The three-year window
- Pass day
Certification starts
Passing 200-301 opens a three-year validity period.
- Years 1 to 3
Pick a route early
CE credits can accumulate over the whole window; an exam route needs study time before the deadline.
- Feb 3, 2027
v2.0 becomes the current exam
From then on, renewing by retake means the v2.0 blueprint; the current CCNA version page tracks the change.
- 6 months before expiry
Book or count
Book the exam you chose, or check that the credits add up to 30.
- End of year 3
Deadline
One of the three routes must be complete by the expiration date.
Three routes side by side
| Route detail | Current CCNA exam | Higher-level exam | 30 CE credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you do | Pass 200-301 again | Pass any higher-level Cisco certification exam, such as 350-401 ENCOR | Collect 30 credits through Cisco’s Continuing Education program |
| Exam fee (Cisco list) | US$300 plus tax | ENCOR: US$400 plus tax | No exam fee; cost depends on the activities you choose |
| What else it earns | Nothing beyond the renewal | ENCOR alone earns Cisco Certified Specialist, Enterprise Core; with a concentration exam, CCNP Enterprise | Nothing beyond the renewal |
| Study load | The current CCNA blueprint | Professional-level topics | Spread across three years |
Fees from the CCNA exam page and the CCNP Enterprise page; local pricing varies. Credit rules from the recertification policy.
Choosing a route by where you are heading
The renewal decision is really a direction decision. Engineers moving toward the professional tier get the most from the middle column: the ENCOR exam renews the CCNA and counts toward CCNP Enterprise in the same sitting. The Cisco certification path shows the rungs above, and CCNA vs CCNP compares the two levels exam by exam.
Staying at the associate level points to either of the other two columns. Retaking 200-301 is one 120-minute exam, but once v2.0 is the current version it means the v2.0 blueprint, which adds OSPFv3, storm control, RA guard, DNS record types, SFTP and SCP, and agentic AI, and goes deeper on switched virtual interfaces (SVIs) and Power over Ethernet (PoE) port settings (Cisco v2.0 exam topics). Credits suit anyone who already takes Cisco training during the year and would rather not schedule an exam.
Whichever route you pick, put the expiration date in a calendar the day you pass and set a reminder about six months ahead. Pearson VUE slots in the US and Canada open up to six weeks ahead (Cisco FAQ), and a failed attempt starts the wait described in the CCNA retake policy. Leaving the renewal exam to the final week leaves no room for either.
Renewal questions, answered
How long is a CCNA valid?
Three years from certification, per Cisco’s CCNA page.
How much does CCNA renewal cost?
By exam, the Cisco list fee is US$300 plus tax for 200-301 or US$400 for ENCOR; local pricing varies. The CE route has no exam fee; its cost follows the activities you pick.
How many CE credits renew a CCNA?
30, per Cisco’s recertification policy.
Does passing a CCNP exam renew my CCNA?
Yes. Cisco counts any higher-level Cisco certification exam, so a professional-level exam such as ENCOR renews it.
Does passing CCST Networking renew a CCNA?
No. CCST sits below the CCNA on the ladder, and Cisco’s renewal rule counts the current CCNA exam or a higher-level exam.
References
- [1]Cisco: CCNA certification page and FAQvalidity and recertification options. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [2]Cisco: recertification policy30 CE credits for Associate. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [3]Cisco: CCNA exam page200-301 fee. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [4]Cisco: CCNP EnterpriseENCOR fee, no prerequisites. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [5]Cisco Learning Network: CCNA v2.0 exam topicstopics new or deeper in v2.0. Checked October 29, 2026.