The short version: Cisco career certifications are a well-structured pathway from entry-level IT into six-figure network engineering roles. The CCNA is the best single starting point in IT certification today, and the CCIE is one of the most respected and hardest-won credentials in the entire industry.
Why I Am Writing About Cisco Certifications
I am not a network engineer. I want to be transparent about that upfront. But I run a consultancy, I hire technical people, and I work with a lot of clients who are trying to build income or shift careers. Cisco certifications come up constantly in those conversations, and I kept noticing that the blog posts ranking for this topic are either dry and corporate or suspiciously vague about money and timelines.
So I did what I always do. I went and talked to people who have done this, dug into the real salary data, and pulled together something that gives you a straight answer instead of a brochure.
The Cisco Certification Ladder Explained Simply
Cisco organises its certifications into four main levels. Each level is also tied to a technical track, so you are not just climbing one generic ladder. You are climbing a specific one based on what you want to do.
- Entry level: Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
- Associate level: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Professional level: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Expert level: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE)
There is also a Specialist tier sitting between Associate and Professional that lets you demonstrate depth in a specific area without committing to the full CCNP. More on that below.
The tracks you can follow include Enterprise, Security, Data Center, Service Provider, Collaboration, and DevNet (which is the developer and automation path). DevNet is relatively new and increasingly important as networking becomes more software-defined.
Start Here: The CCNA
If you are starting from scratch, the CCNA is your target. Full stop.
It is a single exam (exam code 200-301) that covers networking fundamentals, IP connectivity, IP services, security basics, automation, and programmability. Cisco redesigned it in 2020 and it is challenging. This is not a tick-box qualification you can cram in a weekend.
Realistic study time for someone with no networking background is four to six months of consistent effort. If you already work in IT, you can often do it in two to three months.
The exam costs around $330 USD (roughly £260) to sit. You book it through Pearson VUE. There are testing centres across the UK and you can sit it online with a remote proctor.
Study resources that real candidates recommend:
- Jeremy's IT Lab on YouTube - completely free, exceptionally thorough, covers the entire 200-301 curriculum
- Neil Anderson's Udemy course - paid but regularly discounted to around £13 to £15 on Udemy sales
- Boson ExSim - the best practice exam software available, worth every penny at around $99
- Cisco Packet Tracer - free simulation tool from Cisco for hands-on lab practice
What the CCNA Does to Your Salary
This is the bit most posts skip over or fudge with wide ranges. Let me be specific.
In the UK, network support roles without certification typically pay £22,000 to £28,000. With a CCNA, junior network engineer roles start at £30,000 to £38,000. After two to three years of experience with the CCNA, you are looking at £40,000 to £52,000.
In the US, the shift is more dramatic. Uncertified helpdesk roles average around $38,000 to $45,000. CCNA-level network roles start at $55,000 to $70,000. The data from jobs boards like Glassdoor, Indeed, and Levels.fyi consistently shows the CCNA as one of the highest-ROI certifications you can hold in early IT career stages.
Moving Up: The CCNP
The CCNP is where things get serious in terms of both difficulty and earning potential.
Unlike the old format, you no longer need to hold a CCNA before sitting for the CCNP. Cisco changed this in 2020. However, practically speaking, you would be making your life very hard if you attempted the CCNP without CCNA-level knowledge. The assumed baseline is substantial.
Each CCNP track now consists of one core exam plus one concentration exam of your choosing. So for CCNP Enterprise, you sit the ENCOR core exam (350-401) and then pick a concentration like Advanced Routing (ENARSI), SD-WAN, or Wireless Design.
This modularity is useful. It means you can specialise in the area your current employer or target employer needs most.
CCNP-level roles in the UK pay £55,000 to £75,000 for network engineers and up to £85,000 for senior or lead engineers in financial services or large enterprise environments. In the US, $90,000 to $120,000 is a realistic range at this level.
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The CCIE: The Hardest Certification in IT
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert is widely considered the most difficult and most prestigious certification in networking. Possibly in all of IT.
There are two components. First, a written qualifying exam. Second, an eight-hour practical lab exam that you sit in person at a Cisco authorised lab facility. The lab exam locations for EMEA include Brussels, London, and Amsterdam. You have to book well in advance.
Pass rates for the lab exam hover around 20 to 25 percent. Most candidates sit it multiple times. Each lab attempt costs $1,600 USD.
People I know who have gone through this process describe it as all-consuming. Eighteen months to three years of dedicated preparation is normal, often alongside a full-time job.
The payoff is real though. CCIE-certified engineers in the UK typically earn £90,000 to £130,000. In the US, $130,000 to $175,000 is common, with senior roles at large enterprises or consultancies hitting higher. The credential opens doors that are simply closed without it.
The DevNet Track: The One Everyone Is Sleeping On
Here is something the top-ranking posts are not saying clearly enough: the Cisco DevNet certifications are, right now, one of the most strategically smart paths you can take.
Networks are increasingly software-defined. Cloud networking, automation, and infrastructure-as-code are reshaping what network engineers do. A traditional network engineer who can also write Python, work with APIs, and understand platforms like Cisco DNA Center or ACI (Application Centric Infrastructure) is in extremely short supply.
The DevNet Associate exam (200-901) is accessible to people who already code but do not have a networking background. And for traditional network engineers, adding DevNet credentials on top of a CCNP Enterprise is a combination that puts you in a very small pool of candidates.
Employers paying £80,000 to £100,000 in the UK for network automation roles are struggling to fill positions. That gap is where you want to be.
A Realistic Timeline If You Are Starting From Zero
- Months one to five: Study for and pass the CCNA (200-301)
- Months six to twelve: Get your first network support or junior network engineer role, start hands-on experience
- Year two: Decide on your track (Enterprise, Security, DevNet) and begin CCNP core exam preparation
- Year three: Sit CCNP core and concentration exams, move into mid-level network engineer roles
- Years four to six: Consider CCIE if your career goal points there, or deepen specialisation through Specialist certifications and experience
This timeline assumes part-time study alongside work. It is not slow. It is realistic. Anyone promising you a shortcut to the CCIE in six months is selling you something.
One Thing I Think About a Lot
The Cisco certification path is one of the few remaining career routes in the UK where a working-class person with no degree, no connections, and no capital beyond a laptop and time can reach a six-figure salary within five to seven years. That matters to me. It is not theoretical. I have watched people do it.
The barrier is not access to information. Jeremy's IT Lab on YouTube is free and it is brilliant. The barrier is sustained effort over time, which is a different problem entirely. But knowing that the path is real and the money is real makes that effort easier to justify.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need the CCNA before attempting the CCNP?
Technically no. Cisco removed the prerequisite requirement in 2020. But the CCNP assumes deep networking knowledge, so attempting it without CCNA-level foundations would make an already hard exam significantly harder. Most candidates still follow the CCNA to CCNP sequence.
How long does a Cisco certification last before it expires?
Cisco certifications are valid for three years. To recertify, you can pass a higher-level exam, pass any professional-level exam, earn a Cisco Specialist certification, or complete continuing education credits through the Cisco Learning Network. The CCIE requires recertification every three years too, via a written exam or CE credits.
Is the CCNA worth it in the UK job market right now?
Yes. Network engineering consistently appears on the UK shortage occupation list, and Cisco remains the dominant vendor in enterprise networking. The CCNA is recognised by virtually every UK employer who hires network staff, from NHS digital teams to financial services firms to managed service providers.
Can you study for the CCNA completely for free?
Very nearly. Jeremy's IT Lab on YouTube covers the full 200-301 syllabus at no cost. Cisco Packet Tracer is free to download. The main cost is the exam fee itself, around $330 USD, plus optional paid practice tests. Total out-of-pocket cost can be under £300 if you study using free resources.
