CCNA study guide
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) validates the fundamentals of building, running, and securing modern networks. It's one of the most widely recognized networking certifications and a common first step toward network engineering, and it's often paired with Security+ for security-focused roles.
Exam details change. Always confirm the current exam version, objectives, length, and passing score on the certification body's official website before you schedule.
Eligibility
There are no formal prerequisites. Cisco suggests about a year of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions, plus a working knowledge of IP addressing and network fundamentals. Plenty of candidates pass with home labs and simulators instead.
Exam format & cost
| Current exam | 200-301 CCNA, blueprint v1.1 (in effect since August 2024) |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 minutes. Cisco doesn't publish a fixed question count (candidates typically report around 100). |
| Question types | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and lab simulations |
| Passing score | Not published by Cisco and can vary between exam forms |
| Exam fee | $300 (US; varies by region and tax) |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Recertification | Earn 30 Continuing Education credits, or pass a qualifying exam, within the 3-year period |
Blueprint change ahead? At least one training provider reports that Cisco will release a refreshed CCNA blueprint in early 2027. As of October 2026 we couldn't confirm the date with Cisco, so check Cisco's official CCNA page before scheduling.
The six domains
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1.0 Network Fundamentals | 20% |
| 2.0 Network Access | 20% |
| 3.0 IP Connectivity | 25% |
| 4.0 IP Services | 10% |
| 5.0 Security Fundamentals | 15% |
| 6.0 Automation and Programmability | 10% |
High-yield topics
- Subnetting. Do it fast and accurately: block sizes, network and broadcast addresses, and choosing prefix lengths for a given host count.
- Routing decisions. Longest prefix match first, then administrative distance (connected 0, static 1, EIGRP 90, OSPF 110), then metric.
- OSPFv2 single-area. Neighbor requirements (matching area, subnet, timers, MTU) and DR/BDR election.
- Switching. VLANs, trunks and native VLAN, EtherChannel (LACP active/passive), and Rapid PVST+ with PortFast and BPDU Guard.
- IP services. NAT/PAT, DHCP relay (ip helper-address), NTP, and QoS basics.
- Security. Port security, DHCP snooping, DAI, ACL syntax and placement, SSH setup, and AAA with TACACS+ vs RADIUS.
- Automation. REST methods, reading JSON, controller-based networking (northbound vs southbound APIs), and Ansible vs Puppet vs Chef.
Eight-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: Network fundamentals and subnetting. Drill subnetting daily until it's automatic.
- Weeks 3–4: Switching and wireless. Build VLANs, trunks, and EtherChannels in a lab.
- Weeks 5–6: Routing. Do static and floating static routes and OSPF, and troubleshoot adjacencies.
- Week 7: IP services, security, and automation.
- Week 8: Timed mixed practice. Re-lab every topic you miss.
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