CCNA 200-301 Curriculum

What You'll Learn

The CCNA 200-301 exam covers five core domains. Every topic below is taught step-by-step — from zero to exam-ready.

Domain 01

Network Fundamentals & Access

Network Infrastructure and Connectivity

25% of Exam

Build the foundation every network engineer needs. You'll understand how data moves across networks, the OSI and TCP/IP models, and how to configure Ethernet and wireless connections.

Skills you'll gain

  • 1.1 Diagnose interface and cable (copper and fiber) issues such as collisions, errors, mismatched duplex, speed, distance, interface, signal levels, pin out, and cable types.
  • 1.2 Describe the role and function of hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers.
  • 1.3 Troubleshoot IPv4 address configuration, assignment, and subnetting (public and private).
  • 1.4 Troubleshoot IPv6 address configuration, assignment, and prefix sizing (unicast and modified EUI 64).
  • 1.5 Describe wireless principles.
  • 1.6 Troubleshoot wired and wireless client connectivity (IP configuration, network reachability, and wireless security parameters on Windows, MacOS, and Linux).
  • 1.7 Troubleshoot DHCPv4 client, server, and relay on IOS devices.

Modules covered

01OSI & TCP/IP Models
02Ethernet & LAN Technologies
03Wireless Networking (802.11)
04Network Topologies & Cabling
05IPv4 & IPv6 Addressing
06Subnetting & CIDR
Network Infrastructure concepts: cables, virtual machines, IP addressing, wireless principles, troubleshooting, and DHCP architecture
Domain 02

Network Access & Layer 2

Switching & Network Access

25% of Exam

Master Layer 2 switching — the backbone of every enterprise LAN. Learn how switches forward frames, how VLANs segment traffic, and how Spanning Tree Protocol prevents loops.

Skills you'll gain

  • 2.1 Configure network infrastructure connectivity (switch-to-switch and switch-to-router).
  • 2.2 Configure Layer 2 switch port attributes for edge-host connectivity (VLAN, PoE, port channel, and LACP).
  • 2.3 Validate the accuracy of network documentation using CDP and LLDP.
  • 2.4 Troubleshoot basic Layer 2/Layer 3 connectivity and device operations using show commands (including show logs), ping, extended ping, trace route, and packet capture output.
  • 2.5 Configure operations of the Rapid Per VLAN Spanning Tree Protocol (Rapid PVST+).

Modules covered

01How Switches Work (MAC Tables)
02VLANs & Trunking (802.1Q)
03Inter-VLAN Routing
04Spanning Tree Protocol (STP/RSTP)
05EtherChannel (LACP/PAgP)
06Layer 2 Security (Port Security, DHCP Snooping)
Switching & VLANs concepts: switch/router connections, edge device connectivity, VLAN & PoE config, CDP/LLDP network discovery, Spanning Tree Protocol, and troubleshooting diagnostics
Domain 03

IP Connectivity

IP Routing

20% of Exam

The largest exam domain — and the most rewarding to master. You'll configure static routes, deploy OSPF in single and multi-area designs, and understand how routers make forwarding decisions.

Skills you'll gain

  • 3.1 Interpret a routing table to identify the next hop for a packet (routing protocol, prefix/mask, administrative distance, metric, and default route).
  • 3.2 Troubleshoot IPv4 and IPv6 static routing.
  • 3.3 Configure single area OSPFv2 for IPv4 and OSPFv3 for IPv6.
  • 3.4 Interpret the operational status of First Hop Redundancy Protocols (HSRP and VRRP).

Modules covered

01How Routers Forward Packets
02Static & Default Routes
03OSPF Single-Area Configuration
04OSPF Multi-Area & LSA Types
05First Hop Redundancy (HSRP)
06IPv6 Routing & OSPFv3
IP Routing concepts: routing table analysis, static routing IPv4/IPv6, OSPF for IPv4 & OSPFv3 for IPv6, first hop redundancy HSRP/VRRP, neighbor adjacency, and redundant gateway status
Domain 04

IP Services & Security Fundamentals

Network Services & Security

20% of Exam

Learn the services that keep networks running — DHCP, DNS, NAT, NTP — and the security principles that protect them. You'll configure ACLs, understand VPNs, and apply Cisco security best practices.

Skills you'll gain

  • 4.1 Configure network devices with local usernames and as an AAA client (TACACS+ and RADIUS) for management.
  • 4.2 Manage device configuration and software files using secure file transfer operations with SFTP/SCP.
  • 4.3 Configure NAT/PAT on IOS XE routers.
  • 4.4 Diagnose issues with DNS records (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, and PTR) to support host, web application, and mail server access by name.
  • 4.5 Describe IPsec remote access and site-to-site VPNs (protocols and transport modes).
  • 4.6 Configure IPv4 access control lists (standard, extended, numbered, and named ACLs).
  • 4.7 Configure Layer 2 security features.

Modules covered

01DHCP & DNS Configuration
02NAT & PAT
03NTP & Syslog
04Access Control Lists (ACLs)
05VPN Concepts (Site-to-Site & Remote Access)
06Wireless Security (WPA2/WPA3, 802.1X)
Network Services & Security concepts: AAA authentication, secure file transfer SFTP/SCP, NAT/PAT configuration, DNS & mail services, VPN solutions, network security features, and access control lists
Domain 05

Automation & Programmability

AI & Network Operations and Management

10% of exam

The future of networking is automated. Learn how SDN, Cisco DNA Center, REST APIs, and Python scripting are transforming how networks are managed — and what you need to know for the exam.

Skills you'll gain

  • 5.1 Describe the role of agentic AI in network operations.
  • 5.2 Select a prompt to send to a generative AI system to support network operations considering prompt components such as data classification, output format, persona, and instructions.
  • 5.3 Describe network management approaches (device-based, cloud-based, controller based, automation-based, and infrastructure as code).
  • 5.4 Describe the function of SNMP in network operations.
  • 5.5 Use configuration management mechanisms such as Ansible to execute commands.
  • 5.6 Interpret syslog message content, severity levels, and facilities.

Modules covered

01Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
02Cisco DNA Center & Intent-Based Networking
03REST APIs & JSON/XML
04Python Basics for Network Automation
05Configuration Management (Ansible, Puppet)
06AI in Network Operations
AI & Network Operations concepts: Agentic AI, AI Prompt Creation, Network Management Approaches, SNMP Monitoring, Configuration Automation, and Syslog & Alerts

Ready to start your CCNA journey?

Join Luis Quiroz and learn every topic above — step by step, at your own pace.