The Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) is the general audiovisual credential from AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association. It is aimed at people who plan, install, support and service AV systems for clients, including technicians, integrators, designers and project coordinators. The exam tests whether you can perform real job tasks, such as surveying a site, building a bill of materials or troubleshooting a failed system, rather than only recalling equipment facts.
AVIXA describes a Certified Technology Specialist as someone who performs general audiovisual tasks by creating, implementing, supporting and servicing AV solutions that meet a client’s needs. The exam blueprint comes from a 2022 job task analysis, so the question mix reflects how often and how critically AV professionals perform each task at work.
The certification program is accredited under ISO/IEC 17024 through ANAB, and exam questions are written and reviewed by certified professionals and subject matter experts with psychometric oversight. The CTS is the foundation credential. AVIXA also offers specialty credentials for design (CTS-D) and installation (CTS-I).
There are no formal prerequisites. You do not need a degree, a course or a set number of years in the industry. To apply you must agree to the application terms and the CTS Code of Ethics and Conduct. AVIXA strongly recommends that you have the skills and experience listed in the exam content outline, and it randomly audits applications to verify eligibility.
The exam has 115 questions, and 15 of them are unscored pilot items used to test future questions. You get 150 minutes. Each question offers four options (A to D) with one best answer, every item is worth one point, and there is no penalty for guessing. You can mark questions for review and return to them. An on screen calculator and a note board are provided. Restroom breaks are allowed, but the clock keeps running.
Scoring is scaled from 0 to 500, and the passing score is 350. AVIXA notes that this will not always equal exactly 70 percent, because the number of correct answers needed can shift slightly with the difficulty of your exam form. You receive a score report at the testing center. Candidates who fail see percentages for each domain to guide further study.
The exam is offered in English, Spanish and German. The candidate handbook describes delivery at Pearson VUE testing centers. If you hope to test remotely, confirm availability with AVIXA and Pearson VUE when you schedule.
The exam is organized around four duties. Percentages come from the official content outline.
Duty | Share of exam | Tasks covered |
|---|---|---|
A. Creating AV Solutions | 35% | Customer needs analysis, site survey, project scope, solution design |
B. Implementing AV Solutions | 30% | System integration and verification, managing integration (training, schematics, warranties, as built drawings) |
C. Supporting AV System Operation | 15% | Troubleshooting, remote assistance, live event support, in room operation |
D. Servicing AV Solutions | 20% | Supervising operations, preventive maintenance, firmware and equipment upgrades, troubleshooting and repair |
Duty A carries the most weight, so site surveys, scoping and design deserve more study time than their technical glamour might suggest. AVIXA advises candidates to prioritize topics by the number of questions each task contributes.
Under the schedule effective January 1, 2025, the CTS exam costs USD 390 for members and USD 490 for nonmembers. Euro, pound and Australian dollar prices are also published. Reduced emerging economy rates apply in a list of eligible countries. A retest costs USD 150, and CTS renewal costs USD 175. Fees are paid when you submit the application, and AVIXA states that membership refunds are not available unless you verify your membership level before purchase.
Registration is a two stage process, so start early.
Read the current CTS Candidate Handbook on the AVIXA website, then submit the online application and pay the fee.
AVIXA reviews applications within about 10 business days and emails you an approval notice with your candidate ID.
Use that notice to book your appointment with Pearson VUE. Your approval is valid for 120 days, and you must test within that window.
Your name on the application must match your photo ID exactly. You need two valid IDs at check in, one of them government issued with a signature. Changes to your appointment go through Pearson VUE, not AVIXA, and need at least 24 hours of notice to avoid extra fees. Special accommodation requests must be submitted at least 45 days before your preferred test date. Always follow the steps on AVIXA’s own pages, as procedures can change.
The credential lasts three years. To renew you must earn 30 renewal units in that period, accept the Code of Ethics again and pay the renewal fee. Units come from AVIXA courses and events, approved manufacturer and vendor training, postsecondary study, teaching and volunteer work. If you hold CTS-D or CTS-I, the general CTS does not need separate renewal.
The CTS is specific to the professional AV trade: conference rooms, classrooms, venues, control rooms and the systems that run them. Because the blueprint centers on customer needs analysis, installation management and ongoing service, it suits integrators, in house AV teams, rental and staging crews, and consultants moving toward design work. AVIXA lists the certification as approved for GI Bill reimbursement in the United States, and certified holders appear in a public directory that employers and clients can use to verify status. It also leads naturally into the CTS-D and CTS-I specialties.
Free practice tests on AllExamQuestions.com can help you get used to scenario style questions across the four duties and spot weak areas before you pay the exam fee. They work best alongside AVIXA’s own content outline, job task analysis and sample questions. AllExamQuestions.com is an independent resource and is not affiliated with AVIXA.
Last updated on Oct, 14 2026
