Certification News

Cisco Launches Network Design Expert Certification at Level of CCIE

Cisco systems recently announced the creation of a Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) designation which it says is "parallel to CCIE in terms of difficulty, and expertise." Whereas the CCIE is focused on network implementation and operation, the CCDE is focused on network design and is intended for candidates who have day-to-day responsibilities for creating work products that cover IP routing network infrastructure design and have lots of experience doing so. Specifically, the two CCDE exams test knowledge of routing protocols, internetworking theory and design principles, including the areas of routing, tunneling, quality of service, management, cost, capacity, and security.

As with the CCIE, the CCDE will require an initial computer based qualification exam (ADVDESIGN) followed by a hands on practical exam. The qualification exam is already available at testing centers worldwide, but the hands on component is still under development and slated for release later this year. You can view the blueprint for the written exam on Cisco's Web site.