Self-study, free materials
about $300
- Jeremy's IT Lab video course (YouTube)free
- Cisco Packet Tracerfree
- LabFabric free guided labs and 50 questionsfree
- CCNA exam$300
How much does the CCNA cost?
Updated 23 October 2026 · Prices from Cisco, CompTIA, ISC2 and Boson
The CCNA 200-301 exam costs US$300 per attempt, plus local tax.
A retake costs the full fee again, unless you buy Cisco's Exam Safeguard Plus (US$450 for the exam plus a second attempt within 90 days). With free study materials your total can stay close to $300. The example budgets below run from about $300 to $1,100 before tax.
Cisco and related exam prices
US list prices per attempt, before tax. Where a local figure is shown, it is an approximate conversion; Pearson VUE charges the exact amount in your currency at checkout. Cisco also accepts Cisco Learning Credits.
| Exam | Code | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCNA | 200-301 | $300 | Associate. Routing, switching, services, security, automation basics. |
| CCNA Automation | 200-901 CCNAAUTO | $300 | Formerly DevNet Associate. Network programmability and automation. |
| CCNA Cybersecurity | 200-201 CCNACBR | $300 | Formerly CyberOps Associate. SOC monitoring and analysis. |
| CCNP Enterprise core (ENCOR) | 350-401 | $400 | Core exam. Also the qualifying exam for the CCIE lab. |
| CCNP concentration exam | 300-4xx | $300 | One needed with ENCOR for CCNP Enterprise (US$700 total). |
| CompTIA Network+ | N10-009 | $399 | Vendor-neutral networking. |
| CompTIA Security+ | SY0-701 | $439 | Vendor-neutral security baseline. |
| CISSP | CISSP | $749 | Senior security. Normally needs five years of experience across two domains (a degree can waive one). |
CCNA exam cost in the UK
Cisco sets the fee in US dollars. Pearson VUE shows the price in pounds, with any applicable tax, at checkout, so check the final figure there before you pay. Budget for more than the $300 headline once currency conversion and VAT are included.
CCNA 2.0: does the price change?
Cisco announced CCNA 200-301 v2.0 in May 2026. The last day to sit v1.1 is 2 February 2027 and v2.0 starts on 3 February 2027. The exam code and 120-minute length stay the same, and the current list price is US$300. Confirm the price when you book. Both versions give you the same three-year certification. See how LabFabric maps to the v2.0 objectives.
Total CCNA certification cost: three realistic budgets
The exam is the only fixed cost. Course fees depend on how you learn.
Self-study plus practice exams
$399 plus optional extras
- Free course and Packet Tracerfree
- Boson ExSim-Max for CCNA$99 / year
- Official Cert Guide or LabFabric Learning Passvaries
- CCNA exam$300
Official Cisco training
about $1,100
- Cisco U. CCNA learning path (180 days)about $800
- CCNA exam$300
Comparing the study options themselves? Read LabFabric vs Jeremy's IT Lab, Boson and Cisco U.
CCNA course fees
You do not have to take a course to sit the exam. Cisco's own CCNA course, Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions, runs about US$800 through Cisco U. for 180 days of access, and instructor-led bootcamps from training partners usually cost several thousand dollars. Free full courses, such as Jeremy's IT Lab, cover the CCNA blueprint. In our view the weak spot of most self-study plans is hands-on troubleshooting, which is the gap LabFabric guided labs fill.
Keeping the cost down
- Book only once you score well on timed practice. A failed attempt doubles the exam cost, so consider Exam Safeguard Plus if you are unsure.
- Use the free CCNA 200-301 exam topics PDF as your checklist.
- Practise in a browser before paying for hardware. Subnetting alone is worth daily drills.
- Students at Cisco Networking Academy schools can get exam discount vouchers. Ask your instructor.
Is it worth $300?
US network support specialists earned a median of $76,220 in May 2025, and network administrators $99,130. The CCNA is relevant to both. See the CCNA salary trend chart.
Try a free CCNA lab firstPrices last checked 2026-10-23 against Cisco, CompTIA, ISC2, Boson and Cisco U. partner listings. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm at checkout. LabFabric is independent and not affiliated with Cisco Systems.