Experienced technicians with the passion and smart home savvy to install and maintain outstanding technology systems.
Become IST CertifiedThe CEDIA Certified Integrated System Technician (IST) Certification was designed by integrators who believe that a truly successful technician is not only competent in a broad range of essential skills but is also committed to professional ethics and ongoing learning.
The IST certification is for all-around smart home technicians who can perform the core functions of most technology installation projects. This certification allows individuals to showcase a deeper understanding of how technology systems work, an ability to solve problems, and a high level of professional competence that can be trusted by employers, clients and industry partners.
This certification is an industry-wide standard which provides technicians with increased credibility, compensation potential, and growth opportunities to more advanced positions. Technicians at this level are a crucial part of delivering smart home technology solutions and employers of certified individuals can leverage these qualifications to increase their professional standing and grow their business prospects.
For technicians looking for the next step in their smart home installation career, the Integrated Systems Technician (IST) certification is the next step up from the entry-level CIT Certification. It establishes a core foundation of home automation knowledge that supports further growth into the specialist ESC-N and ESC-D certifications.
Alongside the IST Certification process, CEDIA’s Education and Standards departments have used the IST blueprint to create a new curriculum and reference materials that align to this framework, creating a clear education pathway for smart home installers to follow.
CEDIA has worked hard to ensure that, as much as possible, the content is representative of a global audience, to support your career. As well as this, the content of the IST exam has been thoroughly vetted by a team of over 20 global subject matters experts.
The CEDIA Certified Integrated System Technician (IST) is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) as having met the international standard for personnel certification bodies defined by the ISO/IEC 17024 standard.
Click here to learn more about the certification program’s governance and official recognition.
The Integrated Systems Technician exam is taken in a proctored environment where candidates have 3 hours to complete the 150 multiple choice questions. No study material is permitted. The passing score for the exam is 70% (105 out of 150 questions). It is a pass or fail exam, but candidates will receive a score report which shows their performance in each of the 6 domains according to the Exam Blueprint.
At least one year of experience is required to be ready for the IST certification, but first-time earners frequently have a few years of experience. This certification is actively held by technicians throughout their career who maintain their knowledge and skill level by earning CEUs.
Please visit the Certification Portal for more details on managing your certifications. Complete policies can be found in the IST Handbook.
All candidates must agree to the terms and conditions listed in the CEDIA Certification Code of Conduct.
There are two options to be eligible to take the IST exam:
Option 1: Certification + Experience
Option 2: Experience Only
Candidates must have at least 3 years of verified experience installing infrastructure cabling and equipment for integrated systems.
Note: Retest policies vary based on which eligibility option is selected. See IST Handbook for full details.
Start by reviewing the exam blueprint to assess your familiarity with the content. Some individuals may feel ready to take the IST test right away, while others might want to pursue additional learning either as a refresher or a dedicated learning path.
CEDIA offers a textbook, online or in-person courses, practice tests and other additional resources.
No specific training is required to sit for the exam, and candidates may choose to utilise a variety of methods to prepare including internal training or on-the-job experience.
CEDIA has created a free practice test with 50+ sample IST questions that candidates can use to simulate an exam environment. These questions are not used on the official exam, and it is not intended to be exhaustive. Practise test results aim to be helpful in revealing areas that may need further study and they should not be seen as a guarantee of similar results on the exam. There are 2 versions of the same test.
You will first need to submit an application form along with the exam fee. This form must be filled out by the person actually taking the exam. There is also an option to buy a transferable IST exam voucher and then forward that code to the person taking the exam so that they can complete the form themselves.
After the form has been reviewed by CEDIA and you have created your Webasessor account you will have two options for taking the IST exam are:
For CEDIA Members the IST certification costs $200 USD / £170
Non-members $300 USD / £250
Retest - $125 USD / £100
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