Without a doubt, the CCIE is a difficult exam. There’s also no denying that the CCIE is pricey. However, it is also an investment. As with any investment, knowing how much it costs is essential in determining whether it is worthwhile to pursue.
Here’s a breakdown of every cost you’re likely to incur while attempting to earn the CCIE, including study materials, exam fees, and travel.
The CCIE is not your first certification.
To begin, keep in mind that CCIE does not happen in a vacuum. Technically, there are no prerequisites for taking the CCIE, but no one goes into this exam blind (or, at the very least, you shouldn’t). The CCIE is a three-part expert-level certification that assumes a significant amount of knowledge. That knowledge can be obtained through the recommended (but ostensibly low) three to five years of experience or through some more entry-level Cisco exams.
If you’re starting with no certifications or want a complete picture of CCIE costs, the CCNA and CCNP should also be considered. The following are the fees for Cisco-proctored exams:
Except for the R&S track, all CNAs are $300.
The cost of ICND1 and ICND2 is $165 each. The total cost of the 200-105 ICND2 is $325.
The cost of all CCNPs is $300.
Add them all together, and we get our first number. The recommended exams for CCIE cost around $650 in certification exam costs alone.
Similarly, most people’s first certification isn’t CCNA. Most professionals begin by taking CompTIA or Microsoft exams. As a result, the road to the CCNA can belong, and the road to the CCIE can be even longer.
Exam fees, travel, and study materials are all included in the CCIE costs.
Passing both exams the first time is the most cost-effective way to earn the two-part CCIE. That’s no easy task, and it’s certainly not the quickest way to success. The best way to learn the material is through years of hands-on experience with large, complex networks. Only after you have attained that level of experience should you consider tackling this beast of a certification, which begins with the written exam.
Fees for the CCIE written exam are $450 multiplied by the number of times the exam is taken.
Once you’ve decided you’re ready for the CCIE, you’ll begin with the written exam.
The 400-level expert exams (also known as the CCIE written exam) last two hours and consist of 90 to 110 questions. Once you’ve passed the written portion of the CCIE, you can schedule the lab exam, which we’ll go over below.
The lab must be taken and passed within 18 months of passing the written exam, and the written exam is valid for three years. This is significant because the majority of people take the lab exam multiple times.
CCIE lab exam fees – $1,600 x number of attempts
You’re ready for the lab exam now that you’ve passed the CCIE written exam, right? Maybe. Believe everyone who says the lab exam is difficult. In fact, according to one estimate, the average CCIE takes the lab portion 2.3 times before passing. The CCIE lab exam can cost $4,900 if you pay $1,600 per attempt plus travel and lodging (more on that below).
There is one bright spot in this situation. You can retake the lab as many times as you want without having to retake the written portion. The written exam is still valid as long as it is taken within the three-year period. Finally, there is no cheap way to pass the lab, but the cheapest way to pass the lab is to pass it the first time with proper preparation and study material.
CCIE study materials range in price from $100 to $5,000.
This is one of the most obvious places to begin tallying the costs of CCIE preparation. It’s also the location where you’ll save the most money in the long run. Study materials can be an expensive investment.
The prices vary greatly. Without food or lodging, CCIE boot camps can easily cost $2,200 to $5,000. For one year, CBT Nuggets CCIE R&S training costs $840. There are numerous resources available. None of them are free. Or, at least, not the good ones. And, if you’re anything like Kim Bartlett, CCIE #52158, you’ll employ all of them.
CCIE practice lab equipment –
As the people on /r/homelab can attest, labs can be as cheap or as expensive as you want them to be. Virtual lab environments have largely replaced bare metal.
If you’re set on doing it yourself, Cisco provides lab equipment and operating system lists for each CCIE exam.
Security CCIE
Service Provider for CCIE
Wireless CCIE
Collaboration on the CCIE
Data Center CCIE
CCIE Routing and Switching Certification
But, unless you already have a lab, it’s easier (and less expensive) to virtualize or rent CCIE racks. Pricing varies greatly depending on the provider, with some charging as little as $0.50 per hour, or $100 per session.
Exam Travel and Lodging – $800 to $1,250 multiplied by the number of exams taken
Did we mention that Cisco only proctors the exam in eight permanent testing locations around the world? If you don’t live in one of these cities, you’ll have to travel to take your exam:
Bangalore is a city in India.
Beijing, People’s Republic of China Brussels, Belgium
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China Richardson, Texas, United States
Australia’s Sydney
Japan’s capital is Tokyo.
Cisco also runs CCIE mobile labs, which provide exams for all technology tracks. But don’t get too carried away. The status legend appears to imply that when dates and locations are posted, they are not immediately confirmed. Open registration does not imply availability, and it can be canceled or postponed for a variety of reasons, including low enrollment or other factors. They appear to primarily serve international test-takers in major cities such as Moscow, Singapore, and So Paulo.
The lab exam lasts eight hours and begins at 8:30 a.m. The majority of people sleep the night before their exam. The last thing you want to do is walk into your lab after a red-eye flight, or risk being delayed and missing the start time. As a result, factor at least one night of hotel accommodations into the CCIE cost, if not two.
Off-season cost (in USD) example for Richardson, Texas, location:
The cost of a hotel room is $200 per night.
Round-trip coach airfare from New York City is $200.
Round-trip coach airfare from Anchorage is $600.
Taxis from DFW airport cost $60 each way.
Meals cost $66 per day (based on federal per diem)
The total cost of travel for two nights is between $800 and $1,250.
Because every travel itinerary is unique, it’s difficult to put a price on the flight and accommodations, but you can easily go up or down depending on how you decide to travel.
Compiling the Total CCIE Costs
Let’s add everything up and see how much you should probably start budgeting for now that we know how much you can expect to spend.
The most affordable scenario is $2,100.
If you pass both exams the first time, already have lab equipment, don’t buy any study materials, and live in Dallas, the CCIE will cost you around $2,100 just for the exam.
The best-case scenario: $3,900
If you pass both exams on the first try, virtualize your lab environment, study with books and CBT Nuggets, and travel cheaply to Dallas, the CCIE will cost you around $3,900.
$12,000 for the study-intensive scenario
The CCIE will cost around $12,000 if you pass both exams the first time, buy or rent lab equipment, use books, CBT Nuggets, and a boot camp, and travel to Dallas.
The total cost of the three scenarios is $19,050.
If you pass the written exam the first time but have to retake the lab three times, buy or rent lab equipment, use books, CBT Nuggets, and a boot camp, and travel to Dallas each time, the CCIE will cost you around $19,050.
Do you want a real-life example? Check out this post by a CBT Nuggets Learner Community member about her experience earning her CCIE Security — both financially and in terms of time.
How Long Should You Study for the CCIE?
Finally, one of the most frequently mentioned costs of earning the CCIE is your time.
For at least six months to a year, the CCIE will be a full-time second job. In a previous post, we discussed in great detail how much time you should consider investing in your CCIE, and the answer is quite a bit. You’ll have to decline social invitations and possibly consider taking a break from your hobbies.
How to Save Money on the CCIE
There is no low-cost way to obtain the CCIE, both in terms of time and money.
The cheapest way to pass the exam is to pass the first time, which increases your time commitment significantly in the short term. You must be well-versed in Cisco technology, and there is no substitute for experience, hands-on practice, and excellent study habits.
While studying, keep the big picture in mind of what a certification like this can do for your career in mind. The salary increase will undoubtedly help to soften the blow after all of your hard work and effort, but there is more to consider.
Your career opportunities will expand all around you, and you will have access to exciting high-level work. The CCIE is a significant investment — and, when passed, a significant accomplishment.
