thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Cisco · Networking · Associate

Cisco CCNA exam guide

Exam 200-301 CCNA v1.1

CCNA (200-301) proves you can install, configure, operate and troubleshoot small-to-medium networks: switching, routing, IP services, security fundamentals, wireless and automation basics. It remains the most requested networking credential in job postings and the standard foundation for every CCNP track.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit120 minutes
Passing scoreSee official page
Exam fee$300 USD
Valid for3 years
DeliveryProctored at a test center or online, scheduled through Cisco's certification portal

Format: Multiple choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and simulation/testlet-style items; pass/fail. Fee note: Cisco Learning Credits accepted.

Who it's for

Network technicians and junior engineers with roughly a year of hands-on networking, or determined self-studiers willing to lab heavily.

What the exam covers

Network Fundamentals20%
Network Access20%
IP Connectivity25%
IP Services10%
Security Fundamentals15%
Automation and Programmability10%

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None.

Recommended: One or more years implementing and administering Cisco solutions, plus knowledge of basic IP addressing and network fundamentals.

Keeping it active

Valid 3 years. Recertify before expiry by earning 30 Cisco Continuing Education (CE) credits, or by passing one associate exam, one professional core or concentration exam, or a CCIE lab. Passing a higher-level Cisco exam also renews it.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • IPv4/IPv6 addressing and subnetting
  • VLANs, trunking, EtherChannel and Rapid PVST+
  • Static routing and single-area OSPFv2
  • ACLs, port security, DHCP snooping and device hardening
  • NAT, DHCP, NTP, SNMP, syslog and QoS concepts
  • WLAN architecture and WLC configuration basics
  • REST APIs, JSON and controller-based networking concepts

Job roles

Network EngineerNetwork AdministratorNetwork Support TechnicianNOC EngineerSystems AdministratorJunior Network Engineer

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Weeks 1-2: Network fundamentals and subnetting until you can subnet a /26 in under 30 seconds.
  2. Weeks 3-4: Switching: VLANs, trunks, STP, EtherChannel; build each in Packet Tracer or CML.
  3. Weeks 5-6: IP connectivity: routing table logic, static routes, OSPFv2, first-hop redundancy.
  4. Weeks 7-8: IP services, security fundamentals and wireless; configure NAT, DHCP, ACLs and a WLC.
  5. Weeks 9-10: Automation and programmability concepts (REST, JSON, Ansible/Terraform basics, AI/ML in networking).
  6. Weeks 11-12: Full timed practice exams and targeted labs on weak areas.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • IP Connectivity is the largest domain (25%); be able to predict which route wins by prefix length, then administrative distance, then metric.
  • You cannot go back to earlier questions on Cisco exams, so answer and move on deliberately.
  • Practice reading show ip route, show ip ospf neighbor and show interfaces trunk output quickly.
  • Know the default administrative distances and OSPF neighbor states by heart.
  • Simulations reward exact syntax; lab every configuration task in the blueprint at least twice.
  • Expect JSON and REST API interpretation questions in the automation domain.

Key terms for this exam

All 664 terms Study with thinQcards™

Commonly confused on this exam

Frequently asked questions

How much does the CCNA exam cost?

US$300 per attempt, payable directly or with Cisco Learning Credits.

How hard is the CCNA?

It is a broad associate exam; most candidates need 2 to 4 months of study with hands-on labs. Subnetting speed and routing logic are the usual stumbling blocks.

Is the CCNA still worth it in 2026?

Yes. It remains the most common networking credential in job requirements and is the base for CCNP Enterprise, Security, Wireless and Automation tracks.

How long is the CCNA valid?

3 years. Recertify with 30 Continuing Education credits or by passing a qualifying exam.

CCNA vs CompTIA Network+?

Network+ is vendor-neutral and more conceptual; CCNA is harder, requires Cisco CLI configuration skills and carries more weight for network engineering roles.

Official page: www.cisco.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.