Will There Be a New CCNA in 2023?

Three years ago, Cisco sent shockwaves through the industry by revamping its certification program. Even its popular CCNA certification wasn’t left unscathed. With 2023 just around the corner, the question has been popping up more: when will Cisco announce an updated CCNA exam? 

And we’ve finally got an answer for when we can expect the new CCNA to be released — kind of.

Here’s what we know about a new CCNA certification in 2023, as well as a possible timeline for the CCNA 200-301 retirement date.

When Will the New CCNA Exam Be Released? 

According to Cisco’s recently released certification roadmap, the current CCNA 200-301 exam will first need to be reviewed before any changes to the exam blueprint will need to be announced. Once that happens, we can expect to see a new CCNA exam sometime in 2023 — most likely published in the summer or fall based on the proposed roadmap from Cisco. 

Here’s what we know about the review, update, and publish dates for the new CCNA, according to Cisco. 

• The CCNA 200-301 exam will be reviewed between February and April 2023

• Any changes to the CCNA exam blueprint would be announced between May and July 2023

• An updated CCNA exam would be published between August and October 2023.

While the dates for each phase are tentative and subject to change, the good news is that you can sign up to receive notifications from Cisco so you’re in the know for any announcements about the exam timeline. 

Keep in mind that it’s possible Cisco could determine that no changes are needed to the current 200-301 exam. That may mean there wouldn't be a new CCNA exam released in 2023. The next scheduled review period for the CCNA is scheduled for February - April 2024.

What are Cisco Certification Roadmaps?

Cisco certification roadmaps are designed to help Cisco ensure that its exams are relevant and align with current technologies and industry trends. These are designed to provide learners with more clarity and information regarding exam updates, so that test takers can better plan their studies. 

Speaking of test prep materials — check out this free CCNA Study Plan designed to prepare you for the CCNA 200-301 in 26 weeks. With just 30 to 60 minutes of training daily, you should be exam ready in about 6 months (or less if you already have networking experience).

Ready to Earn Your CCNA Certification?

If you’ve been thinking about earning the CCNA, now is a great time to take the exam, since there are already a number of resources designed to help you study. The CCNA training at CBT Nuggets maps directly to the 200-301 exam, which makes it a perfect study tool to use ahead of test day. 

The course contains skills created by a talented group of expert trainers who have years of real-world IT experience: Keith Barker, Knox Hutchinson, Jeremy Cioara, and Chuck Keith. 

You can even sign up for a no-risk, free 7-day trial to get a feel for what it’s like to learn IT with CBT Nuggets before you become a subscriber.

RELATED: Here’s How Long Most People Need to Study for the CCNA

Why is the Cisco CCNA Cert Important for Your Career?

When it comes to networking technologies, Cisco is the golden standard — and has been for a long time. You can’t go wrong earning any Cisco certification for that reason. The CCNA certification validates you have the knowledge and skills needed to successfully start your networking career. 

The current 200-301 exam tests foundational networking basics such as: 

• IPv4 Subnetting

• Cisco NAT Concepts and Base Configuration

• Configure network VLANs between switches, WAPs, and servers

• Design, Configure, and Verify Wireless Networks and Security protocols

• Describe Network Switch Functions and Learn how to Locate Network Devices

When Will the Current CCNA Retire?

With a new CCNA exam on the way, the 200-301 exam will be retired at some point in the next year or two. While Cisco hasn’t announced an official timeframe for the current CCNA retirement, we can assume the 200-301 CCNA exam will be retired sometime in 2024 if the new exam is released in summer or fall of 2023. That’s good news if you’re working toward earning the current CCNA certification, as you still have time to study for and take the exam. 

Should You Take the Current 200-301 Exam or Wait for a New CCNA Exam?  

Don’t panic if you are currently studying for the 200-301 exam and are worried about the exam retirement date. It will be a while before a new CCNA exam goes live (if one does) — probably well into 2023. And while a new exam will include updates, it won’t render the knowledge and skills from the previous exam useless. Plus, earning any certification demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and keeping your skills up to date. 

If you haven’t started studying for the CCNA 200-301 exam, or are still on the fence, you would be fine to wait until a new exam is released. But if you want to get an early start on your CCNA journey, this CCNA 200-301 training will still be relevant and useful as you prepare for the exam.