CCNA Certification (200-301) — Complete 2026 Guide

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is the world's most recognized networking certification. It validates your knowledge of network fundamentals, IP connectivity, security, automation, and programmability.

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CCNA Exam — At a Glance

Parameter	Details
Exam Code	200-301 CCNA
Provider	Cisco Systems
Questions	100-120 questions
Duration	120 minutes
Passing Score	~825 out of 1000 (approximate)
Exam Fee	$330 USD (~₹27,500)
Validity	3 years
Delivery	Pearson VUE (online or test centre)

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Exam Domains & Weightage

Domain	Weightage	Key Topics
Network Fundamentals	20%	OSI model, TCP/IP, IPv4/IPv6, wireless, switching
Network Access	20%	VLANs, STP, EtherChannel, wireless architectures
IP Connectivity	25%	Routing concepts, OSPF, static routing, first hop redundancy
IP Services	10%	DHCP, DNS, NAT, NTP, SNMP, syslog, QoS
Security Fundamentals	15%	ACLs, port security, AAA, VPN, wireless security
Automation & Programmability	10%	REST APIs, Ansible, Puppet, JSON, SDN, DNA Center

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Preparation Strategy

3-Month Plan

• Month 1: Network fundamentals + IP addressing + subnetting mastery
• Month 2: Routing (OSPF), switching (VLANs, STP), security (ACLs)
• Month 3: Automation, practice labs (Packet Tracer/GNS3), mock exams

Best Resources

Resource	Type	Cost
Neil Anderson (Udemy)	Video Course	$12-15
Cisco Packet Tracer	Lab Tool	Free
Wendell Odom — CCNA Official Cert Guide	Book	$50-60
Boson ExSim	Practice Exams	$99

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Salary After CCNA

Region	CCNA Salary
United States	$70,000-$100,000
United Kingdom	£35,000-£55,000
Canada	CAD $60,000-$85,000
Australia	AUD $65,000-$95,000
India	₹4-12 LPA

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Official Links

Resource	Link
Cisco Certifications	cisco.com/certifications
CCNA Exam Topics	Cisco Learning Network
Schedule Exam	Pearson VUE

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Last Updated: May 2026 | Source: Cisco Systems