Cisco CCNA certification path
Take CCNA (200-301) first. It is Cisco’s foundation exam for networking and has no prerequisites. Add CCNA Automation (200-901) afterwards if your work involves Python, APIs and network automation, or take it first if you come from software and need only enough networking to automate it.
The two exams
| Exam | Certification | Duration | Take it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200-301 | CCNA | 120 minutes | You configure and troubleshoot networks |
| 200-901 | CCNA Automation (formerly DevNet Associate) | 120 minutes | You automate networks with code and APIs |
Cisco lists no prerequisites for either. A passed CCNA is valid for three years.
The CCNA version change
Cisco’s announcement says the last day of testing for 200-301 v1.1 is February 2, 2027 and that the v2.0 exam goes live on February 3, 2027. Until then v1.1 is what you can book; v2.0 regroups the topics into five domains and adds AI and network operations content. Details are in the CCNA exam format guide. Check which version your booking shows before you pick study material.
CCNA or Network+?
CompTIA Network+ is vendor-neutral and CCNA goes deeper on Cisco-style configuration. CCNA vs Network+ compares the two, and the CompTIA certification path shows where Network+ sits before Security+.
CCNA or CCNA Automation?
200-901 vs 200-301 explains the split: one exam tests whether you can run a network, the other whether you can write the software that runs it. If you are unsure, the CCNA is the safer first exam because the automation exam assumes you can read a simple topology.
Before booking, check the exam changes tracker.
Working on a help desk now? Help desk to network or security certifications compares the CCNA route with the CompTIA one.