Cisco CCNA (200-301)
CCNA is the reference entry credential for enterprise networking: addressing and routing, switching, wireless, security fundamentals, and — increasingly — automation. It is a broad exam that rewards understanding how a packet actually gets from one host to another, and it leans hard on reading configuration and show output rather than reciting definitions.
- Not published by Cisco
- Questions
- 120 min
- Duration
- Not published
- Passing score
- US$300
- Exam cost
Cisco does not release cut scores
confirm current local pricing on cisco.com
Exam facts reviewed July 2026 · Independent study resource, not affiliated with Cisco
Who should take it
Network technicians, help-desk staff moving into networking, and systems administrators who need to own the network layer. Cisco enforces no prerequisites but notes that learners often benefit from a year or more implementing and administering Cisco solutions. Time in a lab or simulator matters more here than any single book.
Skills measured
Domains and weightings as published by Cisco. Full objectives →
- 20%Network Fundamentals
- 20%Network Access
- 25%IP Connectivity
- 10%IP Services
- 15%Security Fundamentals
- 10%Automation and Programmability
What’s inside
What you get on Kwizza for this certification — free, no account needed to start.
- 300
- Practice questions
- 3
- Full exams
- 6
- Domains covered
- Free
- Cost
weighted to the official blueprint
every answer explained
Prepare with Kwizza
- Free practice exam — full-length, weighted to the official blueprint, every answer explained
- Study guide — domain-by-domain focus areas, common mistakes, exam-day tips
- Exam objectives — the official domains, unpacked
- Sample questions — real items from our bank, with answers and explanations
- How our exams are made — the quality pipeline behind every question
Frequently asked questions
- What score do I need to pass CCNA?
- Cisco does not publish one. Its exam policies state that passing scores are set by statistical analysis, are subject to change, and are not published because questions and cut scores vary between exam forms. Any specific figure you find online — including the widely repeated 825/1000 — does not come from Cisco. Treat practice percentages as a readiness signal, not a threshold.
- How many questions are on the exam?
- Cisco does not publish a question count either. The exam is 120 minutes; plan around the time limit rather than an assumed number of items.
- How long is CCNA valid, and how do I renew?
- Three years. You can recertify by retaking the exam, passing a higher-level exam, or earning 30 Continuing Education credits at associate level — or a combination. There are no extensions: if it lapses, you start the exam process again.
- Do I need real Cisco equipment to study?
- No. Packet Tracer, CML or GNS3 are enough for everything CCNA tests. What matters is that you configure and break things yourself — the exam's configuration and show-output questions are much harder for candidates who have only read about them.
- Is a newer version of the exam coming?
- Yes. The current exam is 200-301 v1.1. Cisco has announced v2.0, which restructures the blueprint substantially and adds AI-related network operations content. If you are sitting the exam soon, v1.1 is what you will take — but check Cisco's exam-topics page before booking if your exam date is well out.
Related certifications
- CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) — Vendor-neutral networking fundamentals — a gentler on-ramp
- CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) — The natural security pairing once the network layer is solid