AVIXA CTS-I Exam Exam Study Guide (2026)
Everything the CTS-Installation (CTS-I) tests, topic by topic: what each section covers, the facts that come up most, and how to study it. Pair it with the free 15-question practice test.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | 110 four-option multiple-choice questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored pilot questions you cannot identify |
|---|---|
| Time | 150 minutes, plus a brief on-screen tutorial before and a brief survey after |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 350 on a 0 to 500 scale, set by a criterion-referenced process. The scale is fixed, so 350 is not exactly 70% of questions on every form |
| Format | Closed book; an on-screen calculator and a non-erasable note board are provided, and no references or personal calculators are allowed. Written exam only, with no hands-on part |
| Certifying body | AVIXA Certification Committee |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE test centers only (secure, in person; no remote option) |
Mind map: the whole exam on one screen
Read the complete AVIXA CTS-I Exam study notes for “Pre-Installation Activities”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: Reviewing project documentation · Conducting the site survey · Evaluating facility readiness · Preparing for installation, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
1. Pre-Installation Activities
Duty A, 17% (17 items): review AV project documentation (6), conduct a site survey (4), evaluate overall facility readiness (3) and prepare for installation (4).
Key facts
- Read the full document set before mobilizing: drawings, specifications, equipment lists, schedules and scope of work. Conflicts go to the designer as a request for information (RFI).
- Drawing types: floor and reflected ceiling plans show locations, elevations show heights, signal flow shows connections, and details show how items are built or mounted.
- A site survey confirms dimensions, structure, power, pathways, access routes, storage and lighting against the drawings.
- Facility readiness: rooms are dry, clean and secure, HVAC runs, ceilings and finishes are complete enough, and backing and power are in place.
- Prepare by staging and bench-testing equipment, pre-building racks and labels, checking firmware, and planning tools, lifts and deliveries.
- Confirm submittals are approved before ordering or installing any substituted equipment.
Flashcards
Exam tip: When two documents disagree, the CTS-I answer is almost never to pick one yourself. It is to raise an RFI and record the answer.
2. Ongoing Project Responsibilities
Duty B, 12% (12 items): complete field reports such as daily, issue, progress, risk and injury reports (4), coordinate with allied trades (4) and address needed field modifications (4).
Key facts
- Daily reports record crew, hours, work done, deliveries, delays and visitors; they become the record if a claim or dispute arises.
- Report every injury the same day, however minor, under the company and site safety program.
- Allied trades include electricians, carpenters, millwork, mechanical, fire protection, IT and ceiling contractors; coordinate through the project manager or general contractor.
- Never alter another trade's work, especially life-safety systems such as sprinklers and fire alarm.
- Field modifications need approval before they are done and must be recorded on the redlines that become the as-builts.
- Changes requested directly by client staff go through the change order process, not straight to the crew.
Flashcards
Exam tip: If a question asks what to do when something on site differs from the plan, look for the answer that documents it and routes it through the right person.
3. Site Rough-In and First-Fix
Duty C, 12% (12 items): deinstall existing equipment and cabling (2), mount substructure and rigging (5) and pull cable (5).
Key facts
- Deinstallation: confirm what stays, label and protect reused items, make circuits safe and remove abandoned cable as codes require.
- AV loads hang from the building structure with independent supports rated for the load and the required design factor, never from ceiling grid, ducts or sprinkler hangers.
- Suspended loudspeakers and other overhead loads need a secondary safety support independent of the primary.
- Unshielded 4-pair cable: minimum installed bend radius 4 x diameter; screened 4-pair: 8 x diameter.
- Maximum pulling tension for 4-pair cable is about 110 N (25 lbf); do not kink, crush or overtighten ties.
- Label both ends of every cable at pull time to the project's labeling scheme, and leave service loops.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Rigging questions reward one rule: the structure carries the load, through rated hardware, with a secondary support.
Test yourself on these topics
Take the free 15-question AVIXA CTS-I Exam test, then save your results to unlock your Readiness Score and the mistakes bank.
4. Racks, Mounting and Termination
Five Duty D tasks, about 20% (20 items): assemble the rack (2), wire the rack (6), distribute loose equipment (2), mount AV equipment such as projectors, loudspeakers and monitors (5) and terminate cables (5).
Key facts
- Rack layout: heavy items low, heat-producing items spaced with planned airflow, and front-to-back cooling kept clear with blanking panels.
- Dress power on one side of the rack and signal on the other; where they must meet, cross at 90 degrees.
Flashcards
Exam tip: This group plus the next one is 39% of the exam. Practice throw ratio arithmetic until it takes seconds.
5. Configuration, Testing and Calibration
Four Duty D tasks, about 19% (19 items): configure network properties of equipment (5), configure control and device settings (5), test the AV system (5) and calibrate it (4).
Key facts
- Use the client's IP plan for every static address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS and VLAN; record what you set.
- Devices on one subnet communicate directly; reaching another subnet requires a correct default gateway.
Flashcards
Exam tip: When a device can talk to some hosts and not others, compare subnets first: same subnet means switching, different subnet means a gateway is needed.
6. AV Systems Closeout
Duty E, 12% (12 items): demonstrate that the system performs to specification (4), provide training on operation (2) and finalize project documentation such as punch lists, programming files, manuals, completion documents and as-builts (6).
Key facts
- Demonstrate each function against the specification with the client or their representative, and record the results.
- Punch list items get a responsible person and a due date; sign-off follows when all are cleared.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Finalizing documentation is half of this duty. Know what goes in the closeout package and who uses each item.
7. Post-Project Maintenance and Repair
Duty F, 8% (8 items): maintain AV systems including equipment, software and tools (3), and repair AV systems including failed equipment, warranty and troubleshooting (5).
Key facts
- Preventive maintenance: clean filters, check fans and connections, update firmware on a planned basis, and log every visit.
- Keep test equipment and tools calibrated and in working order.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Repair is the larger task here. Follow the process answer (RMA, log, approved replacement) over the quick-fix answer.
How to pass
- Install AV Systems is 39 of the 100 scored items: rack wiring, mounting, termination, network settings, control settings, testing and calibration. Spend the most time here.
- Pre-installation work is the next largest duty at 17%. Expect questions on reading drawings, site surveys, facility readiness and staging before you arrive on site.
- 110 questions in 150 minutes is about 82 seconds each. No formula sheet is provided, so know throw ratio, bend radius and basic IP addressing by heart.
- You need a valid CTS before you apply. After a failed attempt there is a 30-day wait, and each retest costs US$150 with two retests allowed before a 90-day pause.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the AVIXA CTS-I Exam exam?
Most working candidates need 4 to 8 weeks at 45 to 60 minutes a day. Book your exam once your Readiness Score has stayed at 80 or higher for about a week.
Can I take the AVIXA CTS-I Exam exam online?
BICSI's v15 handbook describes the RCDD exam at Pearson VUE test centers, not remote proctoring. Format: closed book; an on-screen calculator and a non-erasable note board are provided, and no references or personal calculators are allowed. written exam only, with no hands-on part. Check pearsonvue.com/bicsi for the options in your country.
What score do I need to pass the AVIXA CTS-I Exam exam?
Scaled score of 350 on a 0 to 500 scale, set by a criterion-referenced process. The scale is fixed, so 350 is not exactly 70% of questions on every form. The exam has 110 four-option multiple-choice questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored pilot questions you cannot identify and a time limit of 150 minutes, plus a brief on-screen tutorial before and a brief survey after.
What are the most tested topics?
The outline covers pre-installation activities, ongoing project responsibilities, site rough-in and first-fix, racks, mounting and termination, configuration, testing and calibration, av systems closeout, post-project maintenance and repair. Use the free practice test to see which ones you need most.
The premium AVIXA CTS-I Exam study path
Premium AVIXA CTS-I Exam prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Pre-Installation Activities9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 450 practice questions in 18 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Ongoing Project Responsibilities9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 3Site Rough-In and First-Fix9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 4Racks, Mounting and Termination9 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 5Configuration, Testing and Calibration8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 6AV Systems Closeout8 key notes, 115 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- 7Post-Project Maintenance and Repair8 key notes, 110 flashcards, then 425 practice questions in 17 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams110 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
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- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
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- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: numbers and formulas sheet, standards atlas, study planner and more
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Summarized from BICSI's official candidate information and the rules cited, checked October 2026. Confirm current requirements with AVIXA Certification Committee.