One CCNA to rule them all: pass the 200-301 CCNA exam and you’ll earn the certification. The new CCNA exam will be released on February 24, 2020. In addition, CCNA will no longer be required for professional CCNP Cisco certifications.

On February 24, 2020, Cisco will release the new consolidated CCNA certification that will replace all current associate level certifications: CCNA Cloud, CCNA Collaboration, CCNA Data Center, CCNA Industrial, CCDA, CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security, CCNA Service Provider, and CCNA Wireless. In addition, the CCENT certification will be retired. The new CCNA certification program has been updated to cover the latest technologies and current junior level job roles. The CCNA training course and exam give you the foundation that you need to specialize and advance your career in the desired direction.

In order to earn the new CCNA certification, you will need to pass only one 200-301 CCNA exam. This comprehensive exam that covers entry-level networking skills across technologies, such as basic IP fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, and basics of automation and network programmability, and security fundamental skills. There will also be only one recommended training for CCNA exam: Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA). For more information about the exam topics, see the detailed blueprint at the end of this article.

The new CCNA certification will be valid for three years. There is also an important change to recertification – you will also be able to recertify through the Continuing Education (CE) program by earning 30 credits (previously, this could only be done at the CCIE level). You will still be able to recertify by passing exams at a higher certification level.

Migration to the new CCNA

  • If you have started working toward any current CCNA or CCDA certification, keep going. You have until February 23, 2020 to complete your current CCNA/CCDA.
  • If you complete any current CCNA/CCDA certification before February 24, you’ll receive the new CCNA certification and a training badge in the corresponding technology area.
  • If you already have Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) certification and would like to earn CCNA, you have until February 23 to complete your CCNA certification in the current program. As of February 24, you will need to take the new exam to complete CCNA certification.

More information

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the updated Cisco CCNA certification, new exam, or available training.

CCNA Exam v1.0 (200-301) blueprint

The following topics are general guidelines for the content likely to be included on the exam. However, other related topics may also appear on any specific delivery of the exam. To better reflect the contents of the exam and for clarity purposes, the guidelines below may change at any time without notice. Check Cisco's official website for the most recent blueprint.

CCNA 200-301 Exam Topics
20% Network Fundamentals
  • 1.1 Explain the role and function of network components
    •  1.1.a Routers
    •  1.1.b L2 and L3 switches
    •  1.1.c Next-generation firewalls and IPS
    •  1.1.d Access points
    •  1.1.e Controllers (Cisco DNA Center and WLC)
    •  1.1.f Endpoints
    • 1.1.g Servers
  • 1.2 Describe characteristics of network topology architectures
    • 1.2.a 2 tier
    • 1.2.b 3 tier
    • 1.2.c Spine-leaf
    • 1.2.d WAN
    • 1.2.e Small office/home office (SOHO)
    • 1.2.f On-premises and cloud
  • 1.3 Compare physical interface and cabling types
    • 1.3.a Single-mode fiber, multimode fiber, copper
    • 1.3.b Connections (Ethernet shared media and point-to-point)
    • 1.3.c Concepts of PoE
  • 1.4 Identify interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, mismatch duplex, and/or speed)
  • 1.5 Compare TCP to UDP
  • 1.6 Configure and verify IPv4 addressing and subnetting
  • 1.7 Describe the need for private IPv4 addressing
  • 1.8 Configure and verify IPv6 addressing and prefix
  • 1.9 Compare IPv6 address types
    • 1.9.a Global unicast
    • 1.9.b Unique local
    • 1.9.c Link local
    • 1.9.d Anycast
    • 1.9.e Multicast
    • 1.9.f Modified EUI 64
  • 1.10 Verify IP parameters for Client OS (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
  • 1.11 Describe wireless principles
    • 1.11.a Nonoverlapping Wi-Fi channels
    • 1.11.b SSID
    • 1.11.c RF
    • 1.11.d Encryption
  • 1.12 Explain virtualization fundamentals (virtual machines)
  • 1.13 Describe switching concepts
    • 1.13.a MAC learning and aging
    • 1.13.b Frame switching
    • 1.13.c Frame flooding
    • 1.13.d MAC address table
20%

Network Access

  • 2.1 Configure and verify VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
    • 2.1.a Access ports (data and voice)
    • 2.1.b Default VLAN
    • 2.1.c Connectivity
  • 2.2 Configure and verify interswitch connectivity
    • 2.2.a Trunk ports
    • 2.2.b 802.1Q
    • 2.2.c Native VLAN
  • 2.3 Configure and verify Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)
  • 2.4 Configure and verify (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)
  • 2.5 Describe the need for and basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol and identify basic operations
    • 2.5.a Root port, root bridge (primary/secondary), and other port names
    • 2.5.b Port states (forwarding/blocking)
    • 2.5.c PortFast benefits
  • 2.6 Compare Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
  • 2.7 Describe physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP,WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)
  • 2.8 Describe AP and WLC management access connections (Telnet, SSH, HTTP,HTTPS, console, and TACACS+/RADIUS)
  • 2.9 Configure the components of a wireless LAN access for client   connectivity using GUI only such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced WLAN settings
25%

IP Connectivity

  • 3.1 Interpret the components of routing table
    • 3.1.a Routing protocol code
    • 3.1.b Prefix
    • 3.1.c Network mask
    • 3.1.d Next hop
    • 3.1.e Administrative distance
    • 3.1.f Metric
    • 3.1.g Gateway of last resort
  • 3.2 Determine how a router makes a forwarding decision by default
    • 3.2.a Longest match
    • 3.2.b Administrative distance
    • 3.2.c Routing protocol metric
  • 3.3 Configure and verify IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
    • 3.3.a Default route
    • 3.3.b Network route
    • 3.3.c Host route
    • 3.3.d Floating static
  • 3.4 Configure and verify single area OSPFv2
    • 3.4.a Neighbor adjacencies
    • 3.4.b Point-to-point
    • 3.4.c Broadcast (DR/BDR selection)
    • 3.4.d Router ID
  • 3.5 Describe the purpose of first hop redundancy protocol
10%

IP Services

  • 4.1 Configure and verify inside source NAT using static and pools
  • 4.2 Configure and verify NTP operating in a client and server mode
  • 4.3 Explain the role of DHCP and DNS within the network
  • 4.4 Explain the function of SNMP in network operations
  • 4.5 Describe the use of syslog features including facilities and levels
  • 4.6 Configure and verify DHCP client and relay
  • 4.7 Explain the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, shaping
  • 4.8 Configure network devices for remote access using SSH
  • 4.9 Describe the capabilities and function of T FTP/FTP in the network
15%

Security Fundamentals

  • 5.1 Define key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)
  • 5.2 Describe security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)
  • 5.3 Configure device access control using local passwords
  • 5.4 Describe security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)
  • 5.5 Describe remote access and site-to-site VPNs
  • 5.6 Configure and verify access control lists
  • 5.7 Configure Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)
  • 5.8 Differentiate authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts
  • 5.9 Describe wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)
  • 5.10 Configure WLAN using WPA2 PSK using the GUI
10%

Automation and Programmability

  • 6.1 Explain how automation impacts network management
  • 6.2 Compare traditional networks with controller-based networking
  • 6.3 Describe controller-based and software defined architectures (overlay, underlay, and fabric)
    • 6.3.a Separation of control plane and data plane
    • 6.3.b North-bound and south-bound APIs
  • 6.4 Compare traditional campus device management with Cisco DNA Center enabled device management
  • 6.5 Describe characteristics of REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)
  • 6.6 Recognize the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms Puppet, Chef, and Ansible
  • 6.7 Interpret JSON encoded data
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