CompTIA Network+ vs. Cisco CCENT

A question I get often is "Should I get my CCENT or Network+?" In this article, I'd like to provide an overview of what both exams cover and share my personal experience.

CompTIA Network+ (Exam Code N10-006)

Cost: $295

Re-certification Requirements: Every 3 Years or pass a higher level exam

The Network+ exam is a vendor-neutral network certification exam designed to give those entering the field an understanding of how to configure and manage networks. The following objectives will be covered on the exam.

• Network Architecture​

• Network Operations

• Network Security

• Troubleshooting

• Industry Standards, Practices and Network Theory

The Network+ goes in depth with some topics such as IP addressing but tends to be a little light on other topics like WAN technologies. Some would describe their coverage as "wide but not deep." They cover some topics such as mobile technologies like LTE/4G which are not on the CCENT but are good to know of.

Cisco Certificate Entry Network Technician (CCENT/ICND1) (Exam Code: 100-105)

Cost: $165

Re-certification Requirements: Every 3 Years or pass a higher level exam

The CCENT exam is Cisco's entry-level certification exam. Like the Network+, the CCENT is designed to give you the fundamental knowledge of how to configure and manage a network, but the exam is Cisco-focused. Here are the exam topics Cisco expects you to have an understanding of:

• Network Fundamentals

• LAN Switching Fundamentals

• Routing Fundamentals

• Infrastructure Services

• Infrastructure Maintenance

The CCENT does a great job of giving you in-depth foundation knowledge of how protocols, technologies and network devices work and then tying that together with the Cisco configurations. The CCENT is the first of two exams you can take to become CCNA certified, and it also serves as a prerequisite for other specialized exams.

Personal Experience & Recommendations

Since I was already working in the Networking space, I had a good understanding of how networks function and given the fact that the environment I was in was primarily Cisco gear, it made sense for me to get my CCENT and eventually CCNA. While I didn't take the Network+ exam, I reviewed the material, and I feel it was beneficial to give me an understanding of topics we didn't touch in my environment.

I recommend going for the CCENT if you already have some IT (Help Desk, PC tech..etc.) experience. You'll touch on network basics as well as things specific to Cisco which can give you a leg up in your job search. Most organizations are seeking individuals with product specific skills. Also, the CCENT is a prerequisite for other specialized tracks like Security and Wireless. If you're coming from a non-IT background, then go for the Network+. The material on the CCENT may be a little more difficult than expected. In this scenario, I see the Network+ as a stepping stone allowing you to lay the groundwork for making your CCENT studies a little easier.

What's been your experience? Please Share in the comments!