CCNA vs. F5-CA — or Both? Building a Cert Strategy

Quick Definition: The CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) is a broad, entry-level IT cert covering core networking concepts, while the F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator (F5-CA) is a specialized mid-level cert focused on application delivery, load balancing, and traffic management using F5 BIG-IP technology.  

For IT professionals charting their career path, the question often isn’t whether to get certified—it’s which certification to pursue first. The CCNA has long been considered a gold standard for foundational networking knowledge, covering everything from IP routing to network automation. On the other hand, the F5 certification path focuses on specialized skills for managing application delivery controllers (ADCs), SSL offloading, and Layer 4–7 traffic management using the F5 BIG-IP platform.

Choosing between them isn’t always straightforward. It’s a decision that depends on where you are in your career, the technologies your organization uses, and whether you want to start broad or dive into a niche. In this post, you'll learn what each certification covers, who they’re for, how they compare in terms of career impact, and why some professionals find that stacking CCNA and F5-CA creates the ultimate combination.

What is the CCNA, and What Does it cover?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate is Cisco’s flagship entry-level networking certification and one of the most recognized credentials in IT. It’s designed to validate a professional’s ability to install, configure, and troubleshoot small to medium-sized networks.

A CCNA holder is expected to understand:

• IP addressing, subnetting, and VLANs

• Routing and switching fundamentals

• Basic network security principles

• Network automation and programmability basics

• Cloud networking concepts

The CCNA is often a stepping stone into network administrator or junior network engineer roles. Because it’s so widely recognized, it frequently appears in job descriptions for entry-level IT certs in networking.

What is the F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator (F5-CA)?

The F5 Certified Administrator – BIG-IP (F5-CA) proves you know how to keep BIG-IP environments running smoothly. The old two-exam route (201 + 202) is retired. F5 has rebuilt the track so learners build a foundation first, then layer on specialist skills.

The current path looks like this:

• BIG-IP Administration Install, Initial Configuration, and Upgrade (F5CAB1) – installing BIG-IP, licensing, upgrades, and basic setup

• BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Concepts (F5CAB2) – traffic flow, load-balancing theory, and core data-plane elements

• BIG-IP Administration Data Plane Configuration (F5CAB3) – putting data-plane features into practice through configuration tasks

• BIG-IP Administration Control Plane Administration (F5CAB4) – managing the BIG-IP control plane: users, backups, HA, and more

• BIG-IP Administration Support and Troubleshooting (F5CAB5) – diagnosing and resolving common BIG-IP issues

Skills validated by the F5-CA include:

• Configure BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager (LTM)

• Offload SSL/TLS and set up health monitors

• Manage high-availability (HA) clusters

• Write and apply iRules for traffic customization

• Navigate both TMOS and BIG-IP Next platforms

Because F5 BIG-IP is widely deployed in large enterprises, government agencies, and service providers, the F5-CA is valued by employers who rely on high-performance, secure application delivery systems.

For a full breakdown of the certification process, see A Complete F5 Certification Guide.

Who are These Certifications For?

Choosing between the CCNA and F5-CA largely depends on your current role, career aspirations, and familiarity with networking concepts. Both certifications have value within a well-rounded networking career path, but they are designed with different audiences in mind. 

The CCNA is recognized as a foundational certification, often serving as the starting point for IT professionals looking to establish or solidify their networking knowledge. The F5-CA focuses on application delivery, load balancing, and security, and it’s built as a ladder — starting at 101 and 201 before moving into 301/401 — so it fits best once you’ve gained some networking experience.

CCNA Exam

The CCNA is ideal for:

• Aspiring network engineers

• Systems administrators moving into networking

• Generalist IT pros who need a broad technical base

It’s often the first cert in a networking career, giving learners the fundamental skills needed to branch into more specialized areas.

F5-CA Exam

The F5-CA is tailored for:

• IT pros already working with application delivery or load balancing

• Network engineers supporting hybrid cloud or security-focused deployments

• Professionals managing enterprise-scale infrastructure that includes BIG-IP

Because it builds on networking fundamentals, most candidates pursue it after gaining real-world experience or earning a foundational cert like the CCNA or CompTIA Network+.

How Do the Certs Compare in Terms of Career Outcomes?

While both certifications can open doors to new opportunities, the types of roles they align with differ significantly in scope and focus. The CCNA equips you with a wide-ranging set of networking fundamentals that apply across industries and organizations of all sizes. This makes it a versatile credential, especially valuable if you’re still exploring which direction you want to take in IT. 

The F5-CA, by contrast, now spans multiple exams and zeroes in on application delivery, load balancing, and security. It’s highly specialized and shows employers that you’ve invested in mastering BIG-IP over several stages.

CCNA career outcomes include:

• Network administrator

• Network support technician

• IT generalist roles that require networking skills

F5-CA career outcomes include:

• F5 Administrator

• Application Delivery Engineer

• Infrastructure Engineer specializing in ADCs

Put simply, the CCNA is broader, touching many aspects of networking, while the F5-CA is deeper, focusing on a single, powerful platform. For many professionals, the choice isn’t either/or —it’s a matter of sequence.

What’s the Learning Curve for Each?

Both the CCNA and F5-CA require study and hands-on practice, but the depth and scope of the content differ.

CCNA Exam

The CCNA has a moderate learning curve, covering a wide range of topics across Layers 2 and 3, plus foundational security and automation concepts. Study resources are abundant, and beginners will find many step-by-step learning plans.

F5-CA Exam

The F5-CA has a progressive learning curve. You’ll start with installation and configuration (F5CAB1), move through data-plane and control-plane concepts (F5CAB2–F5CAB4), and finish with troubleshooting (F5CAB5). The material grows more advanced as you go, but early exams are accessible if you already understand basic networking.

CCNA? F5-CA? Or Both?

For some IT professionals, the decision is straightforward: begin with the CCNA to establish a strong foundation in networking principles, then pursue the F5-CA to gain specialized expertise in application delivery and load balancing. 

This sequential approach ensures you have the broad understanding needed to fully appreciate and apply the advanced concepts covered in the F5 certification. For others, however, the path may look different. If your current role already demands hands-on experience with F5 devices, or if your career trajectory leans more toward application delivery, security, or hybrid cloud optimization, jumping straight into the F5-CA may be the smarter choice. 

Ultimately, the right order depends on your starting point, long-term goals, and the technologies most relevant in your workplace.

Earning both makes sense if:

• You’re transitioning from networking fundamentals into application-layer optimization roles.

• Your current role blends general networking with ADC administration.

• You work in a hybrid environment using both Cisco and F5 technologies.

Building the Best Cert Strategy For Your Needs

There are three options to consider when deciding what route to take: 

Option 1: CCNA → F5-CA

Best for newcomers or generalist IT professionals looking to build a broad knowledge base before focusing on application delivery.

Option 2: F5-CA Only

Makes sense for experienced professionals already working in environments where F5 BIG-IP is central to operations.

Option 3: Dual Track with Overlap

Ideal for ambitious learners in enterprise, cloud, or security roles who want to cover both the breadth and depth of networking.

Conclusion

The CCNA and F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator are both high-value certifications, just in different ways. CCNA gives you the versatility to handle a wide range of networking tasks, while F5-CA makes you a specialist in one of the most respected application delivery platforms in the industry.

If you’re looking to start from the ground up, CCNA is still the logical first step. If your job already leans on BIG-IP, or you’re ready to specialize, F5-CA’s updated multi-exam track delivers immediate, targeted value. And if you want maximum career flexibility, stacking both can really set you apart.

Want to learn more about F5 BIG-IP? This CBT Nuggets BIG-IP Administration F5CAB1 online course is a great place to start, along with BIG-IP Administration F5CAB2 and BIG-IP Administration F5CAB3 for more advanced skills.