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FREE Cisco CCST Networking (100-150) Exam Guide 2026: Pass First Try, Domains, Cost, CCNA Path
Key Facts
- The Cisco CCST Networking exam code is 100-150 and is Cisco’s official entry-level networking certification, positioned below CCNA.
- The 100-150 exam is delivered by Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE) and by Certiport CATCs for students, costs $125 USD, and runs 50 minutes.
- The exam contains approximately 40-50 questions using multiple choice, multi-select, and drag-and-drop items.
- There are no prerequisites for the CCST Networking exam — no age, education, or training requirements.
- The six 100-150 domains are Standards and Concepts, Addressing and Subnet Formats, Endpoints and Media Types, Infrastructure, Diagnosing Problems, and Security.
- CCST certifications earned on or after July 15, 2025 are valid for 5 years per a Cisco policy change.
- Cisco enforces a minimum 5-calendar-day waiting period between CCST retake attempts.
- The CCST Networking curriculum aligns to the free Cisco Networking Academy Networking Basics and Networking Devices courses.
- The CCST exam is conceptual and does not include CLI configuration, Packet Tracer labs, or IOS simulations.
- Cisco reports the CCST Networking result as pass/fail only and does not publish a numeric or scaled cut score for the exam.
Cisco CCST Networking Exam Guide 2026: The Only Walkthrough You Need for the 100-150 Blueprint
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking exam (code 100-150 ) is Cisco's official entry-level networking certification — the on-ramp to the entire Cisco credential pyramid that culminates in CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE. Introduced in 2023 and actively maintained through 2026, it is the cert Cisco itself recommends before you attempt the associate-level CCNA. No experience, no degree, and no training prerequisites are required.
This guide is engineered to beat every competitor on the internet. It is longer, more current, more specific, and more actionable. You will get the six official domains published by Cisco, a 6-8 week study plan, the real cost ( $125 USD ), the test format ( ~40-50 questions, 50 minutes ), the 2025 recertification rule change (5-year validity for certs earned on or after July 15, 2025), an honest CCST vs CCNA comparison, and the salary + career picture for 2026. Every study resource referenced here has a free option — including our own unlimited CCST Networking practice bank.
Who this guide is for. Career-changers, help-desk technicians, college students, veterans using TA/MyCAA, IT interns, Cisco Networking Academy students, and anyone who wants a vendor-recognized networking credential on their resume without a $300 prep course or 100-hour CCNA slog.
CCST Networking (100-150) At-a-Glance — 2026
- Item 2026 Detail
- Exam code 100-150 CCST Networking
- Credentialing body Cisco Systems
Delivery vendor Pearson VUE (test center or OnVUE online proctoring) and Certiport (CATC test centers, mainly for students/schools)
Questions ~40-50 items (Cisco does not publish an exact count); multiple choice, multi-select, and drag-and-drop
Time limit 50 minutes
Passing score Pass/fail only. Cisco does NOT publish a numeric or scaled cut score for CCST; candidates estimate ~70-80% correct is needed
- Exam fee $125 USD (plus local tax)
- Languages English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese
- Prerequisites None — open to all candidates
- Recommended prep hours 60-100 hours
Validity 5 years from pass date for certs earned on or after July 15, 2025 (lifetime for certs earned before that date)
- Retake policy No fixed attempt limit; 5-calendar-day wait before retake, each attempt is a new $125 voucher
- Level Entry-level (below CCNA)
Result Pass/fail shown on-screen at submission; official record in your Cisco Certification Tracker within ~48 hours
Source: Cisco CCST Networking exam page, Cisco Learning Network exam topics for 100-150, and Cisco Recertification Policy (July 2025 update), verified for 2026.