The new CCIE Data Center certification has been redesigned to leverage the skills obtained at the new CCNP level. The certification covers core technology areas and validates your end-to-end lifecycle skills in complex data center technologies, from planning and design to operating and optimizing.

To earn the CCIE Data Center certification you must complete two exams:

• The qualifying exam, Implementing Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (350-601 DCCOR), focuses on your knowledge of data center infrastructure including network, compute, storage network, automation, and security.
• The 8-hour, hands-on lab exam, CCIE Data Center covers the end-to-end lifecycle of complex data center infrastructure from designing and deploying to operating and optimizing.

To achieve CCIE certification, you must take and pass your lab exam within 3 years of passing your core exam.