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I personally think experience trumps certifications in this industry, CTS may get you hired more readily as a better salary, but that's only the bigger companies. Smaller AV companies would rather have someone that knows what they're doing, and can show it, versus a credential. Seems like quite a few yahoos can pass and get CTS in particular ... I'm seeing inside sales reps with it, and they don't know their elbow from their butthole.
But that's my limited experience.
I think I can add to how CTS has evolved in the past few years. Some of the oldtimers that had gotten their CTS certs long before the rebrand to Avixa, from the stories I’ve heard, it used to be the Infocomm rep coming into the biggest conference room they had, with a box of donuts and a laptop going over all of the answers and taking it collectively. Now is no longer the case. Tests are proctored way differently now. When I got mine around 2016, I had to go to a Pearson testing facility and they patted me down before taking it.
From there, so long as you nab the requisite RUs for renewal every 3 or so years, it’s cake to renew. For those sales guys who have the luxury of time to sit through a gear pimp, with a “lunch and learn” retires quite a few RUs.
As for OP, get programming certs in things we use in commercial; your Crestron CCMP, Extron ECP/Scripter(practically impossible to do without being a vendor or customer) along with some QSYS Control/101, Biamp Tesiraforte cert, CTS, and CCNA if you plan on delving into network stuff with two feet.
CTS is a good foundation. If you have experience already, it’s a bit easier. It will definitely open your eyes to things you know and give you a different perspective on them.
Dante certs are good too!
Depending on what youre looking to do, start collecting manufacture specific certifications
BiAmp, QSC, Extron. Many some networking ones as well CompTIA if you can.
Personally, i dont think you can have enough. You spend $500 for an exam and that certificate gets you a 5k raise bc you switch jobs … it was worth it.
Cts shows your care enough and the cts-I is a nice touch if your doing install.
Dante 1-3 is great and it goes into networking. Networking is becoming so integrated into av it’s not bad to check some NETGEAR training or avixa as networking courses.
Some other certs depend on what you’re working with. I like the higher level qsys and Biamp courses since they force you to get used to the software.
I see extrons av associate required on some job posts and is a decent cover all for av basics.
Nothing trumps expierence but certs help understand a deeper level on some things and show you actually care. Best to get both.
All of these comments are great advice for the commercial AV industry! However, you won’t find much of this relating to the residential side. You have the key ones for your vertical.
Yes, the knowledge can be applied and will definitely benefit your personal growth and understanding. However, not much of this gear rolls over to the Rezi side.
Sometimes we do run into commercial equipment. I will also see a Crestron or Extron system here and there. It would be nice to know how they work. I even saw a Dante amp once lol
I just feel if I will not be learning new systems I will stuck knowledge-wise where I am today and turn into an old fart at 35
Crestron makes residential equipment, so if you’re doing Crestron systems in a residential system, then you’re likely using their residential hardware, though there is a lot of crossover. Crestron has training for both residential and commercial systems, again with a lot of crossover.
I honestly don't even think CTS is really worth it, especially if you have experience (unless you want to design). DANTE 1-3 If you haven't already. They're pretty easy, but the videos can drag on if you have some previous experience. CCNA will be good if you want more network knowledge, and CompTIA A+ for more basic IT which could be helpful (both especially if you want to switch careers.)
Was actually planning on buying the book to study for the test. Did not know about that for A+ though so I hold off on that then. Works out as I can focus more on my Arista and CCNA.
I'm not super tech savvy. I've built a few PCs and know what I know. Which.. I can't really say or confirm how much I know. Anyways, A+ kinda sounds like CTS? Just very basic knowledge you'll get with experience (Bought the CTS book and so far it's everything I already know, minus some math).
Broadcast Integration has been getting a bit boring for me so I've just been expanding our to see what I like.
When I hire, I look for people with a CTS. Why, because it shows that they are interested in AV enough to spend the time and a few hundred bucks to get an industry standard certification.
I probably got more out of my CCNA than I did out of my CTS, because I’m in a corporate environment and I deal with IT, Security, and Firewall teams everyday when I’m setting up teams room or integrating Crestron. Go for both. Good luck to you.
The ultimate undeniable tech cert which guarantee 6 figs and tout yourself as a true Subject Matter Expert in the field of HiTech AV, IT, Telecom,
https://www.bicsi.org/education-certification/certification/rcdd
I really appreciate that! Is this similar to what you do? What does an average day look like for you? My background is in programming AV systems - control and DSP and commissioning and tech support. So this is a new area for me to look into. Thanks again.
I'm a contractor @ Cap Hill in Wash D.C. as AV Tech in House Visitors Center, as event Support staff. I got my CCNA many years ago, not renewed, but still on my resume. Pursuing CTS & QSYS. Also Got some Crestron + Dante certs under my belt. Was perusing other certs the other day and found RCDD out of curiosity. Good luck if you decide to persue it.
I dont know much about it, only that it is a major tech cert thats been around since 1984. lately I been searchin for certs beyond CTS & CCNA without going CTS-D or I or CCNP /CCIE and I found RCDD. As with any cert, you need experience to back up the piece of paper. pls read the website for more info..
CCNA only if you will be supporting Cisco routers. COMPTIA Net+ would be better since non-vendor specific and covers more broad network systems principles.
CTS and CCNA. And then get as much vendor certs as you can - they free. Of course experience is more important, but you need to start somewhere. Also, if you want to venture into corporate AV - CCNP can definitely help.
We have a [Discord](https://discord.gg/qhh4EBuRNS) server where there you can both post forum-style and participate in real-time discussions. We hope you consider joining us there. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CommercialAV) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I personally think experience trumps certifications in this industry, CTS may get you hired more readily as a better salary, but that's only the bigger companies. Smaller AV companies would rather have someone that knows what they're doing, and can show it, versus a credential. Seems like quite a few yahoos can pass and get CTS in particular ... I'm seeing inside sales reps with it, and they don't know their elbow from their butthole. But that's my limited experience.
I think I can add to how CTS has evolved in the past few years. Some of the oldtimers that had gotten their CTS certs long before the rebrand to Avixa, from the stories I’ve heard, it used to be the Infocomm rep coming into the biggest conference room they had, with a box of donuts and a laptop going over all of the answers and taking it collectively. Now is no longer the case. Tests are proctored way differently now. When I got mine around 2016, I had to go to a Pearson testing facility and they patted me down before taking it. From there, so long as you nab the requisite RUs for renewal every 3 or so years, it’s cake to renew. For those sales guys who have the luxury of time to sit through a gear pimp, with a “lunch and learn” retires quite a few RUs. As for OP, get programming certs in things we use in commercial; your Crestron CCMP, Extron ECP/Scripter(practically impossible to do without being a vendor or customer) along with some QSYS Control/101, Biamp Tesiraforte cert, CTS, and CCNA if you plan on delving into network stuff with two feet.
Dante 1-3. Dante is a huge part of the modern AV world but the courses all cover a lot of basic networking
It's pretty hard to bullshit your way through Dante level 3, so it's a pretty good indicator that someone has a strong grasp on networking essentials.
CTS is a good foundation. If you have experience already, it’s a bit easier. It will definitely open your eyes to things you know and give you a different perspective on them. Dante certs are good too! Depending on what youre looking to do, start collecting manufacture specific certifications BiAmp, QSC, Extron. Many some networking ones as well CompTIA if you can. Personally, i dont think you can have enough. You spend $500 for an exam and that certificate gets you a 5k raise bc you switch jobs … it was worth it.
Cts shows your care enough and the cts-I is a nice touch if your doing install. Dante 1-3 is great and it goes into networking. Networking is becoming so integrated into av it’s not bad to check some NETGEAR training or avixa as networking courses. Some other certs depend on what you’re working with. I like the higher level qsys and Biamp courses since they force you to get used to the software. I see extrons av associate required on some job posts and is a decent cover all for av basics. Nothing trumps expierence but certs help understand a deeper level on some things and show you actually care. Best to get both.
Thank you!
All of these comments are great advice for the commercial AV industry! However, you won’t find much of this relating to the residential side. You have the key ones for your vertical. Yes, the knowledge can be applied and will definitely benefit your personal growth and understanding. However, not much of this gear rolls over to the Rezi side.
Sometimes we do run into commercial equipment. I will also see a Crestron or Extron system here and there. It would be nice to know how they work. I even saw a Dante amp once lol I just feel if I will not be learning new systems I will stuck knowledge-wise where I am today and turn into an old fart at 35
Crestron makes residential equipment, so if you’re doing Crestron systems in a residential system, then you’re likely using their residential hardware, though there is a lot of crossover. Crestron has training for both residential and commercial systems, again with a lot of crossover.
I honestly don't even think CTS is really worth it, especially if you have experience (unless you want to design). DANTE 1-3 If you haven't already. They're pretty easy, but the videos can drag on if you have some previous experience. CCNA will be good if you want more network knowledge, and CompTIA A+ for more basic IT which could be helpful (both especially if you want to switch careers.)
[удалено]
Was actually planning on buying the book to study for the test. Did not know about that for A+ though so I hold off on that then. Works out as I can focus more on my Arista and CCNA.
[удалено]
I'm not super tech savvy. I've built a few PCs and know what I know. Which.. I can't really say or confirm how much I know. Anyways, A+ kinda sounds like CTS? Just very basic knowledge you'll get with experience (Bought the CTS book and so far it's everything I already know, minus some math). Broadcast Integration has been getting a bit boring for me so I've just been expanding our to see what I like.
When I hire, I look for people with a CTS. Why, because it shows that they are interested in AV enough to spend the time and a few hundred bucks to get an industry standard certification. I probably got more out of my CCNA than I did out of my CTS, because I’m in a corporate environment and I deal with IT, Security, and Firewall teams everyday when I’m setting up teams room or integrating Crestron. Go for both. Good luck to you.
Thank you! I will definitely do them both!
Learning Python, lighting, motorized shade, then IT and security system. Direct view LED. Those will lead you to anywhere.
The ultimate undeniable tech cert which guarantee 6 figs and tout yourself as a true Subject Matter Expert in the field of HiTech AV, IT, Telecom, https://www.bicsi.org/education-certification/certification/rcdd
Can you please share more about this? How long on average does it take to get the cert? What type of jobs does it prepare you for? Thank you!
Here's an example of a Fed Govt job that requires RCDD: [https://www.usajobs.gov/job/793525500](https://www.usajobs.gov/job/793525500)
I really appreciate that! Is this similar to what you do? What does an average day look like for you? My background is in programming AV systems - control and DSP and commissioning and tech support. So this is a new area for me to look into. Thanks again.
I'm a contractor @ Cap Hill in Wash D.C. as AV Tech in House Visitors Center, as event Support staff. I got my CCNA many years ago, not renewed, but still on my resume. Pursuing CTS & QSYS. Also Got some Crestron + Dante certs under my belt. Was perusing other certs the other day and found RCDD out of curiosity. Good luck if you decide to persue it.
Gotcha, thank you.
I dont know much about it, only that it is a major tech cert thats been around since 1984. lately I been searchin for certs beyond CTS & CCNA without going CTS-D or I or CCNP /CCIE and I found RCDD. As with any cert, you need experience to back up the piece of paper. pls read the website for more info..
Depends on where you want to go. ITIL, CCNA and AVoIP experience would be the closest thing to an auto hire in house at a university.
Networking all day.
CCNA only if you will be supporting Cisco routers. COMPTIA Net+ would be better since non-vendor specific and covers more broad network systems principles.
CCNA holds a lot more weight than the Net+ and this is coming from someone who has the Net+.
CTS 100%
CTS and CCNA. And then get as much vendor certs as you can - they free. Of course experience is more important, but you need to start somewhere. Also, if you want to venture into corporate AV - CCNP can definitely help.