Requirements for Certification
Strong technical skills are assumed at the expert level, and CCIE candidates are encouraged to use Cisco authorized training to fill any gaps, before attempting certification. CCNA and CCNP focus on developing a solid foundation and are strongly recommended as a path to CCIE, but are not mandatory prerequisites. You are expected to have an in-depth understanding of the topics in the exam topics and are strongly encouraged to have three to five years of job experience before attempting certification. You can review the exam preparation materials included on this page for more information.
Step One: CCIE Service Provider Operations Written Exam
You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam covering concepts and equipment commands related to packet-based networking infrastructure, before you are eligible to schedule the lab exam.
Step Two: CCIE Service Provider Operations Practical Exam
The eight-hour practical exam tests your ability to configure actual equipment and get a service
provider network running in a timed test situation. You must make an initial attempt of the CCIE lab exam within 18 months of passing the CCIE written exam. If you do not pass the lab exam within three years of passing the written exam, you must retake the written exam before being allowed to attempt the lab exam again.
