Cisco CCST certifications

Frequently asked questions

General certification questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

  • 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.

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

  • 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

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

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.

Each CCST exam is US $125.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

  • 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

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.

You have unlimited attempts.

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

Training-related questions

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

The self-paced online training is free.

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

Badge and certification questions

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

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.

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

Recertification questions

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

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

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

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

No. Please refer to Recertification Policy for more details.

Cisco Networking Academy questions

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

Discounts are not available directly to students or instructors.

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

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

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.

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