100-490 · ● Active · Entry · Cisco
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | $125 |
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Questions | 60–70 (scored) |
| Passing | Vendor does not publish scaled score; pass/fail determination per Cisco standards |
| Format | Multiple choice, multiple response |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE (on-site and OnVUE remote) |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | 3 years |
| Renewal | Pass higher Cisco cert OR retake exam |
| Prerequisites | None (entry-level) |
| Released | Active certification (exam v3.0 current) |
| Retiring | No announced retirement date |
Vendor source — Cisco CCT Routing & Switching ↗
Official exam topics — CCT Routing Switching Exam Topics ↗
Exam blueprint PDF — 100-490 RSTECH Exam Topics ↗
Schedule exam — Pearson VUE ↗
About
The Cisco Certified Technician (CCT) Routing & Switching certification validates skills for onsite installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Cisco routers, switches, and IOS environments. Entry-level field technicians and support engineers use this credential to demonstrate hardware identification, CLI proficiency, and TAC collaboration competencies. The exam costs $125, lasts 90 minutes, and contains 60–70 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. No prerequisites; valid for three years.
Domain context — Hardware/Maintenance
Hands-on support and field service for physical networking infrastructure. Includes hardware diagnosis, cable management, interface identification, software image deployment, and escalation procedures with vendor technical support centers.
Read full deep dive — Cisco Network Infrastructure →
Topics covered
-
Network Fundamentals (15–20% estimated)
- OSI model, TCP/IP stack basics, Ethernet and IP addressing
- Common network protocols and packet flow
-
LAN Switching Technologies (20–25% estimated)
- VLAN configuration and trunking
- Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) fundamentals
- Switch port security and access control lists
-
Routing Technologies (20–25% estimated)
- Static and dynamic routing fundamentals
- OSPF and EIGRP basic operation
- Route selection and path determination
-
Infrastructure Services (10–15% estimated)
- DHCP, DNS, and IP address management
- NTP and logging basics
-
Cisco Equipment & Hardware (15–20% estimated)
- Router and switch model identification
- Interfaces, ports, and cabling types
- Module recognition and slot configurations
-
Cisco IOS Software Operation (10–15% estimated)
- Boot process and image loading
- Device startup configuration
- Software version identification
-
Service-Related Knowledge (5–10% estimated)
- RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) procedures
- TAC (Technical Assistance Center) escalation
- Field technician support workflows
Source: Official exam topics ↗
Common skills at Hardware/Maintenance · Entry
Shared entry-level competencies for field technicians supporting physical IT infrastructure.
- Identify network devices by model number and hardware revision
- Recognize cabling standards (UTP, fiber, serial) and connector types
- Navigate command-line interfaces (CLI) via terminal or console
- Interpret error messages and system logs for basic troubleshooting
- Document hardware inventory and asset information
- Coordinate with vendor support and escalate unresolved issues
- Apply basic safety practices (ESD, power, physical handling)
Recommended courses at Hardware/Maintenance · Entry
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Learning Network | Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices (FLDTEC) | $0 (free account) | ↗ |
| CBT Nuggets | CCT Routing and Switching | $199–$299/month | ↗ |
| Networkel | Cisco CCT Routing & Switching Video Bootcamp | $149–$199 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Cisco Certified Technician R&S RSTECH (100-490) Training | $14.99–$99.99 | ↗ |
| Skillsoft | CCT Routing & Switching Courses | $0 (subscription-based) | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: Each course is specifically for the 100-490 exam or RSTECH pathway. Avoid generic "Cisco networking" courses without explicit CCT 100-490 focus.
Practice exams
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWExam | Cisco 100-490 Practice Test (215+ scenario-based questions) | $19.99–$29.99 | ↗ |
| Udemy | Cisco 100-490 RSTECH Practice Exams | $14.99–$99.99 | ↗ |
| ExamCollection | Cisco RSTECH 100-490 Practice Test | $9.99–$24.99 | ↗ |
| ITExams | Free Cisco 100-490 Sample Questions | Free | ↗ |
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCT/CCNA Routing and Switching All-in-One Exam Guide (Exams 100-490 & 200-301) | Glen E. Clarke, Richard Deal | McGraw-Hill | 2021 | 978-1260469776 | ↗ |
Book note: The Clarke/Deal guide covers both 100-490 (CCT entry) and 200-301 (CCNA associate). This is the primary published resource for the 100-490 exam. As of 2026, no vendor-published study guide is available; third-party resources dominate.
Typical job titles at Hardware/Maintenance · Entry
Field Service Technician · Install Engineer · Network Support Technician · Technical Support Engineer · Onsite Support Specialist · Field Engineer
(Job titles drawn from Cisco partner networks and vendor job boards listing CCT as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $60,000 – $95,000 | ZipRecruiter ↗ · Glassdoor ↗ |
| ZAR | R284,000 – R483,000 | PayScale ZA ↗ · CareerJunction ↗ |
| GBP | £22,000 – £31,000 | IT Jobs Watch ↗ · PayScale UK ↗ |
Salary context: Ranges reflect entry-level field technicians with CCT credential. Higher end reflects senior field engineers or those with multiple Cisco certs. USD range based on 2025 ZipRecruiter data (92k–130k for CCT roles); ZAR reflects 1–3 years field experience; GBP reflects network technician median per IT Jobs Watch (Feb 2026).
Skills validated
Specific technologies and tasks tested in this exam, distinct from general hardware-support competencies.
- Cisco router model families (Catalyst, ISR, ASR) and switch platforms
- Console port access and terminal emulation (SSH, Telnet, serial)
- IOS image identification and boot sequence
- Basic router and switch configuration via CLI
- Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) state identification
- VLAN trunking and access port configuration
- DHCP address pool and lease management
- Static route and default gateway configuration
- Ethernet cable types (Cat 5e, Cat 6, Single-mode/Multimode fiber)
- Hardware RMA workflow and TAC escalation procedures
- Event log interpretation and syslog configuration
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) 200-301 ↗ (next level)
- Prerequisite for: CCNA (typical progression) and Cisco specialist certs (Security, Enterprise, Data Center)
- Equivalents at this level: CompTIA Network+ ↗ (vendor-neutral entry networking)
- Vendor overview: Cisco Vendor Overview ↗
Sources
- Cisco CCT Routing & Switching: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/entry/technician-cct/routing-switching.html
- Official exam topics (PDF): https://learningcontent.cisco.com/documents/exam-topics/100-490-rstech.pdf
- Cisco Learning Network CCT portal: https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/cct-routing-switching-exam-topics
- Pearson VUE exam scheduling: https://www.pearsonvue.com/
- ZipRecruiter CCT salary data: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Cisco-Cct
- PayScale ZA field service technician: https://www.payscale.com/research/ZA/Job=Field_Service_Technician/Salary
- IT Jobs Watch UK network technician: https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/jobs/uk/network%20technician.do
- PayScale UK network technician: https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Network_Technician/Salary
- CCT/CCNA All-in-One Exam Guide (Clarke, Deal, McGraw-Hill 2021): https://www.amazon.com/Routing-Switching-100-490-200-301-Certification/dp/1260469778
- NWExam practice test: https://www.nwexam.com/cisco/cisco-100-490-certification-exam-sample-questions-and-answers
- CBT Nuggets CCT training: https://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-training/cisco/cct-routing-switching
- Udemy CCT courses: https://www.udemy.com/course/cct-training/
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Cisco Network Infrastructure Parent domain: Hardware/Maintenance Vendor overview: Cisco Vendor Overview