CCNA vs Network+: which for a US networking career in 2026
Cisco's CCNA and CompTIA's Network+ overlap on paper but target different careers. Which one US employers actually want, which pays more, and which order to sit them if you're going to do both.
Every entry-level US networking career question eventually collapses to this: Should I get CCNA, Network+, or both, and in what order?
The honest answer differs by job you’re targeting, employer type, and how quickly you need to earn. Here’s the working version.
The short version
- CCNA is Cisco’s flagship networking cert. Vendor-specific. Deeper. Roughly 12 to 20 weeks of prep for a working IT technician. Expected at Cisco partners, MSPs, and any US enterprise running Cisco (which is most of them).
- Network+ is CompTIA’s vendor-neutral networking cert. Broader and shallower. Roughly 6 to 10 weeks of prep. Common at US federal contractors and DoD roles because it is an approved baseline certification under DoD 8140 (which replaced DoD 8570).
- Both are useful. The question is order and effort.
What each covers
CCNA (Cisco 200-301, v1.1)
Blueprint domains and rough exam weights:
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Network Fundamentals | 20% |
| Network Access (VLANs, trunks, STP, EtherChannel, wireless) | 20% |
| IP Connectivity (OSPF, static routing, FHRP) | 25% |
| IP Services (NAT, DHCP, NTP, SNMP, syslog) | 10% |
| Security Fundamentals (ACLs, port security, DHCP snooping, DAI, 802.1X, WPA3) | 15% |
| Automation & Programmability (controllers, REST APIs, JSON, Ansible; no Python) | 10% |
From February 3, 2027, CCNA v2.0 replaces this with five domains weighted 25/25/20/20/10.
You configure Cisco IOS. You read show output. You interpret routing tables. Exam has real config-scenario questions plus performance-based questions where you type commands.
Network+ (CompTIA N10-009, 2024)
Vendor-neutral domains:
- Networking Concepts (23%)
- Network Implementation (20%)
- Network Operations (19%)
- Network Security (14%)
- Network Troubleshooting (24%)
Broader coverage of concepts (fiber types, cabling standards, WAN technologies, cloud networking, VoIP) at more conceptual level. No Cisco IOS commands. More multi-vendor language.
Where each cert lands you in the US market
Employers that specifically want CCNA
- Cisco partners: Presidio, WWT, ePlus, CDW, Optiv, Insight. Most have “CCNA preferred / required” on the job description.
- US enterprises running Cisco: banks (Chase, Wells Fargo), healthcare (UnitedHealth, Kaiser), universities, most Fortune 500. These stack CCNA + CCNP over years.
- ISPs and telecom: Verizon, AT&T, Lumen, Comcast Business. Cisco IOS + IOS-XR skills valued.
- MSPs of all sizes: anywhere from small local (10 techs) to national (Ntiva, Dataprise). CCNA on your resume opens Tier-2/3 conversations quickly.
Employers that specifically want Network+
- US federal contractors under DoD 8140 requirements (DoD 8140 replaced DoD 8570): Leidos, SAIC, CACI, Booz Allen. Network+ is an approved baseline certification for a range of DoD IT work roles. Under the legacy 8570 mapping it was IAT Level I; many IAT Level II roles need Security+. Check the DoD 8140 qualification matrix for your specific work role.
- Government IT departments at federal, state, and county levels.
- US-based colleges / universities teaching IT: Network+ is common in academic curricula because it’s vendor-neutral.
- Positions where the employer wants “the concepts” without a Cisco commitment: smaller SMBs running Meraki cloud, or Ubiquiti, or non-Cisco stacks.
What the pay data says
For context, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $99,130 (May 2025) for network and computer systems administrators, across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). BLS does not publish pay by certification, and entry-level pay is lower and varies by location and employer.
Which order: the decision tree
Q1: Do you want to work for a federal contractor or DoD?
- Yes → Network+ first. It is a DoD 8140 approved baseline certification (IAT Level I under the legacy 8570 mapping) and gets you past HR gates that CCNA alone often can’t. If the role is IAT Level II, plan on Security+ too. Then add CCNA within a year.
- No → skip to Q2.
Q2: Do you have zero networking background (never touched a router or switch)?
- Yes → Network+ first. It’s a friendlier ramp. Six to ten weeks of study. Sit it, then move to CCNA on the same conceptual foundation.
- No → skip to Q3.
Q3: Do you have IT experience (help desk, sysadmin, some networking exposure)?
- Yes → CCNA first. Higher pay ceiling, more career trajectories, and Network+ becomes trivial to add later (or unnecessary depending on your path).
Cost comparison (2026)
| Network+ | CCNA | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam voucher | $369 | $300 |
| Retake voucher (if needed) | $369 | $300 |
| Recommended study time | 6 to 10 weeks | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Retake window / policy | No wait before the 2nd attempt; 14 days before the 3rd and later | 5 calendar days between attempts |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years |
| Renewal cost | $369 exam OR CompTIA CE program (annual fee) | Retake CCNA OR earn continuing ed credits |
CCNA is cheaper per attempt. CompTIA lets you retake once right away, then requires a 14-day wait before later attempts. Network+ has more flexible continuing-ed renewal options.
Common questions
Q: Does having both certs mean I’m “double certified” and worth more? A: Marginally in the first year. Employers reading the resume for a junior role glance at CCNA and decide. Network+ on top signals well-roundedness but doesn’t dramatically move the salary conversation.
Q: If I only have time for one, which? A: For most US career paths, CCNA. It has a higher ceiling and Cisco IOS knowledge translates faster to Junior NetEng roles. Skip Network+ unless federal-contractor / DoD is your target.
Q: How long does each actually take? A: A working IT person with some help-desk exposure typically finishes Network+ in 6 to 10 weeks. CCNA in 12 to 20 weeks at 4 to 6 hours per week. Complete beginner should add 4 weeks to each.
Q: Do employers actually check which specific cert you have on the resume? A: For CCNA and Network+, yes. Both are on standard HR keyword lists. CCNA carries slightly more weight in most non-federal networking roles because it’s the industry-standard vendor cert.
Q: What about JNCIA (Juniper) or AWS Advanced Networking? A: Both are legitimate but narrower. JNCIA is for shops running Juniper (some enterprise, some carrier). AWS Advanced Networking is for cloud engineers who already know the fundamentals. Neither is a good FIRST cert if you’re starting your networking career.
The interview reality
Most US networking interviews for junior roles ask specifically about Cisco IOS commands, even if the job description says “vendor-agnostic.” That’s because interviewers know Cisco IOS. If you can talk about OSPF adjacency, show ip route, ACL direction, and DHCP snooping, you’ll pass technical rounds. Network+ concepts help but they’re not what interviewers ask.
In short: CCNA is more directly applicable to networking interviews in the US private sector. Network+ helps HR filters at DoD contractors.
Cheat strip
| Situation | Pick |
|---|---|
| Working IT person, want private sector | CCNA |
| Zero background, need a friendly ramp | Network+ → CCNA |
| Targeting DoD 8140 (formerly 8570) / federal contractor | Network+ first, then CCNA |
| Already have Sec+ and want networking | CCNA (Sec+ + CCNA is a strong combo) |
| Want the highest ceiling and can afford 12 weeks | CCNA |
| Need something on the resume in 30 days | Network+ (faster prep) |
| Cheapest path to a junior NetEng role | CCNA |
| Cheapest path to any US federal IT role | Network+ (or Sec+) |
Next steps
If you’re deciding: take an honest 20 minutes to answer the Q1/Q2/Q3 decision tree above. That tells you which cert to sit first.
If you’re going with CCNA: our 12-week study plan matches the mentorship program’s cadence. Free.
If you’re going with Network+ first: hit CompTIA’s official study guide + practice tests, then come back for CCNA when you’re ready. Some of our free resources, the ACL cheat sheet and the OSPF simulator, work well as a preview of the Cisco vocabulary you’ll need after Network+.
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