How Much Does a CTS Certification Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

For over 30 years, the Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) program has been administered by InfoComm.

The CTS certification is acknowledged as a leading global AV professional proof of ability.

Currently, there are over 10,000 CTS certified professionals.

How much does a CTS certification cost?

The fee of a CTS certification will vary based on the type of exam and if the applicant is a member or non-member of InfoComm.

For the CTS exam, it will cost $300 for members and $400 for non-members.  For those who are in developing countries, it will cost $150 for members and $200 for non-members.

For the CTS-I exam, it will cost $400 for members and $500 for non-members.  For those who are in developing countries, it will cost $200 for members and $250 for non-members.

Lastly, for the CTS-D exam, it will cost $400 for members and $500 for non-members.  For those who are in developing countries, it will cost $200 for members and $250 for non-members.

The three types of certifications

Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) – A Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) works on typical technology solution tasks by making, running and working on AV solutions; they also conduct AV management activities that offer the best audiovisual solutions to the client’s requirements that satisfies both time and a budget.   Applicants will not have to take any classes ahead of time in order to qualify for this test.

Certified Technology Specialist-Design (CTS-D) – A Certified Technology Specialist-Design (CTS-D) is an AV systems designer who determines the client’s needs, designs AV systems, prepares AV design paperwork, and coordinates and works with other professionals to build AV systems that meet the clients’ requirements.  In order to take this exam, applicants must have a valid CTS certificate and at least two years of design experience.

Certified Technology Specialist-Installation (CTS-I) – A Certified Technology Specialist-Installation (CTS-I) installs and keeps audiovisual systems working by following specifications, safety rules, codes and schematics.  Applicants who want to take this exam must have experience in six skills areas.

What are the extra costs?

If you fail, a retake exam will have additional fees.  Applicants who do not pass the exam may retest up to two more times with a minimum of 30 days between each retake.

Optional exam study guides and material could incur additional expenses.  Various study guides on Amazon.com, for example, retail for $10 to $50+

The CTS certifications awarded will only be awarded for three years.  To maintain this certification, you are advised to complete the minimum levels of continuing eduction during this three-year period.  A renewal may happen upon completing 30 hours of continuing education credits for each examination. The continuing education requirements of the general CTS certification are temporarily not enforced for those who have the specialized endorsements, such as the CTS-D or CTS-I, and have obtained continuing education in these fields of specialization. Candidates for renewal must have worked in the audiovisual field for at least a year of the previous three years.

Tips to know:

These three certifications are recognized by the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) under the International Organization of Standardization (ISO).

A passing score is at least 350 out of 500 points.

The CTS certification remains valid for three years.

To take the CTS certification, an applicant should complete the application for certification testing, which is found on the InfoComm website.  InfoComm will then confirm the applicant’s eligibility within ten days and notify Pearson VUE, which is the test administrator.

You must complete the exam within 120 days of the approval date to test.

Be aware of trick questions.  Remember that there are different ways to solve a problem and there may be more than one answer.  The CTS exam looks for the best possible answer. It helps to know what the best answer would be to these questions.

You can check your eligibility by looking at the Verifiers List for CTS-I Eligibility and Recognized Courses for CTS-I Eligibility. Qualifications for taking the CTS-I exam includes verification of experience in six AV installation skill areas such as audio setup, projector installation, rack building, rack mounting, and/or customer relations.

There are free review tools and exams for the CTS, CTS-D or CTS-I exam available online.

How can I save money?

As an InfoComm member, you can receive a 25% discount on the exam.  Consider signing up for InfoComm and taking advantage of their benefits such as discounts on CTS exams and retakes; free study tools and practice questions; publications; and job opportunities.


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