I posed this exact question in a blog post a couple of years back, but I'm seeing it asked regularly in the Reddit CCNA group.
Well, is the CCNA worth it?
It may or may not be worth it, but it all depends upon your circumstances:
- Current experience level
- Salary expectations
- Other certifications
- Career goals
- Current location
- Motivation to study and pass
This question is often posed by people considering other certifications, by those with an IT degree, or by those already working in the industry but can't seem to get ahead.
Let's go back to basics before we answer whether the Cisco CCNA is worth it in 2025-26 and beyond.
Cisco CCNA Certification
The CCNA exam has been around since the late 1990s, but it surged in popularity as the IT boom hit us. My research says that the CCNA is actually the longest-serving IT certification still in existence. Drop a comment if you can find an ACTIVE certification that was created before 1998.
The CCNA exam is a 90-minute test that you can take at any authorized testing center. It's a mix of theory questions and hands-on challenges that require you to configure or troubleshoot Cisco devices. Please check the Cisco website for all the details about the exam and the latest syllabus, which changes every few years.
Cisco doesn't require any experience or other certifications to take the exam, but they recommend about 2 years of experience with their equipment. The exam will test your general IT knowledge of ports, protocols, security, and Wi-Fi, as well as Cisco device configuration commands, so you must prepare well.
It takes about 2 months of hard work to prepare for the exam IF you can spare 2 hours per day. The exam costs $300 to take, but the pass rate is around 50%, so many find themselves paying $600 or more before they succeed. Add to that the costs of any textbooks, practice exam sets, lab guides, and other tools.
I've written many blog posts about how to prepare, but in brief, you need a study guide or video course, practice exams, and a lot of hands-on time configuring Cisco devices. Luckily, Cisco now makes its network emulation tool, Packet Tracer, free to the general public, which will suffice for CCNA-level labs.
After the CCNA
When you pass the exam, you get to use the CCNA logos and update your resume. You will have sufficient skills to install and troubleshoot small networks. I don't think you will be at the level required for consulting or designing networks for large companies, but you would easily be able to join a network installation team, network support helpdesk, or help a small business install Cisco devices.
I recommend studying for more advanced exams after the CCNA. Consider the Cisco CCNP, Linux, cloud computing, network security, or any other field that takes your fancy.
There is some overlap between the CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA exam syllabi. Still, CompTIA won't give you a vendor certification, and you won't have any proven hands-on skills, so you might struggle to get hired unless you progress to a vendor certification.
Benefits of Passing the CCNA
Apart from feeling very happy with your exam success, there are several other benefits to passing the exam.
The most obvious is that you qualify for the CCNA jobs advertised. Without that keyword in your resume, you won't be called for relevant job interviews, and your name won't appear in searches for certified engineers. Note that many jobs ask for CCNA certification even though they don't involve Cisco networking. I've seen this for many IT roles where vendor equipment from HP or Juniper is used, but where there is a small pool of people with those certifications.
Passing the CCNA proves you have a good working knowledge of TCP/IP and Cisco, but also that you are highly motivated, have up-to-date skills, and won't rely on your employer to provide all your training and development.
Is the CCNA Worth it in 2025-26?
After passing the exam, can you still get a well-paid, rewarding job in IT?
Yes, you can. If you have no experience, you may have to start a rung below a network engineer, so look at network support, helpdesk, or installation. Enormous datacenters are being built all over the world to support cloud and AI projects, and the CCNA more than qualifies you for this role.
If you are looking to progress to more advanced roles in almost any IT field, then the CCNA gives you a rock-solid foundation for everything from network architect to security expert.
Don't just limit yourself to Cisco jobs when looking for work. Look at:
- Network support
- Cable engineer
- Wi-fi support or installation
- Other vendors, such as HP or Juniper
- ISP or DataCenters
It could take 100 applications to land a good role, so be prepared to work as hard at that as you did your exam prep. Don't stop once you pass the exam. Study for more certifications, hone your hands-on skills, and look at learning Linux and cloud, to name two.
Ensure you develop the hot skills in the industry, such as automation, AI, Python, security, and so on.
Recommendation
Take the Cisco CCNA to give your IT a great head start with the world's most popular IT certification. It will get you more than just Cisco roles and prepare you for more advanced certifications.
Once you pass, keep up the hard work and gain some more certifications and real-world experience.
We offer over 45 IT courses, live Cisco racks, practice exams, and a members' forum, so please check our courses out.
Cisco CCNA Certification Course.
