Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide 2026: Syllabus, Exam Topics & Study Plan -Edureify
📋 2026 Edition  ·  Updated September 2026

Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide 2026

Complete exam coverage for the Cisco Certified Network Associate: syllabus, domains, key topics, study plan and practical exam preparation strategy.

110
Questions
120 min
Duration
83
Passing score
6
Domains
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Network Fundamentals
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Network Access
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IP Connectivity
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IP Services
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Security Fundamentals
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Automation and Programmability
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Exam at a Glance

Cisco Certified Network Associate Exam Overview

Key facts about the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam structure, format and scoring.

🆔
ccna
Exam code
📝
110 questions
Total questions
⏱
120 minutes
Duration
🎯
83
Passing score
📋
6 domains
Exam domains
🏆
Certification
Credential type
ℹ️
Scoring method: Scaled scoring (Cisco does not publish the exact algorithm). Performance-based simulation questions are weighted more heavily than standard multiple-choice. Each domain is reported as a percentage score on the score report.. The exam may include unscored pilot questions - treat every question seriously.
Focus Areas

What should you study for the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam?

Start with the domains that make up the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam. Use the detailed syllabus below to work through the individual topics.

⚠️
Common mistake: Candidates often memorise terminology but struggle with scenario-based questions. Focus on when to use what, not just what exists.
🔐
Network Fundamentals (20%)
Covers OSI and TCP/IP models, Ethernet switching, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and wireless fundamentals.
🏗
Network Access (20%)
Covers VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, EtherChannel, STP, and wireless LAN architecture.
⚡
IP Connectivity (25%)
Covers IP routing concepts, static routing, OSPF, and first-hop redundancy protocols.
💰
IP Services (10%)
Covers NAT, DHCP, NTP, DNS, SNMP, Syslog, TFTP, and QoS fundamentals.
🔄
Security Fundamentals (15%)
Covers key security concepts, access control lists, Layer 2 security, and VPN fundamentals.
📊
Automation and Programmability (10%)
Covers SDN concepts, REST APIs, data formats, and configuration management tools.
Full Syllabus

Cisco Certified Network Associate Exam Syllabus and Topics

The Cisco Certified Network Associate exam is divided into 6 domains. Each domain covers specific skills and topics. Expand a domain to see the detailed syllabus.

Networking Models
OSI model: 7 layers, encapsulation, and PDU names
TCP/IP model: 4 layers and comparison with OSI
Functions of each layer and common protocols per layer
Encapsulation and de-encapsulation process
Physical and Data Link Concepts
Ethernet frame structure: MAC addresses, FCS, and MTU
Half-duplex vs full-duplex and collision domains
Network topologies: star, mesh, bus, and hybrid
Cabling: UTP categories, SFP, multimode vs single-mode fibre
IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting
IPv4 address classes and private address ranges (RFC 1918)
CIDR notation and subnet mask calculation
VLSM: variable-length subnet masking
Calculating network address, broadcast, and usable host ranges
IPv6 Fundamentals
IPv6 address format: 128-bit hex notation and abbreviation rules
IPv6 address types: unicast, multicast, anycast, link-local, global
EUI-64 interface ID generation
IPv6 neighbour discovery protocol (NDP) and SLAAC
~22 questions
200 marks
20% of exam weight
VLAN and Trunking
VLAN concepts and configuration on Cisco IOS
802.1Q trunking: native VLAN, allowed VLANs
Inter-VLAN routing: Router-on-a-Stick and Layer 3 switch SVI
Voice VLAN configuration
EtherChannel and STP
EtherChannel: LACP and PAgP negotiation protocols
Spanning Tree Protocol: STP, RSTP (802.1w) and port roles
Root bridge election: bridge priority and MAC address tiebreak
Portfast and BPDU Guard for access ports
Wireless Architectures
Autonomous AP vs lightweight AP (centralised controller architecture)
WLC: wireless LAN controller deployment modes
802.11 standards: a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) and frequency bands
SSID, BSSID, association, and authentication process
~22 questions
200 marks
20% of exam weight
IP Routing Concepts
Routing table components: network, mask, next-hop, AD, metric
Longest prefix match in routing decisions
Administrative distance values for different routing sources
Connected, static, and dynamic routing
Static Routing
IPv4 and IPv6 static route configuration
Default static routes (0.0.0.0/0) and gateway of last resort
Floating static routes using higher administrative distance
Recursive vs directly connected next-hop
OSPFv2 Single-Area
OSPF concepts: areas, LSA types, DR/BDR election
OSPF neighbour states: Down, Init, 2-Way, Exstart, Exchange, Loading, Full
OSPFv2 configuration: network statement, wildcard masks, passive-interface
OSPF path selection using cost metric (reference bandwidth)
First Hop Redundancy Protocols
HSRP: active/standby router, virtual IP and MAC, preemption
VRRP and GLBP concepts and comparison with HSRP
FHRP configuration and verification commands
~28 questions
250 marks
25% of exam weight
NAT and DHCP
NAT types: static, dynamic, and PAT (overload)
NAT configuration: inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global
DHCP: DORA process, DHCP relay agent, scope configuration
DHCPv6 stateful vs stateless
Network Management Protocols
NTP: stratum levels, NTP client/server/peer configuration
Syslog: severity levels 0–7 and logging destinations
SNMP v2c and v3 concepts: MIB, OID, community strings, traps
DNS resolution process and forward/reverse lookups
QoS Fundamentals
QoS need: congestion, delay, jitter, packet loss
QoS models: best effort, IntServ, DiffServ
Marking: DSCP and CoS values
Queuing mechanisms: FIFO, CBWFQ, LLQ
~11 questions
100 marks
10% of exam weight
Security Threats and Controls
Common threats: phishing, DoS/DDoS, man-in-the-middle, password attacks
CIA triad: confidentiality, integrity, availability
AAA framework: authentication, authorisation, accounting
Multi-factor authentication and password management best practices
Access Control Lists
Standard ACL: match on source IP only, applied close to destination
Extended ACL: match on source, destination, protocol, port
Named vs numbered ACLs and wildcard mask logic
ACL placement: inbound vs outbound on interface
Layer 2 Security
Port security: maximum MAC addresses, violation modes (shutdown, restrict, protect)
DHCP snooping: trusted vs untrusted ports
Dynamic ARP inspection (DAI) and IP source guard
802.1X port-based authentication
VPN Fundamentals
VPN types: site-to-site IPSec and remote access SSL/TLS
IPSec framework: IKE, AH, ESP, and encryption algorithms
GRE tunnel basics and use cases
~17 questions
150 marks
15% of exam weight
SDN and Controller-Based Networking
Traditional vs controller-based network architectures
Cisco DNA Center vs traditional campus management
Separation of control plane and data plane in SDN
Northbound and southbound APIs in SDN controllers
APIs and Data Formats
REST API: HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) and CRUD operations
JSON and XML data encoding formats and parsing
NETCONF and RESTCONF protocols for network device management
YANG data models for network configuration
Configuration Management Tools
Ansible: agentless, YAML playbooks, push model
Puppet: agent-based, Ruby DSL, pull model
Chef: agent-based, pull model
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts for network automation
AI, ML, and Cloud Network Management (Added in v1.1, August 2024 refresh)
Generative AI use cases in network operations
Machine learning concepts applied to network monitoring and anomaly detection
Cloud-based network management platforms (e.g., Cisco Meraki, Catalyst Center Cloud)
Impact of AI/automation on traditional network management workflows
~11 questions
100 marks
10% of exam weight
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Study Plan

Cisco Certified Network Associate Structured Study Roadmap

Choose a preparation timeline based on how much time you have available. For a plan based on your actual readiness and weak domains, use the personalised Edureify study experience. Get My Training Plan →

Weeks 1-2
Core Services + Highest-Weighted Domain
Deep-dive into the most heavily tested domain. Spend more time here when its exam weight is significantly higher.
Official exam guideDomain 1 completeCore conceptsPractice questions
Week 3
Domain 2 - Hands-on Practice
Focus on scenario-based study and reinforce concepts through practical application where applicable.
Domain 2Scenario walkthroughsHands-on practicePractice questions
Week 4
Domain 3 - Deeper Concepts
Work through complex concepts and decision scenarios.
Domain 3Scenario drillsPractice examReview
Week 5
Remaining Domains + Weak Area Targeting
Identify your weaker domains and spend focused time closing those gaps.
Remaining domainsDiagnosticTargeted reviewStudy notes
Week 6
Full Simulations + Final Preparation
Use timed simulations to test your preparation and review the reasoning behind incorrect answers.
Full mock examsWrong-answer reviewFinal reviewExam logistics
Exam Strategy

Tips to pass Cisco Certified Network Associate on your first attempt

Practical advice for applying what you know, managing questions and preparing for exam conditions.

🗓
Master subnetting until you can calculate network address, broadcast, and host range in under 30 seconds — it appears across multiple domains.
🔍
Practice simulation questions in Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3; performance-based labs are heavily weighted and completing them successfully can make or break your score.
⏭
Learn OSPF neighbour states in order (Down → Init → 2-Way → Exstart → Exchange → Loading → Full) and understand what triggers each transition.
📊
Memorise all standard ACL numbers (1–99 and 1300–1999) and extended ACL numbers (100–199 and 2000–2699) — the exam tests these details.
🔁
Understand the HSRP active/standby election process and know how to configure preemption to ensure the higher-priority router always becomes active after a failure.
🧪
For VLANs and trunking, practise the full configuration cycle: create VLAN, assign access ports, configure trunk port with allowed VLANs, and verify with show commands.
📝
Know the DHCP DORA process (Discover, Offer, Request, Acknowledge) and when a relay agent (ip helper-address) is required.
🎯
Study REST API concepts thoroughly — understand HTTP verbs, status codes (200 OK, 201 Created, 400 Bad Request, 404 Not Found), and JSON structure.
🗓
For wireless, know the difference between lightweight (centralised WLC) and autonomous AP architectures — understand FlexConnect (OfficeExtend) mode.
🔍
Use Cisco's official exam blueprint from cisco.com/go/ccna to verify current objectives and allocate study time proportionally to each domain's weight.
Recommended Resources

Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Resources

Use a focused set of resources alongside the study guide rather than trying to study from everything available.

Official
Official Exam Guide
Start with the authoritative exam objectives and blueprint.
→ Vendor website
Practice Tests
Cisco Certified Network Associate Practice Test
Practice questions with explanations and domain-level performance analysis.
→ Start free practice test
Mock Exam
Cisco Certified Network Associate Mock Exam
Timed preparation under realistic exam-style conditions.
→ Take free mock exam
Training
Cisco Certified Network Associate Certification Training
Structured preparation with personalised learning support and adaptive practice.
→ Cisco Certified Network Associate certification online training
AI Tutor
Cisco Certified Network Associate AI Tutor
Get help understanding concepts and work on weak areas with AI-powered learning support.
→ Try Cisco Certified Network Associate AI tutor
Reference
Cisco Certified Network Associate Cheat Sheet
Quick-reference summaries for final revision.
→ Get free cheat sheet
Diagnostic
Cisco Certified Network Associate Readiness Test
Assess your preparation and identify weaker exam domains.
→ Check my readiness
⚠️
Avoid brain dumps. Sites selling real or stolen exam questions may violate certification-provider rules and can leave candidates studying outdated material.
Reviews

What candidates say after passing

★★★★★
The OSPF area type questions are where I consistently failed. Area type confusion doesn't just affect one question - it cascades into incorrect routing behavior across multiple scenarios.Edureify AI's OSPF area scenarios drilled each type's LSA implications until I had no more uncertainty.
Hugo D.
Enterprise Architect
★★★★★
Layer 2 vs. Layer 3 troubleshooting discipline is what CCNA actually tests. I was trained to check routing tables for everything.Edureify AI's same-subnet-different-switch scenarios recalibrated that instinct - same subnet means Layer 2 first, always.
Divya S.
Security Analyst
★★★★★
The PBQ format scared me most going into CCNA.Edureify AI's structured troubleshooting practice - Physical → Data Link → Network before anything else - made PBQs systematic rather than intimidating. I approached each one with a method, not a guess.
Li Y.
ML Engineer
★★★★★
NAT troubleshooting trips up CCNA candidates because the inside/outside interface configuration and the ACL matching are both easy to misconfigure.Edureify AI's NAT scenarios required me to verify both every time. That habit caught every NAT error before I could submit a wrong answer.
David L.
Cloud Engineer
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Cisco Certified Network Associate

Most candidates with relevant background can structure their preparation over several weeks, depending on their existing knowledge, available study time and exam difficulty. Use the study roadmap above as a starting point and use the readiness diagnostic to identify where you need more preparation.
The guide covers the exam overview, domains, detailed syllabus and topics, study roadmap, exam preparation tips and links to practice, mock, readiness, cheat-sheet, AI Tutor and training resources.
The guide is designed to organize your preparation around the exam syllabus. You should combine it with practice questions and timed simulations so that you can test both your knowledge and your ability to apply it.
Yes. Start with the exam overview and domain breakdown, then work through the detailed topics using the study roadmap. Candidates with less experience may need additional time for foundational concepts.
Take the Edureify readiness diagnostic to assess your preparation and identify the domains where you need to focus more.
Edureify AI can help explain concepts, identify weaker areas from practice performance and support a more personalised preparation process.

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