The CCNA is a single exam: 200-301, 120 minutes, 300 US dollars. One exam earns the certification, with no separate parts since Cisco consolidated the old multi-exam tracks in 2020. Here is everything about the cost, the format, and how to book it, with the numbers Cisco actually publishes kept separate from the ones the internet repeats.
Prices, languages, and the version dates below were checked against Cisco’s official exam pages in June 2026.
Cost
The exam fee is 300 USD plus tax, paid when you book. That is the figure on Cisco’s official exam page. The amount you actually pay depends on your region: Pearson VUE charges in local currency and adds any local tax or VAT, so the total varies by country. There is no separate registration or “certification” fee beyond the test itself, and there is no discounted retake. Every attempt costs the full fee again, and the retake policy sets how long you wait between tries.
Format and length
You get 120 minutes. The exam mixes question types: multiple choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and hands-on simulation items where you configure or inspect simulated Cisco devices. Cisco does not publish an exact question count, so ignore any source that states one as fact. Plan for roughly 100-plus items in the two hours.
One rule shapes how you pace yourself: the exam is forward-only. You cannot go back to a previous question or change an answer once you move on, and there is no “mark for review” that lets you return at the end. Answer every question before you advance, because you will not see it again.
Passing score
Cisco does not publish the passing score for the CCNA. Scores are reported on a scaled range (commonly described as 300 to 1000), and the cut score is set by Cisco’s own process and can vary slightly between exam forms. You will frequently see 825/1000 quoted online; treat that as an unofficial community estimate, not a number Cisco stands behind. The practical takeaway: aim to be comfortably strong across all six topic areas rather than chasing a specific number.
Prerequisites
None. Anyone can register and sit the CCNA with no prior certification required. Cisco recommends about a year of hands-on experience with Cisco solutions plus a grasp of network fundamentals, but that is a recommendation, not a gate. Beginners take it regularly.
How to register
Book through Pearson VUE, Cisco’s exam delivery partner, from the CCNA page on Cisco’s site. You can sit it two ways: in person at a Pearson VUE test center, or online from home through OnVUE proctoring. Online testing has stricter requirements (a clear room, a working webcam, and a system check beforehand), and both modes need a valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration. Check Pearson VUE’s current ID policy before exam day, as the online rules are the ones people get caught out by.
Languages
The CCNA 200-301 is offered in English and Japanese only. If English is not your first language and you test in an English-language country, you may qualify for a time extension; confirm that on Cisco’s policy page when you book.
How long the certification lasts
The CCNA is valid for three years from the day you pass. Before it expires you renew it one of three ways: earn 30 Continuing Education credits, retake the 200-301 exam, or pass a higher-level Cisco exam such as a CCNP concentration. Any of the three resets the clock.
One date that matters: the v2.0 change
The exam number stays 200-301, but the content is versioned. The current version is v1.1. Cisco has announced v2.0, and the cutover is fixed: the last day to test on v1.1 is 2 February 2027, and v2.0 begins 3 February 2027. The certification you earn is the same either way, but if you are studying now, know which topic list you are preparing against. v2.0 leans further into automation, security, and the role of AI in network operations. The slug and number do not change, so the skills you build carry straight across.
CCNA exam at a glance
The whole thing on one card:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam code | 200-301 (single exam, current version v1.1) |
| Cost | 300 USD plus tax (varies by region) |
| Length | 120 minutes |
| Questions | ~100+ (Cisco does not publish an exact count) |
| Passing score | Not published by Cisco; ~825/1000 is an unofficial estimate |
| Format | Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulations; forward-only |
| Prerequisites | None (1 year experience recommended, not required) |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE, test center or online (OnVUE) |
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Valid for | 3 years (renew via 30 CE credits, retake, or higher cert) |
That is the whole picture. When you are ready to build the knowledge behind it, the CCNA 200-301 study roadmap lays out the full path from fundamentals to a pass, with hands-on guides and practice questions for every topic.
