CCIE Collaboration · ● Active · Expert · Cisco
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | Part 1 (350-801 CLCOR written): USD $400 · Part 2 (lab): USD $1,900 |
| Duration | Written: 90 minutes · Lab: 8 hours |
| Questions | Written: 70 (mixed format: multiple choice, drag-and-drop, scenario). Lab: hands-on design + deployment tasks |
| Passing | Written: 790/1000 scaled · Lab: 75% cumulative across design and operations modules |
| Format | Part 1: Multiple choice + drag-and-drop · Part 2: Hands-on configuration and troubleshooting |
| Delivery | Written: Pearson VUE (proctored online or onsite) · Lab: Cisco-proctored locations (online or in-person) |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | Lifetime |
| Renewal | N/A |
| Prerequisites | CCNP Collaboration or equivalent hands-on experience recommended |
| Released | 350-801 CLCOR (modern format) launched 2020 |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — Cisco CCIE Collaboration ↗ Exams and training — CCIE Collaboration Exams & Training ↗ Official exam blueprint — CCIE Collaboration Lab Exam Topics ↗
About
Cisco's apex voice and collaboration credential. The CCIE Collaboration validates expert-level competency in designing, deploying, and optimizing Cisco Unified Communications infrastructure at enterprise scale. Candidates master CUCM (call control), voice gateways, dial plans, conferencing, contact center integration, Webex hybrid deployments, and real-time media QoS/security. Requires passing a 90-minute written exam (350-801 CLCOR) followed by an 8-hour hands-on lab demonstrating design and deployment under operational constraints. Lifetime certification; expected prerequisite is 5–10 years real-world UC/voice experience or CCNP Collaboration.
Domain context — Collaboration & Unified Communications
Enterprise voice, video, conferencing, IM, and contact center platforms spanning on-premises systems (CUCM, Unity Connection, IM&P, Cisco Meeting Server) and cloud (Webex, cloud calling, Contact Center). CCIE Collaboration is the expert-level certification for this domain.
Topics covered
Written Exam (350-801 CLCOR) — Weighted blueprint
-
CUCM & Call Processing (30%)
- Device configuration (phones, gateways, trunks, media resources)
- Call routing, calling search spaces, dial plans
- Feature settings (call forwarding, transfer, conference, DND)
- Serviceability, RTMT, disaster recovery, clustering
-
Cisco Unity Connection (15%)
- Voice mail configuration, call handlers, auto-attendants
- Integration with CUCM and redundancy
-
IM&P (Messaging & Presence) (10%)
- XMPP protocol, federation, web chat, mobile clients
-
Meeting Server & Webex (15%)
- On-premises meeting platform (CMS) and cloud integration
- WebEx Calling, Contact Center basics
-
Voice Gateways & Protocols (10%)
- SIP, MGCP, H.323, SCCP signaling
- IOS XE gateway config, PSTN trunks, transcoding, MTP
- Codec selection (G.711, G.729, H.264)
-
QoS, Security, Media (10%)
- DSCP marking, CAC, bandwidth management
- SRTP, TLS, authentication, encryption
- RTP, media flows
-
Dial Plans & Features (8%)
- Digit analysis, translation rules, E911, routing
- Call park, intercom, DND, call forwarding
-
Mobile Remote Access (MRA) (2%)
- Hybrid on-premises + cloud deployments
Lab Exam (8 hours)
The lab integrates all topics into realistic design and operations scenarios:
- Design Module (3 hours): Multi-site voice architecture, technology selection, redundancy/DR, gateway/conferencing/contact-center integration
- Deployment & Operations Module (5 hours): CUCM cluster setup, voice gateway config, IP phone provisioning, dial plans, call flows, QoS/security, Webex integration, troubleshooting
Source: Cisco CCIE Collaboration Lab Exam Topics ↗
Common skills at Collaboration · Expert
Shared competencies across Expert-level UC/collaboration roles — not specific to this cert.
- Enterprise SIP/VoIP architecture and call signaling protocols
- Advanced dial-plan design and number transformation
- Multi-site clustering, redundancy, and disaster recovery
- QoS design for voice/video media paths
- Gateway protocol negotiation (SIP, MGCP, H.323)
- Cloud-to-on-premises hybrid connectivity
- User provisioning and feature assignment at scale
- Capacity planning and performance troubleshooting
- Voice security architecture (encryption, authentication)
Recommended courses at Collaboration · Expert
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Learning Network | CCIE Collaboration Lab Workout | $600 | ↗ |
| Cisco Learning Network | CCIE Collaboration Bootcamp (5 days) | $3,200 | ↗ |
| INE | CCIE Collaboration Learning Path | $999–$1,499/year | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | CCIE Collaboration Complete Video Series | $249/yr | ↗ |
| Udemy | CCIE Collaboration: CUCM & Voice Fundamentals | $14–$80 | ↗ |
Course note: Prioritize Cisco official bootcamps (hands-on lab environment) and INE for structured blueprint coverage. Expect 12–18 months study + 1,500+ lab hours.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Learning Network | Official CCIE Practice Lab | Free (login) | ↗ |
| Boson ExSim-Max | CLCOR 350-801 Practice Exams (6 tests) | $60–$99 | ↗ |
| INE | CCIE Collaboration Mock Labs (8-hour timed) | Bundled in course | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | CLCOR Practice Tests | $49–$99 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCNP and CCIE Collaboration Core CLCOR 350-801 Official Cert Guide | Hucaby, Mutch | Cisco Press | 2021 | 978-0-13-588319-5 | ↗ |
| CCIE Collaboration Study Guide | Minei, Slice | Sybex | 2015 | 978-1119032809 | ↗ |
| Cisco Collaboration: CUCM, Unity Connection, IM&P | Wooten | Pearson | 2019 | 978-0135232164 | ↗ |
Note: Pearson CLCOR Cert Guide (2021) is current for 350-801 exam. Lab prep relies on platform workbooks from training providers (INE, Cisco Bootcamp) as blueprints evolve annually.
Typical job titles at Collaboration · Expert
Senior Collaboration Engineer · UC Architect · Senior Voice Engineer · Cisco CCIE Specialist · Enterprise Unified Communications Director · Senior Contact Center Engineer · Collaboration Systems Architect · Voice Network Specialist
(Job titles drawn from LinkedIn, Dice, and Indeed postings requiring or strongly preferring CCIE Collaboration.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $130,000 – $280,000 | Glassdoor Senior UC Engineer ↗ · Robert Half Salary Guide 2026 ↗ · Levels.fyi Collaboration/UC ↗ |
| ZAR | R1,800,000 – R4,200,000 (est. ~USD $100k–$230k at 2026 rates) | Pnet Senior Engineer ↗ · PayScale ZA Engineer ↗ · CareerJunction UC Role ↗ |
| GBP | £95,000 – £180,000 | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · Hays Salary Guide ↗ |
| EUR | €100,000 – €210,000 (DE/FR/NL) | PayScale EU ↗ · Glassdoor EU ↗ |
| AUD | A$180,000 – A$320,000 | Seek Senior Engineer ↗ · PayScale AU ↗ |
Salary notes: USD range reflects senior UC architects and voice specialists at enterprises with Cisco-heavy infrastructure. ZAR estimates based on regional IT salary surveys; premium reflects skills scarcity in South African market. GBP figures include London premium; outside SE England typically 15–25% lower.
Skills validated
Concrete technologies tested in the CCIE Collaboration written and lab exams.
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) deployment, clustering, and administration
- Call routing, call forwarding, and Cisco Unified Call Handling features
- Cisco Unity Connection voicemail and auto-attendant design
- Cisco IM&P (Instant Messaging & Presence) platform configuration
- Cisco Meeting Server on-premises conferencing platform
- Cisco Webex cloud calling and Webex Contact Center integration
- Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) gateway and trunk configuration
- MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol) and H.323 interoperability
- Real-Time Monitoring Tool (RTMT) diagnostics and troubleshooting
- Cisco Emergency Responder (CER) and E911 integration
- Dial plan design, digit analysis, and number transformation
- QoS configuration for voice, video, and media streams
- Mobile Remote Access (MRA) for hybrid cloud/on-premises deployments
- TLS and SRTP encryption for signaling and media security
- Disaster recovery, failover, and high-availability clustering
Related certifications
- Prerequisites: Cisco CCNP Collaboration (or equivalent hands-on CUCM/Unity experience) recommended before CCIE lab attempt.
- Equivalents at expert level:
- Avaya Certified Design Expert (ACD/UCCE) — alternative vendor expert UC cert
- Polycom CMA (Certified Master Architect) — endpoints and meeting platforms
- Stacks well with: CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure (for converged network design); Cisco Collaboration certifications (CCNP Collab, DECCOR)
- Vendor overview: Cisco Ecosystem Deep Dive →
Sources
- Cisco CCIE Collaboration Home ↗
- CCIE Collaboration Exams & Training ↗
- CCIE Collaboration Lab Exam Topics (Official Blueprint) ↗
- CLCOR 350-801 Exam Information ↗
- CCNP and CCIE Collaboration Core CLCOR 350-801 Official Cert Guide ↗
- INE CCIE Collaboration Training ↗
- CollabCert CCIE Collaboration Bootcamp ↗
- CBT Nuggets CCIE Collaboration ↗
- Boson CLCOR Practice Exams ↗
- Glassdoor CCIE Salary ↗
- ZipRecruiter UC Architect Salary ↗
- Robert Half Technology Salary Guide ↗
- IT Jobs Watch Voice Architect ↗
- PayScale ZA Voice Architect ↗
- Hays Technology Salary Guide (UK) ↗
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Cisco Ecosystem Parent domain: Collaboration & Unified Communications