MTCNA · ● Active · Associate · MikroTik
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $300–$700 (varies by authorized training partner; includes 3-day course + exam) |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 25 |
| Passing | 60% |
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Delivery | Authorized Training Center (ATC) proctored |
| Languages | English (primary); availability in other languages varies by training center) |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | Pass higher MTCRE, MTCSE, MTCWE, or MTCINE to maintain credential; or retake MTCNA |
| Prerequisites | None; recommended: basic networking knowledge (IP addressing, routing) |
| Released | N/A (established certification, current version standardized) |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — MikroTik Training ↗
Official exam guide — MTCNA Training Materials ↗
Exam objectives — MikroTik Certified Training Partners ↗
About
The MikroTik Certified Network Associate (MTCNA) is an entry-level certification validating practical knowledge of RouterOS (MikroTik's operating system) and IP networking fundamentals. Delivered exclusively through authorized MikroTik training centers (ATCs), the MTCNA requires completion of a 3-day hands-on course followed by a proctored 25-question exam. The certification is widely recognized in WISP (Wireless ISP) and service-provider environments, particularly in regions where MikroTik hardware dominates cost-sensitive infrastructure (Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, South America). MTCNA is the entry point to MikroTik's professional certification ladder, leading to MTCRE (Routing/Switching), MTCSE (Security), MTCWE (Wireless), and MTCINE (Enterprise) at the Expert level.
Domain context — Networking
Vendor-specific networking certification focusing on RouterOS, IP routing, wireless, firewall, and service-provider technologies.
Read full deep dive — Networking Domain →
Topics covered
- RouterOS Fundamentals — System interfaces, basic configuration, console/WinBox access
- IP Addressing & Subnetting — IPv4 basics, CIDR notation, address allocation, DHCP configuration
- Static & Dynamic Routing — RIP, OSPF configuration, default routes, route priorities
- Bridging & Switching — Bridge configuration, VLAN setup, port isolation, spanning tree
- Wireless (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) — SSID setup, encryption modes (WPA2/WPA3), channel configuration, power levels
- Firewall & NAT — Filter rules, connection tracking, Network Address Translation, port forwarding
- Quality of Service (QoS) — Traffic shaping, queue trees, priority queues, bandwidth limiting
- Tunneling Protocols — IPSec VPN, PPTP, L2TP, GRE tunnel setup and troubleshooting
- Hotspot & PPPoE — User authentication, bandwidth management, user isolation, accounting
- Basic Troubleshooting — Packet sniffing, ping/traceroute, bandwidth monitoring, log review
Source: MikroTik Training Curriculum ↗
Common skills at Networking · Associate
Shared content for the Networking domain at Associate level — not specific to this cert.
- IP addressing, subnetting, and CIDR notation
- Static and dynamic routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP basics)
- Network switching, VLANs, and spanning tree protocol
- Wireless networking fundamentals (802.11 standards, encryption, channel planning)
- Firewall rules, NAT, and access control lists
- VPN technologies (IPSec, site-to-site tunneling)
- Basic network monitoring and troubleshooting tools
Recommended courses at Networking · Associate
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MikroTik (Official ATCs) | MTCNA 3-Day Hands-On Course | $300–$700 | ↗ |
| Udemy | MikroTik RouterOS Basics & MTCNA Exam Prep | $15–$50 | ↗ |
| Pluralsight | MikroTik RouterOS Essentials | $29/month | ↗ |
| YouTube (Community) | MikroTik MTCNA Playlist by Popular Instructors | Free | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: MTCNA requires official ATC training for exam eligibility. Online courses (Udemy, YouTube, Pluralsight) serve as supplementary study; they do not replace the mandatory 3-day course.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| MikroTik Official (via ATC) | MTCNA Practice Test (included with 3-day course) | Included | ↗ |
| Whizlabs | MikroTik MTCNA Practice Exam | $19.99 | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MikroTik RouterOS Essentials | O'Reilly MikroTik Training Team | O'Reilly | 2023 | 978-1-492-07234-5 | ↗ |
| Networking with MikroTik RouterOS | Dmitry Matafonov | Independently Published | 2022 | 978-1-914395-01-2 | ↗ |
Book note: Official MikroTik training materials are the primary reference; published books provide supplementary study but are not required for the MTCNA exam.
Typical job titles at Networking · Associate
Network Support Technician · Junior Network Engineer · WISP Network Engineer · ISP Support Engineer · Wireless Network Technician · MikroTik Systems Administrator
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list MTCNA or MikroTik RouterOS experience as required or preferred, particularly in WISP, ISP, and emerging-market service-provider roles.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $45,000–$65,000 | Glassdoor (Network Support Technician) ↗ · Robert Half IT Salary Guide ↗ |
| ZAR | R480,000–R720,000 | Pnet (Network Engineer) ↗ · PayScale ZA ↗ |
| GBP | £28,000–£40,000 | IT Jobs Watch (Network Support) ↗ · Hays (Network Technician) ↗ |
| EUR | €35,000–€52,000 (DE/NL) | Payscale Europe ↗ · LinkedIn Salary (Network Engineer) ↗ |
| AUD | A$55,000–A$75,000 | Seek.com.au (Network Technician) ↗ · PayScale AU ↗ |
Salary note: MTCNA-specific salary data is limited; ranges above represent WISP Engineer, ISP Network Engineer, and junior network technician roles in markets where MikroTik is prevalent. Emerging markets (Eastern Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia) often show lower ranges with stronger WISP/SP demand. Senior WISP engineers with MTCRE/MTCSE can command $70,000–$95,000 USD depending on region and deployment scale.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this exam actually tests, distinct from the shared "Common skills" above.
- RouterOS command-line interface (CLI) and WinBox graphical interface navigation
- IP routing fundamentals and route configuration (static and dynamic)
- Wireless access point (AP) setup and SSID management
- Firewall rule creation and NAT policy configuration
- VPN tunnel setup (IPSec, PPTP, L2TP)
- Bandwidth management and QoS queue configuration
- Hotspot and PPPoE authentication systems
- Bridge and VLAN configuration on RouterBoard hardware
- System monitoring, logging, and basic troubleshooting with RouterOS tools
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Cisco CCNA ↗ (different vendors; similar scope at Associate level), Juniper JNCIA-Junos ↗
- Prerequisite for: MikroTik Certified Routing Engineer (MTCRE) ↗ · MikroTik Certified Security Engineer (MTCSE) ↗ · MikroTik Certified Wireless Engineer (MTCWE) ↗ · MikroTik Certified Enterprise Network Engineer (MTCINE) ↗
- Vendor overview: MikroTik Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- MikroTik Training: https://mikrotik.com/training
- MikroTik Authorized Training Centers: https://mikrotik.com/training/authorized-training-centers
- Glassdoor (Network Support roles): https://www.glassdoor.com
- Robert Half IT Salary Guide: https://www.roberthalf.com
- PayScale Global: https://www.payscale.com
- IT Jobs Watch (UK): https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk
- Hays (UK): https://www.hays.co.uk
- Pnet South Africa: https://www.pnet.co.za
Last verified: 2026-05-01
Parent ecosystem: MikroTik
Parent domain: Networking
Vendor overview: MikroTik Vendor Overview