Cisco Certifications: Cisco Certified Design Expert

Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
The Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) certification is one of the highest technical networking certifications offered by Cisco. Put your knowledge and experience to the test. Achieve your Cisco CCDE certification and accelerate your career.

The CCDE certification is quickly becoming accepted worldwide as one of the most prestigious networking certifications in the industry. Network engineers holding an active CCDE certification are recognized for their expert-level knowledge and skills in network infrastructure design. The deep technical networking knowledge that a CCDE brings ensures that they are well qualified to address the most technically challenging network infrastructure design assignments.

The program continually updates and revises its testing tools and methodologies to ensure unparalleled program quality, relevance, and value. Through rigorous written and practical exams, the CCDE certification program sets the standard for network design expertise.

Cisco introduced the CCDE certification in 2008 to recognize senior-level network designers and to assist the industry in distinguishing the top echelon of networking design experts worldwide.

Requirements for Certification

CCDE certification is intended for professionals who have day-to-day responsibility for designing complex, converged IP networks. Candidates are strongly encouraged to have at least seven years of networking experience and a thorough understanding of network infrastructure principles and design topics.

There are no formal prerequisites for CCDE certification. Cisco CCDA and CCDP certifications focus on developing solid network design skills and are recommended as a path to CCDE, but they are not mandatory prerequisites. No specific training or other professional certifications are required.

Step One: CCDE Written Exam

The 2-hour, written qualification exam covers network design in the areas of routing, tunneling, Quality of Service (QoS), management, cost, capacity, and security. You must pass the written exam before you are eligible to schedule the CCDE practical exam.

CCDE Written Exam Overview

352-001 CCDE Exam
The CCDE Written Exam is the qualifying exam for CCDE certification. The CCDE Written Exam will test a candidate's combined knowledge of routing protocols, internetworking theory and design principles .The exam assesses a candidate's understanding of network design in the areas of routing, tunneling, Quality of Service, Management, Cost, Capacity, and Security. This exam combines in-depth technical concepts with Network Design principles and is intended for a Network Professional with at least 5 years of experience in Network Engineering or Advanced Network Design.

Step Two: CCDE Practical Exam
The 8-hour practical exam tests your 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.

CCDE Practical Exam Overview
The Cisco CCDE Practical Exam is an 8-hour, scenario-based design exam that will assess your ability to analyze design requirements, develop network designs, justify design decisions, and validate and optimize a network design that is based on best practices. The exam will assess your ability to apply your specific body of knowledge into current business problems of technical network design.
Only candidates that have a passing score on the CCDE Written Exam may register for the CCDE Practical Exam. The topics that are covered in the CCDE Practical Exam are located within the exam topics. The exam scenarios may change in each instance that the exam is delivered; however, the topics will remain the same.