What Is CCNA Automation?

What Is CCNA Automation, Exactly?

CCNA Automation is Cisco's associate-level credential for professionals who build software, scripts, and integrations that automate Cisco network infrastructure. The certification is earned by passing a single exam, 200-901 CCNAAUTO: Automating Networks Using Cisco Platforms, administered by Cisco Systems, Inc. through Pearson VUE, either at an authorized testing center or via OnVUE online proctoring.

Unlike traditional CCNA tracks that focus purely on routing, switching, and device configuration, CCNA Automation sits at the intersection of software development and network operations. Candidates are expected to understand how APIs expose network functionality, how automation scripts interact with Cisco platforms, and how infrastructure-as-code concepts apply to enterprise networks. If you're still deciding whether this credential fits your career goals, the complete ROI analysis on whether CCNA Automation is worth it walks through the tradeoffs in more depth.

From DevNet Associate to CCNA Automation

If you've researched Cisco automation certifications before, you may recognize the exam code 200-901 from DevNet Associate (DEVASC). On February 3, 2026, Cisco renamed DevNet Associate to CCNA Automation (CCNAAUTO), while retaining the same exam code, 200-901. This is an associate-level rebrand, and Cisco explicitly distinguishes it from a separate, larger redesign happening at the professional level for automation certifications.

Practically, this means anyone searching for study materials should be careful about dates. Content published before the rename may still be accurate for exam mechanics but could reference an outdated certification name or a prior blueprint version. Cisco's official exam-topics page and its June 2026 Cisco Live briefing identify the current blueprint as v1.1, even though the exam-overview page still displays a v1.0 label. Always cross-check which version a resource is using before committing hours of study to it - a detail covered in more depth in the CCNA Automation Study Guide for passing on your first attempt.

Exam Basics: Format, Fee, and Delivery

The 200-901 CCNAAUTO exam has a straightforward structure once you understand its mechanics:

• Cost: USD 300 per attempt
• Duration: 120 minutes
• Languages: English and Japanese
• Delivery: Pearson VUE testing centers or OnVUE online proctoring
• Prerequisites: None formal; no mandatory training required
• Scoring: Pass/fail, with results typically available online within 48 hours

According to Cisco's 2026 exam briefing, the question format is varied rather than purely multiple choice. Expect single-answer and multiple-answer questions, drag-and-drop matching, script-completion tasks, and hands-on labs. This mix means memorization alone won't carry you through - you need to actually read, write, and troubleshoot code and configuration snippets under time pressure. For a full breakdown of exactly what a passing performance looks like, see the guide to the CCNA Automation passing score, and for the complete fee structure including retake costs, review the CCNA Automation certification cost breakdown.

The Six Domains Candidates Must Master

CCNA Automation's blueprint is organized into six domains, each weighted by percentage of exam content. Understanding these weights helps you allocate study time proportionally rather than treating every topic as equally important.

Together, Understanding and Using APIs and Infrastructure and Automation account for 40% of the exam - the single largest concentration of content. Candidates who under-prepare on APIs specifically tend to struggle the most, since API literacy threads through nearly every other domain as well. For a domain-by-domain study breakdown, the complete guide to all six CCNA Automation content areas goes deeper into each one, and if you're trying to gauge overall difficulty before committing, the CCNA Automation difficulty guide is a useful companion read.

Who Hires CCNA Automation Holders?

CCNA Automation sits in a growing niche between network engineering and software development. Organizations that maintain Cisco-based infrastructure at scale - enterprises, service providers, and managed service providers - increasingly need staff who can script repetitive network tasks, integrate infrastructure with APIs, and reduce manual configuration errors.

Typical roles associated with this skill set include network automation engineer, DevOps-adjacent network engineer, and infrastructure automation specialist positions embedded within larger IT or NetOps teams. These roles usually value hands-on scripting ability alongside networking fundamentals, which is exactly the combination CCNA Automation is designed to validate. A closer look at real job listings and role expectations is available in the CCNA Automation jobs overview, and if compensation is part of your decision-making, the CCNA Automation salary guide lays out what's known without inflating numbers.

Registration, Retakes, and Renewal Mechanics

Registering for 200-901 CCNAAUTO happens through Pearson VUE. There are no formal prerequisites and no mandatory training courses required before scheduling - anyone can register and sit for the exam. For a full walkthrough of eligibility nuances, see the CCNA Automation requirements and eligibility guide.

If you don't pass on your first attempt, Cisco requires a waiting period of five full calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before you can retest. Retakes are charged at the same USD 300 fee as the original exam - there is no discounted retake pricing.

Once earned, the certification remains active for three years. Renewal requires accumulating 30 Continuing Education (CE) credits through eligible training and approved activities. Notably, passing another associate-level Cisco certification exam also satisfies the full 30-credit renewal requirement on its own, which gives certified professionals flexibility in how they maintain their credential.

Mapping a Study Approach to the Blueprint

Because Understanding and Using APIs and Infrastructure and Automation together make up 40% of the exam, it makes sense to weight early study time toward those two domains before moving into the remaining four at 15% each. A simple way to sequence preparation is to treat the heaviest domains as anchors and build the lighter domains around them.

When using free resources like Cisco DevNet Sandbox, or any legacy practice question bank, verify alignment with the current v1.1 blueprint rather than assuming older material still matches. Cisco's own site inconsistency between v1.0 and v1.1 labeling makes this verification step especially important. A structured walkthrough of this exact planning process is available in the CCNA Automation study guide for passing on your first attempt, and if you want a condensed reference during final review, the one-page CCNA Automation cheat sheet is built for that purpose. You can also reinforce timed practice using realistic questions on our CCNA Automation practice test platform before exam day.

CCNA Automation vs. Other Cisco Paths

Because "CCNA" is attached to several Cisco tracks, it helps to be precise about what makes CCNA Automation distinct. It is not a routing-and-switching credential, and it is not a professional-level automation redesign - Cisco explicitly separates this associate-level rename from that larger professional-track overhaul. CCNA Automation's identity is defined by its exam code (200-901), its six-domain blueprint, and its focus on APIs, scripting, and Cisco platform automation rather than manual device configuration.

If terminology confusion is what brought you here, related explainer content - including what CCNA Automation actually means, what the acronym stands for, and a plain explanation of the certification itself - can help clarify the distinction before you commit study time. For readers evaluating training programs, the CCNA Automation training overview outlines what preparation options typically exist. And if you're still building context on pass expectations, the CCNA Automation pass rate breakdown reviews what data is actually available without speculating beyond it.

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