CCDE

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To earn this Cisco certification, you must pass the following exam(s):

CCDE Written Exam (352-001 CCDE)

The CCDE Written Exam is the qualifying exam for CCDE certification. The CCDE Written Exam will test a candidate's combined knowledge of routing protocols, internetworking theory and design principles .The exam assesses a candidate's understanding of network design in the areas of routing, tunneling, Quality of Service, Management, Cost, Capacity, and Security. This exam combines in-depth technical concepts with Network Design principles and is intended for a Network Professional with at least 7 years of experience in Network Engineering or Advanced Network Design.

• Learn more about the 352-001 CCDE exam
• Register for the exam
• Read current exam policies and requirements

CCDE Practical Exam

The 8-hour practical exam tests your ability to perform design analysis, justify design requirements, and develop a design implementation based on best practices. Only candidates that have a passing score on the CCDE Written Exam may register for the CCDE Practical Exam.

• Learn more about the CCDE Practical Exam
• Schedule and Pay Information for the Practical Exam
• Read current exam policies and requirements

CCDEs Are Required to Recertify Every Two Years.

Active CCDE status shows your commitment to maintaining expert-level knowledge in an industry critical to the success of virtually every organization. CCDEs are encouraged to continually expand their technical knowledge and are required to pass a recertification exam every two years. If you do not complete your recertification before the deadlines, your CCDE certification will be suspended and you and your employer will lose the benefits associated with your expert status. You have one year to reinstate your CCDE status before you become inactive and must begin the certification process all over again.

Recertification Deadline

• Your recertification deadline can be viewed online anytime (with login) at Certification Status.
• Subsequent recertification deadlines are always based on your original certification date, not on when you took your last recertification exam.
• Candidates must make an initial attempt of the CCDE practical exam within 18 months of passing the CCDE written exam. Candidates who do not pass must reattempt the practical exam within 12 months of their last scored attempt in order for their written exam to remain valid. If a candidate does not pass the practical exam within three years of passing the written exam, he or she must retake the written exam before being allowed to attempt the practical exam again.

Recertification Details

• To maintain active status, every 24-months CCDEs have the flexibility and option to recertify using one of the options below before the certification expiration date:
  • Earn the required credits through the Cisco Continuing Education Program, or
  • Pass any current CCIE Written Exam OR CCIE practical exam, or
  • Pass the current CCDE Written Exam OR current CCDE Practical Exam, or
  • Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review to extend lower certifications
• CCIE certification automatically extends other Cisco Certifications, such as CCNP or CCNA
• Candidates can only apply one passed written exam or the earned required credits using Cisco Continuing Education Program towards recertification for every 24 month recertification period.
• Candidates must wait 15 calendar days between attempts at the written exam
• Certification candidates are responsible for keeping track of their certification expiration dates. Please plan your recertification accordingly. If your CCIE recertification requirements are not completed on or before the certification's expiration date, your CCIE certification will be suspended for one year. Candidates have one year to recertify their CCIE certification by passing the required written exam. If a candidate does not recertify prior to the one year deadline and your employer will be notified. Suspended candidates have one year to recertify their CCIE certification by passing the required written exam or practical lab before their expert level certification becomes permanently inactive. Inactive CCIE professionals lose all benefits and must pass both the CCIE written and lab exams again.
• Achieving or recertifying CCIE automatically extends your active Entry, Associate, Professional or other Expert level certification(s), or Specialist certifications up to the expiration date of the latest CCIE, CCDE or CCAr certification achieved.
• Be sure to use the same ID number you were assigned for your original qualification exam to ensure your profile is updated accurately. If you have any questions about which ID number to use, contact CCIE support.