Network+ vs CCNA: Which Should You Take?

What the question is really asking

When someone asks "Network+ or CCNA," they are usually asking one of two things: which one should I take first, or which one will get me a job. The answers are different. This guide covers both.

What each certification actually measures

Network+ (currently N10-009) tests breadth. You need to know networking fundamentals across many technologies: the OSI model, IP addressing, routing concepts, switching, wireless, WAN technologies, cloud networking basics, network security fundamentals, and troubleshooting methodology. It is vendor-neutral — you do not configure Cisco IOS or any specific platform. You learn the concepts.

CCNA (200-301) tests depth on Cisco IOS, with a specific focus on the technologies Cisco builds: VLANs, OSPF, NAT, ACLs, EtherChannel, QoS, and automation on Cisco infrastructure. The CCNA also covers conceptual areas (like subnetting, IP services, and security fundamentals) that overlap with Network+, but the practical emphasis is on Cisco-specific implementation.

If you hold a Network+ and a CCNA, the CCNA will almost always be valued more by networking employers — because it demonstrates the ability to actually configure and troubleshoot a Cisco network, not just understand that routing tables exist.

The job market reality

Network+ shows up in job listings for entry-level helpdesk, IT support, junior sysadmin, and general IT technician roles. These are not dedicated networking roles — they are general IT roles where networking knowledge is useful. The cert signals foundational knowledge.

CCNA shows up in job listings for junior network engineer, network administrator, network support engineer, and NOC technician roles. These are dedicated networking positions at organisations with real Cisco infrastructure. Network+ alone rarely satisfies the requirements for these roles.

If your goal is a networking career — managing switches, routers, and enterprise network infrastructure — CCNA is the target. Network+ is preparation, not the destination.

If your goal is a general IT support role and you want networking knowledge on your CV alongside a systems background, Network+ is appropriate.

Difficulty comparison

CCNA is harder. This is not a controversial statement. CCNA covers more material (120 questions, 120 minutes), goes much deeper on routing and switching, requires hands-on lab practice with Cisco IOS syntax, and has a subnetting requirement that is genuinely difficult under exam conditions.

Network+ is a single exam (90 questions, 90 minutes) covering broader but shallower ground. Most candidates with a solid IT background who study for 6-8 weeks will pass Network+. CCNA typically requires 2-4 months of dedicated study including hands-on lab practice with Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3.

Is Network+ a prerequisite for CCNA?

No. There is no formal prerequisite for either exam. Cisco recommends some networking knowledge before sitting the CCNA, but you can register and sit both without holding any prior certification.

That said, if you have no networking background, Network+ provides a solid foundation that will make your CCNA study more efficient. The fundamentals covered in Network+ — subnetting basics, OSI model, routing concepts — are assumed knowledge in most CCNA study materials. Going from zero to CCNA without that foundation is possible but harder.

Which to take first

No IT background at all: Consider Network+ first, or study the fundamentals and go directly to CCNA. Network+ is a less risky first exam if you are unsure of your foundational knowledge.

Helpdesk or IT support experience: CCNA directly. You likely already have the conceptual foundation. Network+ will not teach you much that your work experience has not already covered.

Targeting networking specifically: CCNA is the right target. If budget and exam confidence are concerns, Network+ first is acceptable — but plan for CCNA as the next step, not as an optional follow-up.

Government or DoD contracting: Both are on the DoD 8570 approved list (Network+ at IAT Level II, CCNA at IASAE Level I). Check which level the specific role requires.

Cost and renewal

Network+ is one exam at approximately $338. Renews every three years via CE credits or a requalifying exam.

CCNA is one exam at approximately $330. Renews every three years. Passing any current Cisco professional-level exam (CCNP, etc.) also renews the CCNA.

The costs are similar. CCNA delivers more market value for networking-specific roles.

Practice both before you decide

Courseiva has CCNA practice questions and Network+ practice questions available. Try 10-15 questions from each. If the CCNA questions feel completely foreign and the Network+ questions feel manageable, that is useful information about where your current knowledge sits.

The CCNA practice test and Network+ practice test are both free to start.

Frequently asked questions

Does CCNA replace Network+? In terms of employer recognition for networking roles, yes — CCNA is more valued. Many people who hold both certifications got Network+ first, then CCNA, and now list primarily the CCNA on their CV. The Network+ does not expire and is still valid, but it adds less to a networking-focused resume once CCNA is earned.

Is Network+ easier than Security+? They are different exams with different content. Security+ is generally considered harder than Network+ because of the volume of security concepts and the heavier use of scenario-based questions. Network+ focuses more on technical networking knowledge.

Can I self-study for CCNA without a home lab? Yes, using Cisco Packet Tracer (free) or GNS3. Packet Tracer is Cisco's own simulator and covers most of the CCNA exam topology types. You do not need physical Cisco hardware to pass the exam.

The Practical Difference — What You Can Do After Each Cert

This is the question most comparison articles avoid answering directly.

After Network+: you understand what's happening on a network. You can read a packet capture and identify protocols. You can look at a network diagram and explain traffic flow. You can troubleshoot "why can't this device reach the internet" using systematic methodology. You cannot configure a Cisco switch from CLI with confidence. You cannot set up OSPF. You don't have hands-on vendor experience.

After CCNA: you can configure routers and switches from a blank IOS CLI. You can set up VLANs, configure trunk ports, enable OSPF, write ACLs, configure NAT, set up EtherChannel, and verify each step using show commands. You have vendor-specific depth that translates directly to working on real Cisco equipment.

Hiring manager perspective: Network+ gets someone through the "does this candidate know what a subnet is" filter. CCNA gets someone through the "can this person actually configure our Cisco infrastructure" filter. They open different doors. A network admin job posting that lists CCNA will almost never consider Network+ as equivalent — the role requires configuration skills that Network+ doesn't validate.

Content Depth Comparison — Topic by Topic

Subnetting: covered in both, but differently. Network+ requires correct answers; CCNA requires correct answers in under 30 seconds, repeatedly, while also understanding VLSM, route summarization, and IPv6 subnetting. If subnetting was the hardest part of Network+, expect more pressure at CCNA.

Routing protocols: Network+ covers OSPF, RIP, EIGRP, and BGP at a conceptual level — you need to know what they are, when each is appropriate, and broadly how they work. CCNA requires configuring OSPFv2, understanding neighbor states, area design, DR/BDR election, and troubleshooting adjacency failures from the CLI. RIP and EIGRP have reduced weight in the current CCNA (200-301).

Switching: Network+ covers VLANs, STP, and trunking conceptually. CCNA requires CLI configuration of VLANs, trunk ports, STP (802.1D and RSTP), PortFast, BPDU Guard, EtherChannel (LACP and PAgP modes, the mode combinations that work and don't work), and inter-VLAN routing (router-on-a-stick and Layer 3 switch SVIs).

Network security: Network+ covers a broader range — physical security, wireless security (WPA3, TKIP, AES), authentication protocols (RADIUS, TACACS+), common attack types, firewalls, IDS/IPS. CCNA goes deeper on ACLs (standard, extended, named, numbered — you write them from CLI) and NAT configurations, but covers fewer security topics overall.

Automation and SDN: Network+ touches on cloud concepts, SDN basics, and virtualization. CCNA has a full automation domain covering REST APIs, JSON, Python scripting basics, Ansible, Cisco DNA Center, and SD-WAN concepts. More depth on programmability than Network+.

Study Time Reality

Network+ with no prior networking experience: 6–10 weeks of consistent daily study (1–2 hours/day). With IT support experience where you've touched networking: 4–6 weeks.

CCNA for someone who passed Network+ 6 months ago: 3–4 months. CCNA for someone starting from scratch: 5–6 months. The candidates who fail the CCNA first attempt almost universally report the same issues: subnetting speed wasn't automatic yet, they underestimated how much CLI output they needed to interpret quickly, and the automation/programmability domain blindsided them.

One common failure pattern: studying Cisco-specific content from older resources that covered EIGRP and Frame Relay heavily. The current 200-301 exam has reduced these topics significantly and added automation, wireless, and security content that older study guides barely cover.

Hiring Manager Reality Check — What the Market Says

Network+ roles: entry-level network support, NOC technician, junior network administrator, help desk tier 2 with networking focus, government IT contractor roles (DoD 8570 IAT Level II with Security+). Salary range for Network+-level roles in the US: roughly $42,000–$65,000 depending on location and additional experience.

CCNA roles: network engineer, network administrator, network analyst, junior network architect, Cisco network specialist. These roles expect configuration capability, not just troubleshooting. Salary range: $65,000–$95,000 in most US markets, higher in major metro areas and government contracting.

Government and defense contractors treat certs differently. Many positions have mandatory baseline cert requirements under DoD 8570/8140. Network+ satisfies IAT Level II baseline alongside Security+. CCNA maps to IAT Level III in some contexts. Check the specific 8140 framework mapping for the exact role you're targeting — the requirements were updated and the old 8570 mapping isn't always current.

Private sector: certs differentiate candidates at the hiring stage but experience matters more for advancement. A CCNA with two years of experience beats a non-certified candidate with five years on job applications, but a CCNA without hands-on experience is weaker than an experienced non-certified candidate in technical interviews. Get the cert and the lab hours.

The Both Path — Why Some People Do Both

The most common both-path scenario: someone starts IT in help desk, gets A+, works for a year, earns Network+ for the career signal, then pivots toward network engineering and pursues CCNA.

Network+ provides genuine value before CCNA for candidates who don't have a strong networking background. The Network+ curriculum forces you to learn subnetting, routing concepts, and switching fundamentals in a structured way. When you then study for CCNA, those fundamentals are solid and you're only adding the Cisco-specific depth and CLI skills on top.

If you already have 2+ years of hands-on networking experience — you've configured VLANs, you know your way around a Cisco CLI, you've troubleshot routing issues — skipping Network+ and going straight to CCNA is the right call. Network+ wouldn't teach you anything meaningful, and the time is better spent drilling CCNA content.

The exception: a specific job requires Network+ or it completes your DoD 8570 baseline. In that case, do it for the credential even if you're overqualified for the material.

Which to Take in 2026 Specifically

Current exam codes: Network+ N10-009 (released in 2023, valid through the typical 3-year lifecycle — expected retirement around 2026/2027). CCNA 200-301 (current version, no announced retirement date as of 2026).

Validity: both are 3-year certifications. Network+ renewal via CompTIA CE program (30 CEUs from higher certs, training, or retaking the exam). CCNA renewal by passing any current Cisco exam (associate, professional, or specialist level) within 3 years, or passing the CCNA exam again.

Cost in 2026: Network+ approximately $338 USD (one exam). CCNA approximately $330 USD (one exam). Costs are similar. The difference is in prep resources — CCNA study materials (courses, lab software) typically cost more.

Vouchers and discounts: CompTIA regularly runs sales on their store. CompTIA A+/Network+ bundles, academic pricing for students, and employer reimbursement programs are common. Cisco doesn't discount CCNA exam vouchers directly, but some training providers bundle them with courses.

Recommendation for 2026: if networking is your target career, CCNA is the market signal that matters. Network+ is a solid foundation cert and DoD 8570 requirement, but CCNA is what network engineering hiring managers are actually looking for. If you have the time (3–4 months) and can afford the prep resources, go directly to CCNA after building your networking fundamentals through self-study or a brief Network+ prep course.

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