CCNA certification cost: Exam fee and vouchers
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) takes one exam, and in the U.S. that exam costs $300. That fee rarely represents the whole bill: there are also study materials, a possible retake, and renewal three years later that all add up to what the certification really costs.
The bright side? Much of the preparation can be free, and Cisco offers a few ways to pay ahead or protect yourself against a failed first attempt. This guide breaks down every cost, explains how CCNA exam vouchers work, and shows where you can pay less, using Cisco’s own prices.
How much is the CCNA exam?
The CCNA exam, Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (200-301 CCNA), costs $300 USD, plus tax. You can pay by credit card when you register, or use Cisco Learning Credits, prepaid credits that organizations buy for Cisco training and exams. One official resource, the Cisco Packet Tracer, network simulation and visualization software where you can access virtual labs and other tools, is completely free.
Cisco lists its exam prices in U.S. dollars and points candidates outside the U.S. to Pearson VUE, which runs the exam, for its list of countries and currencies.
The exam itself is moving to version 2.0 on February 3, 2027, but it stays one exam with the same number. Here’s what each piece of the CCNA costs at Cisco’s prices:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $300 plus tax |
| Exam voucher | $300 |
| Exam Safeguard Plus | $450 total ($300 exam plus $150) |
| Retake | $300 |
| Cisco Packet Tracer | Free |
| Official Cert Guide Library | $79.99 list |
| Renewal by exam | $300 |
If you pass on your first attempt and study with free resources, the CCNA can cost you just the $300 exam fee.
CCNA vouchers: How to buy and use one
A CCNA exam voucher is a prepaid code that covers the exam fee. Cisco prices vouchers for associate-level exams, including the CCNA, at $300, valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. A voucher doesn’t lower the price; it lets you, your employer, or your school pay now and schedule later.
Vouchers are sold through Pearson VUE’s Cisco voucher store, which asks for the country where the voucher will be used so it can set the currency, and processes orders within three business days. Organizations can also buy them with Cisco Learning Credits, prepaid training credits worth $100 each and valid for one year. If you’re paying for yourself, paying by card when you register works just as well.
Before you buy, know the terms Pearson VUE sets for Cisco vouchers:
- Single use: Vouchers are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and good for one exam.
- No resale: A voucher is for the sole use of the purchaser and may not be resold or transferred. Buy from Cisco or Pearson VUE, not from someone offering a cut-price code.
- Fixed expiration: The expiration date can’t be extended, and you must register for and take the exam before it passes.
To redeem a voucher, sign in to the Cisco Certification Tracker, schedule the exam, and enter the code as your payment.
Exam Safeguard and Safeguard Plus
Cisco Exam Safeguard locks in a retake from the start: if you don’t pass your first attempt, you can try again at no additional cost. 200-301 CCNA Exam Safeguard Plus adds the official Cisco CCNA practice exam, with 90 days of access. Safeguard Plus costs $150 on top of the $300 exam registration, for a total of $450, and it’s available only through Cisco. After you buy, the voucher codes arrive by email and in your Cisco U. account.
Networking Academy discounts
If you study through a Cisco Networking Academy, you may receive a discount voucher or promotion code for the exam. Pearson VUE notes that your Networking Academy ID must be in your profile, or the voucher or promotion code won’t work. The discount’s size and eligibility rules aren’t listed on Cisco’s public pages, so ask your academy or instructor whether your course qualifies.
How much does it cost to retake the CCNA?
A retake costs the same as your first attempt, $300, unless you bought Exam Safeguard. You also have to wait five calendar days, starting the day after your attempt, before you can sit the exam again.
That makes the math on Safeguard Plus simple. Two attempts at full price cost $600; Safeguard Plus covers a second attempt and adds a practice exam for $450. If you pass the first time, you’ve paid $150 more than the exam fee, and that $150 bought you the practice exam.
The cheapest retake is the one you don’t need. Cisco says you can’t pass the CCNA by reading a book alone, so build in regular hands-on practice. Our CCNA study guide lays out a step-by-step plan.
What CCNA study materials cost
You can prepare for the CCNA for little or nothing, or pay for official training. Cisco offers resources at both ends.
Free resources
These free options can take you a long way:
- Cisco Packet Tracer: Cisco’s network simulator is free to download through the Networking Academy. You can use it to build CCNA labs at home.
- Cisco Learning Network: The exam topics and study materials page links free resources, including CCNA Prep On Demand webinars and practice quizzes.
- Cisco U. Free: Cisco U., Cisco’s learning platform, has a free plan with webinars, videos, tutorials, and skills assessments.
- Networking Academy: Cisco says its academies teach for free, in person and online. The three CCNA courses are instructor-led, so you take them through a participating school or academy.
- Cisco Modeling Labs: Cisco Modeling Labs runs virtual Cisco devices, and Cisco says you can get started for free.
With these tools, you can cover much of your preparation without spending anything beyond the exam fee.
Paid resources
If you want more structure, these paid options are worth a look:
- Cisco U. Essentials: A 365-day subscription that adds associate-level certification learning paths, including the CCNA path, plus hands-on labs. Cisco prices it per user, plus tax, on its plans page.
- Cisco practice exam: The official CCNA practice exam is sold on its own with 180 days of access, or included in Safeguard Plus.
- Cisco Press books: The CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide Library (two volumes) lists at $79.99 in print. Its second edition was published in July 2024, before the move to version 2.0, so check that your book matches the exam version you’ll take.
- Instructor-led training: Cisco and its authorized learning partners run classroom-style courses online and in person, priced by each provider.
- Self-paced courses: Official CCNA materials can be paired with high-quality, self-paced study programs that provide extra guidance and preparation in line with Cisco’s exam outline.
A practical approach is to pair a free lab tool with one main course or book. Our list of the best CCNA prep courses compares the options.
CCNA renewal cost
Your CCNA is valid for three years. To recertify, do one of the following before it expires:
- Pass an exam: The current CCNA exam or any higher-level Cisco certification exam. At Cisco’s prices, that’s $300 for the CCNA.
- Earn 30 CE credits: continuing education credits come from qualifying training, such as CE-eligible learning paths in Cisco U., from passing other Cisco exams, and from technical sessions at Cisco Live. Their cost depends on the training you choose.
Cisco doesn’t give extensions. If your certification expires, you have to complete the full exam process again, so a missed deadline costs at least another exam fee. Our guide to whether the CCNA expires covers renewal in detail.
Final thoughts
The CCNA’s fixed cost is the $300 exam fee. What you pay for your preparation is up to you: free tools like Packet Tracer and Cisco’s study materials can carry most of your preparation, while Safeguard Plus, Cisco U., and official books cost more but add structure or a safety net.
Buy vouchers only from Cisco or Pearson VUE, and plan your study so you pass on the first attempt. If you’re still deciding whether the certification fits your goals, read Is the CCNA worth it?, and when you’re ready to prepare, compare the best CCNA prep courses.