Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Certification Frequently Asked Questions

General certification questions

When will the new CCST IT Support certification be available?

The CCST IT Support certification is currently slated to be available June or July 2024.

Where can I find more information about the new CCST IT Support certification?

You can download the new CCST IT Support exam topics, or sign up, and we’ll send you updates as soon as they are available.

Will Cisco Networking Academy provide curriculum that prepares me for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support certification?

Yes, Cisco Networking Academy plans to provide learning content to help you prepare for the new CCST IT Support certification. Stay tuned for more information.

What certification levels are the Cisco Certified Support Technicians (CCST) certifications?

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are entry-level certifications and provide the knowledge and training required for entry-level job roles in cybersecurity, networking, or IT support.

How do the new Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications compare to the existing CCT entry-level certifications?

The Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) certifications focus on the skills required for onsite support and maintenance of Cisco collaboration endpoints and operating environments. They are non-progressive and are not steppingstones to Cisco associate-level career paths.

The CCST certifications provide the foundational knowledge and skills to start your career in cybersecurity, networking, or IT. The CCST entry-level certifications are steppingstones to associate-level certifications, such as CCNA and CyberOps Associate.

Who is the target audience for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications?

The CCST entry-level certifications target late high school, secondary and immediate post-secondary students, technical schools, and entry-level IT, networking, and cybersecurity professionals. The CCST certifications are ideal for individuals starting or shifting to a career in IT.

What job roles will these entry-level certifications fulfill?

  • Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking: Prepares you for roles such as entry-level network technician and customer support technician.
  • Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity: Prepares you for an entry-level cybersecurity position, such as a cybersecurity technician, cybersecurity analyst, or Tier 1 help desk support.
  • Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support: The CCST IT Support certification will help start careers in roles such as IT end user support, IT help desk support, computer support specialist, and IT help desk analyst.

Do Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) entry-level certifications serve as prerequisites for associate-level certifications?

No, they are not prerequisites, but they provide a solid foundation to continue to associate-level certifications.

What is my next step after earning an entry-level Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification?

  • The CCST IT Support certification positions you for entry-level IT support roles and provides a solid foundation to transition into more specialized roles in IT, including networking and cybersecurity.
  • The CCST Networking certification positions you for entry-level networking roles and provides a solid foundation to continue to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) courses and certification exam.
  • The CCST Cybersecurity certification positions you for entry-level cybersecurity roles and provides a solid foundation to continue to the CyberOps Associate course and certification exam.

Exam-related questions

Are there any prerequisites for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications?

No. CCST certifications have no prerequisites and are available to anyone.

Will the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications serve as prerequisites for the associate-level CCNA and CyberOps Associate certifications?

No. The CCNA and CyberOps Associate exams have no formal prerequisites, such as a degree or a previous certification. Please check the CCNA and CyberOps Associate home pages for experience and knowledge needed before taking these exams.

What is the cost of these exams?

Each CCST exam is US $125.

Will there be pricing by country or region?

The pricing is listed by region—the same way as our other Cisco certification exams.

What forms of payment are accepted for the exam fee?

You can purchase these Cisco exams from Certiport through the following methods:

  • Individual test candidates can use a credit card or exam voucher.
  • Educational institutions can use exam vouchers or a license.

What is the duration of the exams, and how many questions are on the exams?

The exam duration is 50 minutes. The number of questions on each exam varies.

Will the exams be administered by Pearson VUE—online and in person?

These exams are delivered by Certiport and can be administered through Certiport Authorized Testing Centers (CATCs).

Educational institutions and Cisco Networking Academies can register to become a CATC and administer the exams through the process outlined in Getting started with Cisco.

The exams are also available through Certiport’s OnVUE platform (an online testing platform), which offers online proctoring for individual candidates.

How can I prepare for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) exams?

You can prepare for the CCST Cybersecurity and CCST Networking exams with training courses from Cisco Networking Academy. The training is available as free, online, self-paced courses, or you can find instructor-led classes through a local academy. Training for the CCST IT Support exam will be available in the near future. Check back often for updates.

How can I register for the exams?

To register for the exams, you’ll need to create a Certiport candidate profile, even if you have an existing Cisco Certification candidate profile. Your registration will not create a duplicate profile in the Cisco Certification Tracking System.

In what languages are the exams available?

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity exam is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Portuguese.

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking exam is available in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Portuguese.

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support exam will be available in English.

Learn more

Do I need experience with equipment for the exam? Will there be any lab simulation in the exam?

No experience with equipment is needed to take this exam. However, entry-level knowledge will be required to pass the exam. You should review and understand the exam topics before attempting the exam.

How many attempts do I get to pass the exam?

You have unlimited attempts.

When will I get the results of my certification exam?

Immediately after completing the exam, you will be presented with a score report showing your Pass or Fail status.

Training-related questions

How are Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) training courses offered?

Training courses for the CCST Cybersecurity and CCST Networking certifications are available through Cisco Networking Academy as free, online, self-paced courses or as instructor-led classes through a local academy. Training for the CCST IT Support exam will be available in the near future. Check back often for updates.

What self-paced training courses are available to help me prepare for the Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification exams?

Self-paced training for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity certification is available through the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path from Cisco Networking Academy.

Self-paced training for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking certification is available through the Network Technician Career Path from Cisco Networking Academy.

Self-paced training for the Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support exam will be available in the near future. Check back often for updates.

What languages are offered for the entry-level Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) training courses?

The Junior Cybersecurity Analyst Career Path self-paced training is currently available in English, Arabic, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

The Network Technician Career Path self-paced training is currently available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, with Arabic planned to follow.

Training for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support exam will be available in English.

Is there a cost for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) training?

The self-paced online training is free.

Costs for instructor-led courses through an academy are determined by the educational institution.

How long is the training for the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification?

Badge and certification questions

What will I earn after passing the exam, a certification or digital badge?

You will have earned a Lifetime Certification and Digital Badge after passing the exam.

When I have passed these entry-level certifications, where can I find/download the certification or digital badge?

As a certified candidate, you can download a PDF file of the certification/digital badge from the Certiport system. As a post launch candidate, you will be able to log in to your Cisco.com profile and retrieve this information.

Will the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications include Credly badges?

Yes, CCST certifications include Credly badges to verify your achievement.

Recertification questions

How long are these Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications valid?

The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are valid for your lifetime. There is no expiration date for CCST certifications.

Will I need to recertify my CCST certification before the expiration date?

Recertification is not required because the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are valid for a lifetime.

What are the requirements for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) recertification?

Recertification is not required since these Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications are valid for a lifetime.

Can I get Continuing Education credits for these entry-level Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certs?

No. Continuing Education credits are not applicable to these certifications.

Does passing the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certification exams automatically renew an expired CCNA or CyberOps Associate certification?

No. Please refer to Recertification Policy for more details.

Cisco Networking Academy questions

Are the Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) certifications part of the Cisco Networking Academy program?

Yes. Cisco Networking Academy courses align to these entry-level certifications.

Are exam discounts available for Cisco Networking Academy students and instructors?

Discounts are not available directly to students or instructors.

For educational institutions, there are various flexible pricing models available, including licensing options.

Can an academy become a testing center for the Cisco Certified Support Technician exams, and what is the benefit?

Yes, an academy can easily become a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC) through the process outlined in Get started with Cisco.

Through becoming a CATC, academies will join a network of over 15,000 CATCs worldwide.

Benefits include:

  • Easily delivering the Cisco Certified Support Technician exam and additional Certiport certifications
  • Growing the offerings of your academy through certification delivery and resources
  • Providing test candidates with a pathway to certification and career success
  • Accessing additional professional development materials focused on certification and our exclusive CERTIFIED community
  • And more

Can I use IT Specialist vouchers within the Cisco Certified Support Technician certification program?

No, when you purchase exam vouchers for a specific program, you can only use them within that specific program.

For more information regarding voucher use, please contact your Certiport Territory Manager.