CCNA Automation Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How CCNA Automation Scheduling Actually Works

Unlike university admissions cycles or annual licensing exams, Cisco Certified Network Associate Automation doesn't run on quarterly "testing windows" with hard application deadlines. The 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam, officially titled Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms, is delivered by Pearson VUE on an appointment basis. You pick a date and time that works for you - there is no waitlist, no cohort, and no seasonal cutoff.

Two delivery paths exist:

• Authorized test centers - in-person, proctored appointments at a Pearson VUE facility.
• OnVUE online proctoring - remote testing from your own space, subject to identity checks and proctoring requirements.

Because scheduling is self-service, the real "deadline" pressure in 2026 isn't a calendar cutoff - it's making sure you book after confirming which blueprint version you're being tested against and after your own preparation timeline is actually complete. For a full breakdown of what's tested, see the CCNA Automation Exam Domains 2026 guide.

Key Dates and Timeline Shifts for 2026

While there's no fixed exam calendar, 2026 does carry two dates that matter to anyone booking this exam right now.

February 3, 2026: The Rename

On February 3, 2026, DevNet Associate (DEVASC) became CCNA Automation (CCNAAUTO). The exam code stayed the same - 200-901 - so if you see older material referencing "DEVASC," it is describing the predecessor to the certification you're studying for now. Cisco treats this associate-level rename as distinct from a larger, separate professional-level Automation redesign, so don't confuse the two when researching outside sources. If you're unsure what the rename actually changed, read What Is CCNA Automation? before you dig into scheduling logistics.

The Blueprint Version Discrepancy

As of Cisco's June 2026 Cisco Live briefing, the official exam-topics page identifies blueprint v1.1 as current, describing single- and multiple-answer questions, drag-and-drop matching or script-completion tasks, and hands-on labs. However, Cisco's exam-overview page still displays a v1.0 label. This isn't a scheduling deadline in the traditional sense, but it is a timing decision you need to make: confirm which version applies to your registration before you commit study hours to a specific topic list. The exam domains guide breaks down the six domains as currently weighted so you can cross-check your materials.

Registration Mechanics and Fees

Registration happens directly through Pearson VUE. There are no formal prerequisites or mandatory training courses gating your eligibility - anyone can register and sit the exam. That said, "no prerequisites" doesn't mean "no preparation required"; see CCNA Automation Requirements 2026 for a fuller picture of what candidates typically bring to the exam even without a formal gate.

• Cost: USD 300 per attempt, whether it's your first sitting or a retake.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• Languages: English and Japanese.
• Format: Closed-book, with Cisco's confidentiality agreement, identity verification, and proctoring requirements applying at both test centers and via OnVUE.

For a granular breakdown of what that $300 covers and how it compares across retake scenarios, see CCNA Automation Certification Cost 2026.

Exam Day Format: What to Expect

Cisco's 2026 exam briefing describes a mixed-format exam rather than a single question type repeated 60 times. Expect:

• Single-answer multiple choice questions
• Multiple-answer (select-all-that-apply) questions
• Drag-and-drop matching exercises
• Script-completion tasks, where you fill in missing logic rather than write from scratch
• Hands-on lab-style items

Grading is pass/fail - there's no letter grade or public scaled score breakdown communicated to candidates - and results are available online within 48 hours. If you want a plain-language explanation of what "passing" actually requires given this format, read CCNA Automation Passing Score 2026. For a broader sense of how the format compares to other associate-level exams in terms of difficulty, How Hard Is the CCNA Automation Exam? covers that in detail.

Domain Weighting and Why It Affects Your Booking Date

Your exam date should be a function of readiness, not a calendar. Readiness, in turn, is a function of how well you've covered the six domains and their relative weight:

Cisco's DevNet Sandbox offers free practice environments for APIs and programmability work, which is useful for hands-on reps in these two heavily weighted domains - just make sure any practice exercises you build or find are aligned with the current blueprint rather than assumed to be current by default. The CCNA Automation Study Guide 2026 walks through how to sequence domain study so your booking date lines up with genuine readiness rather than a guess.

If You Don't Pass: The Retake Timeline

If you don't pass on your first attempt, Cisco imposes a mandatory wait before you can retest: five full calendar days, beginning the day after your attempt. In practical scheduling terms, if you sit the exam on a Monday, the earliest you could book a retake is the following Saturday.

Retakes cost the same as the initial attempt - USD 300 - so there's no financial penalty for retesting beyond paying full price again. Use the mandatory gap productively: it's built-in time to review the domains that felt weakest, not just a bureaucratic delay. If your first attempt exposed gaps, the CCNA Automation Pass Rate 2026 article and the difficulty breakdown at How Hard Is the CCNA Automation Exam? can help you diagnose where things went sideways before you rebook.

Certification Validity and Renewal Deadlines

Passing the exam isn't the last date-related decision you'll make. CCNA Automation certification remains active for three years from the date you earn it. Associate-level renewal requires 30 Continuing Education (CE) credits, which you can obtain through eligible training and approved activities - including earning 30 credits automatically by passing another associate-level certification exam before your three-year window closes.

Practically, this means your "exam date" planning doesn't end once you pass. Mark your three-year expiration date the moment you certify, and start scoring CE opportunities well before the deadline rather than scrambling in the final months. If you're weighing whether the ongoing renewal commitment is worth it against the career payoff, Is the CCNA Automation Certification Worth It? covers that tradeoff, and CCNA Automation Salary Guide 2026 looks at the earning side of the equation.

Building a Realistic Study Timeline Before You Book

Because there's no fixed testing window forcing your hand, the biggest scheduling mistake candidates make is booking too early relative to actual domain coverage. A simple way to reverse-engineer your booking date: work backward from the two 20%-weighted domains.

For a more detailed, domain-by-domain study path, the CCNA Automation Study Guide 2026 goes deeper than this scheduling-focused overview, and the CCNA Automation Cheat Sheet 2026 is a useful last-week review before your booked date. You can also run through timed practice conditions similar to the real 120-minute format on our practice test platform before committing to an appointment.

Once you've certified, remember the clock doesn't stop. Many CCNA Automation holders use their three-year window to pursue roles that build directly on the certification - network automation engineer, DevOps-adjacent network roles, and platform integration positions are common landing spots; see CCNA Automation Jobs for what employers are actually hiring for. If you want a refresher on training options that also count toward CE credits down the line, CCNA Automation Training covers eligible paths. You can also practice against current-format questions anytime on 200901exam.com to gauge your readiness before locking in a test date.

Frequently Asked Questions