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Insight on the New Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) - Part III

By michaeljmorris on Thu, 08/02/07 - 5:21pm.
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This is my third and final (for now) blog about the upcoming CCDE and Architect certifications. Here is Part I and Part II.

As I mentioned in Part II, Cisco hosted a Q&A last week at Networkers with about 50 CCIEs. The Q&A session itself was a lively event with a lot of questions raised and opinions offered. While the Cisco team had planned a short introduction of the new certification concepts, and then Q&A, the debate started pretty much right away. Most ideas were well received and there were a lot of questions about format and topics. Points I noted:

  • Some of the engineers felt strongly that a current CCIE should be a prerequisite for the CCDE. However, an equal number disagreed, including myself. Cisco really sees the CCIE as a technology certification - how to make the actual equipment work. The CCDE, and the subsequent Architecture certification, is focused on network design, not necessarily making equipment work. The analogy given by one of the CCIEs summed it up well - "an architect of a home isn’t the general contractor; he doesn’t actually build the home. He just needs to know how the pieces interact (fit).”

  • Many people offered ideas for the format of the "performance oriented scenario test". The goal is to make it just as hard as a CCIE lab is, but it's not a lab. Thoughts about responding to an RFP were tossed about.

  • The tentative timeline is to have the "scenario test" ready by March or April of next year for beta testing. The Architecture certification would come much later, perhaps a year or more. The written exam is available in two weeks for the beta testers to attempt. Most people agreed this is a good timeline.

  • While the format and rules of the new certification were strongly debated, everyone in the room agreed there is a need for this type of certification and were very excited. I'm sure people will be eager to take the beta written exam in a few weeks. The consensus was this is a good thing for the certification program, a benefit to the industry, and good for professional development.

  • Some other quick notes of comments made:
    - People seemed to want to talk about the Architect certification more than CCDE.
    - Need to create CCDE numbers. Initial group also wanted recognition as the pioneers of this credential.
    - Make is multi-vendor (or vendor co-existent).
    - Keep it standards based, perhaps even partner with a standards board.
    - Allow people to take the CCDE "scenario" and attend Architect board via Telepresence and/or WebEx.
    - Possibly use a team format for the CCDE scenario, like used in MBA programs.
    - PLEASE be selective. Screen applicants, particularly beta candidates.
    - Must create industry awareness. This is key to employer support and showing candidates the benefits of achieving the certifications.



    • The written beta exam begins in 3 weeks and is available to only select invitees. Cisco's goal is to get 200 people through the beta exam to have sufficient results to base decisions on. An exhaustive, 6-page blue-print was provided in the meeting. General topics range from "IP Routing" to "Tunneling" to "Security". It should prove to be very tough. Passing does meet recertification requirements for existing CCIEs. I'll be signing up soon.

    Over the next couple months I'll provide updates on the beta program. This looks to be an exciting new addition to Cisco's certification program for senior engineers and network architects.

    Tags

    How to enroll for the Beta exams_Pls update

    0
    By Ashok (not verified) on Fri, 11/02/2007 - 6:42am.

    Dear Michael,
    Thanks for the insight of this new certification, which would really help Engineers who are in Network Design(mostly into PreSales like me)to keep them on par with CCIEs after successful completion. I appreciate you for giving the handful of information that you had given regarding this certification.I also agree with you and strongly feel that CCIE should not be made as prerequisite for this certification.
    Well. Can you update us how we can enroll for attending the Beta exams. Some of my colleagues are eager to enroll for the same. Hence it would be of help to us, if you can give the related information and procedure.Thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Ashok

    Who is the training partner

    0
    By Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 7:04am.

    Who is the training partner ;)

    Higher than Expert?

    0
    By Jeff McLaughlin (not verified) on Mon, 11/26/2007 - 6:07pm.

    One concern no one seems to mention is the idea of creating a new certification *above* the expert level. The CCIE has always been as high as you can go; there are parallel tracks, of course, but these are all at the same, "expert" level. Creating a CCDE, which is also expert-level is fine. When you create a "Master Architect" above the CCDE, it seems to me you are simultaneously demoting everyone with an expert-level cert, namely CCIE's.

    Jeff McLaughlin
    CCIE #14023

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    About From the Field

    Michael Morris is a communications engineering manager at a $3-billion high-tech company. His background is in enterprise WANs working with telcos and developing large-scale routing designs. He has worked on networks at government and corporate organizations, including networks at two Fortune 10 companies. In his current role, he leads a team of 10 engineers responsible for large-scale IT networking projects and architectural standards for data networks, storage area networks, IP telephony, contact centers, and security. Michael is CCIE #11733 and recently became one of the first three Cisco Certified Design Experts (CCDE) ever (#20080002). He has 11 years experience in networking and communications, including four years as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. He has a bachelor's degree in MIS from the University at Buffalo and is working on his MBA from NC State University. In 2008, he was awarded the Network Professional Association (NPA) Professional Excellence and Innovation Award for his work on network architecture, templates and enterprise MPLS design.

    Contact him.