- ITS-N here means IT Specialist - Networking, a Pearson credential delivered through Certiport, not another certification sharing the acronym.
- The exam is proctored, computer-based, 35-45 questions, with a standard 50-minute timer.
- A passing score is 700 on a 1-1000 scaled score, not a raw 70%.
- Five domains: Fundamentals, Infrastructures, Hardware, Protocols and Services, and Troubleshooting.
What ITS-N Actually Is
ITS-N stands for Information Technology Specialist - Networking. Pearson is the governing body, and Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, administers the exam and issues the credential. Certiport's provider title is "IT Specialist - Networking," and that is the phrase to search for when you look for official program pages, vouchers and objective documents.
The credential validates foundational networking knowledge at a level suited to small-to-medium business environments. It covers how networks are structured, which hardware moves traffic, how protocols and services behave, and how to diagnose problems using tools on both Windows and Linux. It is an entry-level certification: there is no bachelor's degree requirement, and the exam objectives document serves as your preparation baseline. For a deeper look at eligibility, see our guide to ITS-N requirements and prerequisites.
If you are specifically trying to pin down the naming, our short explainers on what ITS-N stands for and the ITS-N meaning cover it from other angles.
What It Is Not: Clearing Up the Name Confusion
Search results for networking credentials are crowded, and several names look similar. Mixing them up leads candidates to study the wrong objectives. The ITS-N exam is distinct from each of the following:
| Credential | Relationship to ITS-N |
|---|---|
| IT Specialist - Network Security | A separate Pearson credential with its own objectives; not the same exam. |
| Cisco CCST Networking | A different certification from a different issuer, with its own domains and objective document. |
| Cisco CCNA | A higher-level, vendor-specific associate credential; not interchangeable. |
| CompTIA Network+ | A separate vendor-neutral certification with its own exam and policies. |
| Microsoft MTA 98-366 | A legacy Microsoft networking fundamentals exam; its domains should not be reused for ITS-N preparation. |
The practical rule: build your study plan from the official Pearson objective document titled "IT SPECIALIST EXAM OBJECTIVES - Networking" (copyright 2025), not from materials written for another exam. Fee, timing and scoring details for those other credentials do not apply here.
Exam Format at a Glance
The exam is computer-based and proctored. The official program tutorial illustrates multiple-choice questions along with review and navigation features, so you can revisit questions and change answers before you submit.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question range | 35-45 questions per exam form |
| Standard exam time | 50 minutes, excluding administrative appointment activities |
| Delivery | Certiport Authorized Testing Centers (CATCs); Pearson VUE also offers test-center and OnVUE delivery |
| Passing score | 700 on a 1-1000 scaled score |
| Identity and security | Identity verification, a proctor and exam-security/NDA rules apply |
Two points deserve emphasis. First, the published range of 35-45 questions is the supported figure; do not trust sources that claim a fixed total or an exact scored/unscored split. Second, the 50-minute timer is separate from the time you spend checking in. Arrive or log in early and budget for the administrative steps.
For a candid look at difficulty, read how hard the ITS-N exam is.
The Five Domains
The official objectives are organized under five headings. Note the wording: Network Infrastructures is plural, and Protocols and Services is a single combined heading. The count of subtopics under each heading is not a basis for assuming percentage weights, and this article does not claim any. Our complete guide to the five ITS-N content areas goes deeper on each.
Domain 1: Networking Fundamentals
The vocabulary and models everything else rests on.
- Network topologies and how devices connect in small-to-medium business settings
- Core concepts that frame later addressing and services topics
- Reading a scenario and identifying which layer or concept it concerns
Domain 2: Network Infrastructures
How networks are built and extended, including virtualization.
- Wired and wireless network design at a foundational level
- Virtualization concepts as they relate to networking
- How infrastructure choices affect connectivity and management
Domain 3: Network Hardware
The devices and media that carry traffic.
- Identifying what common network devices do and when each is appropriate
- Matching a requirement to the right hardware or connection type
- Recognizing hardware-related causes of symptoms in a scenario
Domain 4: Protocols and Services
The densest area for memorization and applied reasoning.
- IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, including IPv6 notation and the purpose of subnetting
- DNS and its record types, and how name resolution works
- DHCP and NAT: what each does and how they interact with a client
- TCP/IP behavior and common network services
Domain 5: Troubleshooting
Applying knowledge to diagnose wired and wireless problems.
- Command-line diagnostic tools on both Windows and Linux
- Interpreting tool output and mapping it to a likely cause
- Working from symptom to layer to fix in a logical order
Why Windows and Linux both matter
Many networking exams quietly assume one operating system. This one does not: the outline includes diagnostic tools on both Windows and Linux. A useful drill is to take a single task, such as checking a machine's address configuration or testing name resolution, and practice the equivalent command and output on each platform. Being able to recognize the same information in two different output formats is exactly what scenario questions reward.
Who the Exam Is Built For
The candidate profile is someone with small-to-medium business networking knowledge and hands-on Windows and Linux experience, comfortable with TCP/IP, name resolution, network services, topologies and wired/wireless troubleshooting. The recommended baseline is at least 150 hours of instruction or hands-on networking experience. That figure describes preparation, not test duration, and it is a guideline rather than a gate you must prove before registering.
Typical audiences include students in IT pathways, career changers moving toward support roles, and early-career technicians who want a portable credential showing foundational networking competence. If you are weighing whether it fits your goals, our ROI analysis of the ITS-N certification and overview of ITS-N jobs are good next reads.
Registration, Vouchers and Fees
The US individual retail fee is USD 133 for the IT Specialist Exam Voucher + Retake. Be careful how you read that number: it is the price of that specific bundle, not an exam-only price and not a universal-channel price. Several mechanics matter:
- Voucher validity: the original voucher expires 1 year after purchase.
- Retake code: if you fail, the issued retake code must be used within 60 days of the failure.
- Proctoring costs: a CATC may charge extra for proctoring, so confirm with your testing center.
- Match voucher to channel: make sure the voucher you buy fits the delivery channel you select, whether a Certiport Authorized Testing Center, a Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE.
For a full breakdown, see the ITS-N certification cost guide, and for scheduling logistics, ITS-N exam dates and scheduling.
Scoring, Validity and Renewal
The 700 scaled score
The passing score is 700 on a 1-1000 scaled score. A scaled score is not a raw percentage; you should not interpret 700 as "answer 70% correctly." Likewise, it is not a pass-rate statistic. This article does not quote a candidate pass rate because none is established in the official materials; our pass rate discussion explains how to think about the question, and the passing score guide covers scaling in more detail.
How long the award lasts
Awards earned on or after June 18, 2025 expire after 5 years. Awards earned before that date remain non-expiring. To renew, you purchase a voucher and pass the current exam. This dated expiration policy takes precedence over older one-time-issuance wording you may still see on the program page, so rely on the expiration policy page when planning long-term.
Career and Salary Context
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 U.S. median annual wage of USD 76,220 for computer network support specialists. Treat that as occupation-wide context only. It is not a certification-specific salary, not an entry-level offer, and not evidence that holding this credential produces a pay premium. Employers weigh experience, skills and the specific role far more than a single foundational certificate.
What the credential can realistically do is document verified foundational knowledge, which may help when pursuing help desk, network support or junior infrastructure roles, or when building toward more advanced certifications. For more on earnings framing, see the ITS-N salary guide.
Key Takeaway
Use the credential as proof of foundations, not as a salary promise. Pair it with demonstrable hands-on practice on both Windows and Linux, since that combination is what the objectives themselves describe.
Sequencing Your Preparation
The study order below is editorial, not an official weighting. It front-loads concepts that later topics depend on, then spends the most time where applied reasoning is hardest. For a full plan, see our ITS-N study guide, and keep the ITS-N cheat sheet handy for last-minute review.
Fundamentals and Infrastructures
- Lock in terminology, topologies and wired/wireless basics
- Cover virtualization concepts and how infrastructure choices affect connectivity
Network Hardware
- Match devices and media to requirements
- Practice linking hardware symptoms to likely causes
Protocols and Services
- Work through IPv4/IPv6 notation and the purpose of subnetting
- Drill DNS records, DHCP and NAT with short scenarios
Troubleshooting
- Pair Windows and Linux commands and read their output side by side
- Take timed practice sessions against the 50-minute standard
Schedule Protocols and Services earliest among the heavy topics, because troubleshooting questions lean on it: you cannot interpret a failed name lookup without understanding DNS records, or a bad address assignment without understanding DHCP. If you want structured help, our ITS-N training overview explains the available options, and you can sharpen recall any time with the ITS-N practice tests on our main site.
When you are close to ready, run full-length simulations through the practice question sets and review every miss by domain. Official preparation is also available through CertPREP powered by GMetrix, which offers training and testing modes; again, its bank sizes and timers are practice features, not live-exam specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here it stands for Information Technology Specialist - Networking, the Pearson credential administered through Certiport. It is not the same as other certifications that share the acronym. See also what ITS-N certification is.
The published range is 35-45 questions, with a standard exam time of 50 minutes, excluding administrative appointment activities. Exact totals vary by form, so avoid sources that state a single fixed number.
You need 700 on a 1-1000 scaled score. This is not a raw 70% requirement, and it is not a statement about how many candidates pass.
The US individual retail fee for the IT Specialist Exam Voucher + Retake is USD 133. Testing centers may charge extra for proctoring, and the voucher must match your chosen delivery channel. The original voucher expires after 1 year, and a retake code must be used within 60 days of a failed attempt.
Awards earned on or after June 18, 2025 expire after 5 years and are renewed by buying a voucher and passing the current exam. Awards earned before that date remain non-expiring.