You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
CISCOCisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support certification validates the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills needed to succeed in entry-level IT support roles. It covers troubleshooting, assisting end users, managing computer components, and identifying security threats. Earning this credential prepares you for help desk and user support positions and is a strong first step toward a career in IT.
Duration50 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Free questions935
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What 100-140 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
6domains
21objectives
184concepts
US $125exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support certification is an entry-level credential that validates your ability to perform essential IT support tasks. The associated 100-140 exam tests your foundational knowledge and skills in areas such as queue and time management, documentation, troubleshooting, assisting end users, managing computer components, and identifying security threats.
This certification is designed for individuals who are new to IT and want to launch a career in technical support. It prepares you for roles such as IT End User Support, Help Desk Support, or Computer Support Specialist. By earning the CCST IT Support certification, you demonstrate to employers that you have the practical skills needed to keep IT operations running smoothly and support users effectively.
Who it’s for
This certification is for individuals who are starting their IT career and want to build a strong foundation in IT support. It is ideal for those seeking entry-level roles such as IT End User Support, Help Desk Support, or Computer Support Specialist. You are someone who enjoys helping others solve technical problems, has a basic understanding of computer hardware and software, and is interested in developing practical troubleshooting skills. No prior IT experience is required, but a curiosity for how technology works and a desire to learn are essential.
Recommended experience
No formal experience is required, but familiarity with basic computer hardware, software, and operating systems is helpful. Basic understanding of computer components and peripherals; Familiarity with common operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux); Experience using productivity software and web browsers; Interest in troubleshooting and problem-solving
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective Cisco measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
IT Support Job Tasks and Responsibilities
- 1.1. Define key help desk concepts.
- 1.2. Prepare documentation to summarize a customer interaction.
- 1.3. Describe the problem solving process.
Hardware Issues
- 2.1. Demonstrate how to follow basic safety procedures.
- 2.2. Assist end users in using tools to locate information about their device.
- 2.3. Assist end users in locating, identifying, and understanding the characteristics of various ports and cables.
- 2.4. Identify, install and upgrade various components in a desktop computer.
- 2.5. Investigate commonly encountered hardware issues.
Connectivity and Resource Access Issues
- 3.1. Assist users with establishing access to network-based resources.
- 3.2. Troubleshoot commonly encountered connectivity issues with peripherals.
- 3.3. Examine basic end-device connectivity to the network.
Operating System and Application Issues
- 4.1. Assist users in resolving Windows operating system issues.
- 4.2. Assist users in resolving MacOS operating system issues.
- 4.3. Assist users in resolving mobile device issues.
- 4.4. Describe virtualization and cloud terminology.
- 4.5. Assist users in resolving common application issues.
Common Threats and Preventions
- 5.1. Describe security threats to the end user, perform basic investigation, and escalate to the appropriate team.
- 5.2. Recognize how to avoid becoming a victim of social engineering attacks.
- 5.3. Recognize how company policies and confidentiality guidelines protect user data.
Job Tools
- 6.1. Use remote access software to connect to end user devices and perform remote support tasks.
- 6.2. Use appropriate troubleshooting tools to research an issue and update internal documentation with findings.
On the day
The exam itself
Everything Cisco publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam code100-140
CertificationCisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support
Duration50 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, Portuguese
PricingUS $125
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path Cisco lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support
Credential earnedCisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) IT Support Certification Renewal and maintenance
Cisco certifications are valid for three years. You can recertify by passing another certification exam or by earning Continuing Education (CE) credits. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. Cisco maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by Cisco
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, Cisco’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official Cisco certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does the CCST IT Support certification relate to other Cisco certifications?
The CCST IT Support is an entry-level certification that serves as a starting point for a career in IT. It is part of Cisco's entry-level tier, and while it is not a formal prerequisite for higher-level certifications, it provides foundational skills that can help you progress to Associate-level certifications like CCNA.
Do I need to earn a lower-tier certification before taking the 100-140 exam?
No. There are no mandatory prerequisites for the CCST IT Support certification. You can take the 100-140 exam directly, regardless of whether you hold any other Cisco certification.
How do I schedule the 100-140 exam?
You can schedule the exam through the Cisco Certification Tracking System. First, create a Cisco account on cisco.com, then log in to the Certification Tracking System to complete your profile and schedule your exam. Exams can be scheduled up to six weeks in advance and as late as the same day.
What are the online proctoring requirements for the 100-140 exam?
For online proctored exams, you must have a quiet, private room, a webcam, and a stable internet connection. You will be monitored by a proctor throughout the exam. You must also present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in.
What is the retake policy if I fail the 100-140 exam?
For most Cisco exams, you must wait 5 calendar days after the day of your first attempt before retaking the same exam. This waiting period applies to each subsequent attempt as well.
Are there any exam vouchers or discounts available for the 100-140 exam?
Cisco customers and learning partners can redeem Cisco Learning Credits for exam vouchers. Additionally, some training programs may include exam vouchers as part of their curriculum. Check with your training provider for specific offers.
Is there a hands-on lab component in the 100-140 exam?
The 100-140 exam is a written exam that tests foundational knowledge and skills. It does not include a separate hands-on lab component. However, the exam may include scenario-based questions that assess practical troubleshooting and support skills.
What accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities?
Cisco and Pearson VUE provide testing accommodations for candidates with disabilities. You must request accommodations when scheduling your exam and provide appropriate documentation. Contact Pearson VUE for more information on the accommodation process.
How soon will I receive my score report after taking the 100-140 exam?
For most written exams, you will receive a score report immediately after completing the exam. The report includes your score for each exam section and the passing score for the exam.
What job roles does the CCST IT Support certification prepare me for?
The CCST IT Support certification prepares you for entry-level IT support roles such as IT End User Support, Help Desk Support, and Computer Support Specialist.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 935 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept Cisco measures — each one written out.
6domains
21objectives
184concepts
194free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official Cisco exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1IT Support Job Tasks and Responsibilities129 questions
2Hardware Issues208 questions
2.1. Demonstrate how to follow basic safety procedures.4 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →2.2. Assist end users in using tools to locate information about their device.14 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →2.3. Assist end users in locating, identifying, and understanding the characteristics of various ports and cables.17 concepts · 11 pagesOpen →2.4. Identify, install and upgrade various components in a desktop computer.14 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →2.5. Investigate commonly encountered hardware issues.5 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →
3Connectivity and Resource Access Issues163 questions
4Operating System and Application Issues236 questions
4.1. Assist users in resolving Windows operating system issues.9 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →4.2. Assist users in resolving MacOS operating system issues.11 concepts · 10 pagesOpen →4.3. Assist users in resolving mobile device issues.9 concepts · 13 pagesOpen →4.4. Describe virtualization and cloud terminology.6 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →4.5. Assist users in resolving common application issues.6 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →
5Common Threats and Preventions113 questions
5.1. Describe security threats to the end user, perform basic investigation, and escalate to the appropriate team.9 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →5.2. Recognize how to avoid becoming a victim of social engineering attacks.3 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →5.3. Recognize how company policies and confidentiality guidelines protect user data.6 concepts · 8 pagesOpen →
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
1.1. Define key help desk concepts.9 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
42 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
935 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
935questions
194pages
21objectives
Freealways
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1IT Support Job Tasks and Responsibilities129 questions
2Hardware Issues208 questions
3Connectivity and Resource Access Issues163 questions
4Operating System and Application Issues236 questions
5Common Threats and Preventions113 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
184concepts
935free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from Cisco
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
4official links
184concepts mapped
The source
Cisco’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official Cisco outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 21 objectives, 184 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When Cisco changes the outline, this page changes with it.
21objectives on the outline→184concepts written→935free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.