CCNA 200-301 Version 2.0 is Cisco’s newest blueprint update, announced May 20, 2026, with the new exam launching February 3, 2027 and the current V1.1 exam retiring one day earlier on February 2, 2027. This is the biggest CCNA blueprint change in over six years, and the headline shift is the return of troubleshooting-level questions after a five-year absence.
If you are studying for CCNA right now, the short version is this: keep studying for V1.1, get it done before the cutover, and use the runway Cisco gave you. Below is everything that changed, why it changed, and exactly how to plan your next few months.
Quick Answer Table
| Question | Answer |
| Is there a new exam code? | No, it stays 200-301 |
| What version number changes? | V1.1 to V2.0 |
| When was it announced? | May 20, 2026 |
| When does V2.0 launch? | February 3, 2027 |
| When does V1.1 retire? | February 2, 2027 |
| How many domains now? | 5, down from 6 |
| Biggest change? | Troubleshooting verbs return |
| Do I need to restart my prep? | No, if you are already studying for V1.1 |
Why Cisco Calls This a Major Update
Cisco uses its version numbering system to signal how big a change is. A change to the first number, like V1.1 moving to V2.0, means more than 20 percent of the blueprint changed. A change to the second number, like V1.0 to V1.1, means a smaller refresh. This jump from V1.1 to V2.0 tells you upfront that this is a structural rework, not a content touch-up.
It is also the fastest CCNA blueprint turnaround in over two decades. The V1.1 exam released in February 2024. V2.0 arrives in February 2027, just under three years later, and the announcement itself came barely two years after the V1.1 announcement.
The Big Change: Troubleshooting Is Back
For CCNA V1.0, released in 2020, Cisco removed every troubleshooting-style question from the blueprint. Configure and verify became the highest performance level candidates needed to demonstrate. That stayed true for V1.1 in 2024. Zero troubleshooting verbs across two full blueprint cycles.
V2.0 reverses that. Roughly 28 to 30 percent of exam topics now use troubleshoot or diagnose as the action verb, the highest performance levels in Cisco’s testing model. That is a direct signal that lab time, not just reading time, decides who passes this exam going forward.
| Performance Level | What It Means | Study Time Required |
| Describe / Explain | Conceptual knowledge only | Low, reading is enough |
| Configure / Verify | Hands-on setup and confirmation | Moderate, needs lab practice |
| Diagnose | Find the root cause, no fix required | High, needs symptom recognition |
| Troubleshoot | Find the problem and fix it | Highest, needs repeated lab reps |
Domain Structure: 6 Domains Down to 5
Cisco consolidated and reorganized the blueprint from six domains to five. Topics were redistributed rather than dropped wholesale, so a topic missing from one domain heading may have moved into another rather than disappearing from the exam entirely.
What’s New in CCNA V2.0
| New Topic Area | What It Covers |
| Diagnose DNS issues | Six primary DNS record types, symptom-based root cause analysis |
| Troubleshoot DHCP (DHCPv4) | Client, relay, and now server-side troubleshooting on IOS devices |
| PoE and edge-host-aware access port config | Power-over-Ethernet plus matching switch features to endpoint type |
| Use Ansible | Infrastructure-as-code skills, beyond CLI-only configuration |
| Describe network management approaches | Device-based, automation-based, infrastructure-as-code, cloud-based, controller-based |
| AI prompt construction | Data classification, output format, persona, instructions |
| Agentic AI in network operations | Using AI agents and API calls for telemetry, monitoring, and troubleshooting |
The DNS and DHCP changes matter most for day-to-day relevance. Both protocols are used everywhere, and Cisco wants candidates who can recognize and fix real client-facing problems, not just describe how the protocols work in theory.
The Ansible addition is notable because CCNA has historically tested CLI configuration almost exclusively. Bumping a configuration-management tool to a testable skill reflects how Cisco shops actually manage device fleets in 2026 and beyond.
What’s Quietly Disappearing
Some exam topics are removed from the V2.0 blueprint text outright. A portion of those are genuinely gone. Others are removed as standalone topics but remain prerequisite knowledge for newer, higher-level topics that build on them. For example, foundational DHCP client configuration is no longer its own line item, but you still need it to handle the new DHCP troubleshooting topic. Treat blueprint removals as a signal to verify depth, not a green light to skip the underlying concept.
No topic that stayed in the blueprint had its performance level reduced. Every retained topic either stayed the same or moved to a higher performance verb. None went easier.
Key Dates and Your Study Plan
| Date | What Happens |
| May 20, 2026 | V2.0 blueprint announced |
| May 20, 2026 to February 2, 2027 | V1.1 exam remains available |
| February 2, 2027 | V1.1 exam retires |
| February 3, 2027 | V2.0 exam goes live |
If you are already studying for CCNA, the standard advice from past Cisco transitions holds here too: finish what you started. You have roughly 8.5 months of runway from the announcement date to the V1.1 retirement date.
A reasonable cutoff to change tactics is about three months before retirement, so early November 2026. Before that point, study for V1.1 as planned. After that point, be selective about spending heavy hours on topics V2.0 drops entirely.
Build in room for a retake. Cisco’s current retake policy requires a five-day wait between attempts, so plan for up to three attempts spaced a week apart if needed, finishing with margin before the actual cutoff date rather than racing the clock on exam day.
| If you are… | Recommended path |
| Already mid-prep for V1.1 | Continue and finish before Feb 2, 2027 |
| Just starting and have 6+ months | Finish V1.1, it is the faster, more documented path |
| Starting after November 2026 | Evaluate V2.0 prep materials as they become available |
| Not in a hurry at all | Either path works, V2.0 better reflects 2027 job requirements |
Should You Wait for V2.0 Instead?
There is no wrong answer here, but the considerations differ by situation. V1.1 has years of practice materials, community Q&A, and refined study guides behind it. V2.0 will initially have less third-party material available, simply because the blueprint just released. If your goal is the fastest path to certification, V1.1 is still the more efficient choice through late 2026.
If you are early in your networking career and certification timing is flexible, V2.0’s added depth in troubleshooting, automation, and AI-aware network operations arguably makes for a stronger interview credential once study materials catch up.
FAQs
Is CCNA getting a new exam code with V2.0?
No. The exam code stays 200-301. Only the blueprint version number changes, from V1.1 to V2.0.
When does the current CCNA exam retire?
February 2, 2027. The new V2.0 exam launches the next day, February 3, 2027.
Will my current CCNA certification become invalid?
No. If you pass CCNA under any blueprint version, your certification remains valid for its standard three-year period regardless of later blueprint updates.
What is the single biggest change in V2.0?
The return of troubleshooting and diagnose-level questions, which were absent from CCNA blueprints since 2020. About 28 to 30 percent of topics now require this higher performance level.
Do I need to learn Ansible for CCNA now?
Yes, at a basic level. V2.0 adds a “use Ansible” exam topic, reflecting how infrastructure-as-code tools are used alongside traditional CLI configuration in real networks.
How many domains does CCNA V2.0 have?
Five, down from six in V1.1. Topics were reorganized and redistributed rather than simply deleted.
Is AI content actually tested on CCNA now?
Yes. V2.0 replaces the single V1.1 AI topic with two new ones: constructing AI prompts and using agentic AI for network operations and troubleshooting.
Should I rush to finish V1.1 before it retires?
Only if you are already well into preparation. If you are just starting and have a flexible timeline, there is no penalty for taking the time to do it right rather than racing an artificial deadline.
Where can I find the official Cisco release notes?
Search for “CCNA 2.0 Exam Release Notes” on Cisco’s certification roadmap page at cisco.com/go/certroadmap under the CCNA tab.
Does the exam cost or format change with V2.0?
Cisco has not announced pricing or format changes alongside the blueprint update. The current format is 120 minutes with approximately 100 questions and a passing score of 825 out of 1000.
