CCNA

The CCNA certification is designed for entry-to-mid-level IT professionals who want to specialize in networking, security, or automation. If you’re aspiring to become a network engineer, administrator, or technician and want to validate your skills in installing, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco-based, enterprise-level network infrastructures, this certification is for you.

Recommended tips to help you study include:

• Focus your study on the official CCNA exam topics. Use the weights in the exam topics to help plan how much emphasis to place on each topic.
• Gain practical experience working with routers and switches using hands-on labs to understand configuration and troubleshooting.
• Use the Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions | CCNA Learning Path in Cisco U., which offers guided study plans, pre- and post-assessments, and hands-on labs. These resources and using practice exams will help gauge your exam readiness and build confidence.
• Join Cisco Learning Network certification communities to engage with fellow learners, ask questions, share insights, and access free community-sourced resources like articles, blogs, and livestreams.
• And finally, sign up for CCNA Prep program to watch a series of videos that focus on CCNA exam topics.

The CCNA certification is designed as a starting point and assumes you have little to no networking knowledge. It covers a broad range of topics, including traditional routing and switching, wireless, security fundamentals, and an introduction to automation and programmability.  Here are some tips to help you succeed:

• For those who don’t have IT experience, the most challenging topics are often subnetting (the mathematical process of dividing networks) and the command line interface (text commands) for network devices.
• You can’t pass the CCNA by just reading a book.
• You should spend time in labs using software like Cisco Packet Tracer or Cisco Modeling Labs to practice configuring routers and switches.

If learning a wide range of topics and completing lab practice seem doable to you, the CCNA is entirely achievable.

The CCNA certification certifies you to work with the Cisco products like Cisco routers, switches, wireless LAN controllers, and network management platforms, like Cisco DNA Center and Cisco SD-WAN.

Certifications like CCNA can significantly enhance your earning potential. According to the Pearson VUE 2025 Value of Certification Report, 32% of respondents received a salary increase after certification and 41% were hoping to receive one. In addition, 31% of raises received were above 20%. Although this data is more general to Cisco certifications, it demonstrates that certifications like CCNA can have a positive impact on your salary.

The CCNA certification validates a breadth of essential networking skills, make it a versatile credential to start or advance your IT career. Cisco certifications also offer the following benefits:

• They are globally recognized and respected by employers—serving as proof of you technical knowledge and skills, giving you instant credibility in the job market. 
• They are ANSI and NIST accredited, ensuring they hold industry value. 
• Many certified professionals report salary increases and job promotions after earning Cisco certifications. 
• And, finally, Cisco provides extensive learning resources and a strong community through the Cisco Learning Network so that you can prepare effectively and stay current with evolving technologies.

The CCNA certification is not equivalent to an academic degree. It is a professional credential that is highly valued in the industry, but it does not replace the educational requirements of a degree program.

When you pass the CCNA exam, you earn the CCNA certification, a globally recognized credential that validates your networking knowledge and skills.

The exam is 120 minutes long, offered in English and Japanese, and graded on a pass/fail basis. Results are typically available online within 48 hours.

The cost to take the CCNA exam (200-301 CCNA) is $300 USD or you can use Cisco Learning Credits.

Cisco also offers exam vouchers for the associate-level exams, including the CCNA, priced at $300 USD, which are valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. There are also options like the Exam Safeguard Plus for the CCNA exam. This option costs $450 USD and it allows a second chance at exam success if you do not pass the first attempt within 90 days.

Cisco partners with Pearson VUE to administer the exam in a secure, proctored environment. You can register online using the Cisco Certification Tracker portal, by phone with Pearson VUE, or by visiting a Pearson VUE Test Center where available.

Before you register: 

1. Choose the exam. The current CCNA exam is Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (200-301 CCNA) v1.1. 2)
2. Gather your personal details.  You will need your legal name as it appears on a government-issued ID, Cisco Certification ID (if you have taken Cisco exams before), company name, valid email address, and payment method. 
3. In the U.S. and Canada, you can schedule your exam up to six weeks in advance and as late as the same day. 
4. If you need to retake the exam, you must wait five calendar days after your previous attempt.

To recertify your CCNA certification, you must complete one of the following options within the three-year recertification period: 

• Pass the current CCNA exam (200-301 CCNA) or any higher-level Cisco certification exam. 
• Earn 30 CE credits by attending Cisco training or webinars, or by completing approved courses.

Select from any of the following options through Cisco:

• Cisco U. Learning Path. Cisco offers a guided Learning Path designed for certification success, including pre- and post-assessments to focus on needed topics. 
• Instructor-led training. Join classroom-style learning sessions, either online or in person, led by Cisco and authorized Learning Partners. 
• Self-paced training. Access a rich library of additional learning options through Cisco U. These options include practice exams, exam resources, labs, and more. 
• Hands-on labs. Practice skills with real Cisco products and simulated environments like Cisco Modeling Labs. 
  
• Cisco U. Not for Resale (NFR) Partner Program. If your organization is a Cisco Partner, you can access Cisco U. training at an 80% discount through NRF. 
• Enterprise training programs. Upskill entire teams in real-world environments with tailored training programs led by expert instructors.