› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Cisco · expert
CCIE EntCisco Certified Internetwork Expert - Enterprise Infrastructure
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert - Enterprise Infrastructure
Official pageComparing
CiscoCCDE
CiscoCCIE Ent
› Cost
Exam fee
CCDE$1,750
CCIE Ent$1,750
Exam fee
$1,750
$1,750
Annual maintenance fee
CCDE—
CCIE Ent—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
CCDE$1,750
CCIE Ent$1,750
3-year cost of ownership
$1,750
$1,750
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
CCDETwo-stage: written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour scenario-based practical
CCIE EntVariable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
Pass mark
Two-stage: written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour scenario-based practical
Variable — written exam ~825/1000 + 8-hour lab pass/fail
Retake policy
CCDE$300 fee · 5d wait
CCIE Ent$300 fee · 5d wait
Retake policy
$300 fee · 5d wait
$300 fee · 5d wait
Study time
CCDE800–1600 hrs
CCIE Ent1200–2400 hrs
Study time
800–1600 hrs
1200–2400 hrs
Validity
CCDE3 yrs
CCIE Ent3 yrs
Validity
3 yrs
3 yrs
CPE / yr
CCDE30 CPEs
CCIE Ent30 CPEs
CPE / yr
30 CPEs
30 CPEs
Delivery
CCDEtest center
CCIE Enttest center
Delivery
test center
test center
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
CCDE$160K – $240K
CCIE Ent$140K – $210K
Range
$160K – $240K
$140K – $210K
Median
CCDE$195,000
CCIE Ent$165,000
Median
$195,000
$165,000
Premium %
CCDE—
CCIE Ent—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
CCDESenior network architect / consulting design lead, US, 10+ years.
CCIE EntSenior enterprise network architect / consultant, US, 7+ years.
Role context
Senior network architect / consulting design lead, US, 10+ years.
Senior enterprise network architect / consultant, US, 7+ years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
CCDE8.5
CCIE Ent9.0
Schema quality
8.5
9.0
Practice evidence
CCDE7.5
CCIE Ent9.0
Practice evidence
7.5
9.0
Maintenance
CCDE8.0
CCIE Ent8.5
Maintenance
8.0
8.5
Market recognition
CCDE7.5
CCIE Ent8.5
Market recognition
7.5
8.5
Average
CCDE7.9
CCIE Ent8.8
Average
7.9
8.8
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
CCDEGlobal
CCIE EntGlobal
Recognition
Global
Global
ISO 17024 accredited
CCDE—
CCIE Ent—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
CCDE—
CCIE Ent—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
CCDE—
CCIE Ent20,000
Holders worldwide
—
20,000
Current version
CCDECCDE v3.0 (2022-02)
CCIE EntCCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.1 (2024-02)
Current version
CCDE v3.0 (2022-02)
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure v1.1 (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A2Network Security
CCDE● core
CCIE Ent● core
A2Network Security
● core
● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
CCDE● core
CCIE Ent● core
A25Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.