CCST Networking and CCNA in one table
| Field | CCST Networking | CCNA |
|---|---|---|
| Exam code (differs) | 100-150 | 200-301 |
| Level (differs) | Entry | Associate |
| Exam length (differs) | 50 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Exam fee (US, plus tax) (differs) | US$125 | US$300 or Cisco Learning Credits |
| Languages (differs) | English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese | English, Japanese |
| Validity (differs) | 5 years, if earned on or after July 15, 2025 | 3 years |
| Formal prerequisite | None | None |
| Cisco’s framing (differs) | “A first step toward CCNA certification” | Assumes little to no networking knowledge; aimed at entry-to-mid-level IT professionals |
≠ marks rows where the two differ.
Sources: Cisco CCST Networking exam page; Cisco CCNA exam page and certification page; Cisco exam policies for validity.
What “first step” means on the map
The phrase comes from Cisco’s CCST Networking exam page, and it describes a direction of travel. CCST sits one rung below the CCNA on the Cisco certification path, and its 50-minute exam stays at the fundamentals that 200-301 then covers across six domains in 120 minutes.
A first step is optional, though. The CCNA requirements page records what Cisco states about entry to the associate exam. You can sit 200-301 without a CCST, and a CCST does not shorten or waive any part of it.
The two credentials also age differently. A CCST earned on or after July 15, 2025 stays valid for five years; a CCNA for three, renewable by exam or 30 CE credits (see CCNA renewal).
Dates that shape the choice
- July 15, 2025
CCST five-year validity begins
CCST certifications earned on or after this date are valid for five years, per Cisco’s exam policies.
- Now
CCNA v1.1 is the exam you book
Code 200-301, 120 minutes, per the Cisco CCNA exam page.
- February 2027
CCNA moves to v2.0
Same code, a reorganized topic list; the CCNA version page has the exact dates. A CCST taken now still counts as preparation under either version.
Matching the exam to where you start
- CCST Networking first
- You are new to IT, want a shorter exam to test how Cisco exams feel, or need the credential in a language the CCNA is not offered in. The 50-minute sitting and five-year validity suit a support or help-desk start.
- CCNA directly
- You already work with addressing and switching, or you are prepared to put in lab hours at the IOS command line. One exam covers the whole associate blueprint, from IPv4 subnetting to automation and APIs.
- Both, in sequence
- CCST as a checkpoint, then the CCNA. The fees add up (US$125 plus US$300, plus tax, per Cisco’s exam pages), and the CCST material carries straight into the 200-301 study areas.
- Neither yet: a vendor-neutral start
- If your employer runs mixed hardware, CompTIA’s Network+ is the vendor-neutral alternative; CCNA vs Network+ compares it field by field.
References
- [1]Cisco: CCST Networking exam page100-150 length, fee, languages, “first step” wording. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [2]Cisco: exam policiesvalidity periods. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [3]Cisco: 200-301 CCNA exam pagelength, languages, fee. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [4]Cisco: CCNA certification page and FAQprerequisites, audience, validity. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [5]Cisco Learning Network: certification roadmapsv2.0 timing. Checked October 29, 2026.