About this certification
The CCNA is Cisco's foundational certification that validates core networking skills including IP addressing, routing, switching, security fundamentals, and automation. It's one of the most respected networking credentials in the world and a prerequisite for advanced Cisco certifications.
What you'll validate
- ✓IP connectivity and routing
- ✓Switching and VLANs
- ✓Security fundamentals
- ✓Network automation
- ✓Wireless fundamentals
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Most recognized networking cert globally
- +Vendor-specific depth — valued at Cisco-heavy shops
- +Excellent salary premium
- +Foundation for CCNP and specialist paths
Disadvantages
- −Vendor-specific (Cisco)
- −Requires significant study time
- −Single exam but very challenging
Who it's for
Best for
- →Networking professionals targeting enterprise roles
- →Those in Cisco-heavy environments
- →Anyone pursuing network engineering careers
Not ideal for
- ×Vendor-agnostic environments (use Network+)
- ×Beginners (start with Network+)
Career paths this unlocks
Study Resources
Affiliate links — we may earn a commissionTop picks for CCNA
Register for the exam
Book through Pearson VUE; Cisco Learning Credits available from Cisco-authorized resellers
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Jobs for CCNA holders
CCNA holders report $10k–$30k+ salary uplift on average.
LinkedIn Jobs
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Indeed
Dice (tech roles)
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Job links open external sites. Search results are live and not curated by CertPath.
Quick Facts
- Exam Cost
- $330
- Exam Duration
- 120 minutes
- Questions
- ~100
- Passing Score
- ~825/1000 (varies)
- Exam Format
- Multiple Choice + Performance
- Study Time
- ~200 hours
- Validity
- 3 years
- Salary Impact
- Strong ($10k–$30k+ uplift reported)
Prerequisites
- !No formal prerequisites; hands-on networking experience recommended
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