All candidates must first meet the following baseline requirement:

1. VMware certification: Earn a VMware Certified Professional Certification (VCP3 or VCP4), and
2. Complete either one of the following options:
   1. Earn the following two Cisco certifications ICSNS (Data Center Storage Networking Support Specialist) and DCNIS (Data Center Networking Infrastructure Support Specialist)
      
      Or
      
      
   2. "Fast start option" (Choose this option if you wish to bypass option "a" by completing your CCNA certification and passing the DCUCI Qualifier Exam (642-979)

Complete one of the following recertification options every two years:

• Re-take and pass all exams for each Specialist certification indicated on the specific certification page. Please note: this includes ALL exams whether refreshed or not.
• Pass a current CCIE or CCDE written exam

Achieving or recertifying CCDE or any CCIE automatically extends your active Specialist certification(s) up to the point of expiration of the last certification achieved.

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