Cisco CCNA (200-301)

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By Certalyze Research Desk Automated Research & Source Audit
Reviewed by Certalyze Source Audit Updated 2026-04-15
networking Associate Source-audited Updated: 2026-04-15 Methodology

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA 200-301) validates your ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks. It covers networking fundamentals, IP connectivity, security basics, and automation — making it the industry's most recognized networking certification and a prerequisite for advanced Cisco tracks like CCNP and CCIE.

$85K
Avg Salary
60%
Pass Rate
35.0K
Job Listings
200h
Study Time
$330
Exam Cost

Is the Cisco CCNA (200-301) Worth It?

Strengths

  • Solid salary potential at $85,000 average
  • High employer demand with 35.0K active job listings

Considerations

  • Moderate exam investment at $330
  • Moderate difficulty (7/10) — plan for focused study time
  • Substantial time investment at 200h of recommended study
  • Has prerequisites — not suitable for complete beginners

Bottom line: At $330 exam cost with an average salary of $85,000, the Cisco CCNA (200-301) offers a solid return on investment for networking professionals. Not sure if this is the right choice? See how it stacks up in our Cisco CCNA (200-301) vs AWS Advanced Networking Specialty comparison.

Who Should Get the Cisco CCNA (200-301)?

This certification is a good fit if you are:

  • Professionals with 1-3 years of networking experience looking to advance
  • IT practitioners seeking vendor-specific validation of their skills
  • Anyone targeting roles that list Cisco CCNA (200-301) as preferred or required

This certification is a key step on the Network Engineer career path.

Exam Details

Exam Code200-301
Exam Cost$330 USD
Duration120 minutes
Questions100
Passing Score825/1000
ProviderCisco
Difficulty7/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the Cisco CCNA (200-301) certification earn between $60,000 and $115,000 annually, with an average of $85,000. For context, the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty averages $145,000.

Job market demand trend: Stable (+5% YoY)

Disclaimer: Salary figures are US-median estimates compiled from BLS wage statistics, Glassdoor, and job-posting aggregates. They are estimates only, not financial advice or a guarantee of earnings. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, employer, and negotiation.

Prerequisites

  • No formal prerequisites
  • CompTIA Network+ or equivalent knowledge recommended
  • Basic understanding of IP addressing and subnetting

Skills Covered

Networking FundamentalsIP ConnectivityIP ServicesSecurity FundamentalsAutomation and Programmability

Best Study Resources

Official

Cisco CCNA Official Cert Guide Library

 Course

Neil Anderson CCNA Course — Udemy

 Practice Exams

Boson ExSim CCNA Practice Exams

Comparisons Featuring Cisco CCNA (200-301)

CCNA vs AWS Advanced Networking Specialty

CCNA and AWS Advanced Networking Specialty represent two sides of modern networking — traditional infrastructure vs clou...

Cisco CCNA vs CompTIA Network+

CCNA and Network+ are the two certifications every aspiring network professional considers — but they serve different pu...

Career Paths With Cisco CCNA (200-301)

Network Engineer

Network engineers design, implement, and maintain the networking infrastructure that connects organi...

$65K – $140K +6% (2022-2032)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CCNA still worth it in 2026?
Absolutely. CCNA remains the gold standard for networking professionals. With 35K active job listings and an average salary of $85K, it continues to be one of the best ROI certifications in IT. Even as cloud networking grows, foundational networking knowledge validated by CCNA is essential for roles across infrastructure, cloud, and security.
How hard is the CCNA exam?
The CCNA is considered moderately difficult with a 60% pass rate. It covers a broad range of topics from routing and switching to automation and security. Most candidates need 200+ hours of study and hands-on lab practice. Using a network simulator like Packet Tracer or GNS3 is highly recommended.
Should I get CCNA or CompTIA Network+ first?
If you're new to networking, start with Network+ for vendor-neutral fundamentals, then pursue CCNA. If you already have networking experience or plan to work in Cisco environments, go directly for CCNA — it carries more weight with employers and leads to higher-paying roles.

Explore other options in networking: AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty, Cisco CCNP Enterprise, and more in our Networking Certifications hub.

Sources for every data point

Each quantitative claim on this page is mapped to a verifiable source. Official vendor pages and government datasets are preferred; community estimates and editorial extrapolations are flagged explicitly.

Data point Source Tier Last checked
Exam duration Cisco — CCNA 200-301 exam details Official verified 29d ago
Exam code Cisco — CCNA 200-301 exam topics Official verified 29d ago
Passing score Cisco — CCNA 200-301 exam details
Cisco does not publish the exact scale; 825/1000 is the widely-reported community benchmark.
 Official verified 29d ago
Exam price Cisco — CCNA certification page
USD price for the 200-301 exam via Pearson VUE.
 Official verified 29d ago
Question count Cisco — CCNA 200-301 exam details
Approximate count; the exam includes multi-choice, drag-and-drop, and simulations.
 Official verified 29d ago
Job listings LinkedIn — Active US postings mentioning CCNA Aggregate verified 29d ago
Average salary Glassdoor — Network Engineer with CCNA salary (US) Aggregate verified 29d ago
Salary range Glassdoor + Payscale — CCNA holder salary distribution Aggregate verified 29d ago
Pass rate Community consensus — r/ccna pass-rate threads
Cisco does not publish pass rates; community consensus is 55-65% for first attempts.
 Community verified 29d ago
Study hours r/ccna — study-time threads and polls Community verified 29d ago
Demand trend LinkedIn + Indeed YoY comparison of CCNA postings Editorial estimate verified 29d ago

Data Sources & Transparency

  • Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median)
  • Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled quarterly)
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
  • Exam details — Cisco official certification documentation
Last reviewed: 2026-04-15 Our Methodology Editorial Standards