Cisco CCNA Certification

What the CCNA is

The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is Cisco's associate-level networking certification. You earn it by passing one exam, 200-301, which lasts 120 minutes. There are no formal prerequisites, and the certification is valid for three years, after which you recertify through continuing education credits, further exams or a mix of both.

Why it is worth considering

Network job adverts, from NOC and network support roles to junior network engineer, name the CCNA more often than any other certificate. It covers the foundations employers expect: addressing and subnetting, switching and VLANs, routing with static routes and OSPF, network services, security basics, wireless and an introduction to automation. Studying for it with real labs gives you a structured way to learn exactly what a first network role needs.

The two exam versions

Cisco is refreshing the exam:

• CCNA v1.1 is the current exam. Cisco's learning blog gives 2 February 2027 as the last day to take it. Its domains are network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.
• CCNA v2.0 goes live on 3 February 2027. Its domains and weights are network infrastructure and connectivity (25%), switching and network access (25%), IP routing (20%), network services and security (20%), and AI and network operations and management (10%). The exam description says you may be asked to evaluate output and recommendations from agentic AI and digital network assistants.

Cisco has said that anyone holding an active CCNA when v2.0 is released still holds a current, valid certification. Choose your study material to match the version you will sit.

Cost and booking

The exam has a fee, listed on Cisco's exam page and payable with money or Cisco Learning Credits. The fee and available languages can differ by exam version and region, so check the official page for your country before you budget. Exams are booked through Cisco's testing partner, at a test centre or online.

How to prepare

Cisco points to its own Cisco U. learning paths, Cisco Networking Academy courses, instructor-led training, Cisco Press books and Cisco Modeling Labs for practice. Many learners combine one structured course, a video course, daily flashcards and lots of lab time in Packet Tracer or an emulator, then finish with timed practice exams.

What you can do after it

With a CCNA and a portfolio of labs, you can apply for NOC, network support and junior network engineer roles, and move on to a professional certificate (CCNP) or a specialism such as cloud networking or network security.

Common questions

Is it still worth it with cloud and automation growing? Yes. Cloud and automation roles still assume the routing, switching and security basics the CCNA tests.

Which version should I study? The one in force on your planned exam date. After 2 February 2027 that is v2.0.