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Study areas

L1Network components, cabling and TCP/UDPIPv4IPv4 addressing and subnettingIPv6IPv6 addressingL2Switching, VLANs and trunkingSTPRapid PVST+ and EtherChannelWLANWireless LANsL3Routing table and static routesOSPFSingle-area OSPF and first-hop redundancySVCNAT, DHCP and DNSMGMTDevice management, NTP, SNMP, syslog and QoSSECSecurity concepts, passwords and VPNsACLACLs and Layer 2 securityAPIAutomation, APIs and AI

Certification path

What are the CCNA requirements? No prerequisites, but some rules

The CCNA has no formal prerequisites: Cisco asks for no earlier certification, degree or work history, and says the exam assumes little to no networking knowledge (Cisco CCNA page). What does apply is a short set of testing rules: one exam, an age floor, identification and a confidentiality agreement.

Reviewed October 29, 2026

Index · 6 sections

Every requirement in one table

What Cisco states for the CCNA (200-301), checked October 29, 2026
RequirementWhat Cisco statesSource
PrerequisitesNone. Aimed at entry-to-mid-level IT professionals.CCNA page
ExamsOne: 200-301, Implementing and Administering Cisco SolutionsExam page
AgeUnder 13: cannot test. 13 to 17: allowed with a parent or guardian-signed agreement sent before scheduling. 18 and over: no restriction.Exam policies
ID at a test centerTwo IDs, both signed, one a government-issued photo ID; a digital photo and signature are capturedExam policies
AgreementAccept the Cisco Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement before the first question; refusing means no exam and no refundExams FAQ
FeeUS$300 or Cisco Learning Credits, plus tax; local pricing variesExam page
LanguagesEnglish and JapaneseExam page
DeliveryPearson VUE, in person or onlineExams FAQ
AccommodationsAvailable for Associate exams at no extra costExams FAQ
Validity3 years, then recertifyCCNA page

Cisco revises fees and policies; the linked pages are the reference.

No prerequisite still leaves a starting line

No gate on paper does not mean no preparation. The 200-301 blueprint runs from cabling and subnetting through OSPF, access lists and REST APIs. Cisco writes for candidates with little to no networking knowledge, and its FAQ adds tips for people without IT experience; where newcomers lose the most time is mapped in how hard the CCNA is. An administrator who configures switches daily needs fewer weeks than someone meeting a subnet mask for the first time.

Cisco also offers a lower rung. CCST Networking (exam 100-150) runs 50 minutes for US$125, and Cisco calls it “a first step toward CCNA certification” (Cisco CCST Networking page). It is optional; CCNA vs CCST shows when the extra step pays off. For the wider picture of degree, labs and first jobs, see how to become a network engineer.

How to get CCNA certified, in order

  1. Check the age and ID rules

    Candidates aged 13 to 17 send the guardian-signed agreement before scheduling; everyone brings two signed IDs to a test center.

  2. Check which version you will sit

    200-301 moves to a new version in early 2027 under the same code; the current CCNA version page has the dates, so study for the one on your exam day.

  3. Cover the blueprint

    Work through the study guide one study area at a time, and lab each topic as you go.

  4. Register

    Through Cisco’s Certification Tracking System and Pearson VUE; in the US and Canada you can book up to six weeks ahead or as late as the same day (Cisco FAQ). The steps are in how to register for the CCNA exam.

  5. Sit the exam

    120 minutes. Results are pass or fail and appear online within 48 hours, per Cisco.

  6. Keep it active

    The certification lasts three years; CCNA renewal lists the three ways to extend it.

Paperwork to settle before exam day

  • Two IDs, both carrying your signature
  • One of them government-issued, with your photo
  • Ready for the digital photo and signature capture at check-in
  • Guardian agreement already sent, if you are 13 to 17
  • Ready to accept the confidentiality agreement before the first question
  • Accommodation request settled in advance, if you need one

Eligibility questions

Is there a minimum age for the CCNA?

Yes. Under 13 cannot test; 13 to 17 can test with a parent or guardian-signed agreement; 18 and over has no restriction (Cisco exam policies).

Do I need work experience or another certification first?

No. Cisco lists no prerequisites for the CCNA, and CCST Networking is an optional earlier step.

Which IDs does a test center ask for?

Two, both signed, and one of them a government-issued ID with your photo. A digital photo and signature are also captured at check-in (Cisco exam policies).

Are testing accommodations available?

Yes. Cisco states that accommodations are available for Associate exams at no extra cost (Cisco exams FAQ). Arrange them before you book a date.

Does the CCNA count as a degree?

No. Cisco’s FAQ says the CCNA is not equivalent to an academic degree.

References

  1. [1]Cisco: CCNA certification page and FAQprerequisites, validity, scheduling. Checked October 29, 2026.
  2. [2]Cisco: CCNA exam pageexam name, fee, languages. Checked October 29, 2026.
  3. [3]Cisco: exam policiesage, identification. Checked October 29, 2026.
  4. [4]Cisco: certification exams and FAQagreement, delivery, accommodations. Checked October 29, 2026.
  5. [5]Cisco: CCST Networking exam100-150 time and fee. Checked October 29, 2026.

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