The CCNA exam itself costs $300 USD. Everything else — training, practice labs, a retake if you need one — is optional spending you control. That single exam fee is the only cost Cisco requires to become CCNA certified.
Below is what the exam costs, what the realistic add-ons are, and how to decide between self-study and an instructor-led class.
How much is the CCNA exam?
Cisco lists the 200-301 CCNA exam at $US300, or payable with Cisco Learning Credits, for a 120-minute exam (cisco.com). There is one exam — CCNA is no longer split into multiple required tests.
Taxes may be added at checkout depending on where you test, and the price is set by Cisco rather than by the testing centre, so shopping around does not lower it.
What does CCNA cost in total?
| Item | Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| 200-301 CCNA exam | $300 | Yes |
| Self-study books and video courses | $0–$300 | No |
| Practice lab (software or used gear) | $0–$500 | No, but strongly advised |
| Instructor-led boot camp | Varies by provider | No |
| Retake, if needed | $300 again | Only if you fail |
A disciplined self-studier with free lab software can be certified for the $300 exam fee alone. Someone who wants structure, an instructor and equipment access will spend more — and often passes sooner.
Is a CCNA boot camp worth the extra cost?
It depends on one thing: whether you will actually do the labs on your own.
Self-study suits people who already work in IT, have network gear or simulator time available, and can hold a study schedule for several months. It is the cheapest route and plenty of engineers have taken it.
Instructor-led training suits people who have tried self-study and stalled, who need lab equipment, or who need to be certified by a deadline for a job or a contract. Our Cisco CCNA Boot Camp (CCNA 200-301) runs five days with hands-on lab work, live online or in class. You can see the rest of our Cisco training too.
A blunt note on value: no course can promise you a pass. What a class buys you is structure, an instructor to ask, and equipment — not a guaranteed result.
What can you earn with a CCNA?
CCNA is a networking credential, so the roles it maps to are network support and administration. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) reports median annual wages of $99,130 for network and computer systems administrators and $76,220 for computer network support specialists.
Those are medians across all experience levels, not starting salaries. A first networking job after certification typically pays below them, and the certificate is one factor among experience, location and employer.
How long does the exam fee stay valid?
If you buy a voucher, Cisco states it is valid for 365 days from purchase, so do not buy one until you have a study plan. Certification itself has a renewal cycle — check Cisco’s current recertification policy before you plan around a specific date, because that policy is Cisco’s to change.
How should you budget for it?
- Book nothing until you can pass practice questions consistently. The retake is the expensive mistake.
- Spend on labs before spending on books. Hands-on time is what the exam tests.
- Ask your employer. Many IT employers reimburse certification exams, and some pay for training outright.
- Check funding. If you are a Florida resident between jobs, workforce programmes sometimes cover IT training.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the CCNA exam cost?
Cisco lists the 200-301 CCNA exam at $300 USD, or payable with Cisco Learning Credits.
Is there more than one exam for CCNA?
No. CCNA is a single 200-301 exam, 120 minutes long.
Does CCNA require a prerequisite certification?
No formal prerequisite. Cisco recommends practical networking familiarity first, which is why many candidates start with networking fundamentals.
How much does it cost if I fail and retake?
A retake is another full exam fee, so $300 again. That is the main reason to delay booking until your practice scores are consistent.
Can my employer pay for my CCNA?
Often, yes. Many IT employers reimburse exam fees or sponsor training; ask before you pay out of pocket.
Is CCNA still worth it in 2026?
It remains one of the most widely recognised networking credentials, and networking knowledge underpins cloud and security work. Whether it is worth it for you depends on the roles you are targeting.
Written by The Code Academy, Miami. Last updated October 2026.
