In this guide
- What is the CCNA and what does it cost?
- Is the CCNA recognised in the UK?
- What network engineer qualifications are needed in the UK?
- Is CCNA better than CompTIA Network+?
- When is the CCNA not worth it?
- Can you become a network engineer with just a CCNA?
- How should you study for the CCNA?
- How Experiencely can help
Yes, the CCNA is worth it in 2026 if you want a networking career in the UK. It's the certificate network employers recognise most at junior level, and it teaches the routing and switching you'll use every day. What it won't do is get you hired on its own. Treat it as your entry ticket, then add real experience.
What is the CCNA and what does it cost?
The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is Cisco's associate level networking certification. You get it by passing one exam, 200-301 CCNA.
According to Cisco, the exam lasts 120 minutes and costs 300 US dollars. It covers six areas: network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.
That exam fee is only part of the cost. Most people also pay for a course or video training, practice exams and lab software. Budget for those, and for a possible resit.
Cisco says most of its certifications are valid for three years. To keep the CCNA current, you can earn 30 continuing education credits, retake the exam or pass a higher level Cisco exam before it expires.
Is the CCNA recognised in the UK?
Yes, widely. It's an international certification and UK employers treat it as the standard junior networking credential.
You can see it in the adverts. ITJobsWatch counted 325 UK permanent job adverts citing CCNA in the six months to November 2026. The median salary in those adverts was £47,500, with a range from £26,650 at the 10th percentile to £78,750 at the 90th.
How do hiring managers actually use it? Mostly as a filter. When a junior advert gets a pile of applications, CCNA is a quick way to shortlist people who understand subnetting, VLANs and routing. Then the interview checks whether you really do. Expect to be asked to subnet on the spot, explain how a switch learns MAC addresses or walk through what happens when a packet crosses a router.
That wide spread is telling. CCNA turns up in adverts for technicians and in adverts for senior engineers. For juniors it's a requirement. For seniors it's a baseline they expect you passed years ago.
Prospects lists Cisco CCNA and CCNP Enterprise among the certifications network engineers commonly hold, and the National Careers Service mentions earning certifications such as CCNP or CompTIA Network+ on the job.
What network engineer qualifications are needed in the UK?
Legally, none. There's no licence to be a network engineer. In practice, employers look for a mix of the following.
Certifications. CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA at entry level. CCNP Enterprise for mid to senior roles. Vendor certificates from Juniper, Fortinet or Palo Alto if the employer uses that kit. Prospects also mentions Microsoft's Azure Network Engineer Associate for cloud networking.
A degree, sometimes. Prospects says a relevant degree is common but not always required if you've got significant experience. Computer networks, computer science and electronic engineering are typical subjects.
Apprenticeships. The National Careers Service lists a Level 4 Network Engineer apprenticeship and a Level 6 degree apprenticeship with a networking option.
Experience. This is the qualification nobody lists formally and every hiring manager weighs most.
My view for a beginner in 2026: Network+ or CCNA first (or both, if you're starting from nothing), real hands-on experience next, CCNP later once you're working.
Is CCNA better than CompTIA Network+?
They do different jobs. Network+ is vendor-neutral and a little gentler. It's a good first step if you've never worked in IT. Our Network+ guide covers it in more detail.
CCNA goes deeper and uses Cisco's command line. It carries more weight in network engineering adverts because so many UK networks run Cisco kit, and the skills transfer well to other vendors.
If you've already got IT support experience and you're comfortable with subnetting, go straight to CCNA. If you're brand new, Network+ first makes the CCNA less of a shock.
When is the CCNA not worth it?
If you want a cloud-only career. You still need networking knowledge, but a cloud networking certificate might serve you better than deep Cisco IOS.
If you won't get hands-on time. A CCNA with no real experience can leave you overqualified for help desk and underqualified for engineering. The certificate fades from memory fast if you don't use it.
If you're already experienced. Someone with five years of network work might be better off going straight to CCNP or a security specialism.
If you're doing it to tick a box. Some people sit the CCNA because a forum told them to, then realise they don't enjoy networking. Before you spend the money, spend a few weeks on free material and Packet Tracer labs. If subnetting and troubleshooting feel satisfying rather than tedious, go for it.
If you're cramming dumps. Employers test CCNA knowledge in interviews. A certificate you can't back up with understanding does more harm than good.
Can you become a network engineer with just a CCNA?
Occasionally, but not usually. The common pattern is CCNA plus some real experience, often from a technician, NOC or support role, then a step up into a junior engineer job.
What a CCNA does well is get your CV past the first filter. What gets you through the interview is being able to say, "On a live network, I did this, this went wrong and here's how I fixed it." For more on roles that ask for it, see our page on CCNA jobs.
How should you study for the CCNA?
Give yourself a realistic window. Many people studying part time need several months.
Use one main video or book course, Cisco Packet Tracer for labs and a decent bank of practice questions. Subnet every day until you can do it in your head. Build small topologies from scratch: VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, OSPF, access lists, NAT.
Book the exam early. A date in the diary stops the course dragging on for a year, which is the most common way people fail to finish. If you don't pass first time, you'll at least know exactly which topics to fix.
Then get on a real network as soon as you can. Labs teach you commands. Real networks teach you that the documentation is out of date and the problem is usually a cable.
How Experiencely can help
Experiencely's network engineering programme includes training for A+, Network+, Security+, CCNA, ENCOR and ENARSI, so the training runs from IT fundamentals through to advanced routing and enterprise networking. You're also placed on a live remote network project within 48 hours, working about an hour a day for three months alongside your job, so the theory gets used on a real network straight away. The programme costs £2,495. If you're not hired within 60 days of finishing, and you've met the conditions, you get your money back.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CCNA worth it for beginners in the UK?
Yes, for most people aiming at networking. It's the certificate UK network adverts mention most at junior and mid level, and it proves real routing and switching knowledge. It won't get you hired on its own, though. Pair it with hands-on experience on a live network.
Is the CCNA recognised in the UK?
Yes. Cisco's CCNA is an international certification and is widely used by UK employers. ITJobsWatch counted 325 UK permanent adverts citing it in the six months to November 2026, and both Prospects and the National Careers Service mention Cisco certifications in their network engineer profiles.
How much does the CCNA exam cost?
Cisco lists the 200-301 CCNA exam at 300 US dollars. It's a 120-minute exam covering network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability. Training, labs and practice exams cost extra unless they're bundled into a course.
How long does the CCNA last?
Cisco says most of its certifications, including associate level ones like CCNA, are valid for three years. You can recertify by earning 30 continuing education credits, retaking the exam or passing a higher level Cisco exam before your certification expires.
Sources
Figures are taken from the sources below. Salary ranges are indicative and individual offers vary. Last checked 9 November 2026.