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Exam Information
Official specifications published by AVIXA
Exam Format
150 min
110
350
Professional
Registration
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
English
Validity
3 years
Earn AVIXA Renewal Units (RUs) through continuing education; Professional development activities; Adhere to CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct
AVIXA-CTS Exam Topics and Domains
AVIXA-CTS is organized into 4 weighted domains. Expect to work with Cable access, Data services, HVAC, ICT infrastructure, and more.
1
Creating AV Solutions
61%
Conduct Site Survey
Site Assessment and Documentation
- Ability to calculate areas and volumes
- Communicating concisely
- Measuring and recording data
- Reading blueprints and plans
- Basic math skills
- Listening and observational techniques
- Written communications
Gather Customer Information
Customer Requirements and Needs Analysis
- Basic math skills
- Listening techniques
- Ability to ask open-ended questions
- Communication skills
- Ability to document findings
Evaluate Site Environment
Acoustics, Lighting, Seating, and Finishing
- Basic reading skills
- Written communication
- Advanced math skills (algebra, logarithms, geometry, trigonometry)
- Ability to coordinate with other disciplines
- Ability to identify location of required services
Maintain Awareness of Changes to Site Environment
Monitoring Environmental Changes
- Basic reading
- Written communication
- Advanced math skills
- Awareness of site modifications
Develop a Functional AV Scope
Compiling Customer and Site Information
- Interpersonal communication
- Conducting presentations
- Written communications
- Drawing and sketching
- Ability to develop cost estimates
Design AV Solutions
AV System Design and Documentation
- Basic and advanced math
- Customer relationships
- Presentations
- Written communications
- Measuring distances and scaling
- Basic drafting
- Technical writing
- CAD software usage
Sell AV Solutions
Proposal Development and Negotiation
- Interpersonal communications
- Listening
- Negotiation
- Presentation
- Sales
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
Conduct Vendor Selection Process
Vendor Evaluation and Selection
- Basic and advanced math
- Basic reading
- Interpersonal communication
- Interviewing techniques
- Presentation
- Written communication
- Design calculations
- Financial calculations
Provide AV Solutions
Installation, Configuration, and Commissioning
- Measuring
- Cable management
- Soldering
- Pulling cables and wires
- Basic carpentry
- Terminating
- Threading
- Grounding (Earthing)
- Labeling
- Rack dressing
- Networking
- Testing methods
- Basic reading
- Listening
- Written communication
- Scheduling
2
Operating AV Solutions
16%
Operate AV Solutions
Equipment Operation and Daily Maintenance
- Interpersonal communication
- Listening
- Presenting
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Ability to train users
- Ability to operate AV equipment
- Ability to provide customer service and support
Conduct Maintenance Activities
Preventative and First-Line Maintenance
- Basic reading
- Interpersonal communication
- Listening
- Verbal communications
- Written communications
- Affixing anchors
- Pulling wires and cables
- Soldering
- Terminating
- Threading
- Ability to perform preventative maintenance
- Ability to test equipment
- Ability to provide customer service and support
Manage AV Solutions/Operations
Operations Management and Administration
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Calculating stock levels
- Presentations
- Scheduling
- Verbal communications
- Written communications
- Calculating profit and loss
- Estimating
- Financial calculations
- Utilization calculations
3
Conducting AV Management Activities
11%
Project Manage AV Projects
AV Project Management
- Basic math
- Conflict resolution
- Interpersonal communication
- Listening
- Verbal communication
- Written communication
- Scheduling
- Ability to manage project activities
- Ability to coordinate resources
- Ability to ensure budgets are met
Perform AV Finance and Job Costing Activities
Financial Management and Estimating
- Calculating conduit
- Calculating labor utilization
- Basic accounting
- Calculations of margins, percentages and mark-ups
- Manpower calculations
- Basic and financial math
- Interpersonal, verbal and written communication
- Conflict resolution
- Presentation skills
- Entering data
4
Servicing AV Solutions
12%
Troubleshoot AV Solutions
Troubleshooting Strategies and Diagnostics
- Basic reading
- Conflict resolution
- Interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Listening
- Aligning a projector
- Calibrating color balance
- Calibrating test meters
- Basic carpentry
- Terminating
- Ability to apply troubleshooting strategies
- Ability to perform diagnostics
- Ability to identify failure points
Repair AV Solutions
Repair and Corrective Actions
- Basic math
- Basic reading
- Documenting
- Interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- Listening
- Negotiation
- Ability to implement corrective actions
- Ability to document problems and resolutions
- Ability to read technical drawings
How do I earn this certification?
Passing AVIXA-CTS earns the CTS - Certified Technology Specialist certification. It sits in the Audiovisual Technology track.
Next Level Options
- AVIXA-CTS-D - Certified Technology Specialist - Design Advanced design specialization
- AVIXA-CTS-I - Certified Technology Specialist - Installation Advanced installation specialization
Alternative Paths
- Quick Start to the AV Industry Entry-level course for those completely new to AV
- AVIXA-Recognized AV Technologist Entry-level credential for AV technologists
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for AVIXA-CTS is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2017 Job Task Analysis
Updates
- Network AV Systems Networking knowledge requirements continue to expand across all domains
- Cloud-Based AV Solutions Future exam updates likely to include cloud platforms and SaaS AV solutions
- AV-over-IP Signal transport methods and network integration heavily tested
- Unified Communications Integration Understanding of Teams, Zoom, Webex integration increasingly important
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by AV technicians and AV integrators.
- At least six months of experience in the AV industry
- Understanding of AV systems and components
- Basic knowledge of project management
- Familiarity with electrical and networking concepts
What jobs can I get with this?
AV Technician
AV Systems Integrator
AV Project Coordinator
AV Operations Manager
AV Service Technician
AV Consultant
AV Solutions Specialist