Cisco is the dominant networking hardware and software company in enterprise IT, running the routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless infrastructure for the majority of large organizations worldwide. Cisco certifications are the vendor-specific credentials that prove you know how to configure, manage, troubleshoot, and secure Cisco infrastructure. The most widely pursued is the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), which validates foundational networking skills and opens the door to network administrator, network engineer, and network security roles. Here’s what every Cisco certification covers, what each one is worth, and how to decide which path is right for you.
Why Cisco Certifications Matter
When a hiring manager at a large enterprise, healthcare system, financial institution, or government agency reviews a networking candidate’s resume, they’re looking for evidence that the candidate can work with the infrastructure they actually run, and most of them run Cisco. Cisco certifications aren’t just training credentials, they’re employer-recognized signals of validated Cisco-specific competency.
The practical implication: a network engineer with CCNA commands higher compensation and is more competitive for networking roles than an engineer with only vendor-neutral credentials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), network and computer systems administrators earn a median annual wage of $96,800 as of May 2024. Computer network architects, the senior level of the networking career ladder, earn a median of $130,390. Cisco certifications are a primary pathway to those salary tiers.
CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA are often compared and are genuinely complementary: Network+ provides vendor-neutral breadth, CCNA provides Cisco-specific depth. Many networking professionals hold both.
The Cisco Certification Ladder
Cisco organizes its certification program across five levels, with multiple tracks at the professional and expert levels:
Entry Level: Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
CCT is Cisco’s entry-level credential. It validates the ability to diagnose, restore, repair, and replace critical Cisco networking and system devices at customer sites. CCT is designed for field technicians and support staff, it’s narrower in scope than CCNA and is typically pursued by those in field service or technician roles.
No prerequisites are required for CCT.
Associate Level: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
CCNA is Cisco’s most widely recognized and pursued certification. The current CCNA (exam code 200-301) was released in February 2020, consolidating what was previously a range of specialized CCNA tracks into a single, comprehensive associate-level credential, and was updated to version 1.1 in August 2024, adding generative AI, cloud network management, and machine learning topics.
Passing the CCNA demonstrates that you have foundational-to-intermediate knowledge of networking concepts, IP connectivity, network security, wireless networking, and network automation, all applied to Cisco environments.
CCNA is the right starting point for most candidates entering networking. It’s also a prerequisite for CCNP in most tracks.
Professional Level: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
CCNP is mid-to-senior-level Cisco certification. It’s organized into specialized tracks, each targeting a specific technology domain:
- CCNP Enterprise: Enterprise networking: routing, switching, SD-WAN, wireless
- CCNP Security: Network security: firewalls, VPNs, intrusion prevention, identity management
- CCNP Collaboration: Unified communications: voice, video, and collaboration tools
- CCNP Data Center: Data center infrastructure: compute, storage, networking
- CCNP Service Provider: Carrier and ISP networking technologies
- CCNP DevNet: Network programmability and automation
Each CCNP track requires passing a core exam plus one or more concentration exams specific to the track.
Expert Level: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
CCIE is one of the most respected and difficult technical certifications in the networking industry. It requires passing a written qualifying exam followed by a rigorous, multi-hour hands-on lab exam administered at authorized Cisco facilities. CCIE holders are considered elite networking professionals.
CCIE tracks parallel the CCNP tracks: Enterprise Infrastructure, Security, Collaboration, Data Center, Service Provider, and Wireless.
Design Expert: Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
CCDE is Cisco’s highest-level design credential, targeting senior architects who design complex enterprise and service provider networks. Like CCIE, it requires both a written exam and a practical design exam. CCDE holders typically have 10+ years of networking experience.
The CCNA Exam: What It Covers
The current CCNA exam (200-301, v1.1) is a single 120-minute test covering six domains:
| Domain | Exam Weight |
|---|---|
| Network Fundamentals | 20% |
| Network Access | 20% |
| IP Connectivity | 25% |
| IP Services | 10% |
| Security Fundamentals | 15% |
| Automation and Programmability | 10% |
Network Fundamentals covers the conceptual foundation: the OSI and TCP/IP models, Ethernet switching, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, wireless concepts, and network topology.
Network Access goes into Cisco-specific switching: VLANs, interswitch connectivity (trunking), EtherChannel, Spanning Tree Protocol, and wireless LAN configuration using Cisco access points and wireless controllers.
IP Connectivity is the most heavily weighted domain: configuring and verifying IPv4 and IPv6 routing, static routes, OSPF (Open Shortest Path First), and first-hop redundancy protocols.
IP Services covers network services you’ll configure in real environments: NAT (Network Address Translation), NTP (Network Time Protocol), DHCP, DNS, SNMP, Syslog, and quality of service (QoS) basics.
Security Fundamentals addresses the security knowledge a network engineer needs: access control lists (ACLs), AAA authentication, VPN concepts, wireless security protocols (WPA2/WPA3), and Layer 2 security features.
Automation and Programmability reflects how modern networking is evolving: the difference between traditional and controller-based networks, REST API basics, Cisco DNA Center, how JSON data is structured, and, as of the v1.1 update, generative AI and machine learning concepts in network operations.
Exam details:
- Up to 120 minutes
- Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, simulation questions
- Score scale: 300–1000; passing score approximately 825
- Available in English and Japanese
- Cost: approximately $300 per attempt
- Valid for 3 years
What Jobs Does CCNA Qualify You For?
CCNA is particularly well-suited for: Network Administrator, Network Technician, Network Support Specialist, IT Support Engineer (networking focus), Junior Network Engineer, Systems Administrator (with networking responsibilities), Help Desk Technician (technical tier).
CCNA combined with 2 to 3 years of experience opens more senior roles: Network Engineer, Network Security Engineer, and Network Analyst positions. CCNP is the next credential for candidates targeting network architecture and senior engineering roles.
What Does Cisco CCNA Pay?
Compensation for CCNA holders varies by role, experience level, and geography (individual results vary based on role, experience, location, and employer):
| Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Network Technician | $52,000 – $72,000 |
| Network Administrator | $68,000 – $98,000 |
| Network Engineer | $85,000 – $125,000 |
| Network Security Engineer | $90,000 – $130,000 |
| Senior Network Engineer | $110,000 – $155,000 |
| Network Architect (CCNP/CCIE level) | $120,000 – $165,000+ |
The BLS-reported median for network and computer systems administrators is $96,800, with computer network architects earning a median of $130,390 as of May 2024. These figures represent what CCNA holders earn at the mid level and what CCNP/CCIE holders reach at the senior level.
Geography affects compensation significantly. Washington D.C., San Francisco, Seattle, and New York pay above national median. Remote network engineer roles are available, though many hands-on infrastructure roles require on-site presence at least part-time.
CCNA vs. CompTIA Network+: Which Should You Pursue?
This is one of the most common questions for candidates entering networking. The short answer: they’re complementary, not mutually exclusive.
CompTIA Network+ is vendor-neutral. It covers networking concepts that apply across any manufacturer’s equipment. Employers who run mixed environments, or who don’t want candidates locked into one vendor, often prefer or require Network+. Our What Is CompTIA Network+ post covers it in depth.
Cisco CCNA is vendor-specific. It goes deep into Cisco’s products, configuration commands, and platform. Employers who run primarily Cisco infrastructure often require or strongly prefer CCNA.
The practical reality: if you’re targeting IT support, help desk, or network technician roles across diverse environments, start with Network+. If you’re targeting network administrator or engineer roles in enterprise environments (most large companies run Cisco), CCNA is the more directly applicable credential. If you’re building toward cybersecurity, Network+ to Security+ is a more direct path; CCNA is more relevant if networking specialization is the goal.
Many network professionals hold both, Network+ for the vendor-neutral conceptual foundation, CCNA for the Cisco-specific expertise employers need. MyCC’s Cisco certification training includes CCNA within its broader cybersecurity curriculum.
How to Study for the CCNA
Start With the Exam Blueprint
Cisco publishes the full 200-301 exam topics list on their website. This document is your study roadmap, it lists every concept, protocol, and technology that can appear on the exam. Build your study plan around it, and make sure your materials cover the v1.1 additions.
Recommended Resources
Structured training: Instructor-led training, including MyCC’s program, is the most efficient way to prepare. You get direct instruction, lab environments, and instructor guidance on the topics candidates most commonly miss.
If you’re preparing independently, use the official Cisco 200-301 exam topics list as your primary roadmap. Align your study guide, practice exams, and lab time to those objectives.
Lab Practice Is Non-Negotiable
The CCNA includes simulation questions that test your ability to configure Cisco devices, not just recall how configurations work. Hands-on lab time is essential:
- Cisco Packet Tracer: Cisco’s own free network simulation tool; simulates routers, switches, and wireless devices and is more than sufficient for CCNA prep
- Used physical Cisco switches and routers provide real hardware practice for candidates who want to go beyond simulation
Practice until you can configure VLANs, OSPF, ACLs, and NAT from memory without referencing documentation. Those are the configurations the exam tests.
How Long Does It Take?
Networking beginner: 4 to 6 months. CompTIA Network+ holder: 2 to 3 months. Working IT professional with networking exposure: 6 to 10 weeks of focused prep.
Most candidates need 80 to 120 hours of preparation, including significant lab time.
Renewing Cisco Certifications
All Cisco certifications are valid for three years. Renewal options for CCNA: retake the current CCNA (200-301) exam; pass any CCNP core technology exam; pass any CCIE or CCDE written or lab exam; earn 30 Continuing Education (CE) credits through Cisco’s CE Program; pass a DevNet Professional exam.
Cisco’s CE Program allows you to recertify through approved training courses, Cisco Live technical sessions, or exam item writing, without retaking the certification exam.
FAQ: Cisco Certification
Is CCNA worth it in 2026?
Yes. Cisco remains the dominant networking vendor in enterprise environments, and CCNA is the standard credential that networking employers look for when hiring network administrators and engineers. The BLS median for network and computer systems administrators sits at $96,800 as of May 2024, and CCNA is the most direct path to those roles.
Do I need prior experience to take the CCNA?
No formal prerequisites exist. Cisco recommends at least one year of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions, along with familiarity with basic IP addressing. Candidates who come in with CompTIA Network+ or equivalent foundational networking knowledge find the transition more manageable.
How much does the CCNA exam cost?
Approximately $300 per attempt as of 2026. Study materials and any training program costs are separate. Each retake requires paying the full exam fee.
What’s the difference between CCNA and CCNP?
CCNA is the associate-level credential, it validates foundational-to-intermediate Cisco networking skills and is appropriate for network administrators and junior engineers. CCNP is the professional-level credential, requiring deeper expertise in a specific technology track (Enterprise, Security, Collaboration, etc.) and is appropriate for senior engineers and specialists. Most candidates earn CCNA before CCNP.
Can I get a networking job with just CCNA?
Yes, specifically for network technician, network administrator, and network support roles. CCNA is the standard entry credential for Cisco-heavy networking environments. Combined with 1 to 2 years of hands-on experience, it positions you for mid-level network engineer roles with reported median pay of $85,000 to $125,000 (individual results vary based on experience, location, and employer).
Should I pursue CCNA or CompTIA Security+ for cybersecurity?
Security+. CCNA is primarily a networking credential, it’s valuable in network security roles but it’s not the primary path into cybersecurity. If your goal is cybersecurity (SOC analyst, security engineer, penetration testing), the CompTIA path of Network+ to Security+ is more directly relevant. CCNA is the right choice if you want to specialize in networking, with security as a component of that specialization.
Bottom Line
Cisco certifications are the standard credential for networking professionals working in enterprise environments, and most enterprise environments run Cisco. CCNA is the right entry point: it validates the foundational-to-intermediate Cisco skills that network administrators, network technicians, and junior engineers need, and it’s the prerequisite for the more advanced CCNP tracks.
The BLS-reported medians for network and computer systems administrators ($96,800) and computer network architects ($130,390) represent the salary range that CCNA and CCNP holders reach with experience. The path there starts with the fundamentals and builds through structured certification and hands-on practice.
If you want to understand how Cisco certification fits into a plan for your specific background and career goals, MyCC’s free evaluation can map that out for you.