Demonstrate mastery of design, installation, and configuration of the home network.
Become ESC-N CertifiedAt the heart of every great smart home integration project is a robust, reliable, and secure network. While every integrator should possess basic networking knowledge, the demands of today’s home networks increasingly require technicians to have a deeper knowledge of networking concepts and an advanced skill set.
Integrators with this level of expertise can design, install, configure, troubleshoot, and maintain high performance systems in a residential environment. They have a working knowledge of the OSI model and can select and configure equipment to support residential projects of various sizes and complexity. They understand the nuances of environmental factors on wireless networks and can implement a range of advanced configuration techniques such as VLANS, QoS, and remote access to meet performance and security requirements.
The CEDIA Networking Specialist certification is designed to help technicians stand out and be recognised for their competence in this crucial knowledge domain. For individuals, certification is a way to advance their career and increase earnings potential. For integration companies, having employees with specialised certifications is a way to enhance credibility trust and confidence with clients and industry partners.
CEDIA recommends that individuals have at least 3 years of related networking experience before pursuing this certification. The level of the ESC-N is directly above the IST certification which includes a domain on networking fundamentals. Smart home professionals are encouraged to earn the IST first, but it is not required.
The Electronic Systems Certification - Networking Specialist (ESC-N) exam is 100 questions. A passing score of 73% is required to pass the exam and earn the ESC-N professional certification.
CEDIA certified professionals are required to obtain 30 continuing education units (CEUs) in a three-year period to maintain their certification status. CEUs are provided through CEDIA trainings and approved CEU Providers.
Please visit the Certification Portal for more details on managing your certifications. To view your transcript and add CEU activities, please go to My Education from within my.cedia.org account.
The Networking Specialist exam is taken in a proctored environment where candidates have 2 hours to complete the 100 multiple choice questions. No study material is permitted. The passing score is 73.% It is a pass or fail exam, but candidates will receive a score report which shows their performance in each of the 4 domains according to the Exam Blueprint.
There are no education or experience prerequisites to take the ESC-N Exam. All candidates must agree to adhere to the Certification Code of Conduct.
The ESC-N is valid for 3 years and can be renewed by earning at least 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and completing the code of conduct agreement. Please visit the Certification Portal for more details on managing your certification. To view your transcript and add CEU activities, please go to My Education from within your my.cedia.org account.
Start by reviewing the exam blueprint to assess your familiarity with the content. Some individuals may feel ready to take the test right away and others may want to pursue additional learning. Below are resources to consider:
Integrated Systems Technician book (chapter 7)
Advanced Residential Electronic Systems book (chapters 10-12)
The 40-question practice test provides examples of the types of questions on the exam. Upon completion, the test taker will see the results and receive an emailed score report. The results page may also be printed.
Option 1: ESC-N Practice Test – Results aggregated by domain to simulate score report on the actual exam.
Option 2: ESC-N Practice Test – Results include domain score and ability to review of each item showing the correct answer.
After purchasing the exam you will receive an email from CEDIA within 2 business days which includes, instructions, a voucher and a link to the Webassessor portal where you will schedule your exam time and date. There are two options to choose from:
Remote Online Proctoring – take the exam from the convenience of your own home or business. Learn more about this option in the Certification Portal and from the Kryterion Support page.
Local Kryterion Test Centre – There are 1,000+ global test centres and you can browse to locate one near you.
CEDIA Member Exam Fee: $200 USD / £170
Regular Exam Fee: $300 USD / £250
Retest Fee: $125 USD / £100
Please contact CEDIA for emerging market prices.
Emerging Market PricesIn September 2024, CEDIA is launching an updated and expanded version of this certification based on a recent industry job task analysis survey. The initial launch will be September 1-30 as a discounted beta exam that can be taken globally online, at a Kryterion Test Center or in-person at CEDIA Expo. More information will be posted soon on this page or let us know below if you would like to receive a notification about how you can participate:
Get ESC-N Certified