Cisco Certifications

CCDE Written Exam: The CCDE Written Exam is a 2-hour, multiple-choice assessment featuring 90–110 questions. It validates your expert-level proficiency in designing highly complex network solutions. Candidates are tested on their ability to gather and clarify network requirements, create network designs that meet those requirements, develop comprehensive implementation plans, and clearly communicate design decisions along with their underlying rationale.

Exam duration: 120 minutes

CCDE Practical Exam: The CCDE Practical Exam is an 8-hour, scenario-based test that evaluates your ability to design complex enterprise networks. Candidates are tested on core network architectures and technologies, plus their chosen elective.

Elective Options:

• AI Infrastructure – Demonstrate expertise in designing, provisioning, and optimizing networks and compute for AI workloads, including AI/ML, network, security, hardware, and environmental considerations.
• Large Scale Networks – Showcase skills in transport technologies, Layer 2/3 control planes, network virtualization, security, and automation.
• On-Prem & Cloud Services – Validate the ability to integrate transport technologies, Layer 3 connectivity, virtualization, and automation, while considering data center applications, storage, and compute.
• Workforce Mobility – Apply knowledge of network security, identity management, wireless, and campus network design to support mobile and distributed workforces.

Only candidates who have a passing score on the CCDE Written Exam may register for the CCDE Practical Exam.

Recertification: CCIEs are required to recertify every two years.