CCNA vs CCNP Enterprise
CCNA is one exam that covers the whole of networking at a working level. CCNP Enterprise is two exams: a shared core and a concentration you choose.
Cisco removed the prerequisite in 2020, so nothing stops you sitting CCNP first. Almost nobody should.
Side by side
| CCNA | CCNP Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams required | One: 200-301. | Two: the 350-401 core plus one concentration exam. |
| Exam cost | $300. | $400 for the core plus $300 for the concentration, $700 total. |
| Experience assumed | One year with Cisco equipment suggested, none enforced. | Three to five years of enterprise networking. Not enforced since 2020. |
| What it tests | Fundamentals, access, IP connectivity and services, security basics, automation basics. | Architecture, virtualisation, infrastructure, assurance, security and automation at depth. |
| Configuration depth | Single-area OSPF, basic ACLs, NAT, VLANs, trunking. | Multi-area OSPF, BGP, overlays, SD-WAN, policy and templating. |
| Study time | Three to six months from scratch. | Six to twelve months across both exams. |
| Difficulty | Demanding but fair. Lab practice makes the difference. | Substantially harder, and the core exam is the wall most people hit. |
| Typical roles | Network technician, NOC engineer, junior network administrator. | Network engineer, senior network administrator, network architect. |
| Renewal | Three years. | Three years. The core exam renews CCNA as well. |
Which one to take first
CCNA, essentially always. It is a third of the cost, it is the certification entry-level postings name, and the CCNP core assumes every part of it as background rather than teaching it.
The case for going straight to CCNP is narrow: somebody with years of enterprise networking experience who never certified, whose employer pays, and who would find CCNA an afternoon. Even then the core exam is a genuine challenge.
Note the renewal direction before you plan. Passing the CCNP core renews CCNA, so somebody who takes CCNA and then CCNP within three years keeps both current from the later exam.
When the answer is the other one
Take CCNP Enterprise instead if you already engineer networks
Years of running an enterprise network means CCNA certifies your first month rather than your current work. If your employer funds certification and you already work with BGP, overlays or SD-WAN, the core exam is the credential that matches what you do.
Take Network+ instead if you are not committed to Cisco
CCNA is Cisco-specific in its configuration syntax even where the concepts are universal. If you do not yet know whether networking is your direction, Network+ is cheaper, vendor-neutral, and enough to find out.
Take a cloud certification instead if the network is somebody else's
A great deal of infrastructure work has moved to environments where nobody configures a switch. If your target roles are cloud or platform engineering, AZ-104 or AWS Solutions Architect is closer to the work than either of these.
The short version
CCNA first, with lab practice, for anyone who is not already a working network engineer.
CCNP Enterprise when the job has outgrown CCNA, and budget for two exams and six months.
Frequently asked questions
Is CCNA required for CCNP?
No. Cisco removed all prerequisites in February 2020. You may sit CCNP Enterprise without holding CCNA, though the core exam assumes everything CCNA covers.
How many exams is CCNP Enterprise?
Two. The 350-401 ENCOR core, plus one concentration exam chosen from several options such as advanced routing or SD-WAN.
Does CCNP renew CCNA?
Yes. Passing a professional-level exam renews associate-level certifications in the same track for the certification cycle.
Answer a few from each.
Free sample questions for both, with the full explanation on every answer. Nothing tells you which exam suits you like sitting a few of its questions.