The Cisco certification roadmap has five levels: Entry (CCST), Associate (CCNA, CyberOps Associate, CCNA Automation), Professional (CCNP, with tracks like Enterprise, Security, Data Centre, Collaboration, Cybersecurity, and Automation), Expert (CCIE, the hands-on lab-tested credential), and Architect (Cisco Certified Architect, the highest tier).
Almost every engineer starts with CCNA, specialises at CCNP in the track closest to their career goal, and moves to CCIE only once they need to prove expert, lab-tested skill in that same track. Cisco restructured several tracks in 2026 – including retiring the DevNet name in favour of “Automation” certifications and refreshing CCNA with AI, automation, and cloud content – so a roadmap written even a year ago is already out of date in places.
This guide maps every level in detail, explains what changed in 2026, compares cost and timelines, and shows how NC Educations structures its training around this exact path.
Cisco Certification Roadmap 2026
This roadmap works whether you’re completely new to networking, an IT support or helpdesk professional planning your next certification, or a CCNA/CCNP holder deciding which track to specialise in next. Cisco’s system is built as a ladder – each level assumes the one below it – so knowing exactly where you are and what comes next matters more than chasing every new exam that gets announced.
The 5 Levels of Cisco Certification
| Level | Certification | What It Proves |
| Entry | CCST (Cisco Certified Support Technician) | Basic IT and networking literacy – no prior experience needed |
| Associate | CCNA, CyberOps Associate, CCNA Automation | Foundational, job-ready skill in networking, security operations, or automation |
| Professional | CCNP (Enterprise, Security, Data Centre, Collaboration, Service Provider, Cybersecurity, Automation) | Deep, specialised competence in one technology track |
| Expert | CCIE (matching CCNP tracks) | Expert-level, hands-on skill validated through an 8-hour practical lab exam |
| Architect | Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) | The ability to design and lead infrastructure strategy at the largest enterprise scale |
1. Entry Level: CCST
Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) is Cisco’s entry point for people with little or no IT background. It’s not required if you’re confident jumping straight into CCNA, but it’s a useful on-ramp for absolute beginners or students validating basic networking and cybersecurity literacy before committing to a full associate-level exam.
Associate Level: CCNA and Beyond
This is where almost every serious networking career actually begins.
- CCNA (200-301) – the definitive baseline networking credential. It covers IP connectivity, routing and switching fundamentals, network security basics, and – following the 2026 refresh – added AI, automation, and cloud networking content alongside the core curriculum. No prerequisites are required, though CompTIA Network+-level fundamentals help if you’re starting from zero.
- CyberOps Associate – the associate-level entry point for candidates targeting a Security Operations Centre (SOC) or cybersecurity analyst role instead of core networking.
- CCNA Automation – as of February 2026, this replaced the former DevNet Associate certification. Existing DevNet Associate holders were automatically migrated; the exam content itself is unchanged, only the name and badge.
Why it matters?: CCNA remains the single most recognised networking credential in IT hiring. Even as cloud, security, and automation reshape the field, physical and virtual networking fundamentals are required in essentially every enterprise environment – which is why CCNA holders consistently command higher starting offers than non-certified peers.
2. Professional Level: CCNP Tracks
Once CCNA-level fundamentals are solid, the path splits based on your career goal. Every CCNP certification requires a Core exam (broad knowledge of the technology track) plus one Concentration exam (a deeper sub-specialisation) – a flexible structure that lets you tailor the credential to the role you actually want.
| CCNP Track | Core Exam | Common Concentration | Best For |
| CCNP Enterprise | 350-401 ENCOR | 300-410 ENARSI (routing/switching) | Network engineers focused on core infrastructure |
| CCNP Security | 350-701 | Firewall, VPN, or identity-focused concentration | Engineers moving into network security roles |
| CCNP Cybersecurity (new in 2026) | Cybersecurity-focused core | Threat detection and response concentration | SOC and cybersecurity analysts progressing beyond CyberOps Associate |
| CCNP Data Centre | Data centre core | Automation or ACI concentration | Engineers working in enterprise/hyperscale data centres |
| CCNP Collaboration | Collaboration core | Contact centre or video concentration | Unified communications and collaboration engineers |
| CCNP Service Provider | Service provider core | SP-specific concentration | Engineers working with ISPs and carrier-grade networks |
| CCNP Automation (formerly DevNet Professional) | 300-435 ENAUTO (or track equivalent) | – | Network engineers moving into automation and NetDevOps |
Typical timeline: Most candidates begin CCNP 4-8 months after earning CCNA, once they have some hands-on production or lab experience to draw on.
3. Expert Level: CCIE
CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) remains the gold standard of networking certification. Each CCIE track (Enterprise Infrastructure, Enterprise Wireless, Security, Data Centre, Collaboration, Service Provider, and the renamed CCIE Automation) requires:
- A core written exam, and
- An 8-hour, hands-on practical lab exam – widely regarded as one of the most demanding technical certification exams in IT, requiring candidates to design, configure, and troubleshoot complex networks under real-time pressure.
Most CCIE candidates have 2-4 years of hands-on experience at the CCNP level before attempting it. Because of its difficulty, CCIE signals that a candidate has reached the top of the technical (as opposed to managerial) networking career ladder.
4. Architect Level: Cisco Certified Architect
Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) sits above CCIE and is Cisco’s highest possible certification. It validates the ability to design and lead network infrastructure strategy at the scale of the largest global enterprises – a career-capstone credential relevant to a very small number of senior architects, not a typical mid-career milestone.
Specialist Certifications
Alongside the core ladder, Cisco offers Specialist certifications – narrower credentials earned by passing a single concentration exam from the CCNP or Automation tracks. These let professionals demonstrate targeted expertise (a specific security platform, a collaboration technology, a data-center specialisation) without committing to a full CCNP or CCIE. They’re a useful way to signal niche depth alongside – not instead of – your core certification path.
Choose Your Cisco Certification Path by Career Goal
Cisco’s ladder isn’t one single line – it branches based on where you want to end up:
Pick the branch that matches the role you want, not the exam that sounds most impressive – a CCNP Security credential is more valuable for a security-engineering role than a CCNP Enterprise credential, even though both sit at the same “professional” level.
Cisco Certifications: What Changed in 2026?
Cisco pushed a meaningful set of updates through its certification system in 2026. If you last checked the roadmap before this year, here’s what’s different:
- CCNA (200-301) refresh – updated in February 2026 to add AI, automation, and cloud networking content alongside the existing routing, switching, and security fundamentals.
- DevNet renamed to Automation – effective February 3, 2026, active DevNet Associate, Professional, and Expert certifications were automatically migrated to CCNA Automation, CCNP Automation, and CCIE Automation. Exam content is largely unchanged; only the naming and badge changed, with the CCNP Automation core receiving topic updates.
- New CCNP Cybersecurity track – a dedicated professional-level track for security operations and analyst career paths, sitting alongside the existing CCNP Security track.
These naming and content changes matter if you’re comparing study materials, vouchers, or older roadmap articles – anything referencing “DevNet Associate/Professional/Expert” as a current exam name is now describing the Automation track under its old name.
Cisco Certification: Cost, Duration & Validity
| Certification | Approx. Exam Investment | Typical Study Timeline | Validity |
| CCNA | ~$300 (exam fee; check current regional pricing) | 3-6 months for a focused beginner | 3 years |
| CCNP (Core + Concentration) | ~$300-$400 per exam | 4-8 months after CCNA | 3 years |
| CCIE (Written + 8-hr Lab) | Written ~$450; Lab exam priced separately and significantly higher | 2-4 years of experience before attempting | 3 years |
All Cisco certifications are valid for 3 years and can be renewed by passing any current CCNA, CCNP core, or CCIE exam, or by accumulating Continuing Education (CE) credits through Cisco. Exam pricing changes periodically and varies by region – always confirm current fees on Cisco’s official certification pages before budgeting.
Cisco Certifications Salary Ranges
Salary tracks certification level closely, though it also depends on specialisation, city, and company type. Based on current industry benchmarks:
| Certification Level | Typical Profile | Annual Salary Range (INR) |
| CCNA | Entry-level network/NOC support engineer | ₹3 LPA – ₹6 LPA |
| CCNP | Mid-level engineer, 2-5 years’ experience, specialised track | ₹7 LPA – ₹16 LPA |
| CCIE | Senior/expert-level engineer or architect | ₹18 LPA – ₹35+ LPA |
Specialisation adds a further premium on top of the certification level itself – security, cloud networking, and automation-focused CCNP/CCIE holders consistently earn more than generalist Enterprise-track peers with the same certification level. Figures are indicative and vary by employer, location, and market conditions – check region-specific listings for the most accurate current numbers.
How NC Educations Help You Follow This Roadmap?
Mapping the roadmap is one thing – following it with the right guidance at each step is another. Here’s how Our (NC Educations) course catalogue lines up against this exact pathway:
| If You Are… | Consider | Why It Fits |
| New to networking, want the industry-standard foundation | CCNA 200-301 | Covers the 2026-refreshed curriculum, including the new AI, automation, and cloud content, alongside core routing and switching |
| CCNA-certified, want to specialise in core infrastructure | CCNP Enterprise | Core + concentration training aligned to ENCOR and ENARSI |
| Focused specifically on network security | CCNP Security | Builds security-specific depth on top of core networking knowledge |
| Interested in SD-WAN and modern WAN architecture | Cisco SD-WAN | Covers software-defined WAN design as enterprises move away from traditional WAN |
| Ready for the top of the technical ladder | CCIE Enterprise or CCIE Security | Expert-level, lab-focused preparation for candidates with existing CCNP-level experience |
| Considering a pivot into cloud infrastructure | AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) | A natural complement to Cisco certifications for engineers bridging on-prem and cloud networking |
Every track above is paired with 24/7 virtual lab access, so you’re actually configuring and troubleshooting the technologies each exam tests – not just reviewing slides. Training is led by Atin Gupta, CCIE Security #61100, and courses include resume preparation, interview coaching, and placement support to help you turn each certification into an actual job outcome – without promising a guaranteed placement as a condition of enrolling.
FAQs About Cisco Certifications
What is the correct order of Cisco certifications?
Ans. As per the official roadmap, CCNA (Associate) → CCNP in your chosen track (Professional) → CCIE in the same track (Expert) → Cisco Certified Architect (Architect), for the small number of engineers who reach that level.
Is CCNA enough to get a networking job?
Ans. Yes, for entry-level roles like NOC engineer, network support engineer, or junior network administrator. Mid-level and senior roles typically expect CCNP or a specialised track on top of CCNA.
What happened to Cisco DevNet certifications?
Ans. Effective February 3, 2026, DevNet Associate, Professional, and Expert were renamed CCNA Automation, CCNP Automation, and CCIE Automation. Existing holders were automatically migrated; the underlying skills tested are largely the same.
How long does it take to go from Cisco CCNA to CCIE?
Ans. Realistically, 3-5 years: roughly 3-6 months for CCNA, 4-8 months for CCNP after that, followed by 2-4 years of hands-on experience before most candidates are ready to attempt the CCIE lab exam.
Which Cisco certification pays the most?
Ans. CCIE-level certifications command the highest salaries, particularly when paired with a security, cloud, or automation specialisation rather than a purely generalist track.
Also Read