The two exams, field by field
| Point of comparison | CCNA 200-301 | Network+ N10-009 |
|---|---|---|
| Owner (differs) | Cisco | CompTIA |
| Scope (differs) | Networking on Cisco equipment: IOS routers and switches, wireless LAN controllers, controller-based management | Vendor-neutral networking: concepts, implementation, operations, security, troubleshooting |
| Exam length (differs) | 120 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Number of questions (differs) | Not published by Cisco | A maximum of 90, per CompTIA |
| Item types (differs) | Performance-based, multiple choice, drag-and-drop | Multiple choice and performance-based |
| Result needed to pass (differs) | Not published; your score report shows it for your exam | 720 on a 100–900 scale |
| Languages (differs) | English, Japanese | English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish |
| Recommended background (differs) | No formal prerequisite; Cisco says it assumes little to no networking knowledge | CompTIA A+ plus 9 to 12 months as a junior network administrator or support technician |
| Exam fee (differs) | US$300 or Cisco Learning Credits, plus tax (Cisco exam page) | Not shown on CompTIA’s certification page |
| Version status (differs) | v1.1 now; v2.0 from February 2027 under the same code | N10-009, launched June 20, 2024; CompTIA estimates retirement in 2027 |
| Validity | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewal routes (differs) | Pass the current CCNA exam or any higher-level Cisco exam, or earn 30 CE credits | A CertMaster CE course, a higher-level CompTIA certification, a non-CompTIA IT certification, the newest exam version, or a mix of CE activities |
≠ marks rows where the two differ.
Cisco: exam page, certification page and policies. CompTIA: Network+ page and How to Renew page. Network+ validity runs from the date you earn it. Network+ pricing sits in CompTIA’s store, not on the certification page, so it is left out here.
Where the two overlap and where they part
Lay the two outlines side by side and the shared core is wide: the OSI and TCP/IP models, IPv4 subnetting, IPv6 address types, VLANs and trunking, wireless standards, the common ports, and the security basics of AAA and access control. A learner who has built that layer for one exam has most of the vocabulary for the other.
The routes split at the keyboard. Network+ describes how a technology works and how to troubleshoot it without naming a vendor. The CCNA topic list is written around Cisco configuration and verification: an OSPF process, an 802.1Q trunk with its native VLAN, an access list applied to the right interface in the right direction, a static route with an administrative distance that makes it a backup. Cisco’s certification FAQ frames the CCNA around installing, configuring and troubleshooting Cisco-based enterprise networks.
Format differs too. Cisco lists performance-based, multiple-choice and drag-and-drop items for 200-301 and does not publish a question count; CompTIA publishes a ceiling of 90 questions mixing multiple choice and performance-based items. The CCNA exam format and length page walks through what Cisco does and does not state about the 120 minutes.
Both are due to move around 2027
The CCNA switches to its v2.0 topic list in February 2027 under the same code (the CCNA version page has the dates). For Network+, CompTIA says an exam usually retires about three years after launch and estimates 2027 for N10-009; that date is CompTIA’s estimate, not a fixed retirement day.
Who each one fits
| Your situation | The fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Help desk or field support across mixed hardware | Network+ | Vendor-neutral concepts carry across whatever gear the site runs |
| Junior role on a Cisco campus or branch network | CCNA | The daily work is IOS show commands and configuration, which the 200-301 topics cover |
| Already hold CompTIA A+ and follow CompTIA’s sequence | Network+ | CompTIA recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months of hands-on work before it |
| No IT background, aiming at network engineering | Either, in either order | CCNA has no formal prerequisite; Cisco also offers CCST Networking as an entry step |
| Plan to continue to CCNP Enterprise | CCNA | Same vendor and the same IOS command line, one rung up |
A fit, not a ranking: neither credential is a prerequisite for the other, and some engineers hold both.
How the CCNA continues from here
Network+ sits on CompTIA’s ladder; the CCNA is the associate rung of Cisco’s. Above it are the professional certifications such as CCNP Enterprise, and below it the entry-level CCST exams. The Cisco certification path page lays out that ladder, and CCNA vs CCST Networking covers the step below the associate exam.
If the CCNA is your next move, the fee is US$300 or Cisco Learning Credits, plus tax, per the Cisco CCNA exam page; the amount in your currency is the one shown at checkout. The CCNA exam cost page covers vouchers and Exam Safeguard Plus.
Network+ and CCNA, answered
Do I need Network+ before the CCNA?
No. Cisco lists no formal prerequisite for the CCNA (Cisco CCNA certification page), and Network+ is a separate CompTIA track. Either can come first.
Is the Network+ result scale the same as the CCNA’s?
No published match exists. CompTIA states 720 on a 100–900 scale for N10-009. Cisco does not publish a passing score for 200-301; your score report shows the result for your exam. See what Cisco publishes about scoring.
Which one lasts longer before renewal?
Neither: both run three years. Cisco renews the CCNA by exam or 30 CE credits (Cisco recertification policy); CompTIA renews Network+ through its continuing-education options or the newest exam version (CompTIA How to Renew).
How long is each exam?
CCNA 200-301: 120 minutes (Cisco exam page). Network+ N10-009: 90 minutes (CompTIA Network+ page).
References
- [1]Cisco: 200-301 CCNA exam pagelength, languages, fee. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [2]Cisco: CCNA certification page and FAQprerequisites, validity, recertification. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [3]Cisco: recertification policythree-year cycle, CE credits. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [4]Cisco Learning Network: CCNA exam topicsitem types. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [5]CompTIA: Network+ certification pageN10-009 length, item limit, scale, languages, dates, recommended experience. Checked October 29, 2026.
- [6]CompTIA: How to Renew Your CompTIA Certificationthree-year expiry and renewal options. Checked October 29, 2026.