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Here are some of the few valuable tips which might be helpful for any individual to choose the right CCIE certification. CCIE has seven tracks and all of these are associated with the same importance i.e., they all certify that the individual possesses expert-level in-depth knowledge in each relevant track. The candidates have to pass both each written and lab exam in order to qualify for every CCIE track. These seven tracks are mainly;
· CCIE Routing and Switching
· CCIE Security
· CCIE Collaboration
· CCIE Service Provider
· CCIE Wireless
· CCIE Design
· CCIE Data Centre
Those who have successfully carried out their CCNP always find themselves confused choosing CCIE R&S and CCIE Security. Although they have three years of their CCNP exam validity most of them start looking for options for CCIE exam right after clearing their CCNP. Starting earlier provides ample time to learn and revise for the CCIE written and lab exam.
The "CCIE Routing and Switching" and "CCIE Security" are easiest certifications among the CCIE other tracks because they come up with no formal prerequisites since the other tracks require four to five years of industry experience too. These two are actually the foundation courses for all the other tracks. The CCIE Routing and Switching course are also known as the Cisco's evergreen CCIE track.
However, both of these courses have their own significance that we would read further and differentiate which course/track suits the best to our personality/needs.
CCIE Routing and Switching:
This CCIE Routing and Switching course is an expert level certification which validates the individual's capacity for in-depth knowledge in designing, implementing and troubleshooting any computer network. This is the basic CCIE track but it is a foundation track for rest of the CCIE tracks. It is also known as the evergreen track because of its demand. The CCIE Routing and Switching certified professional are usually offered jobs like Network Engineer, Network Architect or Network Administrator.
CCIE Security:
This CCIE Security certification validates that the individual has an in-depth knowledge of designing, implementing and troubleshoot any given network. Besides this, this also ensures that the individual also knows how to secure the entire network using the Cisco devices. The job titles of the CCIE security professionals are Network Security Engineer, Network Security Consultant, Network Administrator etc.
According to known sources, the average salary of a Network Engineer starts 50-60 thousand USD per annum depending on their experience level however, a salary that a network security engineer is able to withdraw is 100 - 125 thousand USD per annum.
Initially, both of these tracks were looking similar. However, after comparing them one by one, it seems that CCIE Security professional is also able to secure the network besides their design and implementation skills. We can also easily ascertain that the CCIE Security professional who is a network security engineer is able to get more salary than his CCIE routing and switching colleague working as a network engineer.
Cisco has a rule that every candidate has to recertify their current positions by appearing in next level examination and passing it before the previous position expires in order to remain a Cisco certified professional. So, it would be a good decision to take CCIE R&S or CCIE Security as early as possible right after passing the CCNP. It will open new opportunities and it will also enable the candidate with a new vision to plan for their next upcoming CCIE track preparation.
