CCNA V2.0: Plans for the Cisco Press Official Cert Guides

New CCNA blueprint, with major updates – so we’re creating new editions of the two CCNA Official Cert Guides. They’re due out early 2027. Read here for what we know now here in May, 2026 – and I’ll post an update later in the year with specific dates once we know.

The CCNA 200-301 Version 2.0 Blueprint Update!

In case you missed it, Cisco announced a major update to the CCNA exam in May 2026. The version changes from V1.1 to V2.0, with plenty of new topics, some removals, and a big bump towards more troubleshooting. Look to my other posts on about May 20, 2026, for the details.

Whenever Cisco announces a blueprint update, the publisher and I have to decide what to do with the CCNA Official Cert Guide books: A two-book set that together cover all CCNA topics. Sometimes it makes more sense to create new books, while in other circumstances, we can make it work by keeping the same books and maybe publishing a little extra content online. In this case, the changes are too extensive to keep the existing books, so we’ll update them to new editions, with edition 3 on the covers.

For perspective, Figure 1 shows the history of the CCNA exam, including the exam numbers. For the first 20+ years of CCNA, every exam blueprint change also included an exam number change. Then, for the new exams released in 2020, Cisco assigned CCNA exam number 200-301 – with a new policy to keep the exam number over the long term. Instead of changing the exam number with each new blueprint, Cisco keeps the exam number the same, but increments the blueprint version number.

Figure 1: CCNA Exam Numbers and Blueprint Version Number History

As for the books, the publisher follows a convention that the book edition number starts over as “Edition 1” if the exam number changes. So, for books in the first 20+ years of CCNA, each new CCNA book was called “Edition 1” by the publisher. With the 2020 introduction of the CCNA 200-301 exam, we produced new books for the Version 1.0 blueprint, so those were Edition 1 books. But in 2024, we published new books for the Version 1.1 blueprint – but because there were no exam number change, per the publisher’s conventions, those books were called “Edition 2” books. Figure 2 shows the Edition 2 books, published back in 2024, and continuing to sell now for the CCNA 200-301 V1.1 exam.

Figure 2: Current CCNA OCG Books for the CCNA V1.1 Blueprint

As shown in the figure, the CCNA content exists as two separate books: Volume 1 and Volume 2. The idea is simple: The CCNA exam covers a lot of material. It doesn’t fit in one book. So, we publish two. Volume 1 has about half the content, Volume 2 has the other half. You need both. Because you need both, the publisher sells both together in a product called the “CCNA OCG Library”, which is a cardboard box with both the books in it – nothing more, nothing less – but for a lower price than buying the books individually. Almost everyone buys the Library, because it saves you money.

For the new books, due out early in 2027, we’ll follow the same idea. Figure 3 shows mock-ups of the covers, with “3rd Edition” listed.

Figure 3: Cover Mock-ups for the Future CCNA OCG Books, Edition 3

The New Editions of the Books

First, if you want to buy the new books, and you’re reading this in May, 2026, just after announcement: They’re not for sale yet. The exam doesn’t release until February 2027, so we’ve all got time. The books will likely be orderable by 4th quarter 2026.

When it’s time to order, since you’re already here, just click this link! It will take you to the product page here at the blog, where you should be able to order the books at Cisco Press and Amazon. But if want a more memorable link, try either of the URLs on the left side of the next figure. Both send you to my LinkTree, with links to the same product page.

Figure 4: How to Buy the New Books – When Available

If you’re reading this with many months to go before cutover day (February 3, 2027), let me emphasize: You can and should pass the exam using the V1.1 blueprint. There’s plenty of time. I’m sure many people will start and finish their CCNA study between the May 20, 2026 announcement day and the Feb 3, 2027 cutover day. But we’re here to talk about the new books, so…

I released this post in late May 2026. It’s too far away from publication day to know when the books will be out. Period. So, here’s the plan:

• October, 2026: I should have a pretty good idea by then. They’ll almost certainly be orderable by then. I’ll post another post and record another video with an update.
• January 4, 2027: That’s the first business day of 2027, and my wild guess at the Volume 1 in-stock date in the USA. That means that for those who order directly from Cisco Press, they could start shipping books to fill those orders on that date.
• February 3, 2027: First day to test based on the V2.0 blueprint.
• February, 2027: Volume 2 in-stock in the US.
• March, 2027: CCNA Library in-stock in the US.

Those are wild guesses this far out. Figure 5 shows the timeline.

Figure 5: Guess at the Book Release Timeline

Finally, what are we changing in the new editions? And who is this “we”?

First, Jason Gooley, one of the co-authors on Volume 2 Edition 2, is taking on a much bigger role. Basically, he’s responsible for Volume 2 Edition 3. Most anything new in Volume 2 Edition 3 will be from Jason. Jason’s a long-time networker and Cisco employee, has published several books with Cisco Press, and great guy! I’m thrilled to have him on the team and taking over Volume 2.

As for the what, there are three broad categories of what we’ll be changing in the new edition of both books, as shown in the next figure:

Figure 6: What’s Changing in the Books

The first two tasks are the most obvious: to add content for new topics introduced by the V2.0 blueprint, and to remove topics removed from the V2.0 blueprint compared to the V1.1 blueprint. Simple enough. The third task is sort of the secret sauce to ensuring these books remain the best-selling CCNA books in the market, decade after decade. I collect notes over time whenever I hear feedback that tells me a subject needs improvement. Every topic needs a refresh on occasion – those are planned as well. So, we modernize, fix, remove some old, consolidate topics, clarify, and so on, with many small edits, removals, and additions to improve the books.

eBooks and Premium eBooks

The story with eBooks remains the same as it has been for a while. For those who do not know, here’s the scoop.

You can buy an eBook version of the book directly from two of the largest booksellers (Amazon; Barnes and Noble). As with the print books, you can buy each book individually. Alternatively, you can buy the CCNA Library, which includes an eBook containing the content of both books but for a lower price than buying the books separately.

However, if you want an eBook version of the book, you really should buy the eBook directly from the publisher. It’s called the “Premium Edition eBook”. Again, there’s a Premium Edition eBook for Volume 1, and for Volume 2, and for the Library (with cost savings, which is where most people land).

Figure 7: Mock Covers, CCNA Premium Edition eBooks, Editions 3

The publisher bills their eBook as “Premium”. What’s premium about it?

• They supply a file you can use on your Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Noble Nook (.epub).
• They also supply a PDF you can open anywhere – great for notetaking.
• You get the same PTP practice questions as print and other eBook customers, plus…
• …Extra PTP practice questions! Numbers are still TBD, but in Edition 2, the Premium Edition CCNA Library had over 300 additional practice questions!
• When using the PTP practice questions, if you want more info, the question links to your PDF, to the section that provides more detail about the topic. Great for digging into the topic in more detail.

Figure 8 sums up the premium benefits:

Figure 8: Comparing Publisher’s Premium eBook to Other Options

Timing: I’ll Let you Know

To recap, we’ll have new editions. Here in May, 2026, with an exam release in February 2027, it’s too early to predict exactly when the books will be in-stock. So:

• I’ll post again, with another video, around November 1st, 2026, and share more accurate dates.
• You’ll be able to order well before the books are available. I’ll try and get that video out as soon as you can order. If you order early, you’ll be one of the first to receive the books when they’re in stock.
• The print and Premium eBooks usually release about the same time.

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions.

Key Links

Here are a few helpful links related to the announcement.

Wendell Odom

• Blog: www.certskills.com
• YouTube Channel Advice and News Playlist
• YouTube CCNA Course Playlist
• YouTube CML Free Lab Playlist

Cisco Press

Note: Pages for the new products will not be available until about 5 months before product release. Stay tuned for updates.

• All Wendell Odom books at Cisco Press
• All CCNA books at Cisco Press

Cisco

• Cisco Certification Roadmap: www.cisco.com/go/certroadmap
• Cisco CCNA page: www.cisco.com/go/ccna
• Cisco Learning Network CCNA community