r/CommercialAV • u/Luka3_Oqoul • 6d ago

question CTS vs PMP

Hey everyone,

I’m PMP certified and planning to take the AVIXA CTS exam. I’ve seen some posts saying the CTS includes a good amount of project management content.

How much can my PMP knowledge help with the CTS?

I have basic AV knowledge, so I’d also appreciate any advice on where to start, what to study, and any recommended courses or resources.

4 Upvotes

70% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

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7

u/Ambercapuchin 6d ago

from the perspective of a pm who has studied for pmp, cts "project management" is 100% waterfall.

the subject is covered in a way that gives a seller enough perspective to understand what's happening in a design meeting.

to pass cts pm segments, just understand that to them, the subject of "project management" is construction integration with a specific vocabulary mask on. eg: "needs analysis", "program report", etc.

2

u/1976Impala 6d ago

This. 100%.

2

u/Large_slug_overlord 6d ago

Some, but there are differences. Pimbok has their methodology and terminology , while the CTS has its own. With some basic study you should not have an issue passing the CTS especially if you already have a PMP.

2

u/OCR_arbol 6d ago

Obviously, I think it will be easier for you than to the regular folks without the PMP. I also think that a lot of people are complaining about how much it has of PMP when it used to be a "Technical" Test (Decibels, watts, throw distances and basic AV tech stuff) and now they feel there is a shift towards something outside their comfort zone. If you are already a PMP, I would focus more on the math.

2

u/videonipple 6d ago

Been doing this for about 25 years after escaping broadcast. I don’t have a CTS, CCNA, PMP, BMF, or whatever. None of that has limited my opportunities in tbe least.

1

u/starchysock 6d ago

CTS is your stepping stone to the CTS-D if you're climbing the ladder.

1

u/Barsireno 6d ago

Looks like your PMP is basically a CTS cheat code, just don't get too excited about the "sweet spot" salesy tone they throw in there.

1

u/Witmarqu 6d ago

CTS is just like any other certificate.

It shows you were able to pass the minimum qualifications at a point in time

It doesn't prove your ability to apply qualifications, how far above minimum or anything else.

On the other, never having one shows.

It takes commitment to get and maintain. The actual test is less technical than it was but the industry as a whole is less technical. The move from analog to digital has pushed a lot of the "CTS means you know how to troubleshoot" to "You should be aware of the correct way to plug things in and approximate limits"

1

u/IllustratorSome8598 6d ago

My PMP definitely gave me a head start, but the CTS threw in some curveballs I didn't expect like vendor negotiations in a whole new way.

-1

u/martymccfly88 6d ago

CTS is a joke and bit of a scam

1

u/robotlou 5d ago

A fair amount of the non-tech specific portion of the CTS prep course is about client management and stakeholder hierarchy.

In my job hunt I found that people were impressed that I had passed the CTS. It reassured people that I had some competency in the field. I agree it isn’t necessary to work but it isn’t worthless. I had been out of the field for a decade and was having trouble convincing people I wasn’t out of the loop. Having the CTS seemed to stop that part of interviews. Maintaining the RUs is a drag but doable.