Yes, if you want a networking job: the CCNA is still the certificate network job adverts ask for most, and studying it properly teaches the basics every network, cloud and security role builds on. It is worth much less without labs you can explain, and it is the wrong first step if you actually want a software development job.
What people tell me
I graduated in computer science or IT and I enjoyed the networking course more than programming. Friends tell me networking is dying because everything is moving to the cloud, and that I should learn development instead. Others say the CCNA is the fastest way into a job at a telecom company or ISP. The exam fee is a lot of money for me and I have heard the exam is changing. I do not want to spend months on a certificate that nobody values.
A composite of the messages behind this question, with personal details left out.
Key takeaways
- The CCNA is still the certificate most network job adverts name, from NOC roles to junior network engineer.
- Cloud did not remove networking: cloud, security and data centre roles all assume the routing and switching the CCNA covers.
- The certificate opens the door; labs you built and can explain are what get you hired.
- The exam changes to version 2.0 on 3 February 2027, so match your study material to your exam date.
- If you really want software development, the CCNA is a detour, not a shortcut.
The short answer
If you want to work in networking, yes, the CCNA is still worth it. It is the certificate that network job adverts ask for most, from NOC engineer and network support roles to junior network engineer, and the material is exactly what those jobs use every day. But it is only worth it if you study it with real labs, and only if networking is the job you want.
"Networking is dying because of the cloud" is wrong
The cloud moved where networks run, not whether they exist. A cloud VPC has subnets, route tables, NAT gateways and firewalls. Hybrid links to the office use IPsec VPNs and BGP. Security teams spend their days on firewall rules, segmentation and VPNs. Telecom operators, ISPs, banks and data centres still run huge physical networks and hire people to operate them, locally and in the Gulf.
What has changed is the ceiling. Engineers who only type commands are less valuable than before; engineers who understand the network and can automate it with Python or Ansible, or carry it into the cloud, are in demand. The CCNA is the foundation for all of those paths.
What the certificate does and does not do
| It does | It does not |
|---|---|
| Get your CV past filters that ask for it by name | Prove you can troubleshoot under pressure |
| Give you a structured syllabus for the basics | Replace hands-on lab experience |
| Show commitment to networking as a career | Guarantee a job on its own |
| Stay valid for three years | Teach you cloud or automation in depth |
The people I see get hired with a CCNA can open a lab they built, break something on purpose and walk you through fixing it. The people who struggle memorised practice questions and cannot explain why OSPF neighbours are stuck.
Know which exam version you are sitting
Cisco is refreshing the exam. Version 1.1 can be taken until 2 February 2027, and version 2.0 starts on 3 February 2027. The v2.0 blueprint keeps the core of addressing, switching, routing and security and adds AI in network operations, including judging suggestions from AI assistants. Pick your exam date first, then choose material that matches that version. Check the current fee for your country on Cisco's CCNA page before you budget.
How to make it worth the money
- Start free. Learn with Cisco Networking Academy and the free Jeremy's IT Lab CCNA course, and practise in Packet Tracer. You only pay for the exam.
- Lab every topic. Follow the Network engineering roadmap stage by stage and keep every lab in a Git repository.
- Revise with a cheat sheet. The Network engineering cheat sheet has the subnetting table, port numbers, routing protocol comparison and the Cisco commands you will type most.
- Book the exam only when practice scores are steady. A failed attempt costs the same as a pass.
- Build one project. Something like a configuration backup and drift checker shows automation on top of the certificate.
When the CCNA is the wrong move
If what you really want is software development, the CCNA will not get you there faster. It is a networking certificate for networking jobs. Be honest with yourself about which work you enjoy: configuring and troubleshooting networks, or building applications. Both are good careers; they need different preparation.
If you are also wondering about cloud certificates, I answered that separately in whether AWS and Google Cloud certifications are worth it.
A realistic plan
Give yourself a fixed period with a weekly schedule of learning, labs and flashcard review, and book the exam once your practice scores are consistent. While you study, apply for NOC and network support roles; many employers will interview you with the exam booked, and a first job teaches faster than any course.
If you want help planning your study or reviewing your lab portfolio, join Sefism and, as a member, book a 1:1 session.
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