In relation to CCIE certification, there isn’t a single formulation or recipe for achievement. Don’t be misled, nonetheless. You aren’t by yourself. Incomes an Knowledgeable-level Cisco certification takes quite a bit of labor, however the sources, steering, and assist you should keep on monitor are all obtainable 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 to your CCIE certification exams. In any case, getting ready for the 8-hour, hands-on sensible lab isn’t for the faint of coronary heart.
The journey to turning 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 duty. So, I’m going to share some recommendation on learn how to put together for CCIE certification. On this weblog, you will see ideas, steering, and sources that may aid you 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 in case you have what it takes to change into a CCIE.
Making ready for CCIE certification is a life choice
Earlier than you start your CCIE journey, it’s crucial that you simply understand the extent of this endeavor. Changing into an professional and incomes your CCIE certification is greater than a profession transfer. It’s a life choice.
Making ready for CCIE certification takes hours upon hours of examine that may impression your private time. Being diligent usually interprets to sacrifices. Sacrificing time with household and mates, sleeping late on weekends, lacking out on occasions, and so forth.
I’ve been there. I’ve skilled the lengthy nights of learning 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. While you change into CCIE licensed, the reward to your dedication is unparalleled.
The place your CCIE journey begins
When you resolve to take the leap into getting ready to your CCIE certification, it’s time to start out planning your studying journey. And like with any journey, you can’t plan forward when you don’t know your place to begin: your present expertise and data. Meaning you need to 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 matters for any certification examination on the Cisco Studying Community. These obtainable examination matters, or blueprints for our written and lab exams, are a wonderful place to begin. Whereas they received’t provide you with solutions to the examination questions themselves, they gives you an concept of what you’ll be examined on. You should take an sincere stock of your expertise and data, contemplating the issues you understand and what you don’t.
Reaching the purpose the place you are feeling snug taking an Knowledgeable-level Cisco certification examination is an unbelievable achievement. Nonetheless, let’s assume that you’re nonetheless removed from that stage. What’s most necessary—proper now— is the approach you get there. So, upon getting change into conversant in the examination matters, it’s time to take the subsequent step.
Into the CCIE studying matrix
I’m comfortable you selected the purple 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 start out from scratch: the Cisco Studying Community has a matrix for every Knowledgeable-level certification, which you’ll be able to obtain and edit free of charge. (I’ve offered hyperlinks on the backside of this publish).
Lay the inspiration to your CCIE studying plan
When you obtain the matrix to your CCIE know-how area, you will notice 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. Extra 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 possibly can (and may) construct upon.
As you customise and construct your plan, you possibly can establish the precise areas you should give attention to main as much as your take a look at date. When you haven’t scheduled your examination, your CCIE studying matrix is a wonderful strategy to estimate how a lot time you should put together primarily based in your data, coaching strategies, and studying tempo. Keep in mind, each studying journey is totally different, so attempt to keep away from the frequent pitfall of evaluating your self to different CCIE candidates and certification holders.
Construct a robust community of supporters
As I discussed earlier, you aren’t by yourself—removed from it, in reality. 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 assist your CCIE journey each step of the way in which. As you browse, bookmark the group discussions that pertain to your CCIE know-how monitor so you possibly can discuss with them later.
Yow will discover boundless data within the Cisco studying group from those that have been there, performed that. Generally one of the best ways to achieve 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 facility and boundless data contained inside this group, nonetheless. I can not overstate the impression a community of likeminded friends can have in your CCIE certification journey.
Analysis CCIE coaching, instruments, and sources
Studying is a journey; an exploration. To this point, you have got explored the examination matters to your CCIE certification examination(s), began constructing your studying plan, and mirrored in your present strengths and weaknesses. Now it’s time to search out the perfect coaching sources to your studying fashion.
Understanding your method to problem-solving is as important to success as discovering dependable studying supplies. Deciding on the coaching, instruments, and sources to your CCIE prep is way simpler when you understand which strategies and supplies work finest for your studying fashion.
Select correctly, then customise and mix
As of late, there isn’t a scarcity of choices obtainable that will help you get exam-ready. Again after I was getting ready for CCIE certification, the huge catalog of coaching, programs, bootcamps, reference books, movies, and so forth. Cisco has at present didn’t exist but. So, use them to your benefit. They’re designed by individuals who have performed what you’re doing and skilled the exhausting work and dedication essential to succeed. Mix these totally different sources to suit your studying fashion and particularly goal the areas you recognized for progress.
As you analysis your studying and coaching sources, accomplish that overtly and truthfully. Be sincere about what you’re good at and the place you legitimately want to enhance. In any case, Knowledgeable-level sensible exams don’t take a look at what you assume you’re good at. They take a look at your precise talents.
Fingers-on apply is crucial
The CCIE lab is all about hands-on complicated community setup, so be sure you get loads of apply in a lab. Nonetheless, a typical problem for CCIE candidates is that they don’t have entry to the tools, pods, and infrastructure they should apply within the first place. So, we created CCIE lab leases for sensible examination preparation.
CCIE Follow Labs is a brand new provide for CCIE candidates getting ready for the lab. After getting handed the know-how core examination, the prerequisite for taking the sensible examination, you possibly can lease a CCIE Follow Lab. Labs can be found in 4-hour blocks of time for US$50. This lets you get hands-on apply utilizing topologies just like what you’ll see within the precise lab.
CCIE Follow Labs can be found for CCIE Safety, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, and CCIE Service Supplier certifications, with extra on the way in which.
What the CCIE lab is actually testing you on
The CCIE lab examination is greater than a take a look at of information. It assessments how properly you possibly can merge your conceptual understanding with sensible expertise. You could possibly recall rote particulars and ideas, however can you set them into apply? Together with the deep experience wanted to go the lab, you need to be capable of translate, synthesize, and remedy issues. When confronted with novel issues in the actual world, are you able to remedy them satisfactorily? Primarily, your experience must be far better than the sum of the components that comprise it.
Incomes the CCIE certification means you have got the psychological agility, confidence, and deep experience to course of by way of complexity, assume critically, innovate, and ship options successfully. If all of this sounds scary, it shouldn’t. However it does provide perspective on the extent of success achieved if you change into CCIE licensed.
Do you have got 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’ll have a newfound respect for individuals who are Cisco Licensed with two (or extra) Knowledgeable-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 Knowledgeable 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 need—for CCIE certification success. If you’re prepared and prepared to dedicate your self to incomes the CCIE certification, then you have got what it takes.
I hope you discovered this weblog useful in understanding what it takes to change into a CCIE and learn how to construct a robust, structured method. You’ll discover helpful hyperlinks beneath to be taught extra about our Knowledgeable-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 publish on this dialogue thread. And in case you are already on the way in which to incomes your CCIE certification, we’d love to listen to about your expertise.
A particular be aware for CCIE candidates attending Cisco Reside 2023 Las Vegas
If you’re becoming a member of us in Las Vegas, June 4–8, 2023, I extremely advocate attending a Cisco Knowledgeable-Degree Certification Techtorial at Cisco Reside, the place you have got 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, in case you are able to pursue (or you might be already in flight) a CCIE, CCDE, or DevNet Knowledgeable certification, I strongly advise you to make this a precedence.
*If you’re an energetic Cisco certification holder, these periods are eligible for Persevering with Schooling (CE) credit you possibly can apply in direction of recertification.
Cisco Knowledgeable-level coaching and certification sources
Obtain your CCIE Studying Matrix
Choose your certification monitor from the choices beneath, then navigate to the “Extra Sources” tab to search out the hyperlink to obtain your customizable studying matrix.
Be part of the Cisco Studying Community at present free of charge.
Comply with Cisco Studying & Certifications
Twitter | Fb | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
Use #CiscoCert to hitch the dialog.
Share:
