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Role Requirements

To achieve an Advanced Routing and Switching Specialization, partners must fulfill each defined job role:

Role sharing allows a single individual to fulfill similar roles across 2 or more specializations, based upon the specialization and the role. Cisco has reduced the number of unique individuals required across Express, Advanced, and Master Specializations, however, the total number of individuals required to achieve each certification level remains unchanged. A single qualified individual may fill only the AM role in up to a total of 4 specializations. A single qualified individual may fill only the SE role in up to a total of 2 specializations. A single qualified individual may fill only the FE role in up to a total of 2 specializations. Individuals may not cross-populate between the AM, SE and FE roles. SMB, CRM Express and VPN-Firewall specializations are not limited by the above allocation rules.

Technology continues to evolve and therefore, Cisco specialization requirements are subject to change. Please refer to this site often to ensure that you meet all program requirements before you submit your specialization application.

View the Return on Investment for this specialization.

Refer to the Specialization Role Requirements Comparison Chart to view how exams relate to each Cisco specialization and roles.

Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching Specialization role requirements are as follows:

Account Manager
Responsible for sales methodology and customer engagement.

Required Prerequisite:

  • Cisco Sales Expert (#646-203)
    NOTE: Exam #646-203 will retire on May 24, 2008. That exam may be used to meet the CSE requirement for this role until that date, after which it will no longer be accepted. The replacement for this exam is #646-204. Candidates for this role are encouraged to pass #646-204 instead of #646-203 beginning January 11, 2008.

    or
  • Cisco Sales Expert (#646-204)

Required Certification:

Note: The Lifecycle Services exam has become part of the required exam set to achieve the Cisco Routing and Switching Sales Specialist certification effective May 16 2008. As a result, the exam will no longer be displayed here as an independent exam, but may be found on the Cisco Routing and Switching Sales Specialist page. This does not change the overall number of required exams to qualify for this role.

View Learning Map (Requires PEC login)

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Systems Engineer
Presales engineer responsible for Routing and Switching solution planning and design.

Required Prerequisite:

Recommended Prerequisites:

Required Certification:

Note: The Lifecycle Services exam has become part of the required exam set to achieve the Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching Solutions Specialist certification effective May 16 2008. As a result, the exam will no longer be displayed here as an independent exam, but may be found on the Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching Solutions Specialist page. This does not change the overall number of required exams to qualify for this role.

View Learning Map (Requires PEC login)

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Field Engineer
Post-sales engineer responsible for Routing and Switching solution implementation and operation.

Required Prerequisite:

Recommended Prerequisite:

Required Certification:

Note: The Lifecycle Services exam has become part of the required exam set to achieve the Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching Field Specialist certification effective May 16 2008. As a result, the exam will no longer be displayed here as an independent exam, but may be found on the Cisco Advanced Routing and Switching Field Specialist page. This does not change the overall number of required exams to qualify for this role.

View Learning Map (Requires PEC login)

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Note: Partners can hold only one specialization in a given technology. For example:

  • A partner cannot hold both a Routing and Switching and an Advanced Routing and Switching Specialization.
  • If a partner achieves an Advanced Routing and Switching Specialization before the expiration of their current Routing and Switching Specialization, the older specialization will be rendered invalid.

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