r/ccna

I completed CCNA and am trying to break into the networking field without a traditional tech background.

Looking at job postings, it seems CCNA alone isn’t enough to land a job.

For those already working in networking, what would you recommend learning next? CCNP, Linux, Python, cloud networking (AWS/Azure), or something else?

If you were starting today with CCNA and no networking experience, what path would you take to land your first job?

I’d appreciate any practical advice. Thanks!

I've noticed SwitchLabs being recommended quite a bit lately, and I'm honestly skeptical of some of those recommendations. Some seem to come from inexperienced learners, while others feel more like promotional accounts or bots than genuine users. It's worth questioning how authentic these endorsements really are. Others have noticed, too.

Beyond that, I'd be cautious about spending money on their training. Most of the labs I've seen are extremely basic, incorrect, and completing a bunch of simple exercises doesn't necessarily mean you're developing a real understanding of networking. That can give beginners a false sense of confidence, especially when they're preparing for certifications or actual networking jobs.

I'd recommend sticking with established resources like Jeremy's IT Lab and the other trusted materials frequently mentioned in this subreddit.

Don't assume a resource is legitimate or effective just because you keep seeing people recommend it. Popularity, especially when the recommendations themselves seem questionable, isn't proof of quality.

As an experienced engineer I would highly suggest people learning stay clear.

Edit: Does anyone know how to get ahold of MODs beside MOD mail. They appear to be absent for a while.

With CCNA v2.0 coming in February 2027, I am curious to see how many people are planning to sit the current v1.1 exam before the change versus waiting for the new version.

• CCNA v1.1 (before February 2027)
• CCNA v2.0 (February 2027 onwards)

After taking my CCNA last Sept 28, I started diving straight into enterprise networking topics. I finally got access to our company's PNETLab server, and honestly, going from Packet Tracer to running actual images is mind-blowing.

​I just finished building a Site-to-Site VPN tunnel with IKEv2. Being able to run real debug commands and watch the actual packet exchanges and DPD checks happen live in the CLI (instead of Packet Tracer's limited sim mode) made everything click so much faster.

​Up next: diving into BGP configuration now that the tunnel transport is rock solid!

​If you're still relying solely on Packet Tracer, definitely make the jump to PNETLab or EVE-NG when you can. It makes practicing real-world troubleshooting way more satisfying.

I could give 2-3 hours daily for my studies

I've seen plenty of posts saying this exact thing, but they helped me relax before the official exam and approach it with confidence, so I'm posting ANOTHER ONE of those to lift someone's spirit up. Boson exams are an entirely different experience, I'd compare it to training volleyball setups with a heavy basketball. Once you switch to the light one (official exam), it feels like a breeze.

I failed every boson practice exam. My total scores were as follows (A to E): 78, 76, 73, 81, 77. Close, but never close enough. I just passed my CCNA today with following scores:
Automation and Programmability: 90%
Network Access: 100%
IP Connectivity: 96%
IP Services: 100%
Security Fundamentals: 80%
Network Fundamentals: 95%

I've seen people with similar results after they got 5x 60% on bosons. Don't worry about your scores. Do the exams. Read the explanations. You'll be fine.

what I mean is like,what are the best study material to learn networking for the ccna? I'm 16 and I'm thinking of getting one

Okay, this is the third attempt in studying for the CCNA. Past two attempts failed due to me giving up, not this time... I hope.

I will be studying everyday, 4 hours with Jeremy IT lab and labbing with Boson. If you guys have any advice or suggestions, please feel free to share!

I'm a network engineer (CCNP) and I've spent the last few months going through the v2.0 exam topics line by line against v1.1. There's a lot of half-information floating around, so here's the whole picture in one place.

TL;DR: six domains become five, "describe and explain" turns into "troubleshoot and diagnose", AI gets its own domain, and a handful of classic topics are gone. Your CCNA is the same CCNA either way.

The domains

v1.1 (today)	Weight	v2.0 (from Feb 3, 2027)	Weight
Network Fundamentals	20%	Network Infrastructure & Connectivity	25%
Network Access	20%	Switching & Network Access	25%
IP Connectivity	25%	IP Routing	20%
IP Services	10%	Network Services & Security	20%
Security Fundamentals	15%	AI, Network Operations & Management	10%
Automation & Programmability	10%

What's new

• AI gets real: agentic AI in network operations, and choosing the right prompts for generative AI tools.
• OSPFv3 joins OSPFv2.
• VRRP is named alongside HSRP, and you read FHRP operational status instead of just describing it.
• DNS records: diagnose A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS and PTR problems.
• SFTP and SCP replace TFTP/FTP.
• Storm control and RA guard join DHCP snooping, DAI and port security.
• Evidence-based troubleshooting: show commands, logs, ping/traceroute and packet capture output.
• Ansible stays. Terraform is gone.

What's out

• Comparing TCP vs UDP
• Switching concepts (MAC learning and aging, frame flooding)
• The full IPv6 address-type zoo (unicast and EUI-64 stay)
• Wireless architectures, AP modes and WLC GUI config (wireless principles stay)
• NTP
• QoS per-hop behavior
• REST APIs and JSON
• Security program elements (awareness, training, physical access)

The real shift

The verbs. Across Domains 1 to 3, the topics now say troubleshoot and diagnose: interface and cable issues, IPv4/IPv6 addressing, client connectivity, DHCP, L2/L3 problems, static routes. Memorizing definitions gets you less. Reading output and finding the fault gets you more.

Test now or wait?

• The credential is identical. Pass v1.1 and it's the same CCNA, valid for three years.
• Ready by mid-January? Take v1.1. Every major course and practice bank targets it today.
• Just starting? Don't panic. Subnetting, VLANs, trunks, STP, OSPF, ACLs, NAT and IPv6 basics carry straight over. Study those now, decide your exam version around December, then add the v2.0-only topics if you're going that way.
• Cisco retires v1.1 when v2.0 goes live, so check the exact last test date on Cisco's exam page before you book.

The commands v2.0 expects you to live in

show ip interface brief · show interfaces (errors, duplex, speed) · show vlan brief · show interfaces trunk · show etherchannel summary · show spanning-tree · show cdp neighbors detail / show lldp neighbors · show ip route · show ip ospf neighbor · show standby brief / show vrrp brief · show ip nat translations · show access-lists · show ip dhcp snooping binding · show logging

If you can look at each of those and say what's wrong, you're in good shape for either version.

Which camp are you in: racing v1.1 before February, or waiting for v2.0?

I'm planning on taking the CCNA in a couple months and I'm binging Jeremy's IT lab course, doing flashcards, and labs. I've recently been asking Gemini for a CCNA/Boson Exsim style exams with 30 questions a lot more instead of spending 100 dollars on Boson since it only offers a yearly subscription. I just want to know if I am wasting my time with it or not lol.

Automation and Programmability: 80%
Network Access: 65%
IP Connectivity: 72%
IP Services: 60%
Security Fundamentals: 47%
Network Fundamentals: 85%

Passed my CCNA exam after more than a year on and off studying.

I used Jeremy’s IT Lab resources and practice exams, online subnetting questions, and the Pearson CCNA Simulator.

I felt pretty good about the labs.

There were a lot of questions about wireless configuration, especially the Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) web interface.

These questions had me worried. I was completely helpless on a couple of them but I managed to get over the line.

Maybe Cisco is moving more toward wireless as a larger part of the CCNA?

Thanks to everyone here for the resources, tips, and advice.

Automation and Programability - 90%
Network Access - 25%
IP Connectivity - 20%
IP Services - 70%
Security Fundamentals - 33%
Network Fundamentals - 25%

My mind went blank during the labs. I forgot how to do a simple static route. Any tips to help with the mind blanking? Thanks!

I’m trying to schedule my CCNA exam but going through CertMetrics keeps declining my login credentials. I’m able to login to netacad using the same user/password, but when it makes me do it through CertMetrics it says my password is incorrect.

I attempted to reset my password but I’m not receiving an email, not even in my spam folder. I went onto my account through netacad and changed my email to a backup one just in case it was messed up but I’m still not receiving a password reset email.

Helpppp I can’t schedule my exam