Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)

Credential: Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)  GI Bill resource
Credentialing Agency: Cisco Systems, Inc.

Renewal Period: 2 years

Cisco Systems, Inc., Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) is for expert-level network design engineers, expert-level network leads of IT infrastructure teams, and expert-level network leads of architecture teams working in job roles that require them to translate business needs, budget, and operational constraints into the design of a converged solution. There are no formal prerequisites for CCDE certification. Candidates are recommended to have at least 7 years of experience in Network Engineering or Advanced Network Design. Candidates must pass a 2-hour written qualification exam and an 8-hour practical exam. The written exam covers the topics of network design in the areas of routing, tunneling, Quality of Service (QoS), management cost, capacity, and security. The practical exam tests the candidate's 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.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

Eligibility Requirements 

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience: 7 years recommended
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 2 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Cisco Systems, Inc.

170 West Tasman Dr.
San Jose, CA  95134

Phone: (800) 553-NETS

Contact Page

Written Exam Version 2.1

  • Layer 2 Control Plane (24%)
    • Describe fast convergence techniques and mechanisms
    • Describe loop detection and mitigation protocols
    • Describe mechanisms that are available for creating loop-free topologies
    • Describe the effect of transport mechanisms and their interaction with routing protocols over different types of links
    • Describe the impact of fault isolation and resiliency on network design
  • Layer 3 Control Plane (33%)
    • Describe route aggregation concepts and techniques
    • Describe the theory and application of network topology layering
    • Describe the theory and application of network topology abstraction
    • Describe the impact of fault isolation and resiliency on network design or network reliability
    • Describe metric-based traffic flow and modification
    • Describe fast convergence techniques and mechanisms
    • Describe factors affecting convergence
    • Describe unicast routing protocol operation (OSPF, EIGRP, ISIS, BGP, and RIP) in relation to network design
    • Analyze operational costs and complexity
    • Describe the interaction between routing protocols and topologies
    • Describe generic routing and addressing concepts
    • Describe multicast routing concepts
    • Describe IPv6 concepts and operation
  • Network Virtualization (15%)
    • Describe Layer 2 and Layer 3 tunneling technologies
    • Analyze the implementation of tunneling
  • Design Considerations (18%)
    • Analyze various QoS performance metrics
    • Describe types of QoS techniques
    • Identify QoS strategies based on customer requirements
    • Identify network management requirements
    • Identify network application reporting requirements
    • Describe technologies, tools, and protocols used for network management
    • Describe the reference models and processes used in network management, such as FCAPS, ITIL®, and TOGAF
    • Describe best practices for protecting network infrastructure
    • Describe best practices for protecting network services
    • Describe tools and technologies for identity management
    • Describe tools and technologies for 802.11 wireless deployment
    • Describe tools and technologies for optical deployment
    • Describe tools and technologies for SAN fabric deployment
  • Evolving Technologies (10%)
    • Cloud
    • Network programmability (SDN)
    • Internet of things (IoT)

Practical Exam

  • Analyze Design Requirements (36%)
    • Analyze business requirements, conflicts, and constraints
    • Analyze technical requirements, conflicts, and constraints
    • Analyze physical requirements
    • Analyze existing network
  • Develop Network Designs (39%)
    • Identify the technology to resolve a specific design problem
    • Analyze the effect on the existing network and services
    • Incorporate best practices within the network design
    • Incorporate business requirements within the network design
  • Implement Network Design (13%)
    • Analyze implementation options
    • Design an implementation plan
  • Validate and Optimize Network Design (12%)
    • Analyze design choices based on specifications
    • Validate design
    • Optimize design

Testing Information

Testing for this credential is handled by Pearson VUE. The test centers are located in the U.S. They also have some test centers on military bases.

To find out more, use the following links on the Pearson VUE website:

For more information on the Cisco Systems, Inc. testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)

Renewal Period: 2 years

The Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) credential has the following recertification information:

To maintain active status, every 24-months CCIEs 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 Lab 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.

Additional considerations for the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) include:

  • There are no formal prerequisites for CCDE certification. However, it is highly recommended that candidates have at least 7 years of experience in Network Engineering or Advanced Network Design. No specific training or other professional certifications are required.
  • CCDE certification is intended for professionals who have day-to-day responsibility for creating work products that cover IP routing network infrastructure design. Candidates are strongly encouraged to have at least seven years of experience in Network Engineering or Advanced Network Design.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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COOL Summary

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Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Promotion Points

This certification has been approved for promotion points.

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Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Proponent Funded

Indicates the credential may have funding through the MOS proponent. Some proponents offer credentialing opportunities in conjunction with military training and/or as part of MOS development beyond the training base.

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Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click 'Complete Voucher and Apply' at the top of any page.

CG Bucks

Coming Soon - Coast Guard policy regarding service member eligibility requirements to participate in the Voluntary Credentialing Program is under review with a projected release date of first quarter FY20.

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 and Above

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 and Above

LaDR

This credential is recommended on the rating Learning and Development Roadmap (LaDR) for Sailors currently in the pay grade indicated on the icon, BUT MAY BE TAKEN BY SAILORS IN OTHER PAY GRADES.

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GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

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ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

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Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: mimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

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NKO e-learning

Credential preparation courses are provided at no cost through Navy e-Learning. Click for external link to the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) web site, then select the “Navy e-Learning” link within the “Learning” tab to proceed to Navy e-Learning.

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
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Updated: October 16, 2019
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