CCNA vs CCNP: the Honest Decision Guide
The short answer
If you are new to networking, this is not actually a choice: start with CCNA. CCNP assumes complete fluency in everything CCNA teaches, and attempting it cold is the most common way to lose the USD 400 ENCOR exam fee. The real decision point comes after CCNA plus 6–12 months of work: go deeper into networking (CCNP) or fork into security (Cisco CyberOps). The people who should jump straight to CCNP are working engineers who already run networks daily.
What each certification is
CCNA (200-301) is the associate-level foundation: one exam covering six domains from subnetting to basic security and automation. It is the credential Indian entry-level hiring actually filters on. CCNP Enterprise is professional level: two exams (ENCOR 350-401 core + one concentration, usually ENARSI) covering multi-area OSPF, BGP, SD-WAN, network design and advanced troubleshooting — the toolkit of someone who owns a network rather than operates one.
The costs, side by side
| CCNA | CCNP Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|
| Exams | 1 (200-301) | 2 (ENCOR + concentration) |
| Exam fees | USD 300 ≈ ₹26,000 | USD 400 + 300 ≈ ₹60,000 |
| Our training fee | ₹21,000 flat | ₹50,000 (₹25,000/paper) |
| Realistic all-in | ≈ ₹47,000 | ≈ ₹1,10,000 |
| Time (honest) | 2–3 months + prep | 6–9 months alongside work |
| Who it is for | Freshers, career changers | Engineers with 1+ yr experience |
Exam fees are Cisco’s, paid to Pearson VUE, fixed worldwide, and payable again on failure. Full arithmetic: CCNA cost · CCNP exam guide.
What each does to your salary
On our placement evidence and market observation (2026): CCNA gets a fresher in at ₹3–4.5 lakh; CCNP-level skills with 3–4 years of experience command ₹8–15 lakh. But read that carefully — the experience is doing at least half the lifting. A CCNP with zero production experience does not earn CCNP money, which is exactly why we tell our own CCNA graduates to work first, even though selling them CCNP immediately would profit us more.
The mistake this page exists to prevent
Every month someone asks us to enrol directly in CCNP “to save time.” Consider what that actually risks: ENCOR assumes you can already subnet reflexively, read a routing table cold and debug OSPF adjacencies — assumes, not teaches. Without the CCNA foundation you are memorising answers to questions you do not understand, and one failed ENCOR attempt costs ₹34,000: more than our entire CCNA course. Slower is cheaper here.
Decide in one minute
- New to networking? CCNA. No exceptions worth naming.
- CCNA done, no job yet? Get the job — 226 different employers hired our students; 70% were placed on CCNA alone.
- 1+ years running networks? CCNP now makes you dangerous — in the good sense.
- Pulled toward security? The fork is blue-team via CyberOps, not a second routing cert.
FAQ
Can I do CCNP directly without CCNA?
Formally yes - Cisco removed the prerequisite in 2020. Practically it is a costly mistake for beginners: ENCOR assumes CCNA-level fluency rather than teaching it, and a single failed attempt costs USD 400 (about Rs 34,000) - more than a complete CCNA course.
Is CCNP worth it in India?
For engineers with 1+ years of experience, strongly yes - Rs 8-15 lakh roles routinely filter on CCNP-level skill. For freshers, no: employers will not pay CCNP salaries for zero experience, so the money spent brings no return yet.
How much salary difference is there between CCNA and CCNP?
Typically Rs 3-4.5 lakh (CCNA fresher) versus Rs 8-15 lakh (CCNP with 3-4 years of experience) in 2026. Note that experience drives much of that gap; the certificate alone does not.
How long after CCNA should I do CCNP?
After 6-12 months of real work. That gap converts CCNA theory into reflexes, makes ENCOR dramatically easier, and means the CCNP lands on top of experience employers will actually pay for.
Which CCNP track should I choose?
CCNP Enterprise is the default for routing-and-switching careers and is what we teach. Choose Security or Data Center tracks only if your current job already points there.