CCNA vs Network+: Which Exam First?

The short version

Choose Network+ N10-009 if you want vendor-neutral networking concepts and a broad base across hardware, security, and troubleshooting. Choose CCNA 200-301 if you plan to work with Cisco equipment or want a deeper, command-line-heavy exam. Many people take Network+ first and the CCNA second, but neither vendor requires that order. If you take only one, pick the one your target employers ask for.

Side-by-side table

Item	CCNA 200-301 (v2.0 topics)	CompTIA Network+ N10-009
Vendor	Cisco	CompTIA
Level	Associate	CompTIA recommends A+ and 9 to 12 months of experience
Style	Cisco platforms and command line	Vendor-neutral concepts
Time	120 minutes	90 minutes
Questions	Number not published	Maximum of 90, multiple-choice and performance-based
Passing score	Not published	720 on a scale of 100 to 900
Languages	English, Japanese	English, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
Prerequisites	None	None required; A+ and experience recommended
Validity	Three years	Three years
Renewal	Pass the current or a higher-level Cisco exam, or earn 30 CE credits	CE credits or a higher-level CompTIA certification
Retake rule	Five calendar days after a fail	No wait for the second attempt; 14 days for the third and later

All values were checked on Cisco and CompTIA pages on October 22, 2026. CompTIA says Network+ N10-009 launched June 20, 2024 and is usually retired about three years after launch (estimated 2027). Cisco Press gives February 3, 2027 as the first CCNA v2.0 testing date.

What each exam covers

CCNA v2.0 domains: Network Infrastructure and Connectivity (25%), Switching and Network Access (25%), IP Routing (20%), Network Services and Security (20%), and AI, and Network Operations and Management (10%).

N10-009 domains: Networking Concepts (23%), Network Implementation (20%), Network Operations (19%), Network Security (14%), and Network Troubleshooting (24%).

Overlap and differences

Overlap. Both cover the OSI and TCP/IP layers, IP addressing and subnetting, VLANs, routing basics, wireless, DHCP and DNS, and basic security. If you learn one thoroughly, the other feels familiar.

Differences.

The CCNA goes deeper into Cisco configuration: Rapid PVST+, OSPF, EtherChannel, NAT, ACLs, and show output.
Network+ covers more physical and general topics, such as cabling, distribution frames, and troubleshooting methodology, and names topics like SD-WAN, VXLAN, and zero trust in CompTIA’s description of the new version.
Network+ has performance-based questions in its format. Cisco’s pages we read do not list CCNA question types.
The CCNA v2.0 adds a short AI domain. N10-009 does not.

How to choose

New to IT, no networking background: consider Network+ for concepts first, or go straight to the CCNA if you are willing to learn by lab. Cisco says the CCNA assumes little to no networking knowledge.
Working with or aiming at Cisco gear: CCNA.
Government, contractor, or help desk roles that list Network+: check the job posting. We do not publish requirement lists for employers.
Want both: Network+ first for breadth, then the CCNA, or the reverse if you already work with Cisco.

Timing matters too. N10-009 has an estimated retirement in 2027, and the CCNA changes to v2.0 on February 3, 2027 according to Cisco Press. If you study for either, check the current exam page before you book.