Best CCNA 200-301 Books in 2026: Which One to Read, and When
For the CCNA 200-301 in 2026, three books cover almost every need. Wendell Odom's CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide (Cisco Press, 2nd edition, two volumes, 2024, with David Hucaby and Jason Gooley) is the deepest; Cisco Press describes it as the only Cisco-approved self-study resource. Todd Lammle's CCNA Certification Study Guide (Sybex, 2nd edition, two volumes) is the friendlier read for beginners. Allan Johnson's 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam (Cisco Press, 2nd edition, December 2024) is for the final month. All three cover v1.1, which v2.0 replaces on 3 February 2027. Pair any of them with full-length practice: FigigExams gives a complete 103-question exam free.Compiled 6 October 2026 by FigigExams from the publishers' listings. We earn no affiliate commission on any book.
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In this guide
Which CCNA book for which candidate
Odom, Official Cert Guide
- Two volumes, 2nd edition (Cisco Press, 2024), with David Hucaby and Jason Gooley
- The deepest coverage of v1.1, plus Pearson Test Prep practice questions
- For: anyone who wants one book to keep
Lammle, CCNA Study Guide
- Two volumes, 2nd edition (Sybex), rewritten for v1.1
- A conversational style that builds each concept up gradually
- For: beginners who find the OCG dense
Johnson, 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam
- 2nd edition (Cisco Press, December 2024)
- One exam topic a day, with a review calendar
- For: revision, not a first read
Full-length practice exams
- A book cannot tell you whether you would pass
- FigigExams gives a complete 103-question exam free
- For: proving the reading worked
Every CCNA book worth reading, side by side
| Book | Edition | Covers | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendell Odom, David Hucaby, Jason Gooley: CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volumes 1 and 2 | Cisco Press, 2nd edition, 2024 | 200-301 v1.1 | Pearson Test Prep practice questions | Depth; the most complete coverage |
| Todd Lammle: CCNA Certification Study Guide, Volumes 1 and 2 | Sybex, 2nd edition | 200-301 v1.1 | Online practice questions | Beginners |
| Allan Johnson: 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam | Cisco Press, 2nd edition, December 2024 | 200-301 | A day-by-day review calendar | The final month |
| Cisco: CCNA 200-301 exam topics | Free PDF from Cisco | The live blueprint | Every topic and its verb | Checking what any book covers |
| FigigExams: free CCNA study guide | Online, no PDF gate | 200-301 v1.1 | Chapters cross-referenced to the exam domains | Free revision alongside practice exams |
Editions and publication dates from the publishers' listings, checked 6 October 2026. We earn no affiliate commission on any book.
How to use a CCNA book without losing months
- Pick one main book. Reading both the OCG and Lammle cover to cover doubles the time for little extra coverage.
- Lab every chapter in Packet Tracer or Cisco Modeling Labs the day you read it.
- Sit a full-length paper halfway through and spend the rest of the reading on the domains it shows are costing marks. In our data, IP Connectivity costs CCNA candidates the most marks (10.0 weighted points across 4,188 answers, August 2026).
- Switch to 31 Days in the final month for a structured last pass.
The v2.0 catch
Every book above covers v1.1, the exam until 2 February 2027. CCNA v2.0 becomes available on 3 February 2027, with six domains becoming five and troubleshooting back across roughly a quarter of the topics. If you sit after the switch, check that a book states it covers v2.0 before you buy it. What changes in CCNA v2.0.
A book does not tell you whether you would pass
Chapter quizzes check one topic at a time. The exam is 120 minutes across every domain at once, with drag-and-drop and scenario items. Pair any book with full-length timed papers: FigigExams gives a complete 103-question exam free, and the pack is $39 once for 5 exams and 510 questions. For the rest of the study stack, see the best CCNA study resources.
Find out which chapters to re-read
A complete 103-question CCNA exam with an Exam Coach report that ranks the domains costing you marks. Free, no credit card.
Try a free CCNA examThe full CCNA pack is $39 once: 5 exams, 510 questions and 9 troubleshooting scenarios, lifetime.
Frequently asked questions about CCNA books
What is the best book for the CCNA?
Wendell Odom's CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide (Cisco Press, 2nd edition, two volumes, 2024) for depth. Todd Lammle's CCNA Certification Study Guide (Sybex, 2nd edition) is the friendlier choice for beginners. Allan Johnson's 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam is for the final month.
Do I need both volumes of the CCNA Official Cert Guide?
Yes. The blueprint is split across the two volumes, so one volume alone leaves whole domains uncovered.
Is the Official Cert Guide enough to pass the CCNA?
It covers the material, but it cannot test you under exam conditions. Add hands-on labs and full-length timed practice exams before you book.
Odom or Lammle: which CCNA book is better?
Odom for depth and the most complete coverage; Lammle for a more conversational read. Pick one as your main book rather than reading both cover to cover.
Are there free CCNA books?
Cisco's exam topics PDF is free and is the official checklist. FigigExams publishes a free CCNA study guide readable online with no email wall. Jeremy's IT Lab is a free course rather than a book.
Should I buy a CCNA book now with v2.0 coming?
Yes, if you will sit before 2 February 2027: the current editions cover v1.1. If you will sit after 3 February 2027, wait for editions that state they cover v2.0.