Cisco announced that CCIE Lab exam and CCIE certification will extend to April 27, 2020. It means that you can take the old CCIE lab before April 27. It will be a good news to most of candidates. As we all know that, the World Health Organization declared the Coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency on January 30. Cisco consider this and decided to close CCIE Labs in Hong Kong and Beijing. These closures impact the timeline for the transition of CCIE lab exams planned on Feb.24th, 2020. Today, we got this news and if you want to schedule the current CCIE lab exam before April 27, you can take now. All CCIE lab are stable. You can prepare and pass the exam before New lab is coming. Here are some questions you should know about this policy:
1.Q: Will there be any further extension for the CCIE lab exams?
A: The existing CCIE lab exams will be available through April 26, 2020.
2. Q: How will CCIE certification migrations be impacted?
A: CCIE certifications will be migrated to new certifications on April 27, 2020.
3. Q: Will the written CCIE exams be extended as well due to the closing of Pearson Vue sites in China?
A: No, written exams will transition to the new core exams on February 24, 2020.
4.Q: How do exam vouchers work?
A: An exam voucher allows a candidate to schedule an exam appointment and use the voucher for payment of the 100% the cost of the exam.
5.Q: Will this impact other elements of the transition to the new certifications?
A: No, all other certification tests will go into effect as planned on February 24, 2020.
6.Q: Are your testing centers safe?
A: We are taking appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of customers, partners and employees at our testing centers.
7.Q: How does this affect CCIE recertification?
A: Candidates need to follow the guidelines for the new Recertification policy that goes into effect on February 24, 2020.
8.Q: Will enough seats be available during the extension period?
A: We will accommodate all those directly impacted as a priority and expect to have some additional space for those who may want a last opportunity to take the current CCIE lab exam.
9.Q: How are Lifetime Emeritus CCIEs impacted?
A: CCIE Emeritus candidates are not impacted.
10.Q: How are CCIEs in Suspend status impacted?
A: Suspend year is turning into an active status on February 24, 2020. This new policy will not be impacted with the closure of China test centers.
11.Q: What will be the qualifier to sit for the CCIE Lab Exam during this time period? Will having just the Core exam qualify me to sit for the current lab exam, or will the requirement of passing the CCIE Written extend as well? Why?
A: New core exams will also qualify for the CCIE lab exam during this period. All existing CCIE written exams will retire on February 24, 2020 as per the original plan.
12.Q: Does the CCIE written exam expiration policy to make an initial attempt at the current CCIE lab exam within 18 months, and then again within 12 months and 12 months still apply?
A: No, these will no longer apply; this policy will change on February 24, 2020.
13.Q: Does this apply to all of the exams across all of the Cisco Certification programs?
A: No, this change only applies to CCIE labs only.
14.Q: If I am currently scheduled to take one of the new lab exams after February 24th, will I still be able to sit for that exam, or will I now have to wait until after the April 26th date?
A: You will need to reschedule your lab on or after April 27, 2020 when the new CCIE lab exam will be available. Alternatively, you may want to keep your schedule lab date if you wish to take the current lab exam. 1
15. Q: If I am currently scheduled for a lab exam prior to February 24, 2020 but would like to change my date to a later date closer to April 27, will I be charged a fee for rescheduling?
A: No. We will waive the reschedule fee. We do ask that you open a case for this request.