CCIE track confusion

sexion8

Apologies if this question seems odd. Maybe I'm misreading Cisco's track/definition on the CCIE track. So no pre-req is needed to take the CCIE, I'm focusing a lot of time on what I hope will be obtaining the CCIE Security certfication. I will devote the next 6+ months to hard studies and hard labs (I already have IP Experts audio, video, too many books and nuggets to list... I'm also ordering an ASA to practice on that)... Anyhow, so what would happen should I pass the CCIE Security written. Obviously I would have to wait to pass the lab to truly call myself a CCIE, but... BUT... Being that I would pass the CCIE written, could I then take other exams say the CCDP, CCVP BEFORE I took the lab? Would passing the CCIE Security label me a CCSP? An enquiring mind wants to know

darkuser

http://cisco.com/web/learning/le3/learning_certification_overview.html

Slowhand

The CCIE written exam puts you in kind of a weird place, mainly because the CCIE cert was out long before CCNA or any of the pro-level certs. Normally, CCNA (and sometimes CCDA) is the prerequisite for any pro-level certs, like CCSP, CCNP, CCDP, etc. However, you can use the CCIE written exam as a prerequisite, as well. Having a CCIE written exam done doesn't make you certified on the pro-level, you'll still have to take the required 642 exams for that, but it does qualify you to take them, as well as renew all your Cisco career certs in one shot.