of this program, but there is a stipulation by Cisco that each partner maintain a certain number of Cisco certified employees in certain technologies.

For instance a Gold partner requires:

12 unique certified individuals and all four of the following Advanced Specializations:

    • Routing & Switching
    • Security
    • Unified Communications
    • Wireless LAN

I think that this number fluctuates based on variables such as specialization and total sales, but I’m not sure. I have also heard that Gold partners (and possibly the other levels as well) need to maintain a certain number of CCIEs on staff in order to maintain their partner status. Cisco has a web page that shows the benefits of hiring a CCIE, one of those benefits is:

Preferred status is given to Cisco partners who employ CCIEs (find out more at Cisco Channel Programs).

On the same page Cisco also warns that losing a CCIE may affect partner status:

The benefits of Gold or Silver Channel Partner status are only available to companies who maintain the required number of certified staff.

So why does this mean more money for CCIEs? One of the benefits that a company receives for becoming a channel partner is a discount on Cisco equipment (I’ve heard that it’s a pretty hefty discount). That means that a partner can save substantial costs on equipment. In turn they can put in lower bids on contracts. If a company can save hundreds of thousands of dollars on equipment and bring in more business by hiring a CCIE, then they certainly can afford to pay that CCIE very well. The fact that a CCIE will be able to give expert level support to their customers may be an afterthought.

2 Accomplishment/Challenge

The CCIE is the most difficult Cisco certification (with the possible exception of the new CCDE program) and becoming a CCIE makes you a member of a pretty exclusive group of network professionals. For many candidates getting their digits is tangible display of their networking abilities. It looks awesome on a resume and effectively ends any networking bragfest:

“I’ve been working in networking since routers came with dip switches and I was the guy that the ARPAnet engineers called when they…”
“That’s adorable. I’m CCIE #12345.”
“Drat. I have been bested.”
“Yes you have, lesser engineer.”

Okay, that’s the way it goes down in my head at least. Becoming a CCIE gives one an air of authority (for better or worse). Does becoming a CCIE automatically make you the best engineer on your team? No. But at the very least it shows a dedication and technical prowess that few engineers can claim.

3 Job Advancement/Job Opportunities

This category ties together both of the previous categories. In some situations you may be happy with your salary and employer, but you want to move up the networking ladder. Or you may be looking for a new position outside of the company. Either way, having a CCIE will definitely set you apart from the crowd. It will also give you an advantage in the job market if you lose your current job (a very real possibility in the US at this time). Another benefit is that you’re more likely to be tasked with playing with the latest and greatest technology if you’re a CCIE. Your boss more likely to give that new CRS-1 or Nexus 7000 to a CCIE to play with….err, “test”.

4 Maintaining An Expert-Level Skillset

This one is not mentioned often and can also be looked at as a disadvantage of being a CCIE. Once you become a CCIE, there is an (unreasonable or not) expectation that you have an expert level knowledge of networking. When there’s a difficult issue or just whenever some smart-ass wants to test your knowledge; you will be expected to answer these questions – especially if you’re being paid handsomely. You’re going to want to remember all of those default timers, subnetting skills, LSA types, BGP commands, etc. that you worked hard to learn for the CCIE exam and lab. Instead of reviewing them before an exam or an interview, you’ll want to have them committed to memory so that you don’t become the CCIE that everyone whispers about (“He’s a CCIE and he doesn’t even know [insert technology here]“). Sure there are going to be cases where you’ll tell your inquisitors that you’ll need to research it and get back to them, but you’ll probably want to be quick with an accurate answer to most questions.

There are a multitude of lesser reasons for getting the CCIE such as Cisco Perks like better TAC service and Networker’s parties, but the ones that I have listed are the ones that I’ve heard most candidates use when asked why they are pursuing the CCIE. In my personal case, I started down the CCIE path mostly as a challenge. I wanted to see if I had what it takes to become a CCIE. While job advancement and salary were not at the top of my list, I would be lying if I said that they weren’t in the mix. I love working in IT because it’s one of those fields where more knowledge generally results in more opportunities and/or better pay.

So we’ve seen what the CCIE entails as well as some of the benefits.

CCIE Exam Policies

Candidates should be familiar with the policies for CCIE program participation, as stated below.

  • Conduct
    Candidates must agree they will not compromise the integrity or confidentiality of any Cisco certification exam or certification program. Prohibited actions are described in the Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement. Remedies for violating the policy can include a lifetime ban on all future exams and voiding of all previous certifications.
  • Confidentiality
    The questions and answers of the certification exams are the exclusive and confidential property of Cisco and are protected by Cisco’s intellectual property rights. Candidates taking Cisco exams must agree they have read and will abide by the terms and conditions of the Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement before beginning each exam.
  • Correspondence
    All official correspondence to certified CCIEs and candidates is sent to the email address in the CCIE database. This database is SEPARATE from the Cisco customer database. Changing

    an email address in the Cisco customer database does not automatically update the CCIE database. CCIEs and candidates must keep their CCIE email address updated in order to ensure they received all official correspondence.

  • Exam Violations
    Disclosure of test content is strictly prohibited. Please report any suspicious activity as described in Cisco’s Exam Violation Rules.
  • Lab Exam: Double Booking
    CCIE candidates are allowed to schedule only a single CCIE lab exam date at any location for each CCIE track. Double booking for lab exams in the same track, at either the same location or different locations, is not permitted by the database. Candidates will be allowed to simultaneously schedule lab exams for different tracks.
  • Lab Exam: Exam Rules
    Candidates for the CCIE written exam or lab exam are not allowed to bring anything into the exam room or take anything out. This includes, but is not limited to: notes, documentation, watches, laptops, keyboards, pagers, PDAs, and mobile phones. DO NOT confer or consult with anyone about the exam while taking the exam or after the exam is completed. During an exam, you may only discuss your exam with the lab engineer.
  • Lab Exam: Payment
    Price not confirmed and is subject to change until full payment is made.
    Types. Lab sites in China and Japan will only accept payment via wire transfer. All other locations accept online credit card payment (American Express, Visa, Mastercard, or Eurocard) See “Lab Exam: Scheduling and Payment” for details. You are responsible for any fees your financial institution may charge to complete the payment transaction.
    Due Date. Full payment must be received at least 90 days before the lab exam date. Only one e-mail notice is sent as a payment reminder. Payments generally take one to seven business days to process, so be sure to initiate payment in advance of the due date. It is important that if payment will be made by wire transfer, that the payment is scheduled well in advance to prevent the lab date being dropped. Exams for which payment is not received by the due date will be automatically dropped from the schedule. If you still wish to take the lab, you must rebook the exam online and complete your payment. There is no guarantee that your original date will still be available once it has been dropped for non-payment. If you bookan exam for a date less than 90 days away, you must complete payment on the day you book the exam or the registration cannot be submitted. Candidates are ultimately responsible for making the lab payment in a timely manner and Cisco will not be held liable for any candidates automatically dropped due to non-payment.
    Processing. Credit card payments entered into the system will be processed on the payment due date, exactly 90 days prior to your lab date, as will invoices for all payment types. Be sure the company name, invoicing address and email address are complete and accurate to ensure proper delivery of your invoice. No invoices will be generated before the lab exam due date.
  • Lab Exam: Rescheduling, Canceling and Postponing
    Prior to Due Date. Cancellations or changes to the exam date, location, or track must be made prior to the payment due date–90 days before the scheduled lab date. To make any changes, you must log into the Lab Scheduling tool and drop your current lab. Then you can reschedule according to preferred date, location and track. You may book an exam for a date less than 90 days away, if you complete payment on the day you book the exam.
    If you need to cancel an exam before the due date, and paid via a wire transfer that has already cleared, you are eligible for a full refund by requesting support via the Certifications Online Support tool.
    After Due Date. Changes and cancellations are not permitted after the payment due date–90 days prior to the scheduled lab date–and no refunds will be issued. If you are not able to attend your scheduled lab date, contact support to let them know the lab seat will not be used. You will still forfeit your payment, but you will be allowed to book another exam date immediately. If you do not contact support, you will be marked as a “no show” for the exam and be barred from booking another exam for 30 days.
    Candidates Requiring Visas. If you require a visa to attend your lab exam, it is strongly recommended you apply 10-12 weeks before your lab date. Candidates who fail to obtain required visas will still be bound by these cancellation policies and must cancel their lab exam before the payment due date to be eligible for a full refund. For more information in requesting a CCIE Invitation Letter, please visit our CCIE: Invitation Letter (Entrance Visa) Instant Answer.
  • Lab Exam: Reevaluation of Lab Results

    Exam results appeals are available for the routing and switching, security, and service provider technology tracks. Only exams with potential to change from fail to pass will have the option to request an appeal, based on years of historical data. Appeals are not available for the voice or storage tracks due to equipment limitations.

    An appeal consists of a second proctor loading your configurations into a rack to recreate the test and re-score the entire exam. This process takes up to three weeks after receipt of payment. Only one appeal per lab attempt is permitted.

    The result of the appeal is a confirmation of the existing fail or an update to a pass.

  • Payment Terms

    Make your request within 14 days following your exam date by using the “Request for Reread” link next to your lab record. Each appeal costs $250.00 USD plus any applicable local taxes. Payment is made online via credit card and your card will be charged upon receipt of the request. You may not cancel the appeal request once the process has been initiated. Refunds are given only when results change from fail to pass.

  • Lab Exam: Retakes
    All candidates must wait 30 days between CCIE lab attempts. Please note the 30 days starts from the day after a failed lab exam.
  • Lab Exam: Scoring
    You must obtain an overall score of at least 80% to pass the lab exam. You can view your lab exam results online (login required), usually within 48 hours. Results are Pass/Fail and failing score reports indicate major topic areas where additional study and preparation may be useful.
  • Lab Exam: Start Times
    Start times for exams are indicated in email can also found on the web page associated with each lab location (for a list, see Lab Exam Locations). Please verify your email address in your candidate profile so we can notify you of any changes. If you have any questions about the start time of your exam, please contact CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool . If you arrive more than two hours after the start of your exam, you will not be allowed to start. If you arrive less than two hours late, you will be allowed to start but you must finish with the rest of the group.
  • Logo Guidelines
    Certified CCIEs may only use the CCIE logo as provided and in accordance with the published Logo Guidelines.
  • Recertification
    To maintain active CCIE status, CCIEs are required to pass either a CCIE written exam of their choosing from among all of the currently available written exams, or a CCIE lab exam in a new track every 24 months. Candidates can only apply one passed written exam towards recertification for every 24 month recertification period. Certification candidates are responsible for keeping track of their certification expiration dates; your recertification deadline can be viewed online anytime (with login) at Certification Status. Subsequent recertification deadlines are always based on your original certification date, not on when you took your last recertification exam.
    If your CCIE recertification requirements are not completed on or before the certification’s expiration date, your CCIE certification will be suspended for one year. Candidates have one year to recertify their CCIE certification by passing the required written exam. If a candidate does not recertify prior to the one year suspension period, all CCIE certification requirements must be completed again to obtain the certification (pass both the written exam and the lab exam.) Please see Recertification for detailed information.
  • Travel Costs
    Under no circumstances will Cisco reimburse travel costs for CCIE lab exams.
  • Written Exam: Expiration
    Candidates must make an initial attempt of the CCIE lab exam within 18 months of passing the CCIE written exam. Candidates who do not pass must re-attempt the lab exam within 12 months of their last scored attempt in order for their written exam to remain valid. If a candidate does not pass the lab exam within three years of passing the written exam, he or she must retake the written exam before being allowed to attempt the lab exam again.
  • Written Exam: Retakes
    There is no limit to the number of attempts that can be made on the written exam. However, candidates must wait 5 calendar days between exam attempts. Once a candidate passes a particular written exam, he or she may not retake that same exam for at least 180 days. (Though rare, this may occur in certain recertification situations.)
  • Written Exam: Scoring
    Pass marks are set by using statistical analysis and are subject to change. The pass score is given on the Examination Score Sheet at the end of the test. Along with the candidate’s score, there is a notation of either PASS or FAIL. Scores on written exams are automatically downloaded from testing vendors, but may take up to 10 days to appear in the CCIE database.
  • CCIE Lab Exam Information

    CCIE Certification Involves Two Exams

    The focus is on identifying experts capable of understanding and navigating the subtleties, intricacies and challenges of end-to-end networking. To become certified, you must pass both a written qualification exam AND the corresponding hands-on lab exam. This section provides general information on CCIE exams; detailed information on the topics covered in the exams is found in the Track Details.

    Lab Exam Information

    Feature Image

    The Final Step in Earning Your CCIE

    Lab exams are eight-hour, hands-on exams that test the ability to configure and troubleshoot networking equipment and software. The topics covered on lab exams can be found on the Track Details pages, links provided on this page. Not all exams are offered at all Cisco CCIE lab locations; please consult Lab Exam Locations for specific details.

    Lab Scheduling and Payment

    A valid passing score on a written exam is required to schedule a lab exam. Written exam scores are automatically downloaded from testing vendors, but may take up to ten days to

    appear in your file. You will need the identification number you used to register for the written exam, the date of your passing exam and your passing score.
    Exams must be paid for at least 90 days before the scheduled lab date, or the reservation will be automatically cancelled. You will only receive one email notification reminding you to make your payment. You can verify the payment due date on an exam by logging in and viewing your Certification Status. Payment options depend on the location of the lab exam, as indicated in the table below.
    Payment processing generally takes one to seven days, so be sure to initiate the process well in advance of the payment due date. All payments will be posted exactly 90 days prior to your scheduled lab date, regardless of when you initiate the process. Invoices will not be issued until the payment is processed.

    Cost of Lab Exam

    Lab exams cost $1,400 USD each, not including travel and lodging. Costs may vary due to exchange rates and local taxes (VAT in Brussels and GST in Sydney). You are responsible for any fees your financial institution may charge to complete the payment transaction.

    Lab Exam Grading

    Each question on the lab has specific criteria. The labs are graded by proctors who ensure all criteria are met and points are awarded accordingly. The proctors use automatic tools to gather information from the routers to perform some preliminary evaluations, but the final determination of a correct or incorrect configuration is done by a trained proctor.

    Results

    You can view your lab exam results online (login required), usually within 48 hours. Results are Pass/Fail and failing score reports indicate major topic areas where additional study and preparation may be useful.

    Reevaluation of Results

    Exam results appeals are available for the routing and switching, security, and service provider technology tracks. Only exams with potential to change from fail to pass will have the option to request an appeal, based on years of historical data. Appeals are not available for the voice or storage tracks due to equipment limitations.

    An appeal consists of a second proctor loading your configurations into a rack to recreate the test and re-score the entire exam. This process takes up to three weeks after receipt of payment. Only one appeal per lab attempt is permitted.

    The result of the appeal is a confirmation of the existing fail or an update to a pass.

    Payment Terms
    Make your request within 14 days following your exam date by using the “Request for Reread” link next to your lab record. Each appeal costs $250.00 USD plus any applicablelocal taxes . Payment is made online via credit card and your card will be charged upon receipt of the request. You may not cancel the appeal request once the process has been initiated. Refunds are given only when results change from fail to pass.

    Lab Exams: Rescheduling, Cancellations and Refunds

    Important Restrictions

    Cancellations or changes to the date, location, or exam type must be made at least 90 days prior to the scheduled exam date. Cancellations or changes are made online by logging in and editing your Certification Status. If you have already paid and cancel at least 90 days before the exam date, you are eligible for a full refund by contacting CCIE customer support through the Certifications Online Support tool.

    Entrance Visas

    It is strongly recommended that, if you require an entrance visa to attend the lab, you apply for the visa 10-12 weeks before the scheduled lab date. If you do not obtain the required visa, you must still cancel your lab at least 90 days in advance to receive a refund.

    CCIE Written Exam Information

    CCIE Certification Involves Two Exams(Written and Lab)

    The focus is on identifying experts capable of understanding and navigating the subtleties, intricacies and challenges of end-to-end networking. To become certified, you must pass both a written qualification exam AND the corresponding hands-on lab exam. This section provides general information on CCIE exams; detailed information on the topics covered in the exams is found in the Track Details.

    Feature Image

    The First Step Toward Certification

    Written exams are computer-based, multiple choice exams lasting two hours and available at hundreds of authorized testing centers worldwide. You must pass the written exam before you are eligible to schedule the lab exam. The topics covered on written exams can be found on the Track Details pages, links provided on this page.

    Scheduling and Payment

    Payment and scheduling of written exams is arranged online through Pearson VUE primary test delivery partner. You will need to have the correct written exam number to register. You

    must also use the same candidate ID number for all exams that you take, to ensure your results appear in your CCIE profile.

    Cost of Written Exam

    Pearson VUE, Cisco’s primary test delivery partner offers written exams for $350 USD each, and beta exams, when available at a discounted price of $50 USD. Costs may vary due to exchange rates and local taxes (VAT in Brussels and GST in Sydney).

    Retakes

    Candidates must wait five days between written exam attempts. Once a candidate has passed the exam, he or she may not take the same exam again (for recertification purposes) for at least 180 days.

    Expiration

    Candidates must make an initial attempt of the CCIE lab exam within 18 months of passing the CCIE written exam. Candidates who do not pass must re-attempt the lab exam within 12 months of their last attempt in order for their written exam to remain valid. If a candidate does not pass the lab exam within three years, the written exam expires and must be passed again before the candidates will be allowed to schedule the lab.

    Beta Exams

    Each written exam version is offered first in beta form at a discounted cost of $50 USD. Beta exams are scheduled as you would other written exams and are available at all worldwide testing locations. A passing grade on the beta qualifies a candidate to schedule the lab exam. Results, however, are typically not available until six to eight weeks after the close of the beta. A candidate may attempt the beta exam only once during the beta period.

    CCNA 640-802 Online Practice

    Exam Description

    The 640-802 CCNA is the composite exam associated with the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) v1.0 and the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) v1.0 courses. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge and skills required to install, operate, and troubleshoot a small to medium size enterprise branch network. The topics include connecting to a WAN; implementing network security; network types; network media; routing and switching fundamentals; the TCP/IP and OSI models; IP addressing; WAN technologies; operating and configuring IOS devices; extending switched networks with VLANs; determining IP routes; managing IP traffic with access lists; establishing point-to-point connections; and establishing Frame Relay connections.

    Review Questions

    The following review questions are taken from the current CCNA curriculum.  These review questions reflect the actual questions you will receive on the live certification exam.

    [QUIZZIN 1]

     

    (ISC)2 CISSP Certification Self-Study Resources

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    2009 Objectives

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    CompTIA Project+ Certification Overview

    CompTIA-Project CompTIA Project+ is a globally recognized project management certification that identifies qualified and quality project managers.

    The CompTIA Project+ certification is an international, vendor-neutral certification that covers the entire project life cycle from initiation and planning through execution, acceptance, support and closure. CompTIA Project+ gives project managers the skills necessary to complete projects on time and within budget, and creates a common project management language among project team members. CompTIA Project+ certification of project managers and team members can help to create a project management culture in large and small organizations.

    CompTIA Project+ covers the business and technical project management skills needed to successfully manage business projects. It emphasizes getting buy-in from stakeholders, proper scheduling and budget control.

    CDW requires CompTIA Project+ in certain positions, and it is recommended for project managers at Alltel, Dell, Ricoh and the U.S. Dept. of State.

    Unlike some project management certifications, CompTIA Project+ can be earned in a reasonable period of time and cost-effectively. There are no prerequisites, and candidates are not required to submit an application or complete additional hours of continuing education.

    The newest version of CompTIA Project+ covers the 2009 objectives. For those studying toward the 2003 objectives, that exam will be available through March 31, 2011.

    TEST DETAILS

    2009 Objectives

    Number of questions:
    100
    Length of test:
    90 minutes
    Passing score:
    700 on a scale of 100-900
    Recommended experience:
    One year of managing, directing or participating in small- to medium-scale projects
    Languages:
    English
    Exam code:
    PK0-003
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    2003 Objectives

    Number of questions:
    80
    Length of test:
    90 minutes
    Passing score:
    499 on a scale of 100-900
    Recommended experience:
    One year of practical project management
    Languages:
    English, German and Japanese
    Exam code:
    PK0-002
    JK0-013 (E2C code)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    Download Exam Objectives

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