FOREWORD
What does it take to create an exceptional, integrated audiovisual experience? To deliver not only the kind of spectacle that wows people but also the type of collaboration space that makes companies more productive? It takes the right combination of content, space, and technology, but it also takes you. It takes trained professionals—integrators, designers, manufacturers, distributors, technology managers.
Building integrated audiovisual experiences also takes engagement with users—especially users who understand not only the strategic value of AV but also the fact that AV integration is a craft. It’s guided by the science of sight and sound, activated by technology, and realized by dedicated specialists. AVIXA™, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, believes in the value of creating experiences through technology—experiences that lead to better outcomes, whether they’re enhanced communication, entertainment, or education. To deliver these experiences and outcomes, our industry must continually master its craft. That means staying well-trained, using and understanding standards, and committing to professional certifications.
For more than 30 years, AVIXA has administered the Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS®) program, which is recognized as the leading AV professional credential. There are three CTS credentials: general (CTS), design (CTS-D), and installation (CTS-I). There are currently more than 12,000 CTS holders, and more than 2,000 of them are CTS-D or CTS-I holders. The CTS program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to meet the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) ISO/IEC 17024:2012 certifications of personnel standards.
CTS is increasingly recognized globally as the most important, respected professional AV certification in the world. In 2018, through ANSI’s acceptance as a signatory to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), the CTS program gained even greater international standing. Many government bodies only accept certifications that are accredited by an in-country accreditation body or an IAF MLA signatory. With ANSI’s acceptance to the IAF MLA, AVIXA’s certifications are now equivalent to those accredited by local accreditation bodies in dozens of countries around the world. Therefore, congratulations are in order. By pursuing your CTS certification, you are embarking on perhaps the most important journey toward mastering your craft—and the world is going to know about it.
This brings me to the matter at hand. In 2011, AVIXA and McGraw-Hill Education developed the first-ever CTS Certified Technology Specialist Exam Guide. You are about to dive into the third edition. To maintain its standing with ANSI and the international community, AVIXA is required to regularly evaluate its certifications, in conjunction with its Certification Steering Committee, to ensure it reflects real-world best practices, skills, technology, and more. As the job of a CTS evolves, the exam to become one evolves. As the exam evolves, so does this exam guide. Over the course of this regular process, AVIXA’s volunteer subject-matter experts and psychometricians tweak the exam to more accurately reflect the job of an AV professional in today’s marketplace.
The most recent update reflects a refinement and maturation of the CTS exam. Much of what a CTS certified professional needs to know remains the same. The community of technologists who will benefit from this knowledge remains large. In addition to AV professionals, IT professionals, technology managers, end users, and others will find that the skills reflected in the CTS exam will serve them well in honing their craft and delivering exceptional AV experiences.
Note that AVIXA, in keeping with the accreditation requirements of the ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard, does not require any training or education to obtain a CTS credential. You don’t even need to read this book to take the exam, although it has been developed by industry experts and designed to reflect much of the content you’ll find on the actual CTS exam. That said, this CTS exam guide is not the only way to help you prepare—and for some, it shouldn’t be.
Although many prospective CTS holders will rely on this book to earn their CTS certification, others will benefit from collaborating with instructors and peers through classroom training such as AVIXA’s CTS Prep course. AVIXA also offers CTS Prep Online, a comprehensive course that is free to AVIXA members and available to everyone. You may also benefit from taking the Essentials of AV Technology Online course and/or completing the self-assessment tests that AVIXA provides.
Again, none of this training is required to become CTS certified, but it’s in your and the AV industry’s best interest to develop the most highly educated workforce possible. AVIXA certifies more qualified AV professionals than anyone, and because of the commitment of people like you, the CTS certification is recognized across multiple industries and market segments for its credibility and integrity.
Again, congratulations on pursuing your CTS certification. We hope to be there with you as you pursue your career in this exciting field, including when you decide to attain an advanced CTS certification—either the CTS-D or CTS-I. For information about these programs and everything else AVIXA offers, visit www.AVIXA.org.
Best of luck.
David Labuskes, CTS, CAE, RCDD
Chief Executive Officer
AVIXA