October 23, 2026
Cisco will retire the current CCNA exam, 200-301 v1.1, after February 2, 2027, and launch CCNA v2.0 on February 3, 2027. If you are starting IT training in British Columbia this fall or winter, v2.0 is most likely the version you will write, so it is the one to plan around. This guide compares both exams using Cisco's own exam topics.
What Is Changing With CCNA v2.0?
CCNA v2.0 keeps the same certification, exam code (200-301) and 120-minute length, but reorganizes the exam into five domains instead of six and gives AI its own domain, according to Cisco's CCNA v2.0 exam topics. In its July 1, 2026 announcement, Cisco says the refresh adds practical assessments and more troubleshooting tasks, with security and AI built in throughout.
| CCNA v1.1 Domain | Weight | Closest CCNA v2.0 Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network Fundamentals | 20% | Network Infrastructure and Connectivity | 25% |
| Network Access | 20% | Switching and Network Access | 25% |
| IP Connectivity | 25% | IP Routing | 20% |
| IP Services and Security Fundamentals | 10% and 15% | Network Services and Security | 20% |
| Automation and Programmability | 10% | AI, and Network Operations and Management | 10% |
The domain pairings are our closest match, since Cisco regrouped some topics. In practice, infrastructure and switching now make up half of the exam, so hands-on time with cabling, addressing and switches counts for more than before.
The Shift From Knowing to Fixing
The biggest change is in the verbs. Cisco's CCNA v1.1 exam topics list 53 subtopics, and none of them begins with "troubleshoot" or "diagnose." The v2.0 list has 29 subtopics, and eight of them do. Those eight cover cabling faults, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, client connectivity, DHCP, Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity, static routes and DNS records.
This means v2.0 leans toward the work junior network staff do every day: finding out why something is broken, not just explaining how it works.
Topics Added and Topics No Longer Named
Topics that are new or more specific in v2.0 include:
- OSPFv3 for IPv6, alongside OSPFv2
- The operational status of HSRP and VRRP
- SFTP and SCP for secure file transfers
- Diagnosing DNS records (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS and PTR)
- Packet captures as a troubleshooting tool
- Storm control and RA guard as Layer 2 security features
- Agentic AI and prompt selection for generative AI
Several v1.1 topics are not named in v2.0, including REST APIs, JSON, QoS, NTP and Terraform. Cisco describes its topic list as "a general guide" and notes that related topics may still appear, so treat these as lower priority rather than safe to skip.
How v2.0 Changes the AI Part of the CCNA
AI is already on the current exam. Objective 6.4 of v1.1 asks candidates to "explain AI (generative and predictive) and machine learning in network operations." CCNA v2.0 moves from explaining AI to working with it. Its AI, and Network Operations and Management domain covers:
- The role of agentic AI in network operations
- Selecting prompts for generative AI, considering data classification, output format, persona and instructions
- Device-based, cloud-based, controller-based and automation-based management, including infrastructure as code
- SNMP, syslog and configuration management tools such as Ansible
Cisco's exam description adds that candidates may need to evaluate output and recommendations from agentic AI and digital network assistants. In practice, data classification means knowing what never belongs in an AI prompt, such as device passwords or a client's addressing plan. Evaluating output means catching an AI-suggested access control list that blocks the traffic you meant to allow. Our guide to checking AI-generated network configurations walks through that habit.
Which CCNA Version Will You Write?
If you can be exam-ready before February 2, 2027, you can still write v1.1; otherwise, plan for v2.0. As of late October 2026, that leaves about 15 weeks.
| Your Situation | Version to Plan For | What to Do Next |
|---|---|---|
| Studying v1.1 and close to exam-ready | v1.1 | Book before February 2, 2027. Cisco requires a wait of five calendar days between attempts, so leave room for a retake. |
| Studying v1.1 but months from ready | v2.0 | Keep your core skills and add the new AI and troubleshooting topics. |
| Starting from zero on your own | v2.0 | Fifteen weeks leaves little time for lab practice or a retake, so start with v2.0 materials. |
| Starting a full-time diploma in BC this fall or winter | v2.0 | A 56-week program that begins in fall 2026 runs into late 2027. |
Cisco's own advice is to take v1.1 now if you are ready, and it says the skills you build "carry straight into CCNA v2.0." For true beginners, the safer plan is the version you will actually sit.
Check the Version Before You Buy Study Materials
Because both versions use exam code 200-301, a book, course or practice test labelled "200-301" could be built for either one. Before you spend money or study time:
- Look for "v2.0" in the title or product listing, not just the exam code
- Check the contents for agentic AI, OSPFv3 and DNS record troubleshooting
- Compare the table of contents against Cisco's v2.0 exam topics
- Keep v1.1 resources for core skills such as subnetting, VLANs and static routing, which still appear in v2.0
Confirm the version again when you book your exam.
What the Change Signals About Network Work in BC
Job Bank rates the outlook for computer network and web technicians (NOC 22220) in BC as Moderate for 2025 to 2027 (updated December 10, 2025). Its BC outlook page names "the use of advanced software and automation" as a key trend that "may result in more complex tasks and fewer positions in the future." It also notes that digital transformation, including artificial intelligence such as virtual agents, may affect employment opportunities.
Put this next to Cisco's new exam and a pattern appears. Both point to a role where tools take on routine tasks and people handle diagnosis and judgment. For a career changer in BC, this means troubleshooting practice and the habit of checking AI output are worth building from day one. For the full career route, see our guide to becoming a network systems administrator in BC.
CDI College's Approach to CCNA Preparation
CDI College's network systems administrator diploma in BC is a 56-week, 1,120-hour program that helps students prepare for the CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification exams. Cisco issues the CCNA itself once you pass its exam.
| Course or Component | Hours | What Students Practise |
|---|---|---|
| Network+ | 80 | Addressing, routing and switching, wireless, network security and troubleshooting |
| Introduction to Internetworking | 80 | TCP/IP, IP addressing and subnet masks, and basic operations on Cisco routers and switches |
| Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices | 80 | Planning LANs and WANs and managing Cisco routers and switches in a simulated environment |
| Practicum | 200 | Workplace tasks that can include configuring and administering Cisco IOS |
Students also use generative AI to help learn the Cisco IOS interface and design IP addressing, and they learn to assess AI-generated output for accuracy, relevance, security and appropriateness. If you are still choosing a certification path, see how CompTIA Network+ and CCNA compare and the network administrator certifications beginners should know.
Final Thoughts
If you are starting in BC now, plan for CCNA v2.0, build troubleshooting skills early and treat AI as a tool you check rather than one you trust blindly. Confirm the exam version before you buy materials or book a date.
Request more information about CDI College's Network Systems Administrator with AI program, admission requirements, financial options and start dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My CCNA Still Be Valid After v2.0 Launches?
Yes. Both versions lead to the same CCNA certification, which Cisco says is valid for three years. Before it expires, you can recertify by passing a qualifying exam or earning 30 continuing education credits.
Is CCNA v2.0 Harder Than v1.1?
Cisco hasn't called it harder, but it is different. The v2.0 exam has fewer, broader topics with more troubleshooting, so it is likely to reward hands-on lab practice more than memorized definitions.
