Training guide
CCNA SRWE Course Guide: Switching, Routing and Wireless Essentials
A guide to the second CCNA course from Cisco Networking Academy: topics, time, delivery and next steps.
EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on Cisco Networking Academy course overviews
Introduction
The CCNA SRWE course is the second course in Cisco’s three-part CCNA series. SRWE stands for Switching, Routing and Wireless Essentials. It moves from basic ideas to hands-on configuration.
An earlier version of this page described it as free. Cisco lists it as taught by instructors, so the academy that runs it sets the fee. Here is what the course covers and how to prepare.
Quick Information
| Provider |
Cisco Networking Academy, taught by partner academies |
| Level |
Intermediate, after Introduction to Networks |
| Delivery |
Instructor-led |
| Estimated time |
About 70 hours |
| Structure |
16 modules |
| Cost |
Set by the teaching academy. Check before you enrol. |
Key Points at a Glance
- It follows Introduction to Networks and comes before ENSA.
- It covers switches, VLANs, routing and an introduction to wireless networks.
- Cisco lists it as instructor-led with about 70 hours of study.
- Learners earn a Certificate of Completion and a digital badge through academies.
- The CCNA exam is separate from the course.
What You Learn
The course covers how routers and switches work in small networks. You also meet wireless local area networks and basic security ideas.
Course outcomes include setting up VLANs and routing between them, fixing EtherChannel problems and configuring IPv4 and IPv6 static routes.
Switching First
Early modules explain how switches forward traffic and how VLANs split a network into groups. You build these in labs, not only on paper.
You also learn to protect a switch against common attacks on a local network.
Routing and Wireless
Later modules cover how routers choose paths and how static routes work. You then configure a wireless network with a controller and apply basic wireless security.
These tasks mirror the daily work of a junior network technician.
Why It Is Not a Free Course
In Cisco’s overview the course is taught by instructors who must be trained for it. So a registered academy runs your class.
Each academy sets its own fee. Ask for the price and what it includes.
Prerequisites
Cisco recommends taking Introduction to Networks first. Without it, the pace may feel fast.
You should be comfortable with IP addresses and basic command-line work before you start.
Labs and Practice
Lab work uses Cisco Packet Tracer and, in some academies, real equipment. Do each lab twice. The second time, try it without the instructions.
Keep a notebook of commands. Group them by task, such as VLANs or routing.
Assessment
Expect module quizzes, checkpoint tests and a closing exam. Your academy may award a completion certificate, a merit letter and a badge.
Those awards prove course completion only. The CCNA certification is a different credential.
Next Steps
The recommended next course is Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation. After the three courses, many learners book the CCNA 200-301 exam.
Check Cisco’s exam page for the current fee and rules before you book.
Using It in Europe
Roles include network technician, support engineer and junior network administrator. Add the course and the year to your Europass CV.
Add one lab you built, such as a small network with three VLANs.
A Sample Lab Weekend
Pick one topic for a weekend, such as VLANs. Build a small network with two switches and three groups. Test that each group can reach only its own devices.
Then break the setup on purpose. Remove a trunk setting and find out what fails. Fixing your own faults teaches faster than reading.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the early modules. Later labs assume you can already read an address table.
Do not memorise commands without knowing why they work. Exam questions and job tasks ask you to troubleshoot, not recite.
Do not leave wireless to the end. It has its own vocabulary and takes practice.
Questions for the Academy
Ask how many lab hours you get each week. Ask whether real switches are available or only Packet Tracer.
Ask whether the final exam is taken in class or online. Ask what happens if you need to retake it.
Keeping Your Records
Save each lab file and note the date. A folder of completed labs is useful evidence when you apply for a first technician job.
Keep your digital badge link and add it to your professional profile.
Time Planning
Seventy hours is about ten weeks at seven hours a week. Allow extra time for labs that fail on the first try.
If you study while working, block two fixed evenings and one weekend slot. Tell your family or house-mates the schedule so you are not interrupted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CCNA SRWE free?
Cisco lists it as instructor-led. The academy sets the fee.
How many modules are there?
Cisco lists 16 modules and about 70 hours.
Do I need Introduction to Networks first?
Cisco recommends it. The course builds on it.
Does it give me the CCNA?
No. The CCNA is a separate exam.
Find Jobs
Job titles to search for include network technician, junior network administrator and support engineer. Search current vacancies on the EURES portal.
Official Course Page
Read the current details on the Cisco Networking Academy networking courses page.
Disclaimer
This guide is independent and is not affiliated with Cisco or the Cisco Networking Academy. Course lengths, fees and course names change, so check the official page before you enrol. A course certificate does not give you the right to work in any country.
