- The One-Page Snapshot: Exam Format at a Glance
- The Four Duties and Their Weights
- Creating AV Solutions: The 35% Heavyweight
- Implementing, Supporting and Servicing
- Scoring: What 350 on a 0-500 Scale Really Means
- Test-Day Rules and ID Requirements
- Fees, Retests and Renewal Numbers
- Who Can Sit the Exam
- Sequencing Your Review by Domain Weight
- Quick-Answer FAQ
- The exam has 115 multiple-choice questions: 100 scored, 15 unscored pilots, answered in 150 minutes.
- Creating AV Solutions (35%) plus Implementing AV Solutions (30%) cover 65% of scored items.
- The passing score is 350 on a 0-500 scale, not a fixed 70% raw mark.
- Standard exam fee is $390 for Premium/Elite members and $490 for nonmembers.
The One-Page Snapshot: Exam Format at a Glance
The Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) credential is administered by AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, with an independent Certification Steering Committee governing the program. Exams are delivered by Pearson VUE at in-person testing centers, and Professional Testing, Inc. supports exam development and psychometrics. This cheat sheet condenses the facts you need into scannable blocks. If you are still orienting yourself to the credential, start with What Is CTS Certification? and come back here for the quick-reference version.
| Exam Element | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 115 multiple-choice |
| Scored items | 100 |
| Unscored pilot items | 15 (no fixed domain allocation published) |
| Answer format | Four alternatives, one best answer |
| Time limit | 150 minutes (tutorial and survey time are additional; breaks do not stop the timer) |
| Languages | English, Spanish and German |
| Delivery | In-person at Pearson VUE testing centers |
| Practical component | None specified for general CTS; no adaptive format specified |
The Four Duties and Their Weights
The exam is built around four weighted exam-objective duties from the currently linked CTS Exam Content Outline. That outline carries a 2024 filename, an internal date of November 13, 2023, and is based on the 2022 job task analysis. The August 2026 Candidate Handbook repeats identical headings and weights in Appendix A, so the handbook revision does not signal a new blueprint. AVIXA also publishes a detailed eight-page CTS Job Task Analysis if you want the task-level detail behind each duty.
| Domain | Weight | Approx. Scored Items |
|---|---|---|
| Creating AV Solutions | 35% | About 35 of 100 |
| Implementing AV Solutions | 30% | About 30 of 100 |
| Servicing AV Solutions | 20% | About 20 of 100 |
| Supporting AV System Operation | 15% | About 15 of 100 |
The item counts follow directly from the weights applied to 100 scored questions; the pilot items sit outside this math. For the full breakdown of tasks under each duty, see CTS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 4 Content Areas.
Creating AV Solutions: The 35% Heavyweight
This is the single largest duty, and it rewards candidates who think like a designer rather than an installer. Questions in this area tend to present a client situation, a room, or a set of requirements and ask for the best design decision.
Domain 1: Creating AV Solutions (35%)
Expect scenario-driven questions about turning client needs into a workable AV design.
- Gathering and interpreting client requirements and project needs
- Reading and producing design documentation
- Selecting appropriate equipment and system architecture for a space
- Accounting for environmental, structural and electrical factors in a design
- Basic AV math and unit conversions, using the on-screen calculator supplied at the test center
Implementing, Supporting and Servicing
Domain 2: Implementing AV Solutions (30%)
Where Domain 1 is design, this is execution. Together with Creating AV Solutions, it accounts for 65% of the scored exam, so these two duties deserve the bulk of your preparation time.
Implementing AV Solutions
Think project delivery: taking a design from paper to a working installation.
- Coordinating with other trades and stakeholders on a job site
- Installing and terminating AV equipment and cabling
- Configuring and programming systems
- Verifying, calibrating and documenting a completed system
- Handing over to the client with appropriate documentation
Domain 4: Servicing AV Solutions (20%)
Note that Servicing carries more weight than Supporting. Candidates frequently assume the opposite because "support" sounds bigger. Servicing covers keeping installed systems healthy and restoring them when they fail.
Servicing AV Solutions
Maintenance, troubleshooting and repair of deployed systems.
- Preventive maintenance planning and execution
- Systematic troubleshooting of signal, control and power problems
- Repair, replacement and warranty considerations
- Documenting service activity
Domain 3: Supporting AV System Operation (15%)
The smallest duty by weight, but it is the one closest to day-to-day user experience. Questions focus on helping users operate systems effectively and keeping operations running smoothly.
Supporting AV System Operation
Operational support rather than hands-on repair.
- Training users and providing operating guidance
- Monitoring and managing systems during use
- Responding to user-reported issues and escalating appropriately
- Maintaining operational documentation
Scoring: What 350 on a 0-500 Scale Really Means
The passing score is 350 on a 0-500 scaled score. That number is not a fixed 70% raw mark. Because exam forms differ in difficulty, the raw number of correct answers needed to reach a scaled 350 can shift from one form to another. AVIXA's Scaled Scoring FAQs (copyright 2023) explain the reasoning. Practically, this means you should aim for solid mastery across all domains rather than chasing a magic percentage. A deeper walkthrough lives in CTS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Do not convert practice-test percentages into a "pass/fail" prediction using 70% as a threshold. Use practice scores as a trend indicator, and weight your review toward the domains where you miss the most items.
On pass rates, be careful. A historical official-hosted administration page reported an averaged CTS pass rate of 67% as of May 30, 2024, but the denominator, averaging window and first-attempt composition were unspecified. The current administration page discloses no 2026 pass rate. It reports 11,466 general CTS holders as of April 17, 2026, which is a count of certificate holders, not annual candidate volume. For context, read CTS Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the CTS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Test-Day Rules and ID Requirements
- Closed book: No personal calculators or reference materials.
- Supplied tools: An on-screen calculator and a non-erasable note board are provided.
- Navigation: You may mark questions and return to them, so a skip-and-revisit strategy is allowed.
- Breaks: Breaks do not stop the timer, so budget your 150 minutes accordingly.
- Arrival: Arrive 30 minutes early.
- Identification: Bring two valid IDs, including a government-issued photo/signature ID. Appendix I of the handbook lists country-specific alternatives, so check it before test day.
Fees, Retests and Renewal Numbers
Fee figures below come from the currently linked Certification Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2025) and the current credential page, in USD and before applicable taxes.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Exam fee, Premium/Elite member | $390 |
| Exam fee, nonmember | $490 |
| Exam fee, eligible emerging-economy residents | $195 member / $245 nonmember |
| Retest or reinstatement | $150 |
| General CTS renewal | $175 |
| Telephone scheduling, rescheduling or cancellation | $10 per call (online scheduling is free) |
For the full financial picture, including optional membership and prep purchases, see CTS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Eligibility window and retest rules
- Exam eligibility lasts 120 days once approved.
- Reschedule through Pearson at least 24 hours beforehand.
- Two reduced-fee retests are allowed, at least 30 days apart.
- Apply within 120 days of your last attempt to receive the reduction; each retest authorization lasts 120 days.
- After two retests, wait 90 days before restarting the application process.
Renewal in brief
Certification is valid for three years. Renewal requires 30 approved renewal units (RUs) earned within the cycle, supporting records, ethics reaffirmation and the renewal fee. There is no carryover and no credit for pre-certification coursework. As an alternative, you can pass the current CTS exam at the current exam fee; once you choose that route, renewal must be completed through testing, including any necessary retakes, by the renewal deadline. The current renewal page links a Certification Renewal Handbook internally dated August 27, 2026. An earlier "2026" file remains accessible with November 13, 2023 footers, but it is no longer the canonical page's current handbook link, so use the page-linked version.
Who Can Sit the Exam
General CTS has no required degree, no minimum years of experience, no mandated training hours and no required references. Six months of experience is recommended, not required. Candidates must accept the application terms and the ethics agreement. Membership and prep purchases are optional. The current credential page confirms eligibility, fees and in-person-only delivery. Full details are in CTS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
If you are weighing whether the credential fits your career path, two companion reads cover the practical side: Is the CTS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CTS Jobs. For earnings context, see CTS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
Sequencing Your Review by Domain Weight
Because the blueprint is so lopsided toward design and implementation, the order in which you cover domains matters more than the total number of hours. The timeline below is one way to map your review to the weights; adjust the pace to your own calendar. For a fuller plan, see CTS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Creating AV Solutions (35%)
- Client requirements, design documentation and equipment selection
- Practice the on-screen-calculator style of AV math
Implementing AV Solutions (30%)
- Installation, configuration, verification and handover workflows
- Revisit weak Domain 1 items from the first week
Servicing (20%) and Supporting (15%)
- Troubleshooting methodology and preventive maintenance
- User training, monitoring and escalation concepts
Timed mixed practice
- Full-length sets of 115 questions in 150 minutes
- Review misses by domain and rebalance your last days
When you are ready to test yourself under realistic conditions, try the timed sets on the CTS Exam Prep practice test site and check your results against the domain weights above. Candidates choosing between formal courses and self-study may also want to browse CTS Training.
Quick-Answer FAQ
There are 115 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 100 are scored and 15 are unscored pilot items. You cannot identify the pilots, so answer every question carefully.
Creating AV Solutions is the largest at 35%. Combined with Implementing AV Solutions at 30%, these two duties make up 65% of the 100 scored items.
No. The passing score is 350 on a 0-500 scaled score, and it is not a fixed 70% raw mark. Form difficulty affects the raw number of correct answers required.
You may take up to two reduced-fee retests at least 30 days apart, applying within 120 days of your last attempt. After two retests, you must wait 90 days before restarting the application process.
Certification is valid for three years. Renew by earning 30 approved RUs within the cycle, keeping supporting records, reaffirming ethics and paying the $175 renewal fee, or by passing the current CTS exam at the current exam fee.
Keep this sheet handy as a reference, then lock in the details by cross-checking exact scheduling windows in CTS Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling and confirming current terms directly in AVIXA's Candidate Handbook before you register.