All candidates must first meet the following baseline requirement:

Earn the VCP3 or VCP4 (VMWare Certified Professional on VI3 or vSphere 4 ) PLUS One of the following options (Choose either option #1 or #2):

Option #1 "Fast Start" Option

• Hold a valid CCNA
• Take single 642-979 DCUCI Qualifier Exam demonstrating mastery of foundation datacenter engineering topics

Or Option #2

Earn two existing foundation level Datacenter specialists for engineers

• Cisco Data Center Storage Networking Support Specialist (ICSNS)
• Cisco Data Center Networking Infrastructure Support Specialist (DCNIS)

Complete one of the following recertification options every two years:

• Re-take and pass all exams for each Specialist certification indicated on the specific certification page. Please note: this includes ALL exams whether refreshed or not.
• Pass a current CCIE or CCDE written exam

Achieving or recertifying CCDE or any CCIE automatically extends your active Specialist certification(s) up to the point of expiration of the last certification achieved.

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