The AVIXA CTS certification equips AV professionals with the expertise to deliver exceptional projects that adhere to the highest industry standards and provides their employers with an outstanding competitive advantage. Learn more why you should consider becoming CTS certified.
A career changing move
Transform your professional journey with the AVIXA Certified Technology Specialist™ (CTS) certification—the gold standard in the audiovisual (AV) industry.
Recognized globally, the CTS certification sets you apart as a reliable, skilled, and knowledgeable AV professional.
CTS helps you to
- Boost your Career
Gain recognized credentials that open doors to new job opportunities and career advancements. - Enhance your Skills
Stay at the forefront of AV best practices and technologies through ongoing education. - Ensure consistency and Quality
Ensure your projects meet industry standards for reliability, consistency, and quality. - Gain Client Confidence
Offer your clients peace of mind with services backed by the most respected certification in the AV industry. - Increase your Competitive Advantage
Having CTS holders on staff becomes more and more a crucial factors in tenders and project requirements.
About CTS
The CTS certification program is supporting AV professionals since over 40 years. With more than 14,000 certified specialists worldwide, it is ANAB-accredited to the ISO 17024 standard, demonstrating adherence to rigorous quality and competency criteria. The content of the test is regularly updated to reflect the state of the art.
Once earned, the CTS certification is valid for three years. To maintain certification, CTS holders complete continuing education, earning 30 renewal units (RUs) every three years, or pass the current certification exam.
Speaking to experts
Talking to AV professionals working across Europe in all parts of the AV value chain paints a picture of what makes CTS truly outstanding for the European AV industry.
“The certification has been beneficial for reaching foreign markets that we wouldn’t have been able to access otherwise. Especially when working with AV consultants from the U.S. who require CTS-certified subcontractors, having the certification opens up more opportunities for us. We also find that the certification boosts the self-confidence of younger professionals.”
Aurélien Grocq, CTS, Managing Partner
LM Ingénierie Audiovisuel & Sébastien Balloy
Head of IT Services for Real Estate, Thales SA, France
We started specifying the CTS Certification six years ago for the first time. Two years ago, we made it more explicit in our project documentation to ensure that companies see it clearly.
Initially, when we started six years ago, CTS was not well known in Europe, especially in the southern countries. However, it became more recognized, thanks to events like ISE.
With the growing importance of IT, the CTS Certification also ensures that technicians have the necessary IT skills. It provides a comprehensive view from project management to technician tasks.
AVIXA CTS certified professionals excel in project management, possess high-level technical knowledge, and demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities. When issues arise, having certified professionals speeds up the resolution process.
We strive to use as many certified technicians as possible, as it assures stakeholders that our team is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality projects.
Lode de Raedt
Head of Unit, DG INTERPRETATION
European Commission
While anyone can obtain the CTS certification, it signifies an individual’s ability to grasp the bigger picture, integrate various components, and understand the complexities of AV systems. It’s more than just automatic knowledge; it represents an awareness of problems and a willingness to explore new aspects. This distinction sets certified individuals apart from those without the certification.
The AVIXA CTS Certification aligns with our project objectives by showcasing a candidate's dedication to understanding AV systems. In our evaluation process, we assign points based on the number of CTS-certified personnel involved. This approach allows us to consider not only the project's price but also the quality and expertise of the team.
Gerhard Jahn, CTS
AV Consultant
ibgj, Germany
What I really like about the CTS course is that if you can't read the book very well, there are lots of other resources on video or online. I particularly benefited from the CTS Boot Camp because it was much more practical. It was in a classroom and if I didn't understand something there was always someone to talk to about it.
Knowing that everyone that's working on your project has that minimum level of knowledge I think is like gold dust. When you're bringing in freelancers or contractors or even other colleagues, you don't know what their level of knowledge is. If the people that you're working with are CTS qualified then you know, at what level they're at, or what minimum level there are.
Joan Sheehan, CTS
Audio Visual Development Specialist
Leeds Beckett University, U.K
Through the standardization of methods in all phases – the preliminary budget phase, the intermediate project phase, and the final commissioning phase. Standardization from start to finish. You know that something reliable will be delivered to the client
Jose Ignacio
freelance AV specialist
Spain
Our staff takes pride in holding the CTS certification. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and belonging to a community of professionals who are committed to excellence in the AV industry. They proudly display the CTS logo in their email signatures, which adds to our company's credibility.
Specifying the CTS Certification is important because it sets professionals apart and validates their expertise in the industry. In a world where anyone can claim to be an expert, having a recognized certification like CTS adds credibility and trust to the services we provide.
The AVIXA CTS certification brings a unique combination of technical expertise and project management skills. It equips professionals with the ability to efficiently handle projects and provide top-notch solutions to customers, making them stand out in the industry
The long-term benefits of using AVIXA CTS certified professionals are significant. It helps us maintain a competitive edge in the market, ensures a high standard of project delivery, and builds a reputation as a trustworthy partner for our customers.
Odd Martinsen
Managing Director
Øyvind Jacobsen
Marketing and Product manager
Leteng AS Norway
So...
...what effect does the CTS certification have on the European audiovisual industry?
Across the interviews, a recurring theme emerged: The utilisation of AVIXA CTS-certified professionals yields numerous long-term advantages that allow Europe-based AV professionals and providers to not only be competitive but being able to gain more projects and win more tenders.
Your next steps
While there is no obligation to take any courses before taking the CTS exam, a lot of takers have found it very helpful to repeat knowledge, learn about test taking strategies and confirm their self esteem.
Therefore AVIXA is offering CTS-prep courses online and in classrooms in a lot of European countries and several languages like German, Italian, Spanish and English.
The next course dates can be found on the AVIXA event pages for English, German, Italian and Spanish Courses.
If you are interested to get a group, like your inhouse AV-team prepped for taking their certification exams, consider a private course at your premises. factoring in travel, paid travel time and accomodation, break even is usually reached with a group of six employees.
The AVIXA team is there for you to help you to find the right course - at the right location - at a time convenient for you.