How Much Does a CCIE Cost?

Without question, the CCIE exam is challenging. Furthermore, there is no disputing the CCIE’s high cost. It’s also an investment, though. But, as with any investment, knowing the cost can guide you choose if it’s worthwhile to begin.

Here is a list of all the costs you may expect to incur while working on the CCIE, such as books, exams, and travel fees.

CCIE isn’t your first certification.

First, it’s crucial to remember that the CCIE doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Although there is technically no prerequisite for the CCIE, no one should take the exam without any preparation (or at least you shouldn’t).

The CCIE is an expert-level certification broken down into three parts and requires much prior knowledge. The recommended (though ostensibly little) three to five years of experience or more entry-level Cisco examinations will help you learn that information.

The CCNA and CCNP need to be considered if you’re starting without certifications or want a comprehensive look at CCIE prices. The fees for tests proctored by Cisco are as follows:

• Except for the R&S track, all CCNAs cost $300.
• Each ICND1 and ICND2 costs $165. In total, the 200-105 ICND2 costs $325.
• Each CCNP costs $300.

They are added together, giving us our first number. The recommended examinations for CCIE cost roughly $650 for the certification exam alone.

Similarly, most people start with something other than the CCNA. For example, the majority of professionals begin with Microsoft or CompTIA tests. Consequently, the path to the CCNA and the CCIE might be long.

Exam costs, travel expenses, and study materials for CCIE

Passing both examinations on your first try is the cheapest way to obtain the two-part CCIE. That’s no easy task and hardly the quickest way to success. The best way to study the subject is through years of practical experience with huge, complicated networks. It would be best if you only thought about taking on this beast of a certification, which begins with the written exam, once you have attained that level of experience.

The cost of the CCIE written test is $450 for each attempt.

You’ll begin with the written exam once you’re confident you’re prepared for the CCIE.

The CCIE written test, also known as the 400-level expert exam, has 90 to 110 questions and lasts two hours. The lab exam we discussed below can be scheduled after you have passed the written portion of the CCIE.

After passing the written test, you have 18 months to take and pass the lab, and the written test is valid for three years. This is significant because the majority of students retake the lab exam.

Cost of the CCIE lab exam: $1,600 for each attempt

You’re prepared for the lab exam now that the CCIE written exam is in the rearview mirror, correct? Maybe. Everyone who says the lab exam is difficult is to be believed. In fact, according to a statistic that has been circulating online, the average CCIE fails the lab exam 2.3 times before passing. The CCIE lab exam can cost $4,900 at $1,600 per attempt plus travel and housing (more on that below).

There is one positive aspect to this. You need to take the written component again to be able to retake the lab as often as you choose. The written tests are valid as long as they are taken within the three-year window. In the end, there isn’t a cheap way to pass the lab, but the cheapest way to pass the lab is to get a perfect score the first time with the necessary preparation and study materials.

$100 to $5,000 for CCIE study materials

This is one of the easiest locations to begin adding up the costs of your CCIE preparation. Additionally, it is the location where future savings are the greatest. The cost of study materials could be high.

The prices range widely. Without considering meals or lodging, CCIE boot camps may easily run from $2,200 to $5,000. For a full year, SPOTO training costs $840. There are several resources at your disposal. Nobody is free. The excellent ones, at least, aren’t.

CCIE practise lab supplies – $$$$

Labs are as expensive as you want them to be, as the members of /r/homelab can attest. As a result, virtual lab settings have mostly taken the role of bare metal.

For each CCIE exam, Cisco lists the lab tools and operating systems you’ll need if you’re set on doing it yourself and bare metal.

1. Security CCIE
2. Service Provider for CCIE
3. Wireless CCIE
4. Collaboration for CCIE
5. Data Center CCIE
6. CCIE Switching and Routing

But in all honesty, using virtualization or CCIE rack rentals is simpler (and less expensive) unless you already have a lab. Pricing varies considerably between service providers; some charge as little as $0.50 per hour or $100 for a session. Well, check this for more info.

How to Lower the CCIE’s Price

The CCIE must be obtained via a time- or cost-effective method. The quickest way to pass the test is to get a perfect score. However, this will increase your time commitment immediately. When mastering Cisco technology, there is no alternative to experience, practical application, and strong study habits.

As you study, think about the bigger picture of what a qualification like this may achieve for your career. The income increase will surely help decrease the impact after all of your effort and attention, but there are other factors to take into account. Your options for high-level jobs will increase, and your career prospects will also improve. The CCIE is a significant expenditure, and passing it is noteworthy. Well, click for info.

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