Exam, Testing, and Certification Policies

The following general exam and testing policies apply to all written, lab, and practical exams.

Candidates’ rights and responsibilities

A guide for candidates of all Cisco certification written, lab, and practical exams, Certification Candidate Handbook, provides information, tips, and links to many resources to manage and protect your certification status with Cisco before, during, and after the testing experience. The document provides an easy way to access key certification program requirement information across a variety of resources on Cisco.com, the Cisco Learning Network, and Pearson VUE websites.

Confidentiality agreement

All content, specifically questions, answers, and diagrams of the certification exams, are the proprietary and confidential property of Cisco. They may not be copied, reproduced, modified, published, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without the express authorization of Cisco. Candidates who sit for Cisco exams must agree they have read and will abide by the terms and conditions of the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement before beginning the certification exam. The agreement applies to all exams. Signing and adhering to this agreement is required to be officially certified and to maintain valid certification. Candidates must accept the terms and conditions of the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement during the registration process and again prior to testing. Failure to accept the terms of this Agreement will result in a terminated exam and forfeiture of the entire exam fee.

Candidates’ code of conduct

Achieving a Cisco certification is more than having specific technical knowledge. It is also an extension of our commitment to high standards. Cisco’s certification programs are operated with policies and procedures that safeguard the independence and objectivity of our certification activities and manage all potential conflicts of interest.

Candidates must take no action to compromise the integrity or confidentiality of any Cisco certification exam or certification program. Prohibited actions are described in the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement and Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement. Penalties for violating the policy can include up to and including a lifetime ban on all future exams and the nullification of all previous certifications.

Exam violations

Disclosure of exam content and other acts of misconduct are strictly prohibited as described in the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement and Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement. Please report any suspicious activity by going to Learning & Certification Centralized Support and click on Exam Security Tipline to open a case with Cisco exam security.

Cisco reserves the right to decline to provide exams, labs, or any other related services to anyone for any legally permissible reason.

Impartiality, inclusion, and diversity

Cisco is committed to impartiality in its certification programs.

Privacy

Cisco respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information that you share with us. The Cisco Online Privacy Statement Summary describes how we collect and use your personal information.

Correspondence

All official correspondence to certified candidates is sent to the email and/or address recorded in the Cisco Certification Tracking System. Candidates are responsible for updating their personal information in the Cisco Certification Tracking System to ensure receipt of official correspondence. Expert-level certification holders should keep their profiles updated separately at the Cisco Expert Level Certifications Tracker.

Embargoed countries and territories policy

Individuals residing in the embargoed countries and territories of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, as well as the countries of Belarus and Russia, where Cisco has stopped business, are prohibited from testing with Cisco Systems, Inc., a United States (U.S.) company, subject to U.S. Export Administration regulations.

Individuals who present approved candidate identification (during the admissions process) that shows a non-embargoed country residence may test and receive certifications.

Though OFAC sanctions have changed in 2021 for Sudan, at this time, Pearson VUE is licensed to test Sudanese nationals outside of Sudan.

• Sudan will appear in the Pearson VUE registration system among the options for the country of candidate addresses, and Pearson VUE will no longer reject records with candidate addresses in Sudan.
• Candidates from Sudan must register for an exam at a test center outside of Sudan.
• Candidates who present primary or secondary identification from Sudan will be allowed to test.
• Additional details: Currently, Pearson VUE may provide test delivery services to candidates from around the world (provided the tests are conducted in a non-sanctioned country), except for residents of Syria.

Exam rules

Candidates are not allowed to bring anything into the exam room or take anything out. This includes, but is not limited to, notes, documentation, watches, laptops, keyboards, pagers, PDAs, and mobile phones. DO NOT confer or consult with anyone about the exam while taking the exam or after the exam is completed.

Travel costs

Cisco will not reimburse any logistics or travel costs for any exams under any circumstances.

Exam scoring

Passing scores are set by using statistical analysis and are subject to change. At the completion of the exam, candidates receive a score report along with their performance breakout by exam section for the given exam. Cisco does not publish exam passing scores because exam questions and passing scores are subject to change and may vary exam to exam, without notice.

Exam validity

Associate, Professional, Specialist, and Expert-level written exams:

You must complete all requirements for certification within three years of passing the corresponding qualification written exam. Suppose the three years from passing your written exam elapse, and you still have not certified. In that case, you need to pass the qualification written exam again. There is no limit on the number of lab or practical exam attempts during the three-year window as long as you abide by the Retake Exams policy.

Entry-level written exams:

Exams for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications are valid for a lifetime certification from the date you pass.

Age requirements and policies concerning minors

In compliance with the Cisco Online Privacy Statement Summary, age requirements for Cisco certification are as follows:

• Underage minors are children under 13 who cannot test or receive certification, even with parental consent.
• Minors are individuals between 13 and 17 years of age who, with parental or legal guardian consent, may take tests and, if passed, receive certification.
• The Cisco global certification program allows minors to test on all written exams as well as lab and practical exams.
• For any person participating in a location that requires by law a lower minimum age for entry into such programs, the minimum age limit for that person will be the stated minimum required age.
• Cisco reserves the right to impose additional restrictions to comply with local data protection laws. If a candidate wants the exam results to count toward earning certification, the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor and emailed or mailed to Cisco before scheduling the exam.
• Individuals 18 years or older are eligible for certification without any age-related restriction.

Retaking exams

The policies for retaking exams are as follows:

• Candidates who fail an Entry-, Associate-, Professional-, Specialist-level, or CCDE written exam must wait five calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before they may retest for the same exam.
• Candidates who fail an Expert-level lab or practical exam must wait 30 calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before they may schedule for the same exam.
• Candidates who fail an online/unproctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam must wait 48 hours after the failed attempt before they may retest for the same exam.
• A candidate must wait a minimum of 180 days before taking the same passed Associate-, Professional-, Specialist-level, or CCDE written or online/unproctored Cisco (700-xxx series) exam with an identical exam number.
• Once passed, the same Expert-level lab or practical exam can only be taken if the respective Expert-level certification becomes inactive.

Candidates who violate these policies are in violation of the agreement. Such conduct is strictly prohibited, as described in the Cisco Certification and Confidentiality Agreement.

Exam retirement

When an exam is retired it may be replaced by another exam, and the previous exam will be phased out.

Written exam policies

The below written exam and testing policies apply to all written exams, including all Associate, Professional, Specialist, and CCDE written exams.

Written exams: Discounts, vouchers, and promotional codes

Neither Cisco nor Pearson VUE, its authorized test delivery partner, guarantees the authenticity of discount vouchers or promotional codes that are obtained from any individuals or entities other than Pearson VUE.

Individuals or Cisco-affiliated partners who use certification discount vouchers or promotional codes that are fraudulent or otherwise obtained from an unauthorized source (including legitimate vouchers for attempted re-use) may risk up to and including a lifetime ban on all future exams and the nullification of all previous certifications or other program sanctions at the discretion of Cisco. Cisco will not compensate candidates for fraudulent vouchers or vouchers obtained from an unauthorized source.

Written exams: Candidate identification and authentication

The Person VUE test center admission process requires the capture of a digital photo and digital signature from each candidate in addition to two types of personal identification. Both types of identification must have the candidate's signature, and one must be a government-issued photo identification.

Written exams: Cisco candidate rules agreement

All Cisco candidates will be presented with the Cisco candidate rules agreement document during the test center check-in process by the Test Administrator. Candidates must agree to the testing rules and digitally sign the agreement before they are allowed to enter the testing room and begin their exam.

Written exams: Candidate photo on score report and web

Upon exam completion, each candidate receives a score report imprinted with the digital photo that was captured during admission. Candidates may choose to share their photo-imprinted score reports with an employer or other third parties or to provide them with preferred online access at Authenticate score report for verification purposes. The Pearson VUE candidate tracking webpage is the official method for confirming online candidate photos and exam score results.

Written Exams: Preliminary score reports

The score report notifies candidates that, regardless of pass or fail results, an exam score may be revised any time after testing if there is evidence of misconduct, scoring inaccuracies, or aberrant response patterns. To obtain official exam results, candidates and their employers must verify scores online.

Written exams: Certification tracking system

Track your certification progress, status, and exam history with the Cisco certification tracking system. This secure database serves as the certified professional's information resource. Use this tool to:

• Update your profile
• Schedule, purchase, reschedule, or cancel written exam appointments
• Review testing history
• Review certification history
• Review test results
• Download score reports, transcripts, certificates, and logos
• Receive personalized announcements/articles, and discounts

Written exams: Online testing

With this additional testing option, you can now pursue your Cisco Certification goals without further delay, conveniently at your home or office. Check out our Online proctoring page for all the details.

Lab and practical exam policies

The following Expert lab and practical exam and testing policies apply to all Expert lab and practical exams, including all CCIE Lab, CCDE Practical, and the Cisco Certified DevNet Expert exams.

Lab and practical exams: Lab facility surveillance and pre-lab security screening

Expert-level certifications are becoming increasingly valuable and desired. To maintain the value of these certifications and ensure the integrity of the results of our exams, Cisco conducts pre-lab security screening and uses CCTV cameras in the lab environment during testing to prevent, identify, and address misconduct and cheating.

All surveillance cameras will be on and recording the personal item storage area as well as the lab testing room before, during, and after your entire 8-hour exam. The CCTV cameras enable lab staff to view live and archived images of the lab during this time period.

Cisco stores camera footage within the Meraki Camera System following each exam. If misconduct, or cheating is reported after the fact, Exam Security will review the footage and determine whether an individual may have cheated on an exam.

Surveillance footage is only shared with Exam Security in the case of a security-related incident (i.e., misconduct, cheating, or causing a disturbance while testing). Please reference the Cisco certification and confidentiality agreement.

Cameras cannot be disabled during testing. If you are not willing to be recorded during your exam, you will not be allowed to test.

Before you enter the testing room, you will be asked to scan yourself using a handheld metal detector. The purpose of the scan is to prevent concealed cameras, recording, and/or video storage devices on your person. The proctor will first demonstrate how to use the handheld metal detector to self-scan, after which you must scan yourself. If you are not willing to conduct the self-scan or cannot clear the self-scan with the handheld metal detector, you will not be allowed to test.

Lab and practical exams: Payment

Prices are subject to change until full payment is made. Once you book a lab, you are responsible for paying for it.

Payment methods

Credit cards and Expert-level exam vouchers are the only accepted payment methods for all Cisco Expert-level practical and lab exams. Candidates are responsible for paying all Expert-level practical or lab exam fees and applicable taxes (as per local laws) on time.

Thirty-day payment window:

Payments are not mandatory until 30 days to the scheduled Cisco Expert-level practical or lab exam date, but full payment must be received at least 30 days before the exam date. Full payment includes all exam fees and taxes. If the payment mode is an Expert-level exam voucher, any difference in the exam fee and taxes must be paid with a credit card. You will be charged immediately, as soon as you provide your payment information, even if you are paying for an exam date more than 30 days away. Once a payment method is chosen, it cannot be reverted to a different one for the same exam date. So, for example, once the exam is paid with a credit card, the payment method cannot change to a voucher. Payments can take up to three business days to process, so be sure to initiate payment well in advance of the due date and ensure your credit card limit allows for the payment.

If full payment is not received 30 days before the scheduled date, your Cisco Expert-level practical or lab exam will be dropped for non-payment. Full payment includes the Expert-level practical or lab exam fee and taxes. If your exam was dropped for non-payment, you need to schedule it again. There is no guarantee that your original date will still be available once your original exam date has been dropped for non-payment.

Payment reminder:

One email notification is sent as a payment reminder. Candidates are ultimately responsible for making the lab payment on time and in full. Cisco will not be held liable for any candidates automatically dropped due to non-payment. Make sure that your email address is current on your profile on the Cisco Expert Level Certifications Tracker portal.

Payment process:

Payments should be made on the Cisco Expert Level Certifications Tracker portal. If you are paying with a credit card, your credit card will be charged for the exam fee and any other charges immediately as the credit card information is provided, regardless of your exam date. If your credit card is declined, you should work with your credit card company to determine the reason, clear it, and make full payment before the 30-day payment window.

If you are paying with an Expert-level exam voucher, the voucher will be redeemed immediately once the voucher code is provided. Any other charges must be paid with a credit card to avoid your exam being dropped for non-payment.

Once full payment is received, an invoice with lab exam fee and local taxes, excluding any bank charges will be issued in the credit card holder’s name within three to five business days. Be sure the company name, invoicing address, and email address are complete and accurate. Once the invoice is issued, the invoice cannot be changed, the Drop feature will be disabled, and refunds will not be allowed. However, you will be able to reschedule your Cisco Expert-level practical or lab exam in accordance with the Lab and Practical exams: Reschedule, cancelation, and no-show policies.

Expert-level Lab and Practical exam voucher validity:

Expert-level lab and practical exam vouchers are tied to a candidate ID and are non-transferable. The Expert-level lab and practical exam voucher can be redeemed up until its expiration date to schedule or reschedule an Expert-level exam. After the voucher expiration date, it cannot be used for rescheduling.

Lab and Practical exams: Reschedule, Cancellation, and No-show policies

Rescheduling in more than 30 days to the lab or practical exam date:

Changes to the original exam date or location can be made free of charge if completed 30 days or more before the scheduled Expert-level lab or practical exam.

If you have not yet paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam, to make any changes, you must drop your scheduled Expert-level lab or practical exam using the Drop button. Once you’ve dropped the exam, you have the option to schedule your exam to another available date and/or location.

If you have already paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam, to make any changes, you must reschedule your scheduled Expert-level lab or practical exam using the Reschedule button.

• If you have already paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam with a credit card, as part of the rescheduling, you will be refunded the exam fee and any taxes that might have incurred in the original location and immediately charged the exam fee and any taxes for the newly scheduled location. Please observe that the exam fees and taxes vary from country to country. The refund can take 3 to 5 business days to show up on your account.
• If you have already paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam with a voucher, and it has not passed the expiration date, as part of the rescheduling, your voucher will be applied to the newly booked exam date and location. You will be refunded the taxes you might have incurred in the original location and immediately charged any taxes for the newly scheduled location. Please observe that the exam fee and taxes vary from country to country. The taxes refund can take 3 to 5 business days to show up on your account.

Rescheduling in 30 days or less to your paid lab or practical exam:

Changes to the original exam date or location within the 30-day payment window come with a USD $500.00 rescheduling fee.

To make any changes to your paid Expert-level lab or practical exam date and/or location, you must reschedule it with the Reschedule button.

• If you paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam with a credit card, as part of the rescheduling, you will be refunded the exam fee and any taxes you might have incurred in the original location and immediately charged the USD $500 rescheduling fee plus its taxes as well as the exam fee plus any taxes for the newly scheduled location. Please observe that the lab fees and taxes vary from country to country. The refund can take 3 to 5 business days to show up on your account.
• If you paid for the Expert-level lab or practical exam with a voucher, and it has not passed the expiration date, as part of the rescheduling, your voucher will be applied to the newly booked exam date and location as soon as you pay the USD $500 rescheduling fee and any taxes associated with it with a credit card. You will be refunded the taxes you might have incurred in the original location and immediately charged any difference in lab fee and taxes for the newly scheduled location. Please observe that the exam fee and taxes vary from country to country. The refund of taxes can take 3 to 5 business days to show up on your account.

The Reschedule button becomes unavailable three calendar days before your Expert-level lab or practical exam date, and it cannot be rescheduled.

Please observe that the rescheduling fee and the charges associated with it are non-refundable.

Cancellations:

If you cancel an Expert-level exam, you forfeit full payment. Refunds are not allowed, even outside the 30-day payment window.

If you do not show up for your lab exam, you will be marked as “No-show,” will not be able to schedule another lab exam within the next 30 days, and will forfeit full payment. Refunds are not allowed.

Candidates requiring visas:

If you require a Visa to attend your Cisco Expert-level lab or practical exam, it is strongly recommended that you apply at least 10 to 12 weeks before your exam date. Visa requirements may vary on a country-by-country basis. Therefore, it is the candidate’s responsibility to research and understand their country’s Visa requirements before booking their exam. Cisco cannot assist with any required Visa documentation other than the Visa invite letter and is not responsible for any changes to a country's Visa policies. Scheduled candidates can download their Visa invite letter by selecting the Visa Invite tab on the Cisco Expert level certifications tracker tool and fill out all the required information. Candidates who do not obtain the required Visa to take a paid Expert-level lab or practical exam are still bound by the cancelation policy and should reschedule their exam. Once the payment is made and an invoice is generated, no refunds are allowed.

Lab and Practical exams: Double bookings

Candidates are allowed to schedule only one Expert lab or practical exam at a time for a given track. Double bookings for the same exam, at either the same location or different locations are not permitted. Candidates are allowed to simultaneously schedule exams for different tracks.

Lab and Practical exams: Mobile labs

For candidates taking the Mobile Lab exam option, choose a site with either Cisco Kit or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

Lab and Practical exams: Exam start time and address

Exam start times may vary, depending on the location. Location addresses are indicated in your confirmation email and can also be found on the web page associated with each Lab exam location. Please verify your email address in your candidate profile on the Cisco Expert Level Certifications Tracker so we can notify you of any changes. If you arrive less than two hours after the exam start time, you will be allowed to start, but you must finish with the rest of the group. If you arrive more than two hours after the start of your exam, you will not be allowed to start.

Lab and Practical exams: Candidate identification and authentication

The Expert-level test center admission process requires that each candidate provide two types of personal identification. Both types of identification must have the candidate's signature, and one must be a government-issued photo identification.

Lab and Practical exams: Cisco candidate rules agreement

All Cisco candidates will have to read and sign the Cisco certification and confidentiality agreement document as part of the scheduling process. The scheduling will not be complete if the candidate does not accept the Agreement.

Lab and Practical exams: Unavoidable casualties during the exam

Candidates who experience any problem during an exam must work with the lab exam proctor during their test event. Candidates who experience issues with the provided test equipment are instructed to spend no more than 10 minutes troubleshooting the problem prior to reporting it to their lab exam proctor. As a best practice, we recommend that candidates frequently save their configurations. Under no circumstance is it the responsibility of the lab exam proctor to save candidate configurations.

For unavoidable casualties that prevent candidates from proceeding during a test event whose root cause was in the lab environment and not because of the candidate’s missing, incomplete or incorrect configuration or setup, the following applies:

• If the anticipated time to resolve the problem is less than two hours, the lab exam proctor will extend the lab session to compensate for the loss of time. The compensated time will always be equal to the time lost.
• If the anticipated time to resolve the problem is greater than two hours, the lab exam will need to be canceled, and the lab exam proctor will instruct the candidate to submit a case through certification online support.

Note: Proctors do not troubleshoot candidate configurations, and if the proctor is unable to identify the actual cause of the problem, an investigation into the root cause will be launched.

Lab and Practical exams: Unavoidable casualties remediation

In case of one of two unavoidable casualty event types described at Lab and Practical exams: Unavoidable casualties during the exam that prevent a candidate from taking or completing their Expert-level exam, either the candidate will be rescheduled for free, or a voucher will be issued. Refunds are not allowed. The situations are:

• A system failure that prevents candidates from either starting or proceeding with the exam for longer than two hours. All three conditions below must be met:
  1. The resulting investigation determines that the candidate was not the source of the issue and did not create or influence the issue.
  2. The lab equipment is rendered inoperable, and a candidate cannot proceed with the exam within two hours, as determined by the lab operations team.
  3. The candidate must have passed all completed modules within the exam that were unrelated to the problem being addressed.
• A well-documented unavoidable event that impacts the start or progress of the Expert-level exam

Lab and Practical exams: In-lab policies

Failure to act in accordance with the in-lab policies could lead to invalidation and possible enforcement actions.

• All personal items (passports, wallets, pens, paper, notebooks, etc.) and electronic devices, which must be turned off, must be stored in the designated area and can only be accessed once the lab exam is completed.
• The Expert-level lab and practical exams are written in English, and the proctor will communicate with the candidates either in English or in the local language. One paper dictionary is permitted after the proctor has inspected it.
• Candidates must remain inside the lab for the exam duration.
  • Short breaks, such as restroom or Cisco-provided refreshments, are permitted if the proctor is notified and can locate you. You must justify breaks longer than 10 minutes.
  • The proctor may ask you to rescan yourself at any time during the exam.
  • You must notify the proctor if you decide to end the exam early.

  Lab and Practical exams: Exam scoring

  You can view your lab exam results online (login required), usually within 48 hours. Results are recorded as Pass/Fail; no further information is provided. Failing score reports indicate major topic areas where additional study and preparation may be useful.

  Lab and Practical exams: Re-read of exam results

  A re-read involves having a second proctor load your configurations into a rack to re-create the test and rescore the entire exam. Re-reads are available for all CCIE tracks and DevNet Expert, but not for the CCDE practical exam.

  Re-read requests must be made within 14 days following your exam date by using the "Request for reread" link next to your lab record. A re-read costs $1,000.00 USD plus taxes. Payment is made online via credit card, and your re-read will be initiated upon successful payment. You may not cancel the re-read request once the process has been initiated. Refunds are given only when results change from Fail to Pass, which can take between three to five business days.

  The re-read process takes up to three weeks after receipt of payment. Only one re-read per lab attempt is permitted. Only exams with potential to change from Fail to Pass will give you the option to request a re-read. The result of the re-read is a confirmation of the existing Fail mark or an update to a Pass. No further information is provided.

  Certification policies

  The following certification policies apply to the Cisco certifications, as indicated.

  Logo guidelines

  Certified candidates may only use certification logos, certificates, and other collateral as provided and in accordance with the published logo guidelines. Individuals or entities that misuse certification logos, certificates, and/or other collateral may be subject to penalties up to and including a lifetime ban on all future exams and the nullification of all previous certifications. Please refer to the CCIE website for separate CCIE logo guidelines.

  Recertification

  Certification status will expire after three years. Individuals with a valid Associate-, Professional-, Specialist-, or Expert-level certification must fulfill the current recertification requirements during their active period to keep their status, and reminders will be sent to your email address. Entry-level, Cisco Certified Support Specialist (CCST) certifications are valid for a lifetime and do not require recertification. If you become inactive, you must fulfill the current certification requirements to become active again.

  Continuing Education

  The Cisco Continuing Education program offers all certification holders flexible options to recertify by taking exams, earning credits, or a combination of both. Keep reading to learn more about Continuing Education options and to check out how you can maintain your certifications by doing the things that IT professionals already love to do.

  Expert-level certifications: Certification status verification

  To obtain official Expert-level certification status, candidates and their employers must verify status online at the Verification tool.

  Expert-level Certifications: Holder policy

  Expert-level certification holders should not allow another person or organization to use their certification credentials if they are not actively employed by them. They may only associate your Expert certification credentials to a single channel partner with whom you are a full-time-equivalent employee in the country where the certification status is applied. Sanctions up to and including permanent decertification may result in noncompliance.

  Emeritus and lifetime Emeritus policy

  The Emeritus program recognizes the long-term CCIEs and CCDEs who have moved out of the day-to-day technical work but want to stay involved in the program, serving as ambassadors to current and future CCIEs and CCDEs. Emeritus and Lifetime Emeritus are not active statuses, however. CCIEs and CCDEs must be active for at least 10 consecutive years to qualify for Emeritus status. CCIEs must be active for at least 20 years to qualify for Lifetime Emeritus status.

  Note: The CCDE program was launched in 2008 and is not yet 20 years old.

  The Emeritus program is not recommended if you are both CCIE and CCDE certified for at least 10 years on one but not both certifications. In this case, you need to keep recertifying your more recent certification to avoid becoming inactive on that certification. The reason is that by recertifying your most recent certification, you extend the validity of your other certification. This recommendation is not valid if you hold multiple CCIE certifications. Once you become eligible for Emeritus on a CCIE track, you become Emeritus for all your CCIE tracks.

  At nine years and nine months, eligible CCIEs or CCDEs will receive an email informing them that they are approaching their tenth anniversary and are eligible to apply for the Emeritus program for the first time. At this point, the Purchase Emeritus tab will be enabled at the Cisco Expert Level Certifications portal. On your tenth anniversary as CCIE or CCDE, to avoid becoming inactive, you need to either remain active by fulfilling the current recertification requirements or become Emeritus by paying an $85.00 fee plus taxes. Suppose you decided to become Emeritus but have not paid by your certification anniversary. In that case, there is a 60-day grace period to purchase Emeritus, but you must pay an additional $50 late fee plus taxes. After the 60-day grace period, you will not be allowed to purchase Emeritus; at that point, you will become inactive. If you recertify while your status is Emeritus, you are not entitled to a refund of the Emeritus fee.

  Three months before your next certification or Emeritus anniversary, you will have the option to recertify or purchase Emeritus again.

  The following actions will happen once the full Emeritus payment is received:

  • You will receive a payment confirmation email.
  • An invoice will be issued in the credit card holder’s name within three business days. Be sure the company name, invoicing address, and email address are complete and accurate. Once the invoice is issued, it cannot be changed.
  • Your status will change to Emeritus only after your active certification status expires.
  • Your CCIE and CCDE numbers are maintained but are now classified as Emeritus status.
  • The Emeritus logo will be available for download.
  • When attending Cisco Live, Emeritus and Lifetime Emeritus are eligible to receive a corresponding badge ribbon and gift.
  • Emeritus and Lifetime Emeritus can purchase CCIE or CCDE items from the Cisco store.

  The Emeritus status is valid for one year from your CCIE or CCDE anniversary, whichever comes last if you are Emeritus in both certifications. The Emeritus renewal option is available three months before the current Emeritus expiration date or your next certification anniversary. The same payment and grace period rules apply to subsequent renewals of Emeritus. To avoid becoming inactive, Emeritus CCIEs and CCDEs must either fulfill the current recertification requirements to revert to active or pay the fee each year to maintain their status.

  Anyone who maintains their CCIE active or Emeritus status for at least 20 consecutive years will be granted a CCIE Lifetime Emeritus status. After that, you no longer have to pay Emeritus renewal fees; no other action is required. The Lifetime Emeritus logo will be available for download, and the Emeritus logo will no longer be available.

  If you are CCDE Emeritus and CCIE Lifetime Emeritus, you need to keep renewing the CCDE Emeritus until your twentieth CCDE anniversary to avoid becoming inactive on CCDE. If you become inactive, you must fulfill the current certification requirements to become active again. Individuals with Emeritus or Lifetime Emeritus status must maintain all ethics and guidelines of the program. The following rules apply to Emeritus and Lifetime Emeritus:

  • It does not recertify lower-level certifications.
  • It does not provide TAC support privileges or preference.
  • It does not count toward Channel/Partner requirements.
  • It does not apply to maintaining status levels for Channel Partners.
  • It does not recognize or qualify for CCIE or CCDE anniversary.
  • It does require candidates to continue to report violations to the program when encountered.
  • You are still governed by all the Cisco Expert-Level certification non-discloser agreements.

  As with the CCIE and CCDE programs, Cisco reserves the right to terminate the Emeritus program without specific notice.

  Important: Keep your profile updated at the Cisco Expert level certifications portal. You are responsible for keeping track of your annual Emeritus renewal date and renewing as needed. Failure to receive the notification email does not provide for a policy exception.

  Exam violations

  In the event that any person displaying suspicious activity violates Cisco's Non-Disclosure Agreement, or infringes on Cisco's Intellectual Privacy Policies, please provide a detailed summary to the Exam Security Tipline.

  In order to take necessary action, all reports must include evidence or proof to support suspicious activity claims. For your reference, a partial list of actions that represent suspicious activity under Cisco's NDA is provided below:

  • Violation of test policies for the purpose of cheating
  • Possession of notes, books, cell phones, pagers, electronic media, recording devices, or any other articles or devices other than those provided by the proctor during exam testing
  • Removal of any test materials, scrap paper, diskettes or other media from the lab environment
  • Discussions concerning test content with anyone other than the proctor without express written permission from the CCIE department
  • Posting of test content to study groups internal to Cisco or external to Cisco with the exception of ccie-lab@cisco.com
  • Forwarding of test information to persons or companies without the express written permission of the CCIE program
  • Falsified or altered certificates, score sheets, or other documents or electronic media used to misrepresent the certification status of a CCIE candidate
  • Providing falsified documentation as a means of claiming a false identity, false address or solicitation of someone to take a test on another's behalf
  • Failure to follow procedures prescribed by a testing facility or proctor
  • Failure to follow the exam retake policies (waiting 5 calendar days between written exams or only taking a beta exam once)
  • Disruptive or harmful behavior
  • Use of Cisco support services (TAC) to resolve test questions or to study for the CCIE written or lab exams
  • Failure to protect CCIE lab content through carelessness or in an attempt to shield facts regarding a violation that has occurred
  • Improper use of CCIE logo (reports of companies or individuals that use the CCIE logo without express agreement with the CCIE program can be directly reported.