- What the CIT Certification Actually Is
- The Two-Course Structure Behind the Credential
- Who Qualifies: Prerequisites and Experience
- The AIS Proctored Exam: Format and Rules
- The Fundamentals of Networking Component
- The Sixteen Published Topics
- Fees, Retakes and the Testing Window
- Sequencing Your Preparation
- Validity and Renewal
- Where the Credential Fits in Hiring
- Frequently Asked Questions
- CIT Level II is a coursework-and-experience credential from ESA/National Training School, not one standalone exam.
- The only proctored exam is Advanced Intrusion Systems: 50 multiple-choice questions, two hours, open manual, 70% to pass.
- Networking requires a 70% terminal quiz; its length and timer are not publicly verified.
- You need an active Level I-or-higher credential plus 24 months of verified work or 24 months holding Level I.
What the CIT Certification Actually Is
In the electronic security world, CIT stands for Certified Intrusion Technician Level II, an advanced credential offered through the Electronic Security Association (ESA) and its education arm, the National Training School. If you landed here expecting a different credential that happens to share the acronym, this article is not about that one. Everything below concerns the ESA intrusion-technician pathway only. For a broader orientation on the name itself, see What Does CIT Stand For? and What Is CIT Certification?.
The most important thing to understand is structural: there is no standalone CIT exam. The credential is earned by combining verified prerequisites, two required additional courses, and a documented certification request. That design shapes how you prepare, what you pay, and how you should read any claim about "the CIT exam."
The Two-Course Structure Behind the Credential
Level II requires two courses beyond the Level I foundation:
- Advanced Intrusion Systems (AIS): the technical heart of the credential, with a proctored multiple-choice examination.
- Fundamentals of Networking: a four-hour course ending in a terminal quiz that requires 70% or higher.
The two components are assessed differently and should be studied differently. AIS is the course with a formal proctored exam, an open-book allowance and a firm time limit. Networking ends with a short completion quiz whose question count, item format and timer are not verified in the public listing. Do not assume the networking quiz mirrors AIS in length, open-book status or proctoring.
| Feature | Advanced Intrusion Systems | Fundamentals of Networking |
|---|---|---|
| Published topics | Nine | Seven |
| Course length | 14 hours online (current live course listed at 16 instruction hours) | 4 hours |
| Assessment | Proctored multiple-choice exam | Terminal quiz |
| Questions | 50 | Not verified |
| Time limit | 2 hours | Not verified |
| Passing score | 70% | 70% or higher |
| Open book | Yes, course manual | Not verified |
Note that course instruction hours are not exam timers. The 14-hour and 16-hour figures describe how long the instruction takes; the AIS exam itself remains two hours. The AIS course page is also tagged as revised in 2020, and there is no versioned standalone CIT exam. For the full picture of how requirements fit together, read CIT Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Who Qualifies: Prerequisites and Experience
Level II sits on top of Level I. To submit a certification request you need all of the following:
- An active ESA Certified Alarm Technician Level 1 or higher credential, or an ESA-accredited equivalent certificate.
- Either 24 months of verified industry work history or at least 24 months holding ESA CAT Level 1.
- Completion of both required courses (AIS and Fundamentals of Networking) within the previous five years.
- A documented certification request with supporting documentation.
The Level I prerequisite is distinct from the two additional courses. Having Level I does not waive either of them, and completing them does not substitute for Level I. The 24-month and five-year figures are administrative eligibility windows, not exam durations, so do not confuse them with testing time.
The AIS Proctored Exam: Format and Rules
The AIS exam is the one formal, high-stakes assessment on the path. Based on the current ESA course listing and the official October 20-21, 2026 training listing, the verified specifications are:
- 50 multiple-choice questions
- Two hours to complete
- Open book, using the course manual
- 70% passing score
- A verified proctor, since the exam counts toward certification or licensing
- A six-month window to complete the exam process
Not publicly disclosed: the split between scored and unscored questions, and the candidate pass rate. We will not guess at either; see CIT Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows for how to think about missing data. Likewise, the exact threshold is covered in CIT Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Why "open book" can be misleading
Open-book access to the manual rewards candidates who know where information lives. Two hours across 50 questions is a workable pace, but only if you are not hunting through the manual for every answer. The manual is a safety net for specific details, not a replacement for understanding how power supplies, zone wiring, inputs and outputs, and commissioning procedures actually behave in the field.
Proctoring options
Required course exams are administered by ESA using Honorlock/Absorb online proctoring or approved in-person arrangements. Confirm your setup and technical requirements well before exam day so a webcam or connectivity problem does not eat into your six-month window. Scheduling details are explored in CIT Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The Fundamentals of Networking Component
The networking course is a four-hour course covering seven published subjects. It concludes with a short terminal quiz requiring 70% or higher. The public listing does not verify the quiz's question count, item format or numerical timer, so any claim you read that it has a specific number of questions or is open book should be treated skeptically.
This component is often underestimated by technicians who work primarily on panels and sensors. Modern intrusion systems communicate over IP, share data across LANs, and rely on structured cabling, so the topics are directly relevant to commissioning and troubleshooting, even if the quiz itself is brief. Preserve the boundary: networking knowledge is tested by its own quiz, not by the proctored AIS exam.
The Sixteen Published Topics
ESA publishes nine Advanced Intrusion Systems topics and seven Fundamentals of Networking subjects. Together they form sixteen headings that organize preparation. An important caveat: these are unweighted course-preparation topics, not an official weighted blueprint, not a ranked list, and not an exhaustive item inventory. No official domain weights exist, so no domain can honestly be called "the largest." For the full breakdown, see CIT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas.
Advanced Intrusion Systems topics
Practical application of electronics
The electrical fundamentals underneath every device on a protected premises.
- Reading and applying electronic principles to real alarm hardware
- Diagnosing faults that trace back to component behavior
Practical application of controls
How control equipment manages arming, zones and system behavior.
- Configuring and operating control panels in applied scenarios
System power
Power is a leading source of service calls, so expect applied questions.
- Primary and standby power considerations
- Sizing and verifying power for connected devices
Input and output
How detection devices feed the panel and how the panel drives sounders, relays and other outputs.
Networking and Communication
How intrusion systems communicate with monitoring and with each other. This topic bridges naturally into the separate networking course.
Advanced systems and devices
Equipment and configurations beyond the Level I baseline.
Testing and commissioning
Verifying a system works as designed before handing it to the customer.
- Structured test procedures and documentation
Project management
Planning and coordinating installations, which sets Level II apart from field-only skills.
Residential and commercial sensor application
Choosing and placing sensors appropriately for different building types and risk profiles.
Fundamentals of Networking subjects
The seven networking subjects
- What a network is and what its components are
- Common network topologies
- How networks communicate and share data
- Storage types used in networked systems
- Composition of a network cable
- How a LAN and WAN function and the differences between them
- The steps of troubleshooting network problems
Key Takeaway
Treat the sixteen topics as a checklist for coverage, not a weighting guide. Since no official percentages exist, balance your time by your own weak spots rather than by assumptions about what "must" be most heavily tested.
Fees, Retakes and the Testing Window
Pricing differs by ESA membership status and by whether you buy the full online bundle or only the courses you still need. The published figures are:
| Route | Member | Nonmember |
|---|---|---|
| Full online bundle | $644.40 | $1,020 |
| AIS only (existing-prerequisite route) | $308 | $440 |
| Networking only (existing-prerequisite route) | $100 | $140 |
| AIS + networking calculated total | $408 | $580 |
| Certification request | Free | |
The ESA FAQ lists a $135 retake fee and a six-month testing window. If you are weighing whether membership pays off, the member-versus-nonmember gap on the full bundle is substantial. Our full breakdown lives in CIT Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Sequencing Your Preparation
Generic study systems matter far less here than sequencing the two components correctly. Because AIS carries the proctored exam and the six-month clock, schedule it around the networking quiz rather than the other way around. A practical order:
Networking foundation first
- Complete the four-hour networking course and its terminal quiz
- Pay particular attention to LAN/WAN differences and the troubleshooting steps
Hardware-centric AIS topics
- Electronics, controls, system power, input and output
- Annotate your manual so open-book lookups are fast
Applied and procedural AIS topics
- Networking and communication, advanced systems and devices, testing and commissioning
- Project management and residential/commercial sensor application
Timed practice, then the proctored exam
- Run 50-question sets against a two-hour clock
- Confirm proctoring setup before your scheduled attempt
Why networking first? It is short, it reinforces the AIS networking and communication topic, and finishing it early removes one requirement while your AIS knowledge matures. For a deeper plan, use CIT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and keep the CIT Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts handy for last-minute review. You can also drill question styles on our CIT practice test site. Note that any practice-question allocation across the sixteen topics on our platform is editorial, not an official distribution.
If you are wondering how demanding this all is, How Hard Is the CIT Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 covers difficulty without inventing statistics.
Validity and Renewal
The credential is valid for 24 months. Renewal requires 24 CEU hours per two-year cycle along with an application and fee. The current renewal fee has not been verified, so confirm it with ESA directly rather than relying on third-party figures. Build CEU accumulation into your calendar from day one of the cycle instead of cramming at the end; spreading the hours across two years is far easier alongside field work. For ongoing education options, see CIT Training.
Where the Credential Fits in Hiring
Level II signals that a technician has moved beyond basic installation into advanced intrusion systems, networked communication and project-level responsibility. It is most relevant to technicians at alarm dealers, security integrators and installation firms who are being groomed for lead-technician, commissioning or project roles. Because the topics include project management and commercial sensor application, the credential aligns with higher-complexity work rather than entry-level service calls.
We do not cite specific salary figures here because none are verifiable from the issuer. For a qualitative look at earning potential and roles, browse CIT Jobs, CIT Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis, and Is the CIT Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. CIT Level II is earned through two required courses (Advanced Intrusion Systems and Fundamentals of Networking), prerequisites, and a documented certification request. The proctored exam belongs to the AIS course; networking ends with a terminal quiz.
The AIS exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, a two-hour limit, open use of the course manual, and a 70% passing score. These specifications apply to AIS only, not to the networking quiz.
An active ESA CAT Level 1 or higher credential, plus 24 months of verified industry work or 24 months holding Level 1. Both required courses must be completed within five years, and you must submit a documented certification request.
The ESA FAQ lists a $135 retake fee and a six-month testing window. Plan your attempt early in that window so you have room to retake if needed.
It is valid for 24 months. Renewal requires 24 CEU hours per two-year cycle, an application and a fee; the current renewal fee is not verified, so confirm it with ESA.
Whatever your starting point, begin by confirming your Level I status and work-history documentation, then map your time across the sixteen published topics. When you are ready to test your recall under realistic conditions, our CIT practice questions can help you rehearse the pacing the AIS exam demands.