About This Study Plan

This 90 days study plan breaks the CCNA (CCNA) exam preparation into 3 focused study sessions with a total of 15 actionable tasks. The plan covers all 6 exam domains — Network Fundamentals, Network Access, IP Connectivity, IP Services, Security Fundamentals, Automation and Programmability — ensuring complete coverage of the exam blueprint. A comprehensive 90-day study plan for networking beginners or career changers. Includes hands-on labs with Packet Tracer, spaced repetition, and multiple practice exams.

3Study Days

15Total Tasks

6Domains Covered

Prerequisites

No prior networking experience required
1–2 hours of study time per day
Cisco Packet Tracer installed (free download from Cisco NetAcad)

Study Schedule

Month 1 (Days 1–30)Networking Foundations

Week 1: What is a network? OSI model, TCP/IP model, protocols overview
Week 2: Ethernet, switching basics, MAC addresses, cabling, Packet Tracer setup
Week 3: IPv4 addressing from scratch — binary, subnetting, CIDR, practice problems
Week 4: VLANs, trunking, switch configuration labs in Packet Tracer
End of month: 30-question mixed quiz + lab exercises

Month 2 (Days 31–60)Routing, OSPF & Services

Week 5: Routing concepts, static routes, default routes, routing table analysis
Week 6: OSPF single-area — theory, configuration, verification, Packet Tracer labs
Week 7: STP/RSTP deep dive, EtherChannel, inter-VLAN routing labs
Week 8: DHCP, NAT/PAT, ACLs — theory and hands-on labs
End of month: Domain 2 + 3 practice exams + review

Month 3 (Days 61–90)Security, Automation & Exam Prep

Week 9: Security fundamentals, port security, DHCP snooping, DAI labs
Week 10: Wireless concepts, automation/SDN, REST APIs, Ansible overview
Week 11: Full practice exam #1 + detailed review of every wrong answer
Week 12: Full practice exam #2 + flashcard review + cheat sheet marathon
Final days: Focus on weakest domain, rest before exam

Study Tips

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Consistency is key — study every day, even if only 30 minutes.

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Build every topology you study in Packet Tracer — hands-on cements understanding.

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Join the r/CCNA subreddit and Cisco Learning Network for community support.

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Watch YouTube walkthroughs of complex topics like OSPF and STP.

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Schedule your exam 2–3 weeks before your target date to create accountability.

Recommended Cisco Study Resources

Supplement this study plan with Cisco's official cert guides (published by Cisco Press) and free Packet Tracer labs. The Cisco Learning Network community forums are valuable for discussing exam topics with other candidates and CCIEs. Allocate at least 30% of your study time to hands-on lab practice — configuring, troubleshooting, and verifying are skills that can only be built through repetition.