Biggest Cisco Certification Update: New CCIE coming in 2020 !!!
Cisco has evolved the ‘Cisco Certification Program’ which combines the Network Professionals and Software Developers into one community, thus creating an IT team of the future. The Next Level CCIE Certification will help Cisco speed up the business and drive technological innovation. Network Automation is one of the biggest challenges faced by the IT Sector. Community professionals have developed the changes, and Networking Experts at Cisco have curated automation best practices to implement these changes in Cisco Certifications.
Cisco’s Intent Based Networking has created a massive shift in the job role of networking professionals and the way they perform networking. This shift is from manual and time consuming tasks to the world where IT, Applications, DevOps and Cloud Developers who work together can fully leverage the capabilities of the new network. Cisco’s Certification and Training Program includes DevNet Certifications to optimize and write applications for the new network and choose the skills to develop. The DevNet Program enables usage of best practices and collaborations to pioneer automation capabilities.
Technocrats and Industry Experts claim the IT Industry to be one of the most rapidly growing industries among all and we can experience this fast growth around us. That has resulted in Job Roles Expectations and Demand for New Skills. This Certification Program stands on Integrity and Relevancy where Integrity is protecting the organization from vulnerabilities and threats and Relevancy is making sure that the product aligns to customer demands.
The entire portfolio of CCNA, CCNP and CCIE has been changed. The hierarchy of Entry Level Certification, Associate Level Certification, Professional Level Certification and Expert Level Certification remains the same but only the delivery method has changed along with the rules and policies to obtain this certification.
CCIE Version Replacement as per Domains
| Domains | Old Version | New Version |
|---|---|---|
| CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure | CCIE Routing and Switching v5.0 | CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.0 |
| CCIE Enterprise Wireless | CCIE Wireless v3.1 | CCIE Enterprise Wireless v1.0 |
| CCIE Data Center | CCIE Data Center v2.1 | CCIE Data Center v3.0 |
| CCIE Security | CCIE Security v5.0 | CCIE Security v6.0 |
| CCIE Service Provider | CCIE Service Provider v5.0 | CCIE Service Provider v5.0 |
| CCIE Collaboration | CCIE Collaboration v2.0 | CCIE Collaboration v3.0 |
Why is CCIE changing?
Technology is changing rapidly, and the requirement of skills and job roles is also increasing day-by-day. The Expert Level is critical as professionals need to know everything under the umbrella. It has been a challenge for Cisco to build up a program as required, hence, now they have built a certification program which is a combination of knowledge and technology.
Where does CCIE differentiate?
People think that CCNP and CCIE are similar, but here’s the difference. CCNP is Cisco Certified Network Professional and Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert. A CCNP professional focuses on a vertical approach and focuses on one technology. Also, the Professional Course focuses on being a master in only one particular niche, along with the Common Technology Core Exam. On the other hand, on the CCIE Level, the professional need to know about various domains and all the components of the technology and how are they connected.
For Example, in the security domain, there is network access, cryptography, firewall authentication, web security, email security, etc. On the professional level, the candidates can choose one topic to dig deeper, but at the expert level, the candidate needs to know about all the above domains.
All the mentioned changes will be effective 24th February 2020 onwards.
Here’s how the new Cisco Certification Path will look like:
MAJOR CHANGES IN CCIE CERTIFICATION
End-to-end Life Cycle focused Certification
There are different phases in the Network Life Cycle. The initial phase is planning and designing the network and then implementing the solutions developed in the network. After implementation, there is optimization and troubleshooting if any. The new Certification Evolution will focus precisely on the same path, which is Design, Deploy, Operate, and Optimize.
Alignment with the Five Architectures
Enterprise, Service Provider, Data Center, Security, and Collaboration are the five architectures of Cisco. CCIE Enterprise now has been branched into two sections, viz, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless. CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is namely Routing and Switching, but along with Controller Based Architecture, Software Defined Networking and Automation. CCIE Enterprise Wireless would include syllabus similar to the earlier CCIE Wireless but more in terms of automation and evolution in the Wireless Industry. Hence Automation will be an integral part of the entire curriculum.
Design Section is now an Integral Section
If you want to specialize in designing the network at the CCNP level you can choose one between enterprise design and wireless design, but in CCIE there is no choice but learning design skills in planning, deployment, and while maintaining the network.
Effect on CCIE Certified Candidates
It will not affect already certified candidates as the certification structure remains the same. Hence once a CCIE Certified will always stay a CCIE Certified. But there will be some amount of transition. For example, if you are a CCIE Routing and Switching Certified Candidate, then Cisco will transit you to be a CCIE Enterprise Personnel or If you are a CCIE Wireless Certified then you would be transitioned to be a CCIE Wireless Enterprise Personnel. Besides the above two, all the other domains remain the same.
Changes in Examinations
CCIE is still a two-level exam. The first level consists of the CCIE Technology Core Exam taken at the Pearson VUE Centers while the second level will be an 8-hour lab exam where the candidate needs to visit a Cisco Lab location and appear for the exam. The only thing changing here is the process of the examination. Initially, if the candidate has cleared the CCIE Technology Core Exam, they did not receive any certification or recognition for the same, but now once the candidates have cleared the CCIE Technology Core Exam, they will gain a Specialist Certification Badge.
Secondly, if you have already passed the CCIE Technology Core Exam, Cisco is now giving the flexibility that it will also be a fame exam for the CCNP Certification. Hence the Technology Core Exam works two ways, i.e., it will take you halfway through the CCIE Exam as well as the CCNP Exam. Therefore while studying for CCIE, you can still take up one of the CCNP Concentration and publish it on your social media profile and take up a job you want.
Changes in the Lab
As daunting the CCIE Lab Exam may seem, it is one of the most fun exams and tests your skills to work under pressure. The structure of the exam is still the same. The only thing changing is the delivery method.
Currently, there are three modules in the exam, viz, The Diagnostic Module, Troubleshooting Module, and Configuration Module. From February 2020 onwards, there will be only two modules, viz The Design Module (3 hours) and The Deploy, Operate and Optimize Module (5 hours). It will be a continuous process now onwards. For example, if Customer A comes to you for a Network Solution and proposes his needs, you will perform the tasks in the same order as the two modules stated above. If you go wrong in the first module, it will not affect the second, but the story line of the customer and his needs will remain the same.
Re-certification Policy
Change 1: Re-certification Period
Currently the Re-certification period is two years. If you fail or the Certification lapses then you get a one year suspended mode. But February 2020 onwards it will be a fixed 3 years certification period. There will be no suspended mode.
For example,
- Current Date – June 2019
- 2 Year Expiry – August 2019 (Assuming Certification Start Date – August 2017)
- Assume that the candidate did not re-certify by the above date
- Hence in September 2019, the certification will get suspended from August 2019 – August 2020
- But due to changes in Re-certification Policy
- Now, the Certification will expire in August 2020.
Candidates now have 3 years to re-certify.
Change 2: Re-certification Date
Let us take the same example above.
- Expiry Date according to new policies – August 2020
- Candidates need to Re-Certify before August 2020
- If I take the exam in August and get re-certified, it will be called the ‘Anniversary Date’
- Therefore, Next Re-certification Period is August 2020 – August 2023
- But now ‘Anniversary Date’ is no longer valid.
- ‘Event Date’ will be considered now onwards
- Event Date is the date when the activity is performed.
- Taking the same example from above
- Actual Date of Certification – August 2020
- Exam appearance date – June 2020
Therefore the Re-certification Period – June 2020 – June 2023
Emeritus Lifetime Program
Candidates who have maintained the certification for 20 years, now they have a choice to go into the Emeritus Lifetime tenure. There is no fee for the same.
Changes in continuing education program
- No administrative fee after February 2020
- Old Requirement – 100 continuing credits
- New Requirement – 120 continuing credits
CCIE Hybrid Model
Before either the candidates appeared for the exam or followed continuing education model but now since its flexible there could be variations like:
- One Exam and One Training OR
- One Exam and Two Trainings OR
- One Exam and One Cisco Live
All the above are applicable as long as you achieve 120 credits.
Any Changes for CCDE and CCAr Candidates?
The CCDE and CCAr Certifications will remain same. Their credibility will remain the same. There will be no change there.
To learn more about the Next Level CCIE Certification, candidates can visit the Cisco Learning Network to find more resources giving information and the community network helping you with your doubts and queries.
CCIE Certification Tracks and Comparison Chart
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