CCNA 200-301 vs Network+ N10-009
Take Network+ first if you are new to networking and want a vendor-neutral foundation; take the CCNA first if you already know the basics and want a credential that proves you can configure and troubleshoot switches and routers. Network+ asks you to understand and diagnose networks across vendors. The CCNA asks you to build and verify them on Cisco platforms, which is a harder, more command-driven exam.
The two exams side by side
| CCNA 200-301 | Network+ N10-009 | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Cisco | CompTIA |
| Level | Associate | Entry to intermediate |
| Duration | 120 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Questions | Not published | Maximum 90 |
| Passing score | Not published | 720 on a scale of 100-900 |
| Vendor focus | Cisco IOS XE style configuration | Vendor-neutral |
| Prerequisites | None required | None required (A+ and 9-12 months recommended) |
| Validity | 3 years | See the Network+ guide |
Both are open to anyone. The practical difference is the expected skill: a Network+ candidate should explain what a VLAN, OSPF or NAT is and spot the cause of a fault; a CCNA candidate should also write the configuration and interpret the show output on a Cisco device.
What overlaps
- IP addressing, subnetting and IPv6
- Switching concepts: VLANs, trunking, spanning tree
- Routing basics, DHCP, DNS and NAT
- Wireless fundamentals and network security concepts
- Troubleshooting methodology with command-line tools
If you pass one, the other takes noticeably less effort. Candidates who complete Network+ first usually find the CCNA’s first two domains familiar.
What differs
Network+ is wide and shallow across cabling, architectures, ports, security and operations. The CCNA is narrower and deeper on the routing and switching core: Rapid PVST+ port roles, EtherChannel with LACP, OSPF neighbor states and DR/BDR election, extended ACLs, NAT/PAT on IOS XE, and Layer 2 security such as DHCP snooping and dynamic ARP inspection.
The CCNA’s v2.0 blueprint also adds objectives that Network+ does not touch: Ansible for configuration management, device versus controller versus infrastructure-as-code management, and writing prompts for generative AI in network operations. For a Cisco automation path, see the separate Cisco exam 200-901, which goes further into programmability than the CCNA’s 10% operations domain.
Which should you take first?
| Your situation | Suggested route |
|---|---|
| No IT background, aiming at a help desk or junior support role | Network+ (after or alongside A+), then CCNA |
| Some networking at work, targeting a network engineer role that uses Cisco | CCNA directly |
| Comfortable with subnetting and VLANs already | CCNA directly; Network+ adds little |
| Employer or contract requires a vendor-neutral certification | Network+ |
The CompTIA certification path shows where Network+ sits relative to A+ and Security+. If you want only one networking certification and plan to work with Cisco equipment, the CCNA is the stronger signal. If your environment is mixed-vendor or you are early in your career, Network+ is a gentler first step.
Cost and time
CCNA costs 300 USD at the time of writing on Cisco’s exam page. Network+ pricing is not listed on CompTIA’s certification page, so check at booking; the certification costs overview compares fees. Both reward lab time: Cisco Packet Tracer or a similar simulator for the CCNA, and any home lab for Network+.
Bottom line
The two are not competitors; they are two steps. Network+ proves you understand networks, the CCNA proves you can run a Cisco-style one. Use the CCNA study plan if you go straight to Cisco, or the Network+ guide to start vendor-neutral.