For those CCIE Voice’s out there wondering what the evolution path is to gain the Collaboration certification- the wait is over. Learning at Cisco has provided three options for folks who have already passed CCIE Voice or might pass between now and the launch of CCIE Collaboration (Feb 2014).
Option (1) If you have passed CCIE Voice lab exam already and are emotionally attached to it and are vehemently opposed to option (2) and (3) below then this is the option for you. You simply have to continue your normal re-certification process and you will be CCIE Voice forever more. The normal re-certification process involves passing a CCIE Written exam from any track every two years.
Option (2) If you want to ditch your CCIE Voice and move onto the “le mot du jour” (that is word of the day for the few non French speakers who might be reading this) then you can pass the CCIE Collaboration written and open a support case to permanently convert your CCIE Voice into a CCIE Collaboration. This is a one time offer that lasts until Feb 13 2016. And there is no going back. If you go down this route you can wave a teary good bye to the CCIE Voice cert and get your business cards re-printed.
Option (3) The most likely option. You will have to pass the CCIE Collaboration written as well as the lab exam and this will entitle you to the “CCIE Voice” as well as the “CCIE Collaboration” certification. Wow! That means you get two for the price of one if you have kept up to date with technology on the Collaboration blueprint and are prepared to put in some hard yards.
Anyhow- I think this is a great outcome that caters for everybody who has the current CCIE Voice certification (but they may have set a precedence in the future here!!!).
The document published by Cisco can be found here: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-21915
Vik Malhi