Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification
(Please note that this is an Expert Level certification as per the levels defined by Cisco for its certifications. It is the next level after the Professional Level of Certifications and the last level before the highest level which is the Cisco Certified Architect These are Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, Specialist and Architect.)
What is this Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification all about?
Cisco Certifications are divided into several levels. From the Associate Level to Professional Level to Expert Level and finally the Architect Level. Thus, the Expert Level Certifications are a further advancement over the Professional Level Certifications.
Cisco CCIE stands for “Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert”. Apart from the Cisco Certified Architect Certification, this certification is the highest level in terms of technical networking knowledge. Cisco CCIE Certifications are tested in a different manner than other Cisco Certifications and include practical labs as part of the certification.
The Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification can be thought of as the next level after the Cisco CCIP Certification which covers Service Provider Skills. It is basically for Expert Level Network Engineers with a focus on Service Provider Infrastructures at an Advanced Level.
The following skills are covered by the Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification:
- building an extensible Service Provider infrastructure to deliver rich managed services
What are the Pre-requisites of Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification?
According to Cisco, “No formal pre-requisites are required for the Cisco CCIE Certifications”.
However, we do also recommend that any person who sits for the exam in this certification come fully prepared for the exam. Allot yourself at the very least a few months to prepare for the exam. Additionally, we would recommend any individual who would like to get certified with this Certification to possess the Cisco CCIP Certification (which is a Professional Level certification that deals with Service Provider Infrastructure skills).
Who is the Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification for?
The Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification is for those Networking Professionals who would like to be ‘experts’ in Service Provider Infrastructures and carry out tasks as mentioned in the skills section in the first paragraph.
This is particularly for all Networking Professionals with a career orientation towards Advanced Service Provider Infrastructures.
Why should I get certified? What benefits are there?
In case you are a Networking Professional who has the Cisco CCIP Certification (a Professional Level Certification dealing with Service Provider Infrastructures) is essential for you to further your career. Networking Professionals require further specialization and advancement of their skills. This Certification will allow you to show that you are amongst the best that there is in your particular field. You will in essence be a ‘Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert’.
All in all, this certification is important for all the Networking Professionals who would like to be experts in Network Security and have a career orientation in that direction.
The benefits will be that you will now have a broader selection of career paths that will be higher paying than your existing job. Additionally, you will have that edge that is required during job selections – since employers look for what makes you as a networking professional unique.
Cisco Certification Exams in General
What Are the Exams Like?
- The duration of most theoretical exams is one to two hours. Lab (practical) exams typically last eight hours.
- Questions include multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple answer questions, drag and drop, fill in the blank and simulations.
- Exams other than CCIE lab exams are delivered online
What Do They Cost?
- Computer-based certification exam prices range from $80 to $325 US dollars or equivalent worldwide. The ICND1 and ICND2 exams are $125 USD, the CCNA exam is $250 USD and the professional level CCNP and CCDP Composite exam is $300 USD, and CCIE written exams are $350 USD. Payment is made directly to the authorized test delivery partner Pearson Vue.
- CCIE lab exams are $1,400 USD. Payment is made online via credit card or wire transfer
How do I take the exams?
Exams are regularly administered worldwide by Pearson VUE http://www.vue.com/cisco which is Cisco’s examination delivery partner (just as Prometric is Microsoft’s partner). Pearson VUE routinely organizes exams on various dates
How do I prepare for the exams?
- Training through Institutions – The authorized source for Cisco IT training delivered exclusively by Certified Cisco Instructors. For a list of Cisco Learning Partners, use the Learning Partner Locator.
- Training through Books – A variety of Cisco Press titles may be available for this exam. These titles can be purchased through the Cisco Marketplace Bookstore, or directly from Cisco Press.
- Resources, Assistance and guidance through the online Cisco Learning Network
- Exam Cram Books – Exam Cram has a wide array of preparation tools for the popular CCNA, CCNP, and CCSP certifications, including simulation-based practice questions along with other late-stage study vehicles to get you ready for test time.
- Safari Bookshelf – The premier electronic reference library for programming and IT professionals with more than 1,200 titles.
- Cisco Networking Academy – http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/index.html
- Cisco Certification Study Groups – https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/groups
What certifications and exams come under Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification?
The Cisco CCIE Certification is different from other certification in that it is carried out in a different manner than most Cisco Certifications. It has a theoretical component and a practical component. It involves the following two steps:
Step One: CCIE Service Provider Written Exam
A two-hour, written qualification exam covering concepts and equipment commands related to packet-based networking infrastructure.
- Written Exam Information
- Schedule and Pay for Written Exam
CCIE™ Service Provider350-029 CCIE SP Exam
| Exam Number: | 350-029 |
| Associated Certifications: | CCIE SP |
| Duration: | 120 minutes (90-110 questions) |
| Available Languages: | English |
| Click Here to Register: | Pearson VUE |
| Exam Policies: | Read current policies and requirements |
| Exam Tutorial: | Review type of exam questions |
Step Two: CCIE Service Provider Lab Exam
An eight-hour lab exam that tests your ability to configure actual equipment and get a service provider network running in a timed test situation.
- Lab Exam Information
- Schedule and Pay for Lab Exam
Lab Exam
Configuring a Network to Given Specifications
The CCIE lab exam is an eight-hour, hands-on exam which requires you to configure a series of networks to given specifications and is similar to the Routing and Switching lab, but with more emphasis on BGP, OSPF, ISIS, multicast and quality of service. Knowledge of troubleshooting is an important skill and candidates are expected to diagnose and solve issues as part of the CCIE lab exam. Specific services types (such as DSL or IP telephony) are not required on the Lab. Point values and testing criteria are provided. More detail is found on the Service Provider Lab Exam Blueprint and list of Lab Equipment and IOS Versions.
Exam Topics
| CCIE Service Provider Lab Exam Topics |
Resources for the Exams
- Several Resources are available at the Cisco Learning Network –https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccie_service_provider
- Cisco Certification Exams Tutorial
–http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_certification_exam_tutorial.html
Link to Official Cisco CCIE Service Provider Certification
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/ccie/sp/index.html