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Network Systems Technician (NST) — Requirements & Free Practice

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Network Systems Technician (NST)

ETA certification of network systems technician knowledge, available as Stand-Alone or a Journeyman option subject to the applicable prerequisites.

Licensing authority: ETA International · Application information

Initial by examination
Network Systems Technician (NST)
Program Options
{"Journeyman":"The same NST specialty examination is used. Hold an accepted foundational basic electronics certification, CETa or EM1-5, and have two or more years of combined training/experience. The GCT1 substitution is limited to Communications options and is not applied to NST. Foundational certifications are prerequisites, not an instruction to investigate or create their exam identities in this task.","Stand-Alone":"No basic electronics certification prerequisite; NST has no hands-on requirement."}
Registration
Arrange a day/time with an ETA Certification Administrator for in-person online or paper testing; proctor required. For remote testing, register through ETA's Remote Proctoring Examinee Registration Form; ETA must set up the exam, then the candidate schedules through ExamRoom.AI. Working webcam, microphone, recent computer and at least 3MBPS internet required; initial setup may take up to 72 hours and a separate proctor fee applies.
Scope
NST English knowledge certification by examination only; rollover is a separate path outside this route.
Training
The NST table says no hands-on requirement. The advertised eITprep study course does not lead to certification and is not a mandatory training prerequisite.
Upgrade
A Standalone NST holder who later completes Associate CET (CETa) may contact ETA to upgrade to Journeyman CET, subject to the stated experience/training condition; no second NST identity is created.

Network Systems Technician (NST)

Provider
ETA International
Format
Proctored knowledge examination: Trapeza online or paper/pencil; ETA-arranged remote proctoring is available for this non-hands-on examination.
Exam questions
Total questions: 100.
Time limit
2 hours
Passing score
75%
Exam fee
$105 examination fee; remote proctoring costs extra.
Examination outline
  • Network Terminology
    • Functions of a computer network
    • Network types and terminology
    • Network topology terms and nomenclature
    • Network services
    • Open Systems Interconnection model
  • Network Architecture – Wired and Wireless
    • Network architecture components and performance
    • Wired LANs and WANs
    • Wireless LANs
    • Bluetooth wireless transport architecture
    • Internet connection sharing
    • Broadband network communication
  • Network Configuration and Protocols - Wired and Wireless
    • Internet addressing, protocols, ports, standards and URLs
    • Additional transport protocols and LAN functions
    • Network shared access configurations
    • Multiplexing, demultiplexing, bandwidth and backbone links
    • Network connection data rate measurement
    • Data transmission protocols
    • Network connecting characteristics and features
    • Data structures, formats, fields, filtering and standards
    • Circuit and packet switching
    • Wired network configuration
    • Repeaters and Wi-Fi extenders
    • Legacy networking connectivity
    • Gateway and router operation and deployment
    • Switch, repeater and bridge functions
    • Wireless connections
    • Wireless and portable wireless device criteria
    • Combination networks
  • Network Services and Operations
    • Windows server platform utilities
    • Cloud services: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS
    • Security level access terminology
    • Network administration and Credential Manager
    • Signaling theory and classifications
    • Network drivers
    • Transmission paths versus protocols
    • SNMP framework
    • Analog and digital communications
    • Broadband and baseband transmission
    • Digital signaling characteristics
    • CSU/DSU functions
    • Software and hardware sharing utilities
    • Network operating system, NAS and RAID file systems
    • Multiuser file integrity
    • WINS, DHCP, DNS and NAT network services
    • Network performance and monitoring tools
    • Native network protocol stacks
    • Boot file structures
    • Separate operating system disk partitions
    • Network operating system administration and cybersecurity controls
  • Diagnostics, Equipment, Tools and Troubleshooting
    • Network performance measurement for accounting and auditing
    • TCP/IP utility commands and switches
    • Network bottleneck causes and symptoms
    • Network test equipment
    • UPS and redundant power supply selection
  • Network Security
    • Enterprise network disaster planning
    • Virus safeguards and activity monitoring
    • Backup tools for critical resources
    • DNS attack mitigation
    • SSL in network cybersecurity
    • Wireless encryption keys
    • RADIUS protocol
    • IEEE 802.1x and EAP
    • Wireless network security protocols
  • Networking and Industry Standards
    • OSI configuration and layer standards
    • Network standards organizations
    • Network shared access standards
    • Basic optical standards
    • FDDI procedure and capability
    • SONET, SDH and OTN
    • Advanced SCSI standards
    • Hard disk drive standard limitations
Examination sources