What It Takes to Grow to be a CCIE

In terms of CCIE certification, there isn’t any single method or recipe for fulfillment. Don’t be misled, nonetheless. You aren’t by yourself. Incomes an Skilled-level Cisco certification takes so much of labor, however the sources, steering, and help that you must keep on observe are all accessible to you. The truth is, you could even really feel overwhelmed by the variety of choices that declare to be ‘the perfect’ for serving to you put together in your CCIE certification exams. In any case, making ready for the 8-hour, hands-on sensible lab will not be for the faint of coronary heart.

The journey to changing into a CCIE is extremely difficult. Belief me—I do know. And never solely as a result of I’m CCIE licensed: because the director of Cisco certifications, being an professional on the CCIE lab and what it takes to go it’s my accountability. So, I’m going to share some recommendation on how one can put together for CCIE certification. On this weblog, you’ll find suggestions, steering, and sources that may assist you to put together for the written and sensible exams. I’ll additionally provide my ideas on what it means to be a CCIE certification holder. So, with out additional ado, let’s see you probably have what it takes to change into a CCIE.

Getting ready for CCIE certification is a life resolution

Earlier than you start your CCIE journey, it’s important that you simply understand the extent of this enterprise. Changing into an professional and incomes your CCIE certification is greater than a profession transfer. It’s a life resolution.

Getting ready for CCIE certification takes hours upon hours of examine that may affect your private time. Being diligent usually interprets to sacrifices. Sacrificing time with household and associates, sleeping late on weekends, lacking out on occasions, and so forth.

I’ve been there. I’ve skilled the lengthy nights of finding out and the nerves that precede a take a look at. However, I’ve additionally skilled the satisfaction and pleasure that comes from persevering and passing the exams. I can say with absolute certainty that it was all price it. Once you change into CCIE licensed, the reward in your dedication is unparalleled.

The place your CCIE journey begins

When you determine to take the leap into making ready in your CCIE certification, it’s time to begin planning your studying journey. And like with any journey, you can’t plan forward in the event you don’t know your place to begin: your present abilities and data. Meaning you should know your self. Or, because the Greek thinker Pausanias wrote, “Know thy measure.”

You are able to do this by downloading and reviewing the examination subjects for any certification examination on the Cisco Studying Community. These accessible examination subjects, or blueprints for our written and lab exams, are a wonderful place to begin. Whereas they received’t offer you solutions to the examination questions themselves, they gives you an thought of what you may be examined on. You should take an trustworthy stock of your abilities and data, contemplating the issues you already know and what you don’t. 

Reaching the purpose the place you’re feeling comfy taking an Skilled-level Cisco certification examination is an unimaginable achievement. Nonetheless, let’s assume that you’re nonetheless removed from that stage. What’s most essential—proper now— is the manner you get there. So, upon getting change into acquainted with the examination subjects, it’s time to take the subsequent step.

Into the CCIE studying matrix

I’m blissful you selected the pink capsule. Now, it’s time to see how deep this rabbit gap goes with a studying matrix. Making a studying matrix is like creating your grasp CCIE studying plan, or plot, for how you’ll be taught all the CCIE examination materials. Don’t fear, you don’t have to begin from scratch: the Cisco Studying Community has a matrix for every Skilled-level certification, which you’ll be able to obtain and edit totally free. (I’ve offered hyperlinks on the backside of this submit).

Lay the inspiration in your CCIE studying plan

When you obtain the matrix in your CCIE know-how area, you will note that studying sources have already been pre-populated by examination subject. Take into account these a beginning off level that will help you kickstart your studying. Further sources could also be required to advance your strengths and bolster your weaknesses, so I like to recommend utilizing this format as a template you’ll be able to (and may) construct upon.

As you customise and construct your plan, you’ll be able to establish the precise areas that you must deal with main as much as your take a look at date. Should you haven’t scheduled your examination, your CCIE studying matrix is a superb approach to estimate how a lot time that you must put together primarily based in your data, coaching strategies, and studying tempo. Bear in mind, each studying journey is completely different, so attempt to keep away from the frequent pitfall of evaluating your self to different CCIE candidates and certification holders.

Construct a powerful community of supporters

As I discussed earlier, you aren’t by yourself—removed from it, actually. The Cisco studying and certification group is huge, educated, sort, and accessible.

If you are visiting the Cisco Studying Community to obtain your studying matrix, take a second to browse the group discussions by subject. The Cisco Studying Community group is comprised of material specialists, CCIE candidates, certification holders, and extra who can help your CCIE journey each step of the best way. As you browse, bookmark the group discussions that pertain to your CCIE know-how observe so you’ll be able to check with them later.

You’ll find boundless data within the Cisco studying group from those that have been there, accomplished that. Typically one of the best ways to succeed in your targets is to ask how others how they did it themselves. It sounds easy, proper? Nicely, that’s as a result of it’s. Don’t underestimate the ability and boundless data contained inside this group, nonetheless. I can’t overstate the affect a community of likeminded friends can have in your CCIE certification journey.

Analysis CCIE coaching, instruments, and sources

Studying is a journey; an exploration. Thus far, you could have explored the examination subjects in your CCIE certification examination(s), began constructing your studying plan, and mirrored in your current strengths and weaknesses. Now it’s time to seek out the perfect coaching sources in your studying type.

Understanding your method to problem-solving is as very important to success as discovering dependable studying supplies. Deciding on the coaching, instruments, and sources in your CCIE prep is much simpler when you already know which strategies and supplies work finest for your studying type.

Select properly, then customise and mix

Today, there isn’t any scarcity of choices accessible that will help you get exam-ready. Again once I was making ready for CCIE certification, the huge catalog of coaching, programs, bootcamps, reference books, movies, and so forth. Cisco has as we speak didn’t exist but. So, use them to your benefit. They’re designed by individuals who have accomplished what you’re doing and skilled the exhausting work and dedication essential to succeed. Mix these completely different sources to suit your studying type and particularly goal the areas you recognized for development.

As you analysis your studying and coaching sources, achieve this brazenly and truthfully. Be trustworthy about what you’re good at and the place you legitimately want to enhance. In any case, Skilled-level sensible exams don’t take a look at what you assume you’re good at. They take a look at your precise skills.

Arms-on observe is important

The CCIE lab is all about hands-on complicated community setup, so be sure you get loads of observe in a lab. Nonetheless, a standard problem for CCIE candidates is that they don’t have entry to the gear, pods, and infrastructure they should observe within the first place. So, we created CCIE lab leases for sensible examination preparation.

CCIE Observe Labs is a brand new provide for CCIE candidates making ready for the lab. After you have handed the know-how core examination, the prerequisite for taking the sensible examination, you’ll be able to hire a CCIE Observe Lab. Labs can be found in 4-hour blocks of time for US$50. This lets you get hands-on observe utilizing topologies just like what you’ll see within the precise lab.

CCIE Observe Labs can be found for CCIE Safety, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, and CCIE Service Supplier certifications, with extra on the best way.

What the CCIE lab is actually testing you on

The CCIE lab examination is greater than a take a look at of information. It checks how properly you’ll be able to merge your conceptual understanding with sensible abilities. You might be able to recall rote particulars and ideas, however can you set them into observe? Together with the deep experience wanted to go the lab, you should be capable to translate, synthesize, and resolve issues. When confronted with novel issues in the true world, are you able to resolve them satisfactorily? Primarily, your experience needs to be far higher than the sum of the elements that comprise it.

Incomes the CCIE certification means you could have the psychological agility, confidence, and deep experience to course of by complexity, assume critically, innovate, and ship options successfully. If all of this sounds scary, it shouldn’t. Nevertheless it does provide perspective on the extent of success achieved whenever you change into CCIE licensed.

Do you could have what it takes to change into a CCIE?

Now that we’ve established the idea for what it takes to change into a CCIE, you could have a newfound respect for many who are Cisco Licensed with two (or extra) Skilled-level certifications.

Attending to the purpose the place you’re contemplating taking a CCIE examination is an accomplishment. And as you learn this now, you have already got what it takes to get licensed on the Skilled stage. I do know this as a result of each CCIE certification holder is made. We’re not born specialists. We change into CCIE licensed due to what we have now given to reaching our targets. You should discover the trail that empowers you to give what it takes—the time, dedication, persistence, and want—for CCIE certification success. In case you are prepared and keen to dedicate your self to incomes the CCIE certification, then you could have what it takes.

I hope you discovered this weblog useful in understanding what it takes to change into a CCIE and how one can construct a powerful, structured method. You’ll discover helpful hyperlinks under to be taught extra about our Skilled-level certifications, the testing expertise, and sources that will help you take your studying to the subsequent stage.

I want you the perfect in your path and invite your feedback if any of my recommendation resonates with you. Higher but, share your ideas on this submit on this dialogue thread. And if you’re already on the best way to incomes your CCIE certification, we might love to listen to about your expertise.

A particular notice for CCIE candidates attending Cisco Dwell 2023 Las Vegas

In case you are becoming a member of us in Las Vegas, June 4–8, 2023, I extremely advocate attending a Cisco Skilled-Degree Certification Techtorial at Cisco Dwell, the place you could have a singular alternative to take a deep dive into particular Cisco know-how tracks. We designed these 4-hour periods for attendees who’ve superior technical area data. So, if you’re able to pursue (or you might be already in flight) a CCIE, CCDE, or DevNet Skilled certification, I strongly advise you to make this a precedence.

*In case you are an lively Cisco certification holder, these periods are eligible for Persevering with Training (CE) credit you’ll be able to apply in direction of recertification.

Cisco Skilled-level coaching and certification sources 

Obtain your CCIE Studying Matrix

Choose your certification observe from the choices under, then navigate to the “Further Assets” tab to seek out the hyperlink to obtain your customizable studying matrix.

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