Do CCNAS expire?

Yes, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification does expire, typically three years from the date you earn it, requiring you to recertify by passing the CCNA exam again, earning Continuing Education (CE) credits, or achieving a higher-level certification (like a CCNP) before the expiration date. If it expires, you must retake the current CCNA exam to regain active status, as CE credits cannot be used after expiration, note Certwizard and Infosec.

How long is a CCNA valid for?

How Long is the CCNA Certificate Valid? Your certification is valid for three years after your date of issue. To recertify before your certificate's expiration date, you must satisfy several recertification criteria. You don't have to do anything to keep your CCNA certification active.

Do you have to retake CCNA every 3 years?

Understand the certification timeline

Most Cisco certifications are active for three years from the date you earn the certification. Your certification becomes active on the day you complete all required Continuing Education. It will be valid for another three years.

Is CCNA still worth in 2025?

Yes, the CCNA is still very much worth it in 2025 for a networking career, offering essential foundational skills, strong job prospects in network administration and security, and a great ROI as a gateway to advanced certifications, despite the evolving landscape with cloud and automation. While some manual tasks are changing, the core understanding of network fundamentals provided by the CCNA remains critical for supporting modern, complex IT environments and cybersecurity roles, making it a valuable entry-point and foundational credential. 

How to keep CCNA active?

Option 5: Earn Enough Continuing Education Credits

If you want to renew your CCNA but don't want to spend the time and money on a technical exam, you can renew by earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Cisco requires candidates earn 30 CE credits every three years to maintain their CCNA certification status.

CCNA 2026: What Nobody Tells You About This Certification

Is CCNA retired?

With the retirement of the CCNA Security certification, the CCNP Security certification is a good alternative. The CCNP Security certification is for skilled professionals who are skilled in securing Cisco networks. It tests advanced skills to secure network infrastructures and protect data and devices.

How to recertify CCNA for free?

Regarding your inquiry about opportunities to recertify for free, Cisco has been offering quarterly rounds of the Rev Up to Recert program. This program enables users to earn free CE credits by completing the associated learning path on Cisco U.

Can I make $200,000 a year in cyber security?

Yes, making $200,000 a year in cybersecurity is achievable, especially in senior roles like CISO, Security Architect, or Lead Software Security Engineer, or with specialized skills in high-demand areas, though it's less common and typically requires significant experience, certifications, and potentially strategic career moves like moving into sales engineering or management. Entry-level to mid-level roles usually start lower, but a clear career path with continuous learning can lead to six-figure incomes and beyond, with some tech giants even offering $200k+ for early-career security engineers. 

Is CCNP harder than CCNA?

Yes, CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) is significantly harder and more advanced than CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) because it requires deeper technical knowledge, covers more complex topics, and involves passing multiple exams (a core and a concentration) instead of just one, demanding greater study commitment and hands-on experience for advanced roles. While CCNA builds foundational skills, CCNP validates expertise in specialized areas, making it a logical next step for career advancement. 

How many people pass CCNA on first try?

The exam is challenging, and according to Certstaffix, 95 percent of test takers fail on their first attempt. However, that shouldn't put you off because the overall pass rate is still around 85 percent, according to different sources.

Is CCNA higher than Security+?

Neither CCNA nor Security+ is universally "better"; they serve different career paths, with Security+ being a vendor-neutral cybersecurity baseline for general security roles (especially government/DoD), while CCNA is a deeper, vendor-specific networking certification for building network infrastructure on Cisco systems, though both offer strong foundations and entry points into IT, with CCNA often considered harder due to its technical depth. Choose Security+ for broad security principles and CCNA for hands-on network engineering.
 

Is CCNA very difficult?

Yes, the CCNA is widely considered a challenging but achievable certification, especially for beginners, because it requires deep theoretical knowledge plus practical, hands-on configuration skills with Cisco hardware and command-line interfaces (CLI), demanding significant study, labs, and dedication. While some find it harder than CompTIA Network+ due to its Cisco-specific focus and practical labs (Packet Tracer, GNS3), thorough preparation with consistent practice makes passing realistic, even if it takes a few months for many. 

Is Cisco better than CompTIA?

CompTIA provides vendor-neutral IT fundamentals (like Network+ for broad knowledge), focusing on theory and universal concepts, making it a great starting point; while Cisco certifications (like CCNA) are vendor-specific, diving deep into practical, hands-on configuration and management of Cisco hardware, ideal for specializing in enterprise networking, often requiring foundational CompTIA knowledge first. Think of CompTIA as the "what" and "why" of IT, and Cisco as the "how" with a specific, industry-leading brand.
 

What are the 5 levels of Cisco certification?

Cisco has five main certification levels that build upon each other: Entry (e.g., CCST), Associate (e.g., CCNA, DevNet Associate), Professional (e.g., CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security), Expert (e.g., CCIE, CCDE), and the highest level, Architect (CCAr). This structure allows IT professionals to progress from foundational knowledge to specialized, expert-level skills in various technology tracks like Security, Data Center, Collaboration, and Wireless.
 

How valuable is a CCNA certificate?

Possessing a CCNA credential empowers professionals to seek out advanced certifications. It also helps them transition into supervisory roles, catalysing further professional growth. Knowing the importance of CCNA certification helps professionals pursue advanced roles and certifications for career growth.

Is $50,000 a good entry level salary?

Yes, $50k is generally a decent starting salary, often considered middle-class and comfortable for a single person in lower to medium cost-of-living areas, but its value heavily depends on your location, field of work, and expenses, potentially requiring budgeting in expensive cities or certain industries. It's a solid baseline for recent graduates, especially in high-demand fields, and provides a good foundation for career growth, but managing it requires awareness of your local market. 

Is CCNA in high demand?

The demand for CCNA and CCNP certifications is expected to remain strong in 2026, driven by the growing complexity of digital networks and an ongoing need for specialists in networking work.

Can I complete CCNA in 3 months?

Yes, you can complete your CCNA studies in 3 months with a focused and structured study plan. Dedicate consistent daily hours to cover all exam topics and engage in hands-on practice.

What tech jobs pay $400,000 a year?

Tech jobs paying $400k+ are typically senior, specialized roles in high-demand fields like AI/Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Data Science, often at major companies or successful startups, including Principal/Staff Engineers, Engineering Directors, CTOs, AI/ML Scientists, Cloud Architects, Product Managers, and Security Leads, with compensation including base, bonuses, and stock. Roles at companies like OpenAI, Netflix, Google, Netflix, Google, and. 

Why do people quit cybersecurity?

Many cybersecurity professionals are quitting due to a combination of high-pressure work environments, chronic understaffing, and a lack of organizational support and recognition—not primarily because of salary or a lack of opportunities.

What is the 80 20 rule in cyber security?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in cybersecurity means focusing 20% of your efforts on high-impact areas to mitigate 80% of risks, like prioritizing critical vulnerabilities or high-risk users, offering a significant security boost with less resource drain, especially for SMBs. However, some argue this "good enough" approach is dangerous today, as the remaining 20% of unmonitored assets (IoT, cloud, remote access) often hide major threats, demanding a more comprehensive, 100% security posture for modern environments.
 

What jobs can you get with CCNA?

Top Jobs You Can Get with a CCNA Certification

• Network Support Technician. ...
• Network Administrator. ...
• Systems Administrator. ...
• Network Engineer (Entry-Level) ...
• Cybersecurity Analyst. ...
• Cloud Support Associate.

What is the passing score for CCNA?

CCNA exam structure and format

Number of questions: 100-120 questions (Cisco doesn't publish exact numbers, and the count varies per exam) Passing score: Approximately 825 out of 1000 points on Cisco's scaled scoring system (Cisco doesn't officially publish the exact passing score)

How to earn 80 CE credits?

1. Pass one technology core exam and earn 40 CE credits.
2. Pass any two professional concentration exams and earn 40 CE credits.
3. Pass any one professional concentration exam and earn 80 CE credits.