Cisco certifications run Entry, Associate, Professional and Expert. Most careers start at CCNA, which is the credential employers name in job adverts; the CCST exams below it exist for people with no IT background at all. At Professional level the shape changes - there is no single CCNP exam. You take one core exam for your track plus a concentration exam of your choice. Expert level is CCIE, an eight-hour hands-on lab, which is not covered here.
How CertGrid reviews questions
- Mapped to current exam objectives
- Includes an explanation for every answer
- Reviewed for weak or giveaway distractors
- Reviewed when exam objectives change
Entry
No experience needed - start here if you are new to IT.- Cisco CCST Networking (100-150)Networking fundamentals: addressing, cabling, protocols and basic troubleshooting. Aimed at students and career changers.View CCST Networking practice exam →
- Cisco CCST Cybersecurity (100-160)Security fundamentals: threats, vulnerabilities, access control and the basics of incident response.View CCST Cybersecurity practice exam →
Associate
The professional baseline. Most roles ask for CCNA.- Cisco CCNA 200-301The flagship associate certification: network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity, services, security and automation. Start here if you already work in IT.View CCNA practice exam →
- Cisco CCNA Automation (200-901 CCNAAUTO)Network automation and programmability: APIs, Python and infrastructure as code. Formerly DevNet Associate.View CCNA Automation practice exam →
- Cisco Cybersecurity Associate (200-201 CBROPS)Security operations: monitoring, analysis and incident response for a SOC role. Formerly CyberOps Associate.View CyberOps Associate practice exam →
Professional
One core exam plus a concentration, not a single exam.- Cisco CCNP ENCOR 350-401Enterprise core: architecture, virtualisation, infrastructure, assurance, security and automation. The core exam for CCNP Enterprise.View ENCOR practice exam →
- Cisco CCNP ENARSI (300-410)Advanced routing: EIGRP, OSPF, BGP, VPN services and infrastructure security. A concentration exam for CCNP Enterprise.View ENARSI practice exam →
- Cisco CCNP Security SCOR (350-701)Security core: network, cloud and content security, endpoint protection and secure access. The core exam for CCNP Security.View SCOR practice exam →
How CertGrid helps you pass
Every exam in this path has a full CertGrid practice bank: hundreds of exam-style questions, an explanation for every answer (including why each wrong option is wrong), and timed mock exams that score like the real thing. Start free and upgrade to Pro for unlimited practice across the whole path.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cisco certification should I start with?
CCNA for most people - it is the associate-level baseline employers ask for by name. If you have no IT background at all, a CCST (Networking or Cybersecurity) is a gentler entry and needs no prior experience.
Do I need a CCST before CCNA?
No. CCST is not a prerequisite, and CCNA has no formal requirements either. The CCST exams exist as a stepping stone for students and career changers, not as a gate.
Is there a single CCNP exam?
No, and this catches people out. CCNP takes two exams: a core exam for your track plus a concentration exam. For CCNP Enterprise that is ENCOR plus a concentration such as ENARSI; for CCNP Security it is SCOR plus a concentration.
What comes after CCNP?
CCIE, the expert tier. It needs a written qualifying exam followed by an eight-hour hands-on lab. CertGrid does not cover CCIE, because a lab exam cannot be practised meaningfully with multiple-choice questions.