Prepare for Your CTS Exam
Self-Study Options
To help you prepare, we've put together the CTS Prep Pathway, a bundle of courses to help you prepare for the exam. This is the suggested order, but feel free to change that depending on your experience. The CTS Prep Pathway is available to purchase for $449. There is also the CTS Prep Pathway Plus Exam for $929 with a gift card to apply toward your exam fee. If you are an Elite member or have an AVIXA membership through your company, you will have access to these courses.
CTS Prep Pathway Includes
Quick Start: Onboarding the AV Industry
CTS 1: AV Technology
AV Math Online
CTS 2: Applied AV and AV Project Process
CTS Sample Questions
CTS Prep Pathway with Membership Includes
Quick Start: Onboarding the AV Industry
CTS 1: AV Technology
AV Math Online
CTS 2: Applied AV and AV Project Process
CTS Sample Questions
CTS Study Buddy
Quick Prep: Certification Overview and Exam Drills
CTS Prep Pathway Included Courses
1. Quick Start: Onboarding the AV Industry
During this course, you will:
Discover AV organizations, jobs, and technology
Explore the industry and plan your career path
Review industry segments, AV disciplines, and professional relationships
Learn the basics of audiovisual systems and special applications
Who Should Take This Course?
Anyone new to the AV industry
Those considering a career in AV
2. CTS 1: AV Technology (Previously Essentials of AV Technology)
CTS 1 is the first course in a two-course series that is designed to prepare learners with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities that are essential to the CTS Exam, such as: the role of AV industry standards, fundamental scientific principles, identification of audiovisual system components, the role of networking in AV systems, industry roles, fundamentals of project management, and effective communication
Who Should Take This Course?
Plan to take the CTS® Exam within the next few years
Work as AV technicians or in an adjacent position
Coordinate and collaborate with AV professionals and wish to deepen their knowledge of AV systems, technology, and the industry itself.
3. AV Math Online
This course not only strengthens your core math skills but also empowers you to apply these skills in practical AV scenarios. It reinforces essential concepts, including:
using proportions to solve for aspect ratios
sizing displays
calculating scales
applying Ohm’s Law
understanding power calculations
determining changes in decibels
4. CTS 2: Applied AV and AV Project Process (Previously CTS Prep)
After completing CTS 1, students can naturally progress to this course. Course objectives include:
Comprehend AV industry standards and their application in ensuring quality and reliability
Develop proficiency in mathematical tools such as ratios, logarithmic functions, and scientific calculators
Gain insight into technical concepts relevant to AV projects and systems
Master skills in customer information gathering, needs analysis, site survey, and program report creation
Expertise in interpreting architectural drawings and understanding design phases in AV projects
Learn about sound alteration, projection system factors, screen selection, and aspect ratio knowledge
Understand project management principles and their application in AV projects
Acquire skills in AV system installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance
Develop proficiency in troubleshooting techniques and logical problem-solving approaches for AV systems
5. CTS Sample Questions
These questions are designed to give you an impression of the types of questions you may encounter on the CTS Exam. Developed by AVIXA’s subject matter experts, these sample questions follow the same rigorous question-writing process as the actual exam.
Member Bonuses
Member Bonuses
CTS Study Buddy
The CTS Study Buddy is an AI‑powered assistant designed to support you throughout your CTS exam prep. Whether you need help understanding a concept, staying on track with your study plan, or finding quick answers, the bot is available whenever you are. Built to complement your learning, the CTS Study Buddy helps make studying feel more manageable and less overwhelming.
Member Bonuses
Quick Prep: Certification Overview and Exam Drills
CTS Quick Prep: Certification Overview and Exam Drills On Demand helps learners prepare for the CTS exam by presenting details regarding the certification and recertification process, as well as providing a review of core concepts rooted in the CTS JTAs.
The course will introduce helpful test-taking strategies and give the opportunity to engage in scenario-based critical thinking and evaluate sample questions approved by SMEs and Instructors.
“CTS Prep was an amazing experience. It was a fundamental course that prepared me for all aspects of the CTS exam. I don't believe I would've been prepared to pass this course without it.”
- Jason Muehlhausen, CTS
Learn Best by Studying With Guided Instruction?
CTS 1: AV Technology and CTS 2: Applied AV and the AV Project Process are periodically taught by a live instructor. CTS Quick Prep is available at select InfoComm trade shows for extra exam drills and timed exam practice.
Keep an eye on avixa.org/events and subscribe to AVIXA emails to learn about upcoming courses.
Contract Training
Do you have several staff members you would like to enroll? Consider bringing CTS 1 and 2 right to your office as in-person training. Contact us for details about contact training at [email protected].
Looking for one resource to prepare you for the exam?
The CTS Exam Guide — Third Edition is your study resource — if you excel at learning from books. You can fit this self-paced prep into your schedule anytime, anywhere
Fast Track to CTS
If you have many years of AV experience, you might be ready to take the exam now.
Before you do:
Review the CTS Handbook and comprehensive exam outline.
Check out the FREE sample questions.
Consider taking CTS 2: Applied AV and the AV Project Process (free for AVIXA Elite members) to ease your nerves and boost your confidence before you take the CTS exam. You may need to log in to AVIXA's learning platform to see the course.