Overview

On May 20, 2026, Cisco officially announced the most significant update to the CCNA certification exam in nearly seven years — a full blueprint revision moving the exam from Version 1.1 to Version 2.0. Cisco simultaneously announced AI-focused upgrades to the CCIE practical exam. Both changes were spotlighted at Cisco Live 2026 in Las Vegas (May 31–June 4), Cisco's flagship annual conference. The new CCNA v2.0 exam (200-301) goes live on February 3, 2027, giving U.S. candidates an 8.5-month runway to prepare or to complete the existing v1.1 exam before the cutover date.

CCNA v2.0: What Changed

The CCNA v2.0 blueprint is built on four core pillars: network infrastructure, troubleshooting and problem-solving, a security-first mindset, and understanding the role of AI in network management and operations. Per Cisco's versioning convention, a change that moves the first digit of the version number (1.x to 2.0) signals a major revision — defined internally as more than a 20% change to blueprint content.

Key structural changes include:

• Domain count reduced from six to five. The former standalone "Automation and Programmability" domain has been dissolved, with its content absorbed into a new consolidated section alongside AI topics.
• Networking fundamentals and switching now account for 50% of the exam, up from 40% in v1.1, signaling a return to core-skills emphasis.
• A new AI section has been added, covering the role of AI in network management and operations. Exam verbs for AI topics are descriptive (describe, explain, compare), meaning the content is conceptual — candidates are not expected to build AI models or write prompts.
• Troubleshooting weight increased sharply. Topics that previously required only configuration now require troubleshooting and diagnosis. This is the biggest performance-level shift in the blueprint's history.
• Security Fundamentals remains at 15%, but the update adds more applied security scenarios and lab-based questions, moving beyond memorization of concepts like ACLs into live configuration and context-based assessment.
• Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) coverage deepened, reflecting ongoing enterprise relevance of loop prevention and redundancy design.

The updated CCNA training materials — including free foundational content on Cisco U. — are being released progressively between now and the February 2027 exam launch. Cisco has deliberately staged the rollout to allow candidates ample preparation time.

CCIE Practical Exam Gets AI Module

Alongside the CCNA announcement, Cisco revealed a new AI Deploy, Operate, and Optimize module for the CCIE practical exam. This one-hour module sits alongside an existing two-hour Design module, and together they complement the five-hour Design, Operate, and Optimize assessment, all governed by a single blueprint.

The new module introduces an AI assistant for configuration, troubleshooting, and code creation. Candidates must demonstrate comfort using these tools for repetitive and complex tasks, while maintaining higher-level decision-making. Assessment covers two categories:

• Soft engineering: Using a general-purpose large language model (LLM) for problem scoping, diagnostics, output validation, and assisted coding.
• Augmented engineering: Using AI tools for network operations (AIOps), including AI-driven monitoring and troubleshooting workflows.

The rollout is phased by track. CCIE Data Center exam topics will be available at Cisco Live Melbourne in November 2026. CCIE DC practice labs will follow at Cisco Live London in February 2027, with the full AI-integrated exam going live shortly after. Other CCIE tracks are on a similar staged schedule.

All CCIE lab exams scheduled from May 1, 2026 onward for the Enterprise Infrastructure and Security tracks already include a mandatory AI-assisted troubleshooting module, replacing one legacy configuration scenario that had been part of the exam since 2022.

Cisco Live 2026 as the Announcement Stage

Cisco Live 2026 opened on May 31 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, running through June 4 with more than 20,000 registered attendees from over 75 countries. The event served as the primary venue for deepening these certification announcements, with Cisco's Learn with Cisco team hosting expert-led sessions, Cisco U. Theater presentations, and hands-on workshops tied directly to the new blueprints.

The May 20 portfolio announcements — made 11 days before the conference opened — were previewed and expanded at Cisco Live, with experts available for direct Q&A on the new CCNA and CCIE changes. Cisco also made early access to updated CCNA v2.0 official training on Cisco U. available as part of the conference, at no cost, covering skills applicable to both the current v1.1 exam and the incoming v2.0.

The broader conference theme of AgenticOps — Cisco's AI-driven operating model for autonomous network management — provided direct context for why certification content is shifting toward AI fluency and troubleshooting depth.

Impact on U.S. Candidates

For the U.S. IT workforce, the timing of these changes is significant. Demand for certified network engineers in the United States grew 11% year-over-year in Q1 2026, according to CompTIA's 2026 State of the Tech Workforce report, with Cisco credentials among the top five most requested certifications by enterprise employers.

The CCNA v2.0 announcement is the fastest CCNA blueprint change in over 20 years — barely 25 months after the v1.1 update in August 2024. Industry observers note the compressed cycle reflects the accelerating pace of AI adoption in enterprise networking environments. Cisco Press has confirmed that entirely new 3rd Edition Official Cert Guide books will be required for v2.0, given the extent of changes; these are expected to be orderable in Q4 2026.

For candidates currently studying under v1.1, the current exam remains valid and bookable through February 2, 2027. Cisco has been explicit: the existing CCNA certification is recognized and respected through the switchover date, and all core skills — subnetting, OSPF, switching, routing, ACLs — transfer directly into the v2.0 framework.

What Candidates Should Do Now

• If you are actively studying for CCNA v1.1: Continue your current study plan. The v1.1 exam is available until February 2, 2027. Aim to sit the exam well before that date — ideally before November 2026 — to avoid any disruption from the transition period.
• If you are starting from scratch: Review the newly published CCNA v2.0 exam topics (available on the Cisco Learning Network as of May 20, 2026) and consider whether your timeline puts you closer to the v1.1 or v2.0 exam. Both paths are valid.
• For CCIE candidates: Download the updated lab exam topics document from Cisco's certification website. All lab exams in Enterprise Infrastructure and Security tracks scheduled from May 1, 2026 onward follow the new format including the AI-assisted troubleshooting module.
• Access free training: Cisco U. is releasing foundational content and tutorials at no cost between now and February 2027. Early access to CCNA v2.0 training materials — with embedded practical scenarios — is available immediately following the Cisco Live announcement.
• Verify your exam version: Cisco advises all registered candidates to confirm their scheduled exam version against the current blueprint on the Cisco Learning Network before their test date, as blueprint versions and available exams can shift with little notice.

For the full certification roadmap and updated exam blueprints, visit the official Cisco Certification Roadmaps page at https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/cisco-certification-roadmaps. For training resources and exam preparation tools aligned to both current and upcoming Cisco certification exams, visit https://ccedump.spoto.net/.