What Qualifications and Certifications Help You Get AV Technician Jobs?

Scroll through a few AV technician jobs and you’ll see the same acronyms again and again. CTS, Dante, IPAF, CSCS. It can feel like you need a whole wall of certificates before anyone will look at your CV.

The good news is that you don’t need all of them, and you definitely don’t need them all at once. This guide takes you through which certifications are worth getting at each stage of your career, from before your first job to when you’re ready for CTS. If you want a full breakdown of every AV qualification, take a look at our guide to what qualifications you need for AV jobs.

Do you need qualifications to get AV technician jobs?

Most entry-level AV technician jobs don’t ask for formal qualifications, but a few well-chosen certifications can help your CV stand out and show employers you’re serious about the industry.

Some people come in through a college course or the Level 3 AV technician apprenticeship, while others start in a warehouse or as crew at live events and learn on the job. Whichever route you take, the certifications below will help you build credibility as you go.

Which certifications should you get before your first AV technician job?

Start with the free online ones. They cost nothing but your time, and they give you something real to talk about at interview.

Dante Certification

Dante is used to send audio over a network, and you’ll come across it in meeting rooms and live events alike. Audinate’s Dante Certification is free and online, and Levels 1 and 2 are a great place to begin.

Q-SYS Level One

Q-SYS training is free and self-paced online. Level One takes about eight hours and has no prerequisites, and by the end you’ll have built your own conference room design in Q-SYS Designer. If you’re completely new, the two-hour Level Zero course is a gentle introduction.

AVIXA-Recognized AV Technologist

This is AVIXA’s entry-level certificate for people new to the industry. It’s a 100-question online test that covers the basics of AV, and AVIXA describes it as a bridge to the CTS. It’s free for AVIXA Premium and Elite members.

A full UK driving licence

It’s not a certification, but it’s one of the most common requirements in AV technician job adverts. Technicians often travel between client sites or to event venues, so if you don’t drive yet, it’s worth adding to your list.

What certifications will you pick up in your first year?

Once you’re working, you’ll usually pick up the safety cards you need for the type of work you do, and many employers will arrange the training for you.

If you’re working on construction sites, you’ll need a CSCS card. If you’re working at height, which is common at live events and on installations, you’re likely to need IPAF training for mobile platforms or PASMA training for access towers. Our guide to AV qualifications explains what each card involves and how long it lasts.

Your first year is also when manufacturer training really starts to count. Whichever brands your company installs, ask if you can complete their training. It makes you more useful on site straight away, and it looks great on your CV when you move on.

When should you go for CTS?

AVIXA recommends around six months of experience before taking the CTS exam, which is one of the best-known certifications in AV.

By this point you’ll have hands-on experience to draw on, which makes the exam content much easier to understand. It’s also a good time to think about where you want to go next, as the specialist CTS-I and CTS-D certifications can lead into installation and design roles. We cover both in more detail in our AV qualifications guide. Our blog on AV engineer vs AV technician roles explains how that progression usually works.

How should you show certifications on your CV?

Getting certified is only half the job. Employers need to be able to spot your certifications quickly, so:

• Give them their own section. Put certifications under a clear heading, with the date you completed each one.
• Include the level. “Dante Certification Level 2” tells an employer much more than “Dante”.
• Mention what’s in progress. If you’re studying for CTS, say so. It shows you’re committed to developing.
• Add them to LinkedIn. Recruiters search for these keywords, so make sure they appear on your profile as well as your CV.

Find AV technician jobs with Prospero Integrated

At Prospero Integrated, we’ve been placing AV professionals since 2000, and we were the first UK recruitment agency to focus solely on audio visual. Our consultants speak to AV employers every day, so we can tell you which certifications they’re actually asking for and help you present yours in the best way.

Browse our latest AV technician jobs or register your CV and one of our consultants will be in touch.