Requirements for Certification
There are no formal prerequisites for CCIE certification. Other professional certifications or training courses are not required. Instead, candidates must first pass a written qualification
exam and then the corresponding hands-on lab exam. You are expected to have an in-depth
understanding of the topics in the exam blueprints and 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 Security Written Exam
You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam covering networking concepts and some equipment commands before you are eligible to schedule the lab exam.
Step Two: CCIE Security Lab Exam
The eight-hour lab exam tests your ability to get a secure network running in a timed test situation. You must pass the lab within three years of passing the
written to achieve certification. Your first lab attempt must be made within 18 months.
Effective April 2009, important content changes will be implemented in the CCIE Security Lab exams. Candidates for lab exams scheduled mid-April 2009 or later should prepare using the v3.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions. Candidates prior to mid- April 2009 should continue using the v2.0 Lab Equipment and Software Versions.
