- CCNA Automation is Cisco's 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam, "Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms."
- The exam costs USD 300, runs 120 minutes, and has no formal prerequisites.
- Understanding and Using APIs and Infrastructure and Automation each weigh 20%, totaling 40% of the exam.
- DevNet Associate/DEVASC became CCNA Automation/CCNAAUTO on February 3, 2026, keeping the same 200-901 code.
What CCNA Automation Actually Is
CCNA Automation is Cisco's associate-level credential focused on network programmability and automation, delivered through exam 200-901 CCNAAUTO, Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms. It is administered by Cisco Systems, Inc. and delivered through Pearson VUE, either at authorized test centers or via OnVUE online proctoring. The exam is closed-book, requires identity verification, and candidates agree to Cisco's confidentiality terms before sitting for it.
If you've landed here wondering exactly what the letters stand for and what the badge represents, this guide walks through the concrete mechanics: format, cost, domains, and who actually hires for this skill set. For a plain-language breakdown of the name itself, see CCNA Automation Meaning and What Does CCNA Automation Stand For?.
Exam Format, Fees, and Registration
The 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam costs USD 300 and runs for 120 minutes. It's offered in English and Japanese. There are no formal prerequisites and no mandatory training courses you must complete first - anyone can register and sit for the exam through Pearson VUE.
According to Cisco's 2026 exam briefing, the question formats include:
- Single-answer multiple choice
- Multiple-answer multiple choice
- Drag-and-drop matching questions
- Script-completion tasks
- Hands-on lab-style items
Grading is strictly pass/fail - there's no scaled score breakdown published to candidates, though results become available online within 48 hours of finishing the exam. If you don't pass on the first try, Cisco requires a five full calendar day wait, beginning the day after your attempt, before you can retest. Standard retakes cost the same USD 300 as the original attempt. For a deeper look at scoring mechanics, read CCNA Automation Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass, and for scheduling logistics, check CCNA Automation Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Key Takeaway
Because there's no prerequisite gate, anyone curious about network automation can register directly - but that also means the exam itself is the only checkpoint, so preparation quality matters more than eligibility paperwork.
For a full cost breakdown including retake economics and what's included in the USD 300 fee, see CCNA Automation Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
The Six Exam Domains
The 200-901 blueprint spreads content across six domains. Two of them - Understanding and Using APIs and Infrastructure and Automation - carry 20% each, together making up 40% of the exam. The remaining four domains carry 15% apiece.
Domain 1: Software Development and Design (15%)
Covers software design concepts, version control practices, and coding fundamentals a network engineer needs when writing automation scripts.
- Software design patterns and version control workflows
Domain 2: Understanding and Using APIs (20%)
Tests how well you can construct, consume, and troubleshoot API calls against Cisco platforms.
- REST API structure, authentication, and error handling
Domain 3: Cisco Platforms and Development (15%)
Focuses on Cisco-specific platforms and how developers interact with them programmatically.
- Platform-specific SDKs and integration points
Domain 4: Application Deployment and Security (15%)
Covers deploying applications securely, including basic security practices around automation workflows.
- Secure deployment models and credential handling
Domain 5: Infrastructure and Automation (20%)
Tests automation tooling and infrastructure-as-code concepts applied to network environments.
- Automation tooling and infrastructure-as-code practices
Domain 6: Network Fundamentals (15%)
Baseline networking knowledge that underpins automation work - you still need to understand what you're automating.
- Core networking concepts relevant to automation contexts
For a complete walkthrough of every topic under each domain, see the CCNA Automation Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 6 Content Areas. And if you're trying to gauge whether this content mix is tough for your background, How Hard Is the CCNA Automation Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks it down further.
Who This Certification Is For
CCNA Automation sits at the intersection of traditional networking and software development. It's built for network engineers who want to move beyond CLI-based configuration into scripted, API-driven infrastructure management. Typical roles that value this credential include network automation engineers, DevOps-adjacent network staff, and infrastructure teams adopting programmable Cisco platforms.
Because the exam covers both Network Fundamentals and Software Development and Design, it appeals to two overlapping groups: networking professionals adding coding skills, and developers who need networking context to automate infrastructure effectively. For a closer look at the kinds of roles this opens up, see CCNA Automation Jobs and CCNA Automation Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
If you're weighing whether to pursue it against other options, Is the CCNA Automation Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs without inflating claims.
Why This Isn't the Old DevNet Associate
A common point of confusion: CCNA Automation is the renamed successor to DevNet Associate (DEVASC). On February 3, 2026, Cisco rebranded DevNet Associate/DEVASC as CCNA Automation/CCNAAUTO, while retaining the same 200-901 exam code. This was an associate-level rename, distinct from a larger, separate redesign Cisco applied at the professional level for automation credentials - don't conflate the two when researching study materials or forum discussions.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | 200-901 CCNAAUTO |
| Exam Title | Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms |
| Fee | USD 300 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Prerequisites | None formally required |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Renewal | 30 Continuing Education credits |
Key Takeaway
If you find older material referencing "DevNet Associate" or "DEVASC," treat it as historically relevant but verify against the current 200-901 CCNAAUTO blueprint before relying on it for study.
How to Approach Preparation
Given the domain weighting, it makes sense to prioritize Understanding and Using APIs and Infrastructure and Automation early, since together they account for 40% of the exam. The remaining four domains are evenly weighted at 15% each, so they can be studied in parallel blocks rather than sequentially ranked by importance.
APIs and Networking Baseline
- Work through Understanding and Using APIs and refresh Network Fundamentals concepts side by side
Automation and Infrastructure
- Focus on Infrastructure and Automation, since it shares the 20% weighting with APIs
Development and Platforms
- Cover Software Development and Design plus Cisco Platforms and Development
Deployment, Security, and Practice
- Finish Application Deployment and Security, then run full practice questions across all six domains
For hands-on practice, Cisco DevNet Sandbox offers free environments for testing APIs and programmability concepts. Be deliberate about aligning any practice questions or exercises - whether from Sandbox or elsewhere - with the current blueprint rather than assuming legacy practice banks are automatically up to date. A structured walkthrough of this exact preparation logic is available in the CCNA Automation Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and a condensed reference is in the CCNA Automation Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
You can also sharpen your readiness with realistic practice questions over on our main practice test platform, which is built around current exam topics rather than outdated question banks.
What Happens After You Pass
Once you pass, CCNA Automation remains active for three years. Renewal at the associate level requires 30 Continuing Education credits, which you can earn through eligible training and approved activities - including earning the full 30 credits simply by passing another associate-level certification exam. This gives you flexibility: continue building automation skills through coursework, or let a future certification exam double as your renewal path.
Before you get to renewal, though, it helps to understand exactly what standard you're being held to on exam day. Review the CCNA Automation Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify page for a full eligibility rundown, and check CCNA Automation Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows for context on how candidates generally perform.
For a broader overview that ties the naming, structure, and purpose together in one place, see What Is CCNA Automation? and What Is CCNA Automation Certification?. If you're specifically training toward it, CCNA Automation Training outlines preparation resource options, and CCNA Automation Certification covers the certification itself in more depth. You can also start practicing immediately through our practice exam library to see where your current knowledge stands against the live blueprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to Cisco Certified Network Associate Automation, validated through the 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam titled "Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms."
No. There are no formal prerequisites or mandatory training requirements - anyone can register through Pearson VUE and sit for the 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam.
It's the renamed successor. DevNet Associate/DEVASC became CCNA Automation/CCNAAUTO on February 3, 2026, while keeping the same 200-901 exam code.
Three years. Renewal at the associate level requires 30 Continuing Education credits, which can include credits earned by passing another associate-level exam.
You must wait five full calendar days, starting the day after your attempt, before retesting. The retake fee is the same USD 300 as the original exam.