Valued for the skill it builds
Holders say studying for CCIE builds a deep troubleshooting method. One says it puts you near the top of interview lists and helps in pay negotiations.
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Enterprise Infrastructure (CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure)
Validates hands-on expertise in designing, deploying and optimizing enterprise networks, including routing, SD-WAN, security, services and automation.
Summary
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is Cisco's expert-level certification for designing, building and troubleshooting complex enterprise networks. It combines the ENCOR qualifying exam with a hands-on lab covering routing, SD-WAN, security, services and automation, so it tests what you can actually build and fix.
Good fit if
- You already work at CCNP level
- You want to prove you can build and troubleshoot complex networks
- Your Cisco partner or employer values CCIE for senior roles
Look elsewhere if
- You have not passed CCNP-level material yet: CCNP Enterprise
- Your infrastructure work is moving to cloud: Azure Solutions Architect
- You specialize in wireless, security or data center: another CCIE track
Salary & jobs
Prerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Gets you in the door, not the job
Hiring engineers say a CCIE number no longer guarantees expertise, as some holders cannot answer basic interview questions. Others reply that BGP and routing depth still matter, even at cloud providers.
Certification path
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is Cisco’s Expert level. The ENCOR core exam counts toward both CCNP Enterprise and the CCIE lab.
Renewal
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure is valid for three years.
- Validity
- 3 years
- Continuing education route
- 120 CE credits
- Renewal fee
- None
Renew before expiry by earning 120 CE credits or by passing qualifying Cisco exams, such as a current CCIE lab. Cisco does not grant extensions.
Cisco recertification policy ↗Alternatives
FAQ
How much does CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure cost?
$2,000 in exam fees, $400 for ENCOR and $1,600 for the lab. Each lab retake costs another $1,600, plus your travel to the lab location.
How long is the CCIE lab?
Eight hours in one day, a 3-hour Design module followed by a 5-hour Deploy, Operate and Optimize module.
How long do I have to pass the lab after ENCOR?
Three years. If your ENCOR pass is more than three years old before you pass the lab, you must pass ENCOR again. You can attempt the lab as often as you like in that window, 30 days apart.
Where can I take the CCIE lab?
At Cisco's permanent testing facilities or at scheduled mobile lab locations. The fee is the same everywhere.
Is the lab exam changing?
The current lab is v1.1. Cisco plans to add a one-hour AI module to every CCIE lab, with Enterprise Infrastructure scheduled for February 2028. Cisco publishes new lab topics at least six months before a change.
Does Cisco publish CCIE pass rates?
No. Cisco publishes no pass rates or passing scores.
Last updated October 2026