CCNA: who it suits, what it takes and the best way to prepare
Cisco's CCNA exam (200-301) costs $300 in the US as of November 2026. Your first attempt costs between $300 and $4,495 depending on how you prepare. You can self-study with a free video course and Packet Tracer, or pay around $3,500 to $4,500 for a five-day bootcamp. Most people with some IT support background need 2 to 4 months of steady study (our estimate).
Key facts
- CCNA is one exam, 200-301, costing $300 in the US and lasting 120 minutes. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
- Cisco sets no formal prerequisite for CCNA. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
- The last day to test on CCNA v1.1 is February 2, 2027; v2.0 starts February 3, 2027. (Cisco Learning Network, checked November 5, 2026)
- CCNA is valid for three years; you can renew with 30 continuing-education credits or by passing a qualifying exam. (Cisco, checked November 5, 2026)
Who CCNA suits
Cisco describes CCNA as an associate certification for entry-to-mid-level IT professionals, covering installing, configuring and troubleshooting Cisco-based enterprise network infrastructure. People usually take it to move from IT support into a network administrator or junior network engineer role, or because their employer runs Cisco gear. It is a working-skills exam with simulations, so it rewards hands-on practice more than reading.
A good fit if
- You already work in IT support or on a help desk and want network work
- Your employer runs Cisco switches and routers, or job ads you want name CCNA
- You can practice in Packet Tracer most days for a few months
Think twice if
- You have no IT experience yet: Cisco designs CCNA as a starting point for networking, but subnetting and the command line are much harder without any IT background, so we would start with A+
- The jobs you want are in cloud or security rather than networking
- You need a credential within a few weeks
Consider instead: CompTIA Network+ for a vendor-neutral networking start, or A+ if you are new to IT. See CCNA vs Network+.
The exam itself
CCNA is a single exam, 200-301, delivered through Pearson VUE. It lasts 120 minutes and mixes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop and hands-on simulation questions. Cisco sets no formal prerequisite and says the exam assumes little networking knowledge, though it strongly recommends lab practice in Packet Tracer or Cisco Modeling Labs. The certification is valid for three years. You renew by passing the exam again, passing a higher Cisco exam, or earning 30 continuing-education credits.
A new version is coming. Cisco says the last day to test on the current version, v1.1, is February 2, 2027, and the first day for v2.0 is February 3, 2027. If you plan to test in February 2027 or later, prepare for v2.0. Ask any training provider which exam version its course targets before you pay.
| v1.1 (to February 2, 2027) | Weight | v2.0 (from February 3, 2027) | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Networking basics | 20% | Network infrastructure and connectivity | 25% |
| Switching and network access | 20% | Switching and network access | 25% |
| IP routing and connectivity | 25% | IP routing | 20% |
| IP services | 10% | Network services and security | 20% |
| Security basics | 15% | AI, network operations and management | 10% |
| Automation and programmability | 10% |
The shift is real: v2.0 drops automation as its own area and adds network operations, including judging output from AI network assistants. If a course was built for v1.1, ask how it covers that new operations and AI area.
Which route fits you
You already work in IT support or a help desk
Self-study usually works. A free course like Jeremy's IT Lab, daily Packet Tracer practice and one good practice-exam set cover the exam. Budget the $300 exam plus whatever practice-exam set you choose.
You are new to networking
Give yourself more time rather than more money. Subnetting and routing take weeks to become automatic. A paid self-paced course helps if you want a structured order; a bootcamp packs 5 days of material you will still need to practice afterward.
Your employer is paying, or you have a deadline
A five-day instructor-led class makes sense here: fixed dates, someone to ask, and often a voucher. Compare whether the voucher and a retake are included, since that swings the real price by $300 to $600.
What a first attempt costs
The table adds Cisco's $300 exam fee to each published price unless the provider says the voucher is included. These are list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes.
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free video course | Jeremy's IT Lab, CCNA 200-301 video course and Packet Tracer labs (free on YouTube; $69 ad-free version). Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $300 exam | $300 |
| Paid self-paced video | Boson, Video Training for Cisco 200-301 CCNA. Checked October 12, 2026. One-year subscription that renews automatically. | $79 | + $300 exam if not included | $379 |
| Live online bootcamp, voucher extra | Todd Lammle, Cisco CCNA 5-day certification bootcamp, live online, marked down from $3,995; the exam voucher is included only with in-person delivery. Checked November 5, 2026. | $3,495 | + $300 exam | $3,795 |
| Live online class | Global Knowledge, Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions boot camp (GK100527), 5 days; the page does not say whether a voucher is included. Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,195 | + $300 exam | $4,495 |
| Live class with voucher | ONLC Training Centers, CCNA v2.2, Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CSCCN1), 5 days live online, one exam voucher included; listed at $4,195 for classes from November 16, 2026 through February 2027. Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,195 | Included | $4,195 |
| Bootcamp with voucher and retake | Boson, CCNA 5-day live online bootcamp delivered by a Boson partner, with one exam voucher and one retake voucher; $4,395 for the November 16 to 20, 2026 class and $4,195 for December 7 to 11. Checked November 5, 2026. | $4,395 | Included | $4,395 |
Across the CCNA course prices in our dataset since August 2026, published prices ran from $79 for self-paced video to $4,395 for a five-day bootcamp.
Two costs people miss. A failed attempt means paying another $300, unless you bought Cisco's $450 Exam Safeguard Plus, which includes a second try within 90 days. And labs: Packet Tracer is free, but Cisco Modeling Labs and used hardware are not.
Before you book a CCNA class
Classes that look alike differ on the things that decide whether you pass first time. Ask each provider, in writing:
- Which exam version it teaches. If you will test after February 2, 2027, you need v2.0 coverage, including the new network operations and AI area.
- Whether the exam voucher and a retake are included. In the table above, ONLC and Boson include a voucher and Boson adds a retake; Todd Lammle includes one only in person; Global Knowledge's page does not say.
- What lab access you get and for how long. Packet Tracer is free; hosted labs or Cisco Modeling Labs access after the class is what helps you keep practicing.
- Whether the date is guaranteed to run. Ask whether the provider guarantees the class date you book, and what you get if it moves.
Getting your employer to pay
Frame CCNA around a task your team needs: fewer escalations to network staff, or someone who can configure switches and VLANs without outside help. Ask for the exam fee and lab access first, with the exact amount, before you buy anything. If your company buys Cisco equipment, ask whether it holds Cisco Learning Credits: Cisco accepts them for the exam. For a group of three or more, ask providers for a private-class quote instead of buying public seats.
Common questions
- How much does the CCNA exam cost?
- $300 in the US as of November 2026, paid to Cisco through Pearson VUE. Cisco Learning Credits can also be used.
- Does a CCNA course include the exam voucher?
- Sometimes, and the format matters. ONLC's live class and Boson's bootcamp include one; Todd Lammle includes it only for in-person classes, not live online; Global Knowledge's page does not say. Ask before you pay.
- Can I pass the CCNA with free resources?
- Yes, many people do. A free video course plus Packet Tracer covers the exam topics; the only fixed cost is the $300 exam.
- Should I take v1.1 or wait for v2.0?
- If you can test by February 2, 2027, v1.1 is fine and has more study material. Testing later means v2.0.
- How do I renew the CCNA?
- Within three years, pass the CCNA again, pass a higher-level Cisco exam, or earn 30 continuing-education credits.
Next step
Tell us your background and deadline and we will suggest a route and the training options that fit.
Ask for help choosing CCNA training
Sources
- Cisco: CCNA certification (who it is for, what it covers, prerequisites), checked November 5, 2026
- Cisco Learning Network: 200-301 CCNA exam topics (price, length, version dates, weights), checked November 5, 2026
- Cisco: CCNA exams and training (prerequisites, renewal, Exam Safeguard Plus), checked November 5, 2026
- Cisco: 200-301 CCNA v2.0 exam topics (PDF), checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.