- The exam has 110 questions (100 scored, 10 pilot) in 150 minutes, administered at Pearson VUE centers.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 350 out of 500 - not a raw 70%.
- Develop and Document AV Designs (38%) plus Coordinate with Other Professionals (28%) make up 66% of the exam.
- Fees run USD 490 (Premium/Elite members) or USD 590 (nonmembers); retests cost USD 150.
Quick Facts Snapshot
If you only have five minutes before test day, this is the section to reread. CTS-D is governed by AVIXA (the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association) and delivered through Pearson VUE test centers as a closed-book, computer-based exam. Every number below comes straight from the current candidate handbook, so treat this table as your final gut-check, not a substitute for the deeper breakdown in the CTS-D Study Guide 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Governing body | AVIXA |
| Testing provider | Pearson VUE (in-person) |
| Exam fee | USD 490 (Premium/Elite members) / USD 590 (nonmembers) |
| Retest/reinstatement fee | USD 150 |
| Total questions | 110 (100 scored + 10 unscored pilot items) |
| Question style | Four-option, single-best-answer multiple choice |
| Testing time | 150 minutes (tutorial/survey time is additional) |
| Passing score | 350 on a 0-500 scale |
| Eligibility window | 120 days |
| Certification validity | 3 years |
| Renewal | 30 renewal units (15+ at CTS-D level) + USD 200 fee |
The Four Domains at a Glance
CTS-D content is organized into four domains, weighted unevenly on purpose - AVIXA built the exam to reflect how much design work actually happens in each area. For a full walkthrough of subtopics, see the CTS-D Exam Domains 2026 guide, but here's the cheat-sheet version.
Domain 1: Conduct a Needs Assessment (20%)
Covers gathering stakeholder requirements, site evaluation, and translating business goals into design criteria.
- Stakeholder interviews and use-case documentation
Domain 2: Coordinate with Other Professionals (28%)
Focuses on working with architects, engineers, IT, and construction teams - reading drawings, RFIs, and specifications.
- Interpreting architectural and MEP drawing sets
Domain 3: Develop and Document AV Designs (38%)
The largest domain. Covers signal flow, system architecture, calculations, and producing design documentation such as schematics and specifications.
- Audio/video calculations, cable pathways, rack elevations
Domain 4: Deploy AV Designs (14%)
Covers supporting installation, commissioning, and validating that the built system matches the design intent.
- Punch lists, commissioning checks, as-built documentation
Key Takeaway
Because Domains 2 and 3 combine for 66% of scored content, your prep hours should skew heavily toward coordination workflows and design documentation, not evenly across all four areas.
Exam Format & Question Style
Every question on the CTS-D exam is four-option, single-best-answer multiple choice - there are no multi-select, drag-and-drop, or fill-in-the-blank items. Of the 110 questions you'll see, 100 are scored and 10 are unscored pilot items used by AVIXA to test future questions; you won't know which is which, so treat every item as if it counts.
- Total testing time: 150 minutes (tutorial and post-exam survey time are separate)
- Closed book: no personal calculators or reference materials allowed
- An on-screen calculator, a set of provided formulas, and a physical note board are supplied at the test center
- You can flag questions and return to review them before submitting
- Restroom breaks count against your 150-minute testing time, so plan accordingly
Because the format leans on scenario-based recall rather than pure memorization, many candidates find the pacing tighter than they expect. If you're weighing how demanding this really is compared to other credentials, the How Hard Is the CTS-D Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks that down in detail.
Registration, Fees & Eligibility
Before you can even schedule a seat at Pearson VUE, you need an active CTS credential in good standing and agreement to AVIXA's certification ethics requirements. AVIXA recommends 3-4 years of AV design experience, but this is guidance, not a hard gate - there's no mandatory prep course either, though many candidates choose one.
- Exam fee: USD 490 for Premium/Elite AVIXA members, USD 590 for nonmembers (before taxes)
- Retest or reinstatement fee: USD 150
- Eligibility window: 120 days to test once approved
For the full math on membership tiers, retests, and renewal costs stacked together, check the CTS-D Certification Cost 2026 breakdown. If you're unsure whether you even qualify to sit the exam yet, the CTS-D Requirements 2026 guide walks through eligibility line by line.
Scoring & Passing
CTS-D uses a scaled score, not a raw percentage. You need to reach 350 on a 0-500 scale to pass - this is not the same as answering 70% of questions correctly, because scaled scoring adjusts for question difficulty across different exam forms. That distinction trips up a surprising number of candidates who assume a simple raw-percentage cutoff.
For a deeper explanation of how the scaled score works and what it means for how many questions you can miss, read CTS-D Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Renewal Requirements
CTS-D certification is valid for three years. To renew, you need:
- 30 total renewal units
- At least 15 of those units at the CTS-D level specifically
- A completed renewal application with ethics reaffirmation
- The USD 200 single-specialty renewal fee
Your underlying CTS credential renews automatically alongside CTS-D, so you're not managing two separate renewal cycles. Build renewal units into your professional routine early rather than scrambling in year three.
Must-Know Topics by Domain
Beyond the domain names, here's what actually shows up in question stems, based on the published exam content outline.
Needs Assessment fundamentals
Expect scenarios where you must identify the correct next step in gathering requirements from a client with ambiguous or conflicting goals.
- Distinguishing functional requirements from technical specifications
Cross-discipline coordination
Questions test your ability to read construction documents and identify AV-relevant details buried in architectural, electrical, or structural drawings.
- Recognizing when AV needs conflict with structural or electrical constraints
Design documentation and calculations
This is the heaviest-tested area. Expect signal flow diagrams, cable/pathway sizing, and standard AV calculations using the provided on-screen calculator and formula sheet.
- Producing specifications that a contractor can bid and build from
Deployment support
Focuses on verifying installed systems against design documents and resolving discrepancies found during commissioning.
- Reading commissioning checklists and punch-list items correctly
Final Week Checklist
In the last stretch before your test date, resist adding new material. Instead, cycle back through weak spots identified during practice, with time allocated proportionally to domain weight - more time on Domain 3 documentation and Domain 2 coordination scenarios, less on Domain 4 deployment recall.
Domain 3 & 2 review
- Re-work calculation problems and coordination scenario questions
Domain 1 & 4 review
- Confirm needs-assessment and deployment terminology is solid
Logistics only
- Confirm Pearson VUE appointment, ID requirements, and arrival time
Run a full-length timed set of practice questions on our CTS-D practice test platform at least once before test day so the 150-minute pacing feels familiar rather than surprising.
Key Takeaway
Spend your last week reinforcing, not learning - prioritize the 66% of content covered by Domains 2 and 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 110 total questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored pilot items. All questions are four-option, single-best-answer multiple choice, delivered in 150 minutes of testing time.
You need a scaled score of 350 out of a possible 500. This is not the same as a raw 70% correct - see the CTS-D Passing Score 2026 guide for details.
No. The exam is closed book and personal calculators are prohibited. Pearson VUE provides an on-screen calculator, selected formulas, and a note board at the test center.
You must hold an active CTS credential in good standing and agree to AVIXA's ethics requirements. AVIXA recommends 3-4 years of AV design experience, but it isn't a mandatory eligibility rule. Full details are in the CTS-D Requirements 2026 guide.
It's valid for three years. Renewal requires 30 total renewal units (at least 15 at the CTS-D level), an application with ethics reaffirmation, and a USD 200 fee. Your CTS credential renews at the same time.
Bookmark this page, but pair it with deeper study - start with the CTS-D Study Guide 2026 for a full prep plan, or head to the practice test homepage to gauge where you stand right now.