5/9/2007 -- Cisco Systems this week announced that it will soon be updating the written exam that qualifies candidates for its top-level Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert certification, Routing & Switching (R&S) track.

The new version of the exam, 3.0, will debut at Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide on June 19, according to Cisco's Web site. The wording on the site does make it appear that it will instantly replace the older version on that date.

New content on the exam will include "previously untested topics, such as MPLS and IPv6." Detailed objectives can be found here.

According to Cisco, anyone who is signed up to take the exam with a testing date before June 19 should continue to study off the current exam's objectives, found here.

Passing written CCIE exams qualifies candidates to attempt the certification's day-long, hands-on lab exam. Passing a CCIE written exam can also be used to renew most Cisco certifications.

Cisco offers a number of tracks for the CCIE, but R&S is widely believed to be the most popular. Earlier this year, Cisco updated the Security and Service Provider versions of the CCIE written exam.

For more information on Cisco's CCIE credentials, go here. -Becky Nagel