🗺️ Career Guide

IT Certification Roadmap

From beginner to expert — the most recognized IT certifications in networking and cybersecurity, in the right order.

Foundation

⭐ Recommended

CompTIA Tech+ FC0-U71

CompTIA

⏱ 1-2 months💰 See CompTIA

Beginner technology foundation for people with little or no IT experience

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CompTIA A+

CompTIA

⏱ 2-3 months💰 See CompTIA

Natural next step after building fundamentals with Tech+

Networking Entry

CompTIA Network+

CompTIA

⏱ 2-3 months💰 $338

Vendor-neutral networking fundamentals

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⭐ Recommended

CCNA 200-301

Cisco

⏱ 3-6 months💰 $330

⭐ Most recognized networking cert — start here for Cisco path

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Networking Professional

CCNP Enterprise

Cisco

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $400+

Enterprise networks, SD-WAN, advanced routing

CCNP Security

Cisco

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $400+

Firepower, ISE, secure access

Expert

CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure

Cisco

⏱ 1-3 years💰 $1,600+

The gold standard — lab exam required

Entry Level

⭐ Recommended

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA

⏱ 2-3 months💰 $392

⭐ Best first security cert — DoD approved, globally recognized

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CCNA 200-301

Cisco

⏱ 3-6 months💰 $330

Recommended alongside Security+ — network knowledge is essential for security

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Intermediate

CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker

EC-Council

⏱ 3-4 months💰 $950+

Offensive security, penetration testing methodology

CompTIA CySA+

CompTIA

⏱ 3-4 months💰 $392

Blue team, threat detection, SOC operations

CompTIA PenTest+

CompTIA

⏱ 3-4 months💰 $392

Penetration testing and vulnerability assessment

Advanced

OSCP — Offensive Security Certified Professional

OffSec

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $1,499

Hands-on practical pen testing — highly respected

CISSP

ISC²

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $749

Management-level security — requires 5 years experience

💡

Best combination: CCNA + Security+ = the most versatile foundation in IT. Networking knowledge makes you a better security practitioner — nearly every security cert assumes you understand networks.

Step 1 — Foundation (3-6 months)

⭐ Recommended

CCNA 200-301

Cisco

⏱ 3-6 months💰 $330

Start here — master networking fundamentals first

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Step 2 — Security Foundation (2-3 months)

⭐ Recommended

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA

⏱ 2-3 months💰 $392

Much easier after CCNA — network knowledge directly applies

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Step 3 — Specialize (choose your path)

CCNP Security (Cisco path)

Cisco

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $400+

Firewall, VPN, ISE — enterprise security focus

CEH + OSCP (Offensive path)

EC-Council / OffSec

⏱ 6-12 months💰 $2,000+

Ethical hacking, penetration testing, red team

CISSP (Management path)

ISC²

⏱ 12+ months💰 $749

Security management — requires 5 years experience

What NetworkUstad Covers — Free

📡 CCNA 200-301

6 study domains mapped to all 6 official exam domains, free forever

🛡️ Security+ SY0-701

5 domains, all 5 exam domains, free forever

🔒 Cybersecurity

363+ articles covering CEH, OSCP topics