| Level | Credential and exam structure | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | CCST, the foundational credential for entry-level IT roles | Suits people with no networking background who want a first Cisco credential before CCNA. |
| Associate | CCNA, earned by passing a single exam, 200-301 | The standard starting point for network roles and the base for every higher Cisco level. |
| Professional | CCNP, earned with a core exam plus a concentration exam (Enterprise: 350-401 ENCOR plus a concentration) | Plan two exams, not one, and choose the concentration to match the job. |
| Expert | CCIE, a written qualification exam plus an eight-hour hands-on lab | A long-term goal for engineers with deep configuration experience. |
| Architect | CCAr, which requires a valid CCDE and a board review rather than an exam | The top of the ladder, reached through design expertise rather than more exam study. |
Level definitions follow the overview on Spoto’s Cisco certification guide, and the CCNP Enterprise exam code follows Uninets’ Cisco certifications list.
The Cisco certification path runs from CCST through CCNA and CCNP to CCIE, with CCAr above it. After CCNA, the usual next step is CCNP, which needs a core exam plus a concentration exam.
Anyone still comparing vendors before committing to Cisco can start with which it certification should i get. The sections below follow the ladder in the order most candidates meet it.
Entry and associate level: CCST and CCNA
Cisco certification has five primary levels: Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert and Architect, according to Spoto’s overview. The first two are where most newcomers begin.
CCST as an optional first step
Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) is the foundational starting point. It validates the essential skills needed for entry-level IT roles. It suits people who are new to IT and want a lower first hurdle. Candidates who already work with networks can reasonably go straight to CCNA.
Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) is listed separately as a support-level credential in Uninets’ certification list. It sits beside the main ladder rather than on it.
CCNA as the single associate exam
CCNA is earned by passing one comprehensive exam, 200-301. Cisco folded its earlier CCNA specializations, such as CCNA Security and CCNA Wireless, into this single certification. Specialization now happens at the Professional level, so CCNA is deliberately broad.
Candidates who want structured teaching can look at CompTIA’s Cisco networking course, which is aimed at learners preparing for the 200-301 exam.
A sensible order for this phase:
- Decide whether CCST fits your starting point or whether CCNA is the realistic first target.
- Prepare for and pass 200-301.
- Pick a professional-level direction before starting new study, because specialization begins there.
Professional level: the CCNP Enterprise exam path
CCNP requires two exams: a core exam and a concentration exam. For CCNP Enterprise, the core exam is 350-401 ENCOR, and the concentration is chosen from several options. Passing the core alone does not complete the certification.
Core and concentration exams
The core exam covers the broad enterprise networking material, and the concentration exam narrows the focus. Uninets gives two examples of concentration choices.
| Exam component | Exam code | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Core exam | 350-401 ENCOR | Take this first to set the enterprise foundation that the concentration builds on. |
| Concentration: advanced routing | 300-410 ENARSI | Fits roles centred on routing and large enterprise networks. |
| Concentration: wireless | 300-430 ENWLSI | Fits roles centred on enterprise wireless design and support. |
Exam codes and concentration examples come from Uninets’ Cisco certifications list, which also notes other concentration and specialist exams in the catalog.
Planning the two exams
Because Cisco moved specialization up to the Professional level, the concentration is where the choice about your career direction is made. Choose it from the tasks your job or target job actually involves. A routing-heavy engineer gains more from advanced routing than from a wireless exam, and the reverse holds for wireless specialists.
- Pass the core exam, 350-401 ENCOR.
- Select a concentration that matches your role.
- Pass the concentration exam to complete CCNP Enterprise.
Study for the professional exams is hands-on as well as theoretical, so lab time on real or simulated equipment matters. Candidates who plan to sit exams remotely can review the pearson vue online proctored exam requirements before booking.
Expert and architect levels: CCIE and CCAr
CCIE is the expert tier, and it is earned through a written qualification exam followed by an eight-hour, hands-on lab exam. The lab is the main difference from lower levels, because it tests configuration and troubleshooting work in practice rather than recall.
The architect tier works differently. Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) is open only to candidates who already hold a valid Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) certification, and it is awarded after a board review. Plan CCAr as a design-career milestone, not as the next exam after CCIE.
For most readers, CCIE is a destination to approach after professional-level experience. The lab format suits engineers who configure and repair networks regularly and who can commit months of practice time to it. Engineers who mainly design networks may find the CCDE route a closer match.
Retired and renamed Cisco certifications
Cisco’s current structure emphasises three tiers, CCNA, then CCNP, then CCIE, instead of the older many-branched layout. Several earlier names no longer appear on the main ladder.
- CCNA specializations merged. CCNA Security and CCNA Wireless, along with other earlier CCNA specializations, were consolidated into the single CCNA, as Spoto’s guide explains.
- DevNet became Automation. Cisco Certified DevNet Associate was renamed CCNA Automation, and DevNet Expert became CCIE Automation, according to Uninets.
- CyberOps became Cybersecurity. The CyberOps certifications were rebranded as CCNA Cybersecurity and CCNP Cybersecurity.
- Timing of the latest changes. Uninets lists the most recent track changes as effective from February 2026.
The practical consequence is that older study guides, job adverts and CVs may use names that no longer match the current catalog. Match any older title to its renamed equivalent before buying materials.
Choosing a track by role
After CCNA, the track you choose should follow the work you want to do. The professional tier offers several routes, and the list below maps common roles to them using the track names in Uninets’ list.
- Enterprise networking and wireless. CCNP Enterprise, with concentrations such as advanced routing or wireless, suits campus and branch network engineers.
- Security. The Cybersecurity track, with CCNA Cybersecurity and CCNP Cybersecurity, is the route for security operations roles and replaces the older CyberOps names.
- Automation. The Automation track covers CCNA Automation, CCNP and CCIE Automation, and fits engineers who script and program network changes. This is the successor to the DevNet track.
- Data center. CCNP Data Center is a listed professional track for engineers who run data center infrastructure.
Engineers whose work leans toward service management rather than device configuration can pair Cisco study with a vendor-neutral credential such as itil 4 foundation exam preparation.
Troubleshooting common planning problems
- Unsure which concentration to pick. Review the day-to-day tasks in the job you want, then choose the concentration that mirrors them. Routing and wireless are separate exams with separate codes, so the choice is not interchangeable.
- Tempted to jump straight to expert level. The hands-on lab is a different kind of test from the associate exam. Treat CCNP-level experience as the preparation for it.
- Tracks seem to overlap. Security, automation and data center each have their own named track. Start at the associate or professional entry point of the track that matches your role and ignore the rest.
Frequently asked questions
How rare is the CCIE certification?
Spoto’s guide estimates that only about 3% of Cisco-certified engineers reach CCIE, which reflects the demands of the written exam and the hands-on lab.
Is there a recertification route for CCIE holders?
Yes. Global Knowledge describes a Continuing Education Program designed for current CCIE or CCDE holders. It also notes that supplemental exams earn credit toward recertification on all paths.
How many Cisco certifications exist?
The main ladder is only a small part of that catalog.
What is Cisco Certified Technician?
CCT is a support-level credential listed alongside the main certifications. It is separate from the CCST, CCNA, CCNP and CCIE ladder.
