CCNA vs Network+: Which Should You Take First?

At a Glance

New to networking? Take Network+ first. It's vendor neutral, shorter, and builds the foundation CCNA assumes. Already comfortable with subnetting and the OSI model, and aiming for a Cisco shop? Go straight to CCNA. One timing catch: CCNA v1.1 is only available through February 2, 2027. A new version starts February 3.

Certifications

Both certs prove you understand networks. They just ask different questions. Network+ asks if you know how networks work. CCNA asks if you can configure one.

CCNA vs Network+ at a glance

	CompTIA Network+ (N10-009)	Cisco CCNA (200-301 v1.1)
Focus	Vendor neutral networking	Cisco routing, switching, and network access
Exam length	90 minutes	120 minutes
Questions	Up to 90, multiple-choice and performance-based	Not published by Cisco
Scoring	720 to pass (scale of 100–900)	Pass/fail
Exam price (US)	Set by CompTIA, see its store	$300
Prerequisites	None required. A+ and 9–12 months experience recommended	None
Valid for	3 years	3 years
Renewal	30 CEUs	30 CE credits, or pass the current CCNA or a higher-level Cisco exam
Version timing	Retirement estimated 2027, no date set	v1.1 last test date Feb 2, 2027. v2.0 starts Feb 3, 2027
DoD 8140	Listed for tech support, network ops, and sysadmin work roles	Check the DoD 8140 matrix for your role

What's the real difference?

Breadth vs. depth. Network+ covers a wide range at a conceptual level. You'll learn what OSPF is for. CCNA expects you to configure single-area OSPFv2 and read the routing table it produces.

Vendor neutral vs. Cisco. Network+ doesn't care whose switch you're on. CCNA is built around Cisco IOS. The concepts transfer anywhere. The command syntax is Cisco's.

Concepts vs. CLI. Cisco's own FAQ says the hardest parts for beginners are subnetting and the command line. It also says you can't pass CCNA by reading a book. You need lab time in Packet Tracer, Cisco Modeling Labs, or real gear. Network+ has performance-based questions too. But CCNA leans much harder on configuration.

Here's how the domains line up:

Network+ N10-009	Weight	CCNA v1.1	Weight
Networking Concepts	23%	Network Fundamentals	20%
Network Implementation	20%	Network Access	20%
Network Operations	19%	IP Connectivity	25%
Network Security	14%	IP Services	10%
Network Troubleshooting	24%	Security Fundamentals	15%
		Automation and Programmability	10%

The overlap is real. Subnetting, VLANs, spanning tree, NAT, DHCP, DNS, ACLs, and wireless show up on both. That's why Network+ first makes CCNA easier. You're not learning those topics twice. You're learning them once, then going deeper.

Take Network+ first if...

You're new to networking, or coming from help desk or desktop support.
You haven't decided between networking and cybersecurity yet. Network+ feeds straight into Security+.
Your employer isn't a Cisco shop, or you don't know what gear you'll be on.
You need a DoD 8140-listed cert for a government or contractor role.
You want a shorter first win before taking on a harder exam.

Go straight to CCNA if...

You already know the OSI model, can subnet without a calculator, and have touched a switch config.
You're targeting network engineer or network admin roles in a Cisco environment.
You want a cert that proves hands-on configuration, not just concepts.
You learn best by doing. CCNA rewards lab hours more than reading hours.

The CCNA timing question

Cisco is refreshing CCNA. The 200-301 v1.1 exam's last test date is February 2, 2027. CCNA v2.0 goes live February 3, 2027. The exam number stays 200-301.

Cisco's new v2.0 topics reorganize the exam into five domains:

CCNA v2.0 domain	Weight
Network Infrastructure and Connectivity	25%
Switching and Network Access	25%
IP Routing	20%
Network Services and Security	20%
AI, and Network Operations and Management	10%

The new version adds more troubleshooting. It also adds agentic AI and prompting for network operations. Cisco says the refresh isn't a total overhaul. It changes the depth and approach, and it builds on the same fundamentals.

What that means for you:

Already studying for CCNA v1.1? Cisco's advice is to keep going and test by February 2. That's about 15 weeks from today. Tight, but doable if you're past the basics.
Starting from zero? Don't try to cram v1.1. Take Network+ now. Then go for CCNA v2.0 in 2027 with the fundamentals already in place.
Somewhere in between? Be honest about your pace. If February 2 feels like a stretch, plan for v2.0.

What about jobs and pay?

Neither cert guarantees a job title or a salary. Experience and hands-on skill matter more. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators at $99,130 (May 2025). BLS projects employment in that occupation to decline 4% from 2025 to 2035. It still projects about 13,400 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing roles. Translation: the jobs are there, and employers can be picky. A cert plus lab experience is how you stand out.

Can you do both?

Yes. Plenty of people do, and it's a common path: A+, then Network+, then CCNA or Security+, depending on whether you go deeper into networking or toward security. Network+ gets you hired into a junior role. CCNA helps you move up in a Cisco environment.

Build the skills, not just the score

Both exams reward people who've configured and troubleshot real networks. ACI Learning has both tracks. The CompTIA Network+ Certification Bundle ($249/year) includes the N10-009 course, Skill Labs, and practice exams. For CCNA, the Cisco CCNA (200-301) v1.1 course (87 episodes, Skill Labs) is part of ITPro. Want both? ITPro Premium covers the full networking library with labs.

Still deciding? Our Network+ N10-009 exam guide breaks down the domains, difficulty, and an 8-week study plan.

Study for Network+ and CCNA in One Plan

ITPro Premium gives you the full ACI ITPro library, including Network+ and CCNA courses, plus hands-on ACI Skill Labs and practice tests. Start with one cert and keep going.

Get ITPro Premium

Network+ first if you're new to networking. CCNA first if you already have solid fundamentals and you're aiming for Cisco environments.

Yes, for most people. CCNA goes deeper and expects hands-on configuration in Cisco IOS. It's a 120-minute exam vs. Network+'s 90 minutes.

No. CCNA has no prerequisites. Network+ helps because the topics overlap heavily.

$300 USD per Cisco. Cisco Learning Credits also work.

The last test date for 200-301 CCNA v1.1 is February 2, 2027. CCNA v2.0 starts February 3, 2027.

Both are valid for three years. Network+ renews with 30 CEUs. CCNA renews with 30 Cisco CE credits, or by passing the current CCNA or a higher-level Cisco exam.

Usually, yes, if you're new. It's a faster first credential, it's vendor neutral, and it covers the fundamentals CCNA assumes you already know.