All candidates must first meet the following baseline requirement:

1. Pass the VMware Design Exam (Recommended Training for VMware Design Exam: VMware Infrastructure: Design)
2. Complete either one of the following options:
   1. Earn the following two Cisco certifications DCSNS (Data Center Storage Networking Design Specialist) and DCNID (Data Center Networking Infrastructure Design Specialist)
      
      Or
      
      
   2. "Fast start option" (Choose this option if you wish to bypass option "a" by completing your CCDA certification and passing the DCUCD Qualifier Exam (642-978)

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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