CredenTrek For Cisco CCNA
Choose It Right. Pass It Smart. Turn It into a Career.
CCNA changes in February 2027. Choose the right version before you spend a single hour.
Cisco is replacing v1.1 with v2.0, which adds troubleshooting and AI. Candidates read for months without a lab, study every topic equally, miss the cut-over or arrive without two signed IDs. This book shows you the whole exam on one map and every decision around it.
In publication on Amazon. The buttons appear here as soon as the listing is live.
Edition 2026.2 · Verified 9 October 2026. All 29 v2.0 topics and the 53 v1.1 topics verified against Cisco's 200-301 CCNA v2.0 and v1.1 exam topics documents.
Where candidates go wrong
CCNA is the best-known networking credential in the world, and that reputation hides how much it asks. Candidates read a thick book, then meet configuration and troubleshooting tasks they have never typed. They study every topic evenly when IP connectivity and switching carry the most weight.
The timing in 2026 adds a new trap. Cisco will replace v1.1 with v2.0 on 3 February 2027, and v2.0 asks for more troubleshooting and adds AI. Candidates who start slowly on v1.1 can miss the window, and others buy v2.0 material before the exam exists. Many pass and still cannot show an employer what they can do.
The gap this book fills
CCNA books usually teach the content in depth, chapter after chapter, and video courses teach commands. Few show you the whole exam on one map, with both versions side by side, and then help with every decision around it. This book does both, and checks every changeable fact against Cisco's own documents.
CCNA at a glance
These facts were checked against Cisco's CCNA pages, both exam topics documents, Cisco's exam policies and Cisco's announcement of July 2026. Confirm them on cisco.com before you act.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credential | Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) |
| Issuing body | Cisco |
| Level | Associate |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Current exam | 200-301 CCNA v1.1; last day to test 2 February 2027 |
| New exam | 200-301 CCNA v2.0; first day to test 3 February 2027 |
| Format | 120 minutes; Cisco does not publish the number of questions or the pass mark |
| Exam fee | US$300, plus any tax, or Cisco Learning Credits |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE test centre or online proctored |
| Languages | English and Japanese |
| Validity | Three years; renew by exam or 30 continuing education credits |
What changed with v2.0
Cisco announced v2.0 in 2026. It goes live on 3 February 2027, and v1.1 closes on 2 February 2027. Cisco describes it as a refresh, not an overhaul: the fundamentals stay, troubleshooting grows, and security and AI run through the whole exam.
| Domain | v1.1 (until 2 Feb 2027) | v2.0 (from 3 Feb 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Network Fundamentals (v1.1); Network Infrastructure and Connectivity (v2.0) | 20% | 25% |
| Network Access (v1.1); Switching and Network Access (v2.0) | 20% | 25% |
| IP Connectivity (v1.1); IP Routing (v2.0) | 25% | 20% |
| IP Services (v1.1) and Security Fundamentals (v1.1); Network Services and Security (v2.0) | 10% and 15% | 20% |
| Automation and Programmability (v1.1); AI, and Network Operations and Management (v2.0) | 10% | 10% |
| Number of domains | 6 | 5 |
Table 5.1 · Domain weights for v1.1 and v2.0, from Cisco's exam topics documents. Rows pair each v2.0 domain with the v1.1 domains it mostly replaces.
Four changes matter most. Troubleshooting and diagnosis appear across the topic list. OSPFv3 joins OSPFv2, and first hop redundancy is now named: HSRP and VRRP. Two new topics cover agentic AI and writing prompts for generative AI in network operations. Several v1.1 topics no longer appear as listed topics, including NTP, QoS, REST APIs, JSON and wireless controller GUI configuration.
What you will learn
You will learn what the CCNA exam tests in full. That means the six domains of the current v1.1 exam, and the five domains and 29 topics of v2.0. Each v2.0 topic is matched to its closest v1.1 topic, so you can see exactly what moves, what is new and what leaves. You will test yourself with 16 practice questions.
Around that content, you will learn how to choose between v1.1 and v2.0 and plan your study and lab hours. You will also learn how to book, meet the identity rules, budget, contact Cisco and turn the credential into network work.
What you will have at the end
| Output | Where you build it |
|---|---|
| A written go or no-go decision and your version choice | Chapter 3 |
| An identity and booking readiness checklist | Chapter 4 |
| A self-rating on all 29 v2.0 topics | Chapter 5 |
| A weekly study and lab plan split by domain | Chapter 7 and Appendix B |
| A three-level budget | Chapter 9 and Appendix C |
| Six message templates for Cisco and Pearson VUE | Chapter 10 and Appendix D |
| A job search, salary and service plan | Chapters 11 to 13 |
| CV lines, two lab projects and interview stories | Chapter 14 and Appendix F |
| A renewal plan for your three-year cycle | Chapter 15 |
| Your score on 16 practice questions | Appendix G |
Sixteen chapters in six stages
- 1What CCNA Really Is
- 2The Professional Picture
- 3Is It Right for You Now?
- 4Eligibility and Requirements
- 5The Exam Map
- 6Choosing Your Study Route
- 7Your Adaptive Study Plan
- 8Scheduling and Exam Day
- 9Costs and Budget
- 10Official Communication
- 11Where It Is Valued Most
- 12Reading Salaries by Region
- 13Freelancing and Consulting
- 14Turning It into Career Proof
- 15Keeping It Active
- 16What Comes Next
Appendices. A. Official Sources Map · B. Weekly Plan Template · C. Budget Template · D. Message Templates · E. Exam-Day Checklist · F. CV and LinkedIn Template · G. Practice Questions · H. Glossary
Try three practice questions
Three of the book's 16 questions, written for the book in the style of the exam. They are not Cisco questions.
How many usable host addresses does the subnet 192.168.10.0/26 provide?
- A30
- B62
- C64
- D126
Show answer
A host has the address 10.1.1.70/27. The gateway uses the first usable address in the subnet. What is it?
- A10.1.1.1
- B10.1.1.64
- C10.1.1.65
- D10.1.1.95
Show answer
Interface output shows many late collisions on a link between a switch and a server. What is the most likely cause?
- AA duplex mismatch
- BA wrong IP address
- CA missing VLAN
- DAn OSPF timer mismatch
Show answer
Paperback and Kindle
For IT support staff, junior network technicians, students and career changers who want to work with networks.
In publication on Amazon. The buttons appear here as soon as the listing is live.
Companion reading and kit
Search links on Amazon for items candidates often use alongside this book. We do not review them; check that any edition matches your exam version.
- CCNA 200-301 cert guidesSearch on Amazon ↗
- A managed switch for a home labSearch on Amazon ↗
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Independent publication. Not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Cisco. Cisco and CCNA are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.