Do Cisco certifications expire?

Yes, most Cisco certifications (Associate, Professional, Specialist, Expert) expire after three years, requiring recertification through exams or Continuing Education (CE) credits to stay valid, while entry-level CCST certifications are lifetime. You must proactively renew them before the expiration date to maintain your certified status, with options like passing higher-level exams or earning CE credits to extend your validity for another three years.

Do you have to renew Cisco certification?

Most Cisco certifications are active for three years. You can keep your certification active by recertifying at any point during those 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. 

Do CCNAS expire?

Yes, the CCNA expires – after three (3) years. Just like all of Cisco's certifications, the CCNA lasts for three years, and you can recertify during that window.

How do I renew my expired Cisco certification?

Your certification is valid for three years. To recertify, you must retake and pass the Cisco AI Technical Practitioner (820-605 CSM) exam before your certification expires. Continuing Education credits cannot be used to recertify.

How to Re-certify #Cisco #ccna #ccnp using #free Continuous Education (CE) Credits #encore

Do all certifications expire?

​Do credentials expire? Yes. All credentials will have an expiration date and will require renewal to ensure currency.

How much does a Cisco certificate cost?

Cisco certification exam prices vary by level, with entry-level exams like the CCNA costing around $300 USD, Professional-level (CCNP) core exams around $400 and concentration exams $300, while Expert-level (CCIE) practical exams are significantly higher, at $1,600 to $1,900, plus potential lab fees, though training costs can add $1,000-$4,000+. 

Is CCNA or CCNP higher?

CCNA is an associate-level certification that evaluates a professional's understanding of switching and routing fundamentals. In contrast, CCNP is an advanced certification that demands a more in-depth knowledge of WANs, LANs, and their integration.

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.

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.

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. 

What is the hardest Cisco exam?

The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is widely regarded as Cisco's most challenging certification. Earning the CCIE requires passing both a rigorous written exam and an extensive eight-hour, hands-on lab exam.

What is harder, CCNA or CISSP?

The CISSP is generally considered more challenging than the CCNA due to its broad and in-depth coverage of cybersecurity topics and its requirement for extensive experience. The CCNA, focusing on networking and specifically Cisco systems, is more technical but narrower in scope.

Is CCNA changing in 2026?

Very helpful. In this regard, I came across the news that beginning Feb. 3, 2026, Cybersecurity certifications will get new names: CCNA Cybersecurity and CCNP Cybersecurity. Exam topics will remain the same.

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.
 

Does CCNA require coding?

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a certification program that validates networking knowledge and skills, preparing individuals for various IT networking roles. CCNA does not require coding, but understanding basic scripting can be beneficial for automation tasks.

Is CCNA a hard exam?

The CCNA exam (200-301) is considered challenging but manageable, requiring dedication, consistent study, and hands-on practice with Cisco Packet Tracer or real equipment, especially for beginners, due to its broad scope covering network fundamentals, IP connectivity, security, and automation with practical labs and command-line interface (CLI) tasks. While high first-attempt failure rates are sometimes cited, success hinges on dedicated, structured study and practical application, not just memorization, making it a significant but attainable hurdle for aspiring network professionals. 

How much does CCNA cost?

The CCNA exam cost is typically $300 USD, but total costs vary widely, from under $100 for self-study with free resources (like Packet Tracer and YouTube videos and Udemy courses), to several thousand dollars for instructor-led bootcamps ($2,200 - $4,500+) or official Cisco training packages that include vouchers and learning paths ($800+).
 

Is CCNA still relevant in 2025?

If your goal is to build a serious career in enterprise networking, infrastructure security, or even cloud networking, then yes, Cisco certifications are still worth it in 2025.

Can I get a job with just network+?

Yes, the CompTIA Network+ certification absolutely helps you get an IT job, validating foundational skills for roles like Network Technician, Help Desk Specialist, IT Support, and Network Administrator, serving as a strong starting point or complement to hands-on experience, and proving competency to employers for various entry-level to advanced positions in networking and telecommunications. 

What is the highest paying Cisco certification?

The Top-Paying Cisco Certifications

• CCNP Data Center pays on average $152,793.
• CCNP Enterprise pays on average $144,912.
• Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist pays on average $141,008.
• CCNP Collaboration pays on average $134,694.
• Cisco Certified Cybersecurity Associate pays on average $130,611.
• CCNA pays on average $112,333.

What Cisco courses are most in demand?

When we talk about the most demanded Cisco certifications, the names that come to our mind are CCNA, CCNP Routing & Switching, CCNP Security, CCIE Routing & Switching, CCIE Security, CCNP and CCIE Data Center.

Is CCNA harder than Network+?

Yes, the Cisco CCNA is generally considered significantly harder than the CompTIA Network+ because it's vendor-specific, goes deeper into routing/switching with Cisco CLI commands, and requires more hands-on labs, whereas Network+ focuses on broad, vendor-neutral networking theory, making it a good entry point before tackling CCNA's in-depth, practical application. Network+ covers foundational concepts (like TCP/IP, subnets, Wi-Fi), while CCNA builds on this with specific protocols (OSPF, EIGRP) and configuring real equipment or simulators (Packet Tracer).