Cisco Sales (700-150) vs CCNA (200-301): Which Cisco Certification Should You Get First in 2026?

 

Introduction

If you are exploring Cisco certifications in 2026, you have likely come across two names that sound completely different but both carry the Cisco badge: the 700-150 Introduction to Cisco Sales (ICS) and the CCNA 200-301. One is designed for sales professionals. The other is designed for network engineers. But which one should you pursue first — and which one is right for your career goals?

This article gives you a complete, no-fluff comparison of both certifications, covering exam format, difficulty, salary outcomes, career paths, and who each certification is actually built for. By the end, you will know exactly which Cisco cert to go after — and why.

Before diving in, if you want a deep dive into the 700-150 specifically, read our full pillar article: 700-150 Introduction to Cisco Sales Certification: Boost Your Sales Career at blog.troytec.com.

 

⚡ Quick Answer 👉 If you work in IT sales, account management, or pre-sales — choose 700-150 ICS first. 👉 If you want to become a network engineer, administrator, or technical IT specialist — choose CCNA 200-301 first. 👉 If you want to be truly unstoppable in the Cisco ecosystem — get both.

 

 

What is the Cisco 700-150 ICS Certification

 

The 700-150 Introduction to Cisco Sales (ICS) certification is a specialist-level qualification designed for sales professionals, account managers, and business development teams who work with or sell Cisco products and solutions.

 

It is not a deeply technical exam. Instead, it tests your ability to understand Cisco's product portfolio, align solutions with customer business needs, and communicate value in a sales context.

 

700-150 Exam Domains at a Glance

•       Cisco's Approach to Selling — 16%

•       Selling Collaboration Solutions — 16%

•       Selling Security Solutions — 18%

•       Selling Enterprise & Digital Network — 22%

•       Selling DC & Cloud Architecture — 18%

•       Cisco CCNA Foundation Knowledge — 10%

 What Is the Cisco CCNA 200-301 Certification?

The CCNA 200-301 (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is one of the most respected and widely recognised technical certifications in the entire IT industry. It validates your ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks.

 

It is a hands-on, technically rigorous exam covering a broad range of networking topics. It includes both multiple-choice questions and performance-based lab simulations where you must configure real Cisco devices.

 

CCNA 200-301 Exam Domains at a Glance

•       Network Fundamentals — 20%

•       Network Access — 20%

•       IP Connectivity — 25%

•       IP Services — 10%

•       Security Fundamentals — 15%

•       Automation & Programmability — 10%

 

 

Side-by-Side Comparison

 

Factor	700-150 ICS	CCNA 200-301
Exam Code	700-150	200-301
Full Name	Introduction to Cisco Sales (ICS)	Cisco Certified Network Associate
Target Audience	Sales, account managers, pre-sales	Network engineers, IT admins
Exam Duration	90 minutes	120 minutes
No. of Questions	50–65 questions	~100 questions
Question Types	Multiple choice only	MCQ + lab simulations
Technical Depth	Conceptual / business-focused	Deep technical + hands-on
Prerequisites	None	None (1+ year experience recommended)
Difficulty Level	⭐⭐ Moderate	⭐⭐⭐⭐ Challenging
Passing Score	Not publicly disclosed	825 / 1000
Exam Retake Wait	48 hours	5 calendar days
Exam Cost	~$125 USD	~$330 USD
Validity	3 years	3 years
Best For UK Salary	£40K–£65K (sales roles)	£45K–£75K (technical roles)
Best For UAE Salary	AED 130K–220K	AED 150K–250K

 

 

Career Paths — Where Each Cert Takes You

 

After 700-150 ICS — Sales & Business Career Roles

Earning the 700-150 ICS positions you strongly for the following roles, particularly in the UK and UAE technology markets:

 

•       Cisco Sales Specialist — Sell Cisco networking, security, and cloud solutions to enterprise clients

•       Account Manager (Cisco Partner) — Manage Cisco partner accounts and drive solution-based sales

•       Pre-Sales Consultant — Bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders

•       Business Development Representative — Generate and qualify leads for Cisco technology products

•       Solutions Architect (Entry Level) — Propose Cisco-based architectures to meet client business outcomes

 

 

After CCNA 200-301 — Technical IT Career Roles

The CCNA 200-301 opens doors to hands-on, infrastructure-focused roles with strong demand across both the UK and UAE:

 

•       Network Engineer — Design, build, and manage enterprise network infrastructure

•       Network Administrator — Maintain and monitor Cisco routers, switches, and firewalls

•       IT Infrastructure Specialist — Manage on-premises and hybrid cloud environments

•       Junior Security Engineer — Implement basic network security policies and controls

•       Cloud Network Engineer — Manage network connectivity in AWS, Azure, or hybrid environments

•       NOC Engineer — Monitor and respond to network operations centre incidents

 

 

Salary Comparison — UK 🇬🇧 & UAE 🇦🇪

 

Salary outcomes depend heavily on your role, experience, and location. Here is how both certifications compare across the UK and UAE markets in 2026:

 

Role	Cert	UK (£)	UAE (AED)	Experience
Cisco Sales Specialist	700-150	£40K–£55K	AED 130K–180K	0–2 yrs
Account Manager	700-150	£45K–£65K	AED 150K–220K	2–5 yrs
Pre-Sales Consultant	700-150	£55K–£80K	AED 180K–260K	3–7 yrs
Network Administrator	CCNA	£35K–£50K	AED 120K–170K	0–2 yrs
Network Engineer	CCNA	£45K–£70K	AED 150K–230K	2–5 yrs
Senior Network Engineer	CCNA	£65K–£90K	AED 220K–300K	5+ yrs

 

 

Difficulty — How Hard Is Each Exam?

 

700-150 ICS Difficulty

The 700-150 is considered a moderate difficulty exam. It is not a walk in the park, but it is significantly less technically demanding than CCNA.

 

•       No hands-on lab component — purely multiple choice

•       Conceptual understanding over memorisation — know the 'why', not just the 'what'

•       Most candidates pass in 4–6 weeks of focused study

•       Recommended study time: 30–40 hours total

•       Strong background in sales or IT helps — but neither is required

 

CCNA 200-301 Difficulty

CCNA is one of the most technically challenging associate-level certifications in the industry. Many candidates take multiple attempts.

 

•       Includes performance-based lab simulations — you must configure Cisco IOS

•       Covers 6 broad domains — from fundamentals to automation and AI

•       Average study time: 150–300 hours depending on experience

•       Most candidates study for 3–6 months before attempting

•       Failure rate is significant — proper exam prep is essential

 

Who Should Choose Which?

 

✅ Choose 700-150 ICS if you are...	✅ Choose CCNA 200-301 if you are...
• Sales professionals & account managers	• Network engineers & administrators
• Pre-sales consultants & business development reps	• IT support professionals moving into networking
• Cisco partner staff wanting product knowledge	• Fresh graduates targeting infrastructure roles
• IT professionals transitioning into sales roles	• Cloud & security engineers needing core skills
• Anyone in UK/UAE selling Cisco solutions	• Anyone in UK/UAE targeting technical IT roles

 

 

Can You Get Both? — The Power Combination

 

Here is the truth that most certification guides do not tell you: the professionals who are most sought-after in the Cisco ecosystem are those who can do both — understand the technology deeply AND communicate its business value to clients.

 

In practical terms, someone who holds both 700-150 ICS and CCNA 200-301 can:

 

•       Speak fluently with both C-suite decision makers and technical engineering teams

•       Design and present Cisco solutions that are both technically sound and commercially compelling

•       Command significantly higher salaries — typically 20–35% above single-cert peers

•       Qualify for solutions architect and senior pre-sales roles much earlier in their career

•       Stand out in both UK and UAE job markets where versatile Cisco professionals are in short supply

 

 

 

How to Prepare for Each Exam with TroyTec

 

Preparing for 700-150 ICS — 4-Week Plan

1.      Week 1: Study Cisco's approach to selling, partner model, and recurring revenue strategy

2.      Week 2: Cover security and collaboration solution selling domains

3.      Week 3: Focus on Enterprise, DC & Cloud architecture selling domains (highest weight)

4.      Week 4: Complete 3 full TroyTec practice exams, review weak areas, book and sit exam

 

Preparing for CCNA 200-301 — 12-Week Plan

5.      Weeks 1–3: Network fundamentals — OSI model, TCP/IP, subnetting, VLANs

6.      Weeks 4–6: Routing (OSPF, static routes) and switching (STP, EtherChannel)

7.      Weeks 7–9: IP services, NAT, DHCP, DNS, QoS, and security fundamentals

8.      Weeks 10–11: Automation, programmability, Ansible, Terraform, AI in networking

9.      Week 12: 5 full TroyTec timed practice exams — target 82%+ before booking real exam

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is the 700-150 ICS exam harder than CCNA?

No. The 700-150 ICS is significantly easier than CCNA 200-301. It is conceptual rather than technical, has no lab simulations, and most candidates prepare in 4–6 weeks. CCNA typically requires 3–6 months of study and includes hands-on configuration tasks.

 

Can I take the 700-150 exam with no IT experience?

Yes. There are no official prerequisites for the 700-150 ICS. Candidates from a pure sales or business background can and do pass this exam. A basic understanding of IT concepts helps, but deep technical knowledge is not required.

 

Does CCNA count toward the 700-150 exam content?

Partially. The 700-150 exam includes a Cisco CCNA foundation knowledge domain worth 10% of the exam. This means having CCNA knowledge gives you a head start, but the majority of the 700-150 exam content is sales and solution-focused, not technical.

 

Which cert is more valuable in the UAE market?

Both are highly valued in the UAE. The 700-150 ICS is particularly in demand among Cisco partner organisations and VAR (value-added reseller) companies. CCNA is sought-after by enterprise IT departments, telecoms, and government organisations. In the UAE, holding both certifications significantly expands your employability.

 

Can I use 700-150 to get a job in the UK without technical skills?

Yes, particularly in technology sales roles. UK employers including Cisco Gold Partners, managed service providers, and enterprise technology distributors actively recruit ICS-certified sales professionals. The cert validates that you understand what you are selling, which is exactly what hiring managers want.

 

How long are each of these certifications valid?

Both the 700-150 ICS and CCNA 200-301 are valid for 3 years. After that, you can recertify by passing a higher-level exam or retaking the same exam.

 

 

Conclusion

The choice between Cisco 700-150 ICS and CCNA 200-301 is not about which certification is better — it is about which one is right for your career direction.

 

If you want to sell Cisco technology, build client relationships, and drive commercial outcomes — 700-150 ICS is your fast-track to credibility.

 

If you want to engineer, configure, and manage Cisco networks at the technical level — CCNA 200-301 is the gold standard starting point.

 

And if you want to become truly exceptional in the Cisco world — pursue both. The combination of commercial awareness and technical depth is rare, highly valued, and commands premium salaries in both the UK and UAE.

 

TroyTec Exams has updated practice materials for both certifications. Whether you are starting with 700-150 or going straight for CCNA, we have everything you need to pass first time.

 

📘 Read our full 700-150 pillar article: blog.troytec.com/700-150-cisco-sales-certification/