7/26/2001 -- Cisco announced earlier this month that it will be reducing all CCIE Lab exams from two days to one day.

According to Cisco's Web site, the company will shorten the length of the exams by reducing the amount of lower-level technical information tested in the lab exams. "Certain lower-level skills more appropriate to the lower or intermediate level Cisco certifications have been transferred to the qualification test," the site states.

The roll-out of the new format will start this summer. The Communications and Services CCIE and Security CCIE exams will be introduced in the new format on Aug. 1, 2001. The Routing and Switching CCIE lab exam will transition to the new format on Oct. 1, 2001.

The price of the lab exams will remain $1,250 (U.S.).

To read Cisco's FAQ regarding the new CCIE Lab exam format, click here. -B.N.