The benefits of getting a CCIE certification are varied, among which are the following:
* Better pay
* Career advancement opportunities
* Applies to certain minimum requirements for Cisco Silver and Gold Channel Partners, as well as those seeking Master Specialization, making you more valuable to Channel Partners.
* Better movement through the problem-resolution process when calling the Cisco TA Prestige
* Credibility for consultants and customer engineers, including the use of the Cisco CCIE logo
The other big reason to take the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam is that it recertifies an
individual’s associate-, professional-, and expert-level Cisco certifications. In other words, passing
any CCIE written exam recertifies that person’s CCNA, CCNP, CCIP, CCSP, CCDP, and so on.
(Recertification requirements do change, so please verify the requirements go/certifications.)
CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam 350-001
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam, as of the time of publication, consists of a two-hour
exam administered at a proctored exam facility affiliated with Pearson VUE. The exam typically includes approximately 100 multiple-choice questions. No simulation questions are currently part of the written exam.
As with most exams, everyone wants to know what is on the exam. Cisco provides general guidance
as to topics on the exam in the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, the most recent
copy of which can be accessed.
Cisco changes both the CCIE written and lab blueprints over time, but Cisco seldom, if ever,
changes the exam numbers. (Cisco changes the exam numbers of the associate- and professionallevelcertifications when it makes major changes to what is covered on those exams.) Knowing that the content will change over time, this book includes Appendix C, “CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Updates: Version 1.0.” This appendix will include coverage of any newly added topics to the CCIE Routing and Switching written exam. When Cisco changes the blueprint, the authors will add content to cover the new topics and make that content available to all readers who have bought the earlier edition of the book. For future printings,Cisco Press will put that new content into Appendix C.
The CCIE Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, as of the time of publication, is listed in
Table I-1. Table I-1 also lists the chapter(s) that cover each topic.
The blueprint
tells you what major topics to study and by implication, what not to study. However,
the blueprint does not provide many details about the scope and depth covered for each topic. As
you prepare for the written exam, it is a good idea to study more details than you think you need to
pass the exam, because the lab exam is considerably more rigorous than the written exam.
Knowing what topics Cisco does not list in the blueprint is also useful, particularly topics that Cisco
has removed from earlier blueprints.
For example, in 2005, Cisco announced the removal of ISDN/DDR, IS-IS, ATM, and SONET from the written exam blueprint, but it added wireless. In 2007,Cisco announced a new CCIE Routing and Switching written blueprint, referenced as “version 3.0″(the older blueprints did not have a version). This version 3.0 blueprint also added and removedtopics; for example, it removed wireless coverage, but added MPLS and expanded IPv6. Always check website for the latest information regarding any other new or deleted blueprint topics. For any major changes, the authors will post a new version of Appendix C, whichwill add coverage of the new topics.