On the Fence About 300-910? You’re Not Alone
If you’re hesitating right now, you’re in good company.
Almost every engineer I talk to asks the same thing:
“Is it still worth taking Cisco 300-910 when it’s being retired in February 2026?”
Short answer: yes—if you approach it the right way.
This isn’t about collecting another badge. This is about locking in a DevNet Specialist credential, building real-world CI/CD and automation skills, and positioning yourself cleanly for the upcoming Cisco Automation certification track. Done properly, the return easily outweighs the effort.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through:
- What the exam really looks like today
- Why the final window is actually an advantage
- How much this certification can impact your salary
- The most efficient prep strategy I’ve seen work
- And where to go after you pass, so you don’t stall out
No fluff. Just what actually works.
The Real Situation of the 300-910 Exam Right Now
What the 300-910 DEVOPS Exam Actually Tests
The 300-910 DEVOPS exam is a 90-minute concentration exam under the DevNet Professional umbrella from Cisco.
At a practical level, it focuses on:
- CI/CD pipelines on Cisco platforms
- Infrastructure and configuration automation
- Containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes concepts)
- API-driven operations (REST, Webex APIs)
- Logging, monitoring, and pipeline security
This is not a trivia exam. You’re expected to understand how things fit together in real delivery pipelines, not just what a tool is called.
What the February 2026 Retirement Really Means
Here’s the part that gets misunderstood.
Yes, February 2, 2026 is the last testing date. But no, that does not mean the skills are obsolete. Cisco is restructuring DevNet into a broader Cisco Automation track, and most of the concepts tested in 300-910 carry over directly.
If you pass now:
- You still earn the DevNet Specialist – DevOps credential
- Your knowledge transfers cleanly into the new Automation exams
- You avoid being forced into a brand-new blueprint with zero prep history
That’s not a downside—that’s a strategic window.
Why Taking It Now Is Still a Smart Move
The Hidden Value of the Final Exam Window
Late-cycle exams have one major advantage: stability.
By now:
- The question style is consistent
- The topic weight is predictable
- Training materials are mature
- Community feedback is solid
Early versions of new exams are always riskier. Right now, 300-910 is one of the most “understood” DevOps exams Cisco has ever offered.
Smooth Transition to the Cisco Automation Track
If your long-term goal is automation—network, cloud, or platform—this exam gives you a clean conceptual bridge.
You’re learning:
- Pipelines, not devices
- APIs, not CLIs
- Repeatability, not hero scripting
Those skills don’t expire.
Let’s Talk Money: Does This Certification Actually Pay Off?
2026 Salary Data You Can Trust
Based on aggregated 2026 data from Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and 6figr:
- US-based Cisco DevOps / Automation Engineers:
$163k–$173k average, median around $168k - Top 10% (senior, multi-cloud, automation-heavy roles):
$230k–$240k+ - Global average for certified DevOps engineers:
Roughly $140k–$180k USD equivalent
The pattern is consistent: automation + CI/CD skills command a premium.
How the Certification Impacts Real Job Moves
The cert alone won’t double your salary. But paired with hands-on experience, it:
- Shortens interview loops
- Signals platform-level DevOps competence
- Helps justify higher bands during offers
I’ve seen engineers use 300-910 as leverage for internal promotions, cross-team transfers, and cloud-native roles.
The Most Efficient Path to Passing (Including My Mistakes)
How to Structure Your Study Without Wasting Time
The biggest mistake? Treating this like a memorization exam.
The optimal order looks like this:
- Read the official exam blueprint (twice)
- Run hands-on labs early, not at the end
- Use official content to anchor concepts
- Reinforce with realistic practice questions
Using Official Resources the Right Way
Cisco U labs are free and underrated. Don’t rush them. Focus on:
- Pipeline flow
- API authentication
- Security checkpoints
- Logging and observability
If budget allows, the DEVOPS v1.0 official training fills gaps quickly—but it’s not mandatory.
Practice Questions and Mock Exams—What Actually Helps
Well-maintained question banks help with:
- Understanding scenario wording
- Time pressure
- Identifying weak areas
Many engineers I’ve mentored (myself included) used https://www.pass4itsure.com/300-910.html as a reference because the updates are timely and the scenarios feel close to the real exam. Use it as reinforcement—not as your only prep.
Why Hands-On Labs Matter More Than You Think
Memorization vs. Real DevOps Skills
The exam doesn’t ask: “What is GitLab CI?”
It asks:
“What breaks when your pipeline secrets are exposed?”
“Where does logging belong in a multi-stage pipeline?”
You can’t fake that understanding.
A Minimal but Effective Home Lab Setup
You don’t need enterprise hardware. A simple setup works:
- Docker
- Kubernetes (kind or minikube)
- GitLab CI
- Mock API endpoints simulating Cisco services
Build one pipeline end to end. Break it. Fix it. That’s where the exam clicks.
Exam-Day Reality Check
Common Traps and High-Frequency Topics
Watch closely for:
- Pipeline security scenarios
- Webex API authentication
- Logging vs. monitoring distinctions
- YAML misconfigurations
These show up again and again.
Managing the 90 Minutes Like a Pro
- First pass: answer what’s obvious
- Flag scenario-heavy questions
- Don’t overthink—Cisco exams reward practical answers
Time pressure is real, but manageable.
After You Pass: What’s the Smart Next Step?
Moving into Cisco Automation After 2026
Post-2026, the momentum is clearly toward:
- Multi-cloud automation
- Infrastructure as Code
- AIOps and telemetry-driven operations
Your 300-910 knowledge drops directly into this space.
Certifications That Pair Well with 300-910
If you want to go further:
- 350-901 DEVCOR for full DevNet Professional
- Cloud provider certs (AWS, Azure) for portability
- Kubernetes certifications for credibility
A Free Bonus: Updated 300-910 Practice Questions
To help you get started faster, I’ve put together a 2026-focused 300-910 practice PDF with:
- 15 carefully selected questions
- Full explanations
- Exam-style scenarios
Final Thoughts: Skills First, Certificates Second
If you’re only chasing a logo, stop.
But if you want repeatable automation skills, CI/CD confidence, and a smoother path into high-paying DevOps roles, Cisco 300-910 is still absolutely worth it—especially now.
Certifications open doors. Skills keep them open.
FAQs
Is Cisco 300-910 too late to take in 2026?
No. The final window is actually one of the safest times to take it.
Is hands-on practice mandatory?
Yes. This exam exposes surface-level memorization fast.
Does the certification still matter after retirement?
Yes. The credential remains valid, and the skills transition directly into Cisco Automation.
Is this exam suitable for network engineers moving into DevOps?
Absolutely. It’s one of the cleanest bridges available.