CCNA Automation study guide · 2026

The 6 CCNA Automation domains, explained

6 domains and 61 official objectives. Understanding and Using APIs carries the most weight at 20%. Each guide explains what the domain covers, how its questions are framed and where candidates lose marks.

Start with Domain 2 See all domains
Questions
Not published by Cisco
Time
120 minutes
Passing score
Not published by Cisco
Outline
200-901 CCNAAUTO exam topics v1.1 (Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms, current)

Exam blueprint

Bar widths follow the official weights. Weight ranges are drawn at their midpoint.

  1. 1 15%
  2. 2 20%
  3. 3 15%
  4. 4 15%
  5. 5 20%
  6. 6 15%
  1. 1 Software Development and Design
  2. 2 Understanding and Using APIs
  3. 3 Cisco Platforms and Development
  4. 4 Application Deployment and Security
  5. 5 Infrastructure and Automation
  6. 6 Network Fundamentals

All 6 domains

61 official objectives 80–108 hrs suggested study

  1. Domain 01 15%

    Software Development and Design

    The coding groundwork for network automation: comparing and parsing XML, JSON and YAML in Python, test-driven development, agile, lean and waterfall, code organisation, MVC and Observer patterns, and everyday Git operations.

    Inside this domain

    • Compare data formats (XML, JSON, and YAML)
    • Describe parsing of common data format (XML, JSON, and YAML) to Python data structures
    • Describe the concepts of test-driven development
    • Compare software development methods (agile, lean, and waterfall)
    • and 4 more objectives

    Watch for Format identification

    Objectives
    8
    Questions est.
    ~14–16
    Study time est.
    10–14 hrs
  2. Domain 02 20%

    Understanding and Using APIs

    The largest share of the exam alongside Domain 5: building REST requests from documentation, webhooks, API constraints, HTTP response codes and their troubleshooting, authentication with basic, token and API key methods, API styles, and Python requests scripts.

    Inside this domain

    • Construct a REST API request to accomplish a task given API documentation
    • Describe common usage patterns related to webhooks
    • Describe the constraints when consuming APIs
    • Explain common HTTP response codes associated with REST APIs
    • and 5 more objectives

    Watch for Status code fix

    Objectives
    9
    Questions est.
    ~19–21
    Study time est.
    16–22 hrs
  3. Domain 03 15%

    Cisco Platforms and Development

    Cisco's programmable portfolio: SDK-based scripts, network, compute, collaboration and security platform APIs, IOS XE and NX-OS device interfaces, DevNet resources, model-driven programmability, and code that lists devices, clients and Webex messages.

    Inside this domain

    • Construct a Python script that uses a Cisco SDK given SDK documentation
    • Describe the capabilities of Cisco network management platforms and APIs (Meraki, Cisco Catalyst Center, ACI, Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, and NSO)
    • Describe the capabilities of Cisco compute management platforms and APIs (UCS Manager and Intersight)
    • Describe the capabilities of Cisco collaboration platforms and APIs (Webex, Webex devices, Cisco Unified Communications Manager including AXL and UDS interfaces)
    • and 5 more objectives

    Watch for Model-driven protocol

    Objectives
    9
    Questions est.
    ~14–16
    Study time est.
    14–18 hrs
  4. Domain 04 15%

    Application Deployment and Security

    How applications are built, shipped and protected: edge computing, cloud and edge deployment models, virtual machines, bare metal and containers, CI/CD, Python unit tests, Dockerfiles and images, secrets and encryption, network services, OWASP threats, Bash and DevOps.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the benefits of edge computing
    • Describe the attributes of different application deployment models (private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and edge)
    • Describe the attributes of these application deployment types: a. Virtual machines; b. Bare metal; c. Containers
    • Describe components for a CI/CD pipeline in application deployments
    • and 8 more objectives

    Watch for Container isolation

    Objectives
    12
    Questions est.
    ~14–16
    Study time est.
    12–16 hrs
  5. Domain 05 20%

    Infrastructure and Automation

    The automation core of the exam: model-driven programmability, controller versus device management, Cisco Modeling Labs and pyATS, CI/CD and infrastructure as code, Ansible, Terraform and NSO, and interpreting scripts, playbooks, query results, YANG models, diffs and sequence diagrams.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the value of model driven programmability for infrastructure automation
    • Compare controller-level to device-level management
    • Describe the use and roles of network simulation and test tools (such as Cisco Modeling Labs and pyATS)
    • Describe the components and benefits of CI/CD pipeline in infrastructure automation
    • and 10 more objectives

    Watch for Tool choice

    Objectives
    14
    Questions est.
    ~19–21
    Study time est.
    18–24 hrs
  6. Domain 06 15%

    Network Fundamentals

    The networking knowledge an automation engineer needs: MAC addresses and VLANs, IP addressing, routes and gateways, common components and topology diagrams, management, data and control planes, core IP services, port numbers, and why applications fail to connect.

    Inside this domain

    • Describe the purpose and usage of MAC addresses and VLANs
    • Describe the purpose and usage of IP addresses, routes, subnet mask / prefix, and gateways
    • Describe the function of common networking components (such as switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers)
    • Interpret a basic network topology diagram with elements such as switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and port values
    • and 5 more objectives

    Watch for NETCONF port

    Objectives
    9
    Questions est.
    ~14–16
    Study time est.
    10–14 hrs

Study the heaviest domains first

Marks follow weight. This order puts the most marks behind you first, across about 80–108 hrs of study.

  1. 2 Understanding and Using APIs 20% · 16–22 hrs
  2. 5 Infrastructure and Automation 20% · 18–24 hrs
  3. 1 Software Development and Design 15% · 10–14 hrs
  4. 3 Cisco Platforms and Development 15% · 14–18 hrs
  5. 4 Application Deployment and Security 15% · 12–16 hrs
  6. 6 Network Fundamentals 15% · 10–14 hrs

Try one

Practice questionDomain 2: Understanding and Using APIs

A Python script calls requests.post(url, data=payload, headers={'X-Auth-Token': token}) against a controller API, where payload is a Python dictionary. The API returns 415 Unsupported Media Type. Which change most directly fixes the problem?

One trap from every domain

The answer that looks right, and the clue that gives it away.

  • Domain 1

    Format identification

    Clue Look for braces and quoted keys versus indentation and dashes.

  • Domain 2

    Status code fix

    Clue The response says Forbidden rather than Unauthorized.

  • Domain 3

    Model-driven protocol

    Clue The stem specifies HTTPS or JSON.

  • Domain 4

    Container isolation

    Clue Words like strict tenant isolation or different operating systems.

  • Domain 5

    Tool choice

    Clue Words like plan, state or desired infrastructure lifecycle.

  • Domain 6

    NETCONF port

    Clue The question names NETCONF specifically.

Other Networking certifications

Study guides for exams that overlap with CCNA Automation.

Practise what you read

CCNA Automation domains: common questions

How many domains are in the CCNA Automation exam?

CCNA Automation has 6 domains with 61 official objectives between them: Software Development and Design, Understanding and Using APIs, Cisco Platforms and Development, Application Deployment and Security, Infrastructure and Automation and Network Fundamentals.

Which CCNA Automation domain carries the most weight?

Understanding and Using APIs is the heaviest at 20%, followed by Infrastructure and Automation (20%). The lightest is Network Fundamentals (15%). Weights come from Cisco's official outline.

What is the CCNA Automation exam format?

Questions: Not published by Cisco. Time allowed: 120 minutes. Passing score: Not published by Cisco.

How long should I study for CCNA Automation?

Our planning estimate is 80–108 hrs across all domains, split by weight. It is an editorial estimate, not an official figure, so adjust it to your experience and to how you score on practice questions.

Where should I start?

Start with Understanding and Using APIs, because it carries the most marks, then work down by weight. Use the checklist on each domain page to confirm you can do what the domain asks before moving on.

Which outline is this guide based on?

This guide follows 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam topics v1.1 (Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms, current), published by Cisco. It was last reviewed in October 2026.

Domain names, weights and objectives come from Cisco's official outline (200-901 CCNAAUTO exam topics v1.1 (Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms, current)). Question counts and study hours are editorial planning estimates, not official figures. Last reviewed October 2026.