CCNA vs CompTIA Network+: Which Networking Certification Should You Get?
CCNA vs CompTIA Network+: Which Should You Get First?
If you're building a career in IT networking, two certifications dominate the conversation: Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Network+. They both validate networking knowledge — but they serve different purposes and different career stages.
Here's the honest comparison, with no vendor bias.
Quick Comparison Table
| CompTIA Network+ | Cisco CCNA | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Vendor-neutral | Cisco-specific |
| Exam Code | N10-009 | 200-301 |
| Cost | $358 | $300 |
| Questions | 90 max | ~100 |
| Time | 90 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Passing Score | 720/900 | ~825/1000 |
| Difficulty | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Study Time | 4-8 weeks | 12-20 weeks |
| Prerequisites | None | None (Net+ recommended) |
| Renewal | 3 years (CEUs) | 3 years (CEUs or recertify) |
| Average Salary | $65,000 USD / £42,000 GBP | $85,000 USD / £45,000 GBP |
What Each Covers
Network+ (N10-009) — The Broad Foundation
Network+ is designed to prove you understand networking concepts regardless of vendor. It covers:
- Networking Fundamentals (24%): OSI model, topologies, cable types, cloud concepts
- Network Implementations (19%): Routing, switching, wireless, SOHO
- Network Operations (16%): Monitoring, disaster recovery, documentation
- Network Security (19%): Firewalls, access control, physical security
- Network Troubleshooting (22%): Methodology, tools (ping, traceroute, nslookup)
Network+ teaches you the what and why. It's conceptual: you'll learn what a VLAN is, but you won't configure one.
CCNA (200-301) — The Deep Technical Dive
CCNA is a Cisco certification that teaches you to actually build and manage networks:
- Network Fundamentals (20%): Switching, routing, wireless — with Cisco CLI
- Network Access (20%): VLANs, trunking, EtherChannel, spanning tree — you configure all of it
- IP Connectivity (25%): OSPF, static routing, FHRP — deep routing table understanding
- IP Services (10%): NAT, DHCP, QoS, SNMP, NTP
- Security Fundamentals (15%): ACLs, port security, VPN concepts
- Automation & Programmability (10%): REST APIs, JSON, SDN, Ansible basics
CCNA teaches the how. You'll spend 50% of your study time in a lab environment configuring routers and switches. It covers everything Network+ does but 3-4x deeper, plus Cisco-specific configuration.
Which Should You Take First?
Take Network+ first if:
- You're new to IT (0-1 year experience)
- You want a broad foundation before specialising
- You're following the CompTIA trifecta (A+ → Network+ → Security+)
- You're short on study time (4-8 weeks vs 12-20 for CCNA)
- You're not sure you want to focus on networking specifically
Go straight to CCNA if:
- You already have some networking experience (build a home lab, work in IT support)
- You're committed to a networking career path
- You have 12-20 weeks to study intensively
- You want the certification that employers actually filter for
The ideal path (most recommended):
A+ → Network+ → CCNA
- CompTIA A+: Gets you the fundamentals of IT hardware, software, and troubleshooting (2-3 months)
- CompTIA Network+: Adds networking concepts and terminology (1-2 months — easier after A+)
- Cisco CCNA: Deepens everything into hands-on configuration (3-4 months)
Total timeline: 6-9 months from zero to CCNA, which employers strongly respect.
What Employers Actually Think
Network+ opens doors for:
- Help desk / service desk roles
- Junior NOC technician
- IT support specialist
- Entry-level field technician
CCNA opens doors for:
- Network engineer (junior to mid-level)
- NOC engineer
- Network administrator
- Systems engineer with networking focus
The reality: CCNA is the gatekeeper for networking roles. HR departments filter for it. Network+ is respected as a stepping stone but rarely lands you a networking-specific job by itself. The combination of A+ + Network+ + CCNA, however, is one of the most powerful entry-to-mid-level stacks in IT.
Salary Impact by Career Stage
| Stage | Without Certs | With Network+ | With CCNA | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help Desk (0-1 yr) | $35-40K | $40-45K | N/A | $42-48K |
| Junior Network (1-3 yr) | $50-55K | $55-65K | $65-75K | $70-85K |
| Network Engineer (3-5 yr) | $70-80K | $75-85K | $85-100K | $95-110K |
| Senior Network (5+ yr) | $90-100K | $95-110K | $110-135K | $125-145K |
The Bottom Line
Network+ is the best starting point. CCNA is the career accelerator.
If you want a job in networking, you eventually need both — but the order matters. Network+ first builds the conceptual map. CCNA second fills in the hands-on details and gives you the credential that hiring managers actually search for.
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