The most prestigious certification in networking, widely regarded as the gold standard. Requires passing a written qualifying exam and an 8-hour hands-on lab exam. Validates expert-level enterprise networking expertise.
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May 10, 2026
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Recurring observation: CCIE prep journey itself transformative — depth of networking knowledge gained widely cited as more valuable than the credential. Renewal: 120 CE credits / 3 years.
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May 10, 2026
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CCIE holders globally under 50k. Distinctiveness on resume opens senior architect / TAC / consulting / specialty engineering roles. CCIE in resume signal alone often skips multiple interview rounds.
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May 10, 2026
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Total cost: $450 written + $1,600 lab + lab travel + multi-year prep. Self-funded journey often $10k+. Most pass after 2–3 lab attempts. INE/CBT Nuggets/Cisco DevNet Live + CML/EVE-NG essential.
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May 10, 2026
HR Value
Worth Cost
Learning
Exam Difficulty
Cisco's technical-elite networking cert. 8-hour hands-on lab + qualifying written exam. Industry-recognized as proof of expert-tier networking skill. Median salary uplift dramatic in U.S. data.
Comprehensive INE CCIE prep. Multi-year journey, structured curriculum.
Required network emulation environment for CCIE lab prep.
Cisco Press CCIE study materials — multi-volume reference set.
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8h
Pass Score
Not published (scaled)
Remote Proctored
Test center only
Exam Languages
Study Time
~500 hours