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For someone planning a career in computer networking, a practical certification progression is:

CompTIA Network+ → Cisco CCNA → Cisco CCNP

These certifications represent progressively deeper networking knowledge:

CompTIA Network+
↓
Build vendor-neutral networking fundamentals
↓
Cisco CCNA
↓
Learn to configure, operate, secure, and troubleshoot real networks, particularly using Cisco technologies
↓
Cisco CCNP
↓
Develop professional-level enterprise networking, routing, troubleshooting, security, automation, and design skills.

However, Network+ is not an official prerequisite for CCNA, and CCNA is not an official prerequisite for CCNP. An experienced network engineer can start directly with CCNA or even prepare for CCNP. For beginners, though, moving from Network+ concepts to CCNA and then CCNP provides a logical learning path.

As of September 2026, Cisco's current CCNA exam is 200-301 CCNA, while CCNP Enterprise requires a core exam plus one concentration exam. The principal CCNP Enterprise core exam is 350-401 ENCOR.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

Why Networking Certifications Still Matter

Almost every modern IT environment depends on networking.

Internet access, cloud services, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, servers, virtualization, VoIP, Wi-Fi, VPNs, firewalls, Active Directory, remote access, CCTV systems and business applications ultimately depend on reliable network connectivity.

A network engineer therefore needs to understand much more than simply connecting a cable between a computer and a switch.

Typical networking responsibilities include:

• IPv4 and IPv6 addressing
• Subnetting
• Ethernet
• Switching
• Routing
• VLANs
• Trunking
• DHCP
• DNS
• NAT
• Wi-Fi
• VPNs
• WAN connectivity
• Network security
• Firewalls and ACLs
• Network monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Automation
• Cloud connectivity

Certifications such as Network+, CCNA and CCNP provide structured ways of learning these technologies.

Networking Certification Roadmap

A beginner-to-professional learning path can be visualized as:

Basic IT Knowledge

↓

CompTIA Network+

Networking Fundamentals

↓

Cisco CCNA

Associate-Level Network Administration

↓

Cisco CCNP

Professional-Level Enterprise Networking

↓

Advanced Specialization / CCIE / Cloud / Security / Automation

The important point is that these certifications should be treated as a learning progression, not merely a collection of certificates.

Stage 1: CompTIA Network+

What Is CompTIA Network+?

CompTIA Network+ is a vendor-neutral networking certification designed to validate fundamental networking concepts and operational skills.

"Vendor-neutral" means that the knowledge is not primarily centered around configuring equipment from a single manufacturer.

That makes Network+ particularly useful for people entering networking for the first time.

Instead of immediately concentrating on Cisco command syntax, students first learn how networks actually work.

What Do You Learn in Network+?

Network+ preparation typically develops knowledge in areas such as:

Networking Concepts

You learn concepts including:

• LAN
• WAN
• WLAN
• PAN
• VLAN
• VPN
• Internet
• Intranet
• Ethernet
• TCP/IP
• OSI model

Understanding these concepts makes later Cisco training considerably easier.

IPv4 and IPv6

IP addressing is one of the most important networking skills.

For example:

192.168.1.10
255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
DNS: 192.168.1.2

You should understand what each value means rather than simply entering values supplied by somebody else.

Network+ introduces concepts such as:

• IPv4
• IPv6
• Subnet masks
• CIDR notation
• Private IP addresses
• Public IP addresses
• APIPA
• Default gateways
• DNS servers

TCP and UDP

You also learn the differences between the two important transport protocols:

Feature	TCP	UDP
Connection	Connection-oriented	Connectionless
Reliability	Higher	No delivery guarantee
Acknowledgement	Yes	No
Overhead	Higher	Lower
Typical use	HTTPS, SSH, file transfers	DNS queries, streaming, VoIP

Knowing these differences is important when troubleshooting applications and firewalls.

Common Network Ports

Network administrators should recognize commonly encountered ports.

Protocol	Common Port
FTP	20/21
SSH	22
Telnet	23
SMTP	25
DNS	53
DHCP	67/68
HTTP	80
POP3	110
IMAP	143
HTTPS	443
SMB	445
RDP	3389

Note: A service can be configured to use a different port, and some protocols use TCP, UDP or both. These numbers represent their commonly assigned/default ports.

Network Hardware

Network+ helps establish the purpose of equipment such as:

• Routers
• Layer 2 switches
• Layer 3 switches
• Wireless access points
• Firewalls
• Modems
• Network interface cards
• Patch panels
• Transceivers
• Copper cabling
• Fiber-optic cabling

This knowledge is especially useful for IT support engineers responsible for both hardware and networking.

Network Troubleshooting

Network+ also introduces a structured approach to troubleshooting.

For example, when a computer cannot access the Internet, an engineer might check:

ipconfig /all

Then:

ping 127.0.0.1

ping <default-gateway>

ping 8.8.8.8

nslookup example.com

tracert example.com

This can help distinguish among problems involving:

• TCP/IP configuration
• Network adapters
• LAN connectivity
• Gateways
• Internet connectivity
• DNS resolution
• Routing

Network+ therefore builds a useful troubleshooting foundation.

Stage 2: Cisco CCNA

What Is CCNA?

CCNA — Cisco Certified Network Associate is Cisco's associate-level networking certification.

As of September 2026, Cisco lists the certification exam as:

200-301 CCNA

Cisco describes the exam as covering:

• Network fundamentals
• Network access
• IP connectivity
• IP services
• Security fundamentals
• Automation and programmability

The exam is 120 minutes.

Official Cisco CCNA Exam Information

Network+ vs CCNA

Although some topics overlap, the learning approach is different.

Area	Network+	CCNA
Level	Foundation	Associate
Vendor focus	Vendor-neutral	Cisco-focused
Networking theory	Strong foundation	More detailed
Configuration	General	Significant
Cisco CLI	No major focus	Important
Switching	Fundamental	Detailed
Routing	Fundamental	Detailed
VLAN configuration	Conceptual/fundamental	Configuration and verification
Troubleshooting	General	Cisco networking
Automation	Introductory concepts	Included
Best suited for	Beginners/support technicians	Network administrators/engineers

Network+ helps answer:

"How does networking work?"

CCNA increasingly asks:

"How do I implement, verify and troubleshoot it?"

What You Learn in CCNA

1. Network Fundamentals

CCNA continues the fundamentals learned earlier but goes deeper.

Cisco's current CCNA blueprint includes areas such as:

• Routers
• Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches
• Access points
• Controllers
• Network topologies
• Cabling
• TCP vs UDP
• IPv4 addressing
• Subnetting
• IPv6
• Wireless principles
• Virtualization
• Switching concepts

Cisco's published CCNA materials specifically include IPv4 addressing/subnetting and IPv6 configuration and verification.

2. Cisco IOS and CLI

A major difference between basic networking study and CCNA is practical configuration.

You start working with commands such as:

enable

configure terminal

show running-config

show ip interface brief

For example:

Router> enable
Router# configure terminal
Router(config)# hostname Branch-Router

The device hostname becomes:

Branch-Router

This practical CLI knowledge is important for engineers working with Cisco equipment.

3. VLANs

Suppose an office has three departments:

Accounts
Sales
IT

Instead of putting every device into the same broadcast domain, VLANs can logically separate the network.

Example:

VLAN 10 - Accounts
VLAN 20 - Sales
VLAN 30 - IT

Example Cisco configuration:

configure terminal
vlan 10
 name ACCOUNTS
vlan 20
 name SALES
vlan 30
 name IT

This is where certification study begins becoming directly applicable to enterprise networks.

4. Routing

A router determines how traffic travels between different networks.

CCNA develops knowledge of:

• Routing tables
• Static routes
• Default routes
• Dynamic routing concepts
• OSPF fundamentals
• IPv4 routing
• IPv6 routing

You also become comfortable examining routing information.

For example:

show ip route

5. Network Security

Modern network engineers must also understand security.

CCNA includes security fundamentals, including concepts involving:

• Access control
• Device security
• Layer 2 security
• Authentication
• Wireless security
• Access Control Lists
• Network threats

Networking and cybersecurity are increasingly interconnected disciplines.

6. Automation and Programmability

Modern network infrastructure is moving beyond configuring every device manually.

Cisco's current CCNA exam explicitly includes automation and programmability.

This introduces networking professionals to concepts associated with:

• APIs
• Controllers
• Software-defined networking
• Network automation
• Configuration management
• Data formats

A modern network engineer therefore benefits from understanding both networking and software concepts.

Stage 3: Cisco CCNP

What Is CCNP?

CCNP stands for Cisco Certified Network Professional.

Cisco offers professional certifications across several technology areas. For a traditional enterprise networking career, CCNP Enterprise is the most directly relevant progression from CCNA.

CCNP Enterprise develops advanced skills involving enterprise infrastructure, virtualization, network assurance, security, automation, AI-related networking capabilities and Quality of Service.

Official Cisco CCNP Enterprise Certification

Do You Need CCNA Before CCNP?

This is an important point because older certification roadmaps can be misleading.

No. Cisco does not currently list CCNA as a formal prerequisite for CCNP Enterprise.

Cisco lists no prerequisite for the current ENCOR exam.

Therefore, technically:

CCNA certification
      ↓
NOT mandatory
      ↓
CCNP

However, that does not mean CCNA-level knowledge is unnecessary.

Someone attempting CCNP should already be comfortable with associate-level networking concepts.

For most learners, the logical progression remains:

CCNA knowledge
      ↓
Hands-on networking experience
      ↓
CCNP

How Do You Earn CCNP Enterprise?

Cisco currently requires:

One core exam

plus

One concentration exam

for CCNP Enterprise.

The core exam is:

350-401 ENCOR

Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies

The current ENCOR exam covers areas including:

• Dual-stack architecture
• Virtualization
• Infrastructure
• Network assurance
• Security
• Automation

Cisco lists ENCOR as a 120-minute exam.

CCNP Concentration Exams

After the core exam, candidates choose a concentration aligned with their career.

Examples currently listed by Cisco include:

Exam	Area
300-410 ENARSI	Advanced routing and services
300-415 ENSDWI	Catalyst SD-WAN
300-420 ENSLD	Enterprise network design
300-435 ENAUTO	Enterprise automation/programming
300-440 ENCC	Secure cloud connectivity
300-445 ENNA	Enterprise network assurance

Cisco's current exam portfolio should always be checked before registering because certification exams and blueprints can change.

Which CCNP Concentration Should a Network Engineer Choose?

For engineers interested heavily in routing and troubleshooting, ENARSI is a natural option.

It covers advanced routing technologies and services including Layer 3 technologies, VPN services, infrastructure security, infrastructure services and automation.

For someone interested in network design:

ENSLD may be more appropriate.

For SD-WAN:

ENSDWI

For automation:

ENAUTO

For cloud connectivity:

ENCC

For network assurance:

ENNA

The correct choice depends on the engineer's job responsibilities rather than which examination appears easiest.

Network+ vs CCNA vs CCNP

Feature	Network+	CCNA	CCNP Enterprise
Level	Foundation	Associate	Professional
Vendor	Vendor-neutral	Cisco	Cisco
Best for	Beginners	Network admins/engineers	Experienced network engineers
Networking fundamentals	Strong	Strong	Assumed
Cisco configuration	Limited/not primary	Strong	Advanced
Routing	Fundamentals	Intermediate	Advanced
Switching	Fundamentals	Intermediate	Advanced
Troubleshooting	Foundation	Intermediate	Advanced
Security	Fundamentals	Fundamentals/integration	Enterprise-level integration
Automation	Introductory	Included	More advanced
Design	Basic concepts	Some concepts	Can be specialized
SD-WAN	Awareness	Concepts	Dedicated specialization available
Cloud connectivity	Basic	Concepts	Dedicated specialization available

Is It Necessary to Complete All Three Certifications?

No.

This roadmap should not be interpreted as a mandatory certification chain.

Complete Network+ first if:

You are:

• New to networking
• Working in desktop support
• Working in help desk support
• An IT technician
• Weak in TCP/IP
• Weak in subnetting
• Unfamiliar with routers and switches

A strong Network+ foundation can make CCNA preparation easier.

Start directly with CCNA if:

You already understand:

• TCP/IP
• IPv4 addressing
• Basic IPv6
• DHCP
• DNS
• NAT
• Switches
• Routers
• VLAN concepts
• Basic troubleshooting

In that situation, studying the entire Network+ certification first may duplicate knowledge you already possess.

Move toward CCNP if:

You already have strong CCNA-level knowledge and substantial practical networking experience.

Certification vs Practical Experience

One of the biggest mistakes in IT certification is assuming:

Certification = Experience

It does not.

A better formula is:

Certification
+
Hands-on Labs
+
Troubleshooting
+
Production Experience
=
Strong Network Engineer

Someone who memorizes hundreds of questions may pass an examination but still struggle when a real network fails.

Build a Networking Lab

While studying, create a lab environment.

You can use tools such as Cisco Packet Tracer and other legitimate network simulation/emulation platforms appropriate to your training environment.

Practice scenarios such as:

PC1
 |
Switch
 |
Router
 |
Router
 |
Switch
 |
PC2

Then progressively introduce:

VLANs
Trunks
Inter-VLAN Routing
DHCP
IPv6
ACLs
OSPF
NAT
Wireless
Redundancy
VPN concepts
Automation

The objective should be to understand why the network works, and more importantly, why it stops working.

Practical Troubleshooting Exercise

Suppose:

PC1: 192.168.10.10/24
Gateway: 192.168.10.1

The user reports:

"Internet is not working."

Do not immediately reboot everything.

Start methodically.

Step 1 — Check configuration

On Windows:

ipconfig /all

Step 2 — Check local TCP/IP

ping 127.0.0.1

Step 3 — Check gateway

ping 192.168.10.1

Step 4 — Test an external IP

ping 8.8.8.8

Step 5 — Test DNS resolution

nslookup example.com

Step 6 — Trace the route

tracert example.com

Then examine the switch, router, VLAN, DHCP, DNS, firewall and routing configuration as appropriate.

This troubleshooting mindset is more valuable professionally than memorizing commands without understanding them.

Recommended Learning Path for a Beginner

A practical sequence could be:

Phase 1 — IT Fundamentals

Learn:

• Computer hardware
• Windows
• Linux basics
• Command line
• TCP/IP basics

↓

Phase 2 — Network+ Level Knowledge

Learn:

• OSI
• TCP/IP
• IPv4
• IPv6
• Ports
• Protocols
• DNS
• DHCP
• NAT
• Switching
• Routing
• Wi-Fi
• VPN
• Network security
• Troubleshooting

↓

Phase 3 — CCNA

Learn:

• Cisco IOS
• VLANs
• Trunks
• STP concepts
• Routing
• OSPF
• ACLs
• NAT
• Wireless
• IP services
• Security
• Automation

↓

Phase 4 — Real-World Practice

Work with:

• Routers
• Managed switches
• Firewalls
• Wi-Fi
• VPNs
• WAN connections
• Network monitoring
• Troubleshooting

↓

Phase 5 — CCNP Enterprise

Develop professional-level knowledge of:

• Enterprise architecture
• Advanced routing
• Advanced switching/infrastructure
• Network assurance
• Security
• Virtualization
• Automation
• SD-WAN
• Cloud connectivity
• Design or another selected specialization

What Jobs Can These Certifications Support?

Certifications alone do not guarantee employment, and job titles differ considerably between organizations. However, these skills can support progression toward roles such as:

After Network+ level training

• IT Support Technician
• Desktop Support Engineer
• Help Desk Technician
• Network Support Technician
• Field Support Engineer
• Junior Network Technician

After CCNA-level training and experience

• Network Administrator
• Network Support Engineer
• NOC Engineer
• Network Engineer
• Infrastructure Engineer
• Technical Support Engineer

After CCNP-level training and appropriate experience

• Senior Network Engineer
• Enterprise Network Engineer
• Network Infrastructure Engineer
• Network Consultant
• Network Implementation Engineer
• Network Operations Engineer
• Network Architect, typically with substantial additional design experience

The certification should complement practical experience rather than replace it.

Should an IT Support Engineer Learn Networking?

Yes.

Even if your primary responsibility is Windows, servers or desktop support, networking knowledge is extremely useful.

Consider common problems such as:

• RDP not connecting
• Server unreachable
• Printer offline
• Shared folder unavailable
• DNS failure
• DHCP failure
• VPN disconnected
• Slow Internet
• Packet loss
• Wi-Fi instability
• Duplicate IP address
• Wrong gateway
• VLAN configuration problem
• Firewall blocking traffic

Without networking knowledge, many of these problems appear to be Windows or application problems.

With networking knowledge, troubleshooting becomes considerably more systematic.

What Should You Learn Alongside CCNA and CCNP?

Networking increasingly overlaps with other infrastructure technologies.

A well-rounded network engineer should gradually develop knowledge of:

Windows and Linux

Learn operating-system networking commands and troubleshooting.

Windows examples:

ipconfig
ping
tracert
nslookup
netstat
arp
route
pathping

PowerShell also provides useful networking cmdlets such as:

Test-NetConnection

Linux equivalents include tools such as:

ip
ping
traceroute
ss
dig

Availability can vary by Linux distribution and installed packages.

Firewalls

Understand:

• Stateful firewalls
• Firewall rules
• Ports
• NAT
• VPN
• Network segmentation
• Access policies

Virtualization

Learn networking concepts associated with:

• Hyper-V
• VMware
• Virtual switches
• Virtual NICs
• VLANs
• Virtual networks

Cloud Networking

Modern engineers should understand cloud concepts such as:

• Virtual networks
• Subnets
• Route tables
• Security controls
• Site-to-site VPN
• Hybrid connectivity
• Cloud gateways

Python and Network Automation

Automation is increasingly important in networking.

Cisco includes automation and programmability at the CCNA level and expands automation concepts at the professional level.

Learning basic Python, APIs, JSON and automation concepts can therefore complement traditional networking skills.

Common Mistakes When Following This Certification Roadmap

1. Collecting Certifications Without Labs

Do not study only for the exam.

Configure networks yourself.

2. Memorizing Commands

Instead of memorizing:

show ip route

understand:

• What the routing table represents
• Why routes appear
• Which route will be selected
• Why a route might disappear
• What happens when the next hop is unreachable

3. Ignoring Subnetting

Subnetting remains an important networking skill.

You should become comfortable interpreting networks such as:

192.168.10.0/24

and progressively more granular prefixes such as:

192.168.10.0/26

without relying entirely on online calculators.

4. Ignoring IPv6

IPv6 should no longer be treated as an optional future technology.

Both current CCNA and CCNP Enterprise materials explicitly include IPv6/dual-stack networking.

5. Ignoring Automation

The networking profession continues to incorporate APIs, controllers and automation.

Traditional CLI skills remain valuable, but they should increasingly be complemented by automation knowledge.

FAQ

Is Network+ required before CCNA?

No. Network+ is not a prerequisite for CCNA.

It is useful for beginners who need a vendor-neutral networking foundation.

Is CCNA required before CCNP?

No. Cisco currently lists no formal prerequisite for CCNP Enterprise's ENCOR exam.

However, CCNA-level knowledge and practical experience are strongly advisable before attempting professional-level networking.

Can I start directly with CCNA?

Yes.

If you already understand basic networking, TCP/IP, subnetting, DNS, DHCP, switches and routers, starting directly with CCNA can be reasonable.

Can a complete beginner start with CCNA?

Yes, but the learning curve may be steeper.

Studying Network+ concepts first can make CCNA easier to understand.

Which is better: Network+ or CCNA?

They serve different purposes.

Network+ provides broad vendor-neutral networking fundamentals.

CCNA goes deeper into network implementation and administration and has a strong Cisco technology focus.

For someone pursuing networking as a career, CCNA is generally the more advanced next step after foundational networking knowledge.

Which CCNP should I choose after CCNA?

For traditional enterprise networking, CCNP Enterprise is a natural progression.

Other Cisco professional tracks may be more appropriate for engineers specializing in security, service-provider networking, collaboration, automation or other areas.

What exams are required for CCNP Enterprise?

Cisco currently requires one core exam and one concentration exam.

The core exam is 350-401 ENCOR, after which the candidate selects an eligible concentration exam.

Is CCNP only about routing and switching?

No.

Modern CCNP Enterprise includes enterprise infrastructure as well as areas such as virtualization, assurance, security, automation, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity and related enterprise technologies.

Are networking certifications enough to become a network engineer?

No.

Certifications should be combined with labs and real-world troubleshooting experience.

A strong candidate should be able to diagnose and solve networking problems, not simply answer certification questions.

Should network engineers learn cybersecurity?

Yes.

Networking and cybersecurity are closely connected. Understanding firewalls, ACLs, VPNs, segmentation, authentication, secure management and network monitoring is increasingly important.

Should network engineers learn cloud networking?

Yes.

Organizations increasingly operate hybrid environments connecting offices, data centers and cloud platforms. Cloud networking knowledge therefore complements traditional networking expertise.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION / CONCLUSION

For someone starting a networking career, the progression:

CompTIA Network+ → Cisco CCNA → Cisco CCNP

is a sensible learning roadmap, but it should not be treated as a mandatory chain.

For a complete beginner:

Networking Fundamentals → Network+ → CCNA → Hands-on Experience → CCNP

is a structured approach.

For an experienced IT support engineer who already understands networking fundamentals:

CCNA → Hands-on Cisco/enterprise networking → CCNP

may be more efficient.

And for an experienced network engineer with strong CCNA-equivalent knowledge, it is possible to move directly toward CCNP because Cisco does not currently require CCNA as a formal prerequisite.

The most important principle is:

Do not chase certificates alone. Build skills.

Learn how TCP/IP works. Become comfortable with IPv4 and IPv6. Practice subnetting. Configure VLANs and routing. Understand DNS, DHCP and NAT. Troubleshoot packet loss. Work with firewalls and VPNs. Learn network monitoring. Add automation and cloud networking.

The strongest professional progression is therefore:

Fundamentals → Certification → Lab Practice → Real-World Experience → Advanced Certification → Specialization

That combination can build significantly stronger networking expertise than certification study alone.

 

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