There are a lot of hard ones out there, but the most difficult title to obtain, the one that scares test-takers the most, continues to be the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert, or CCIE.
The CCIE is legendary for its ability to chew up and spit out even veteran network administrators. Although Cisco doesn’t provide public pass/fail figures, most knowledgeable guesses put it at around 25% passing. That’s right – three-quarters of all who sit for the CCIE fail.
Lab Exam
Obtaining the CCIE requires passing a written test, but that’s not what scares folks. It’s the lab exam, an eight-hour torture test during which candidates have to configure a complex series of networks, and be able to diagnose and troubleshoot various problems within that network. It’s the ultimate hands-on lab practical.
Specializations
There are five different areas of specialization within the CCIE, including
Security, Wireless and Storage Networking; the majority of candidates, though, opt for the Routing and Switching category. It’s a natural for Cisco, since it’s the world’s largest maker of routers and switches.
Cost
The test costs $1,400 USD every time you take it. When added to the $350 cost for the written exam, a CCIE will cost you at least $1,750 -- and that’s assuming you pass on the first try.
Locations
The CCIE is offered in only a few places globally, including just two U.S. locations: San Jose, CA, and Research Triangle Park, N.C. More recently, Cisco has added a mobile lab, which adds more locations.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for taking the CCIE, unlike, for example, some security certifications like the CISSP or GIAC that require a minimum number of years working in a field. However, if you don’t have at least five years of serious networking experience, you’re unlikely to pass.
Benefits
If you do make it through and get the CCIE, you could well be handsomely rewarded. According to the latest salary survey by Certification Magazine, CCIEs made an average of about $120,000 annually. In addition, you’ll have the prestige of having the technical certification considered the hardest in the world to get.