- The Certiverse exam fee for 1D0-61C is $175, with no mandatory training add-on.
- You need 63.33% correct on 30 questions in 30 minutes to pass - no formal prerequisites required.
- Certification is valid three years; renewal means retaking the same exam or its successor.
- Remote proctoring via Certiverse or eligible CTC Online academic centers are the two testing paths.
The Core Exam Fee: What Certiverse Charges
If you're planning your 2026 budget for the Network Technology Associate credential, the number you actually need is straightforward: the CIW Network Technology Associate exam, 1D0-61C, costs $175 when scheduled through Certiverse remote proctoring. That fee is the entire mandatory cost of earning the certification - there is no separate application fee, no membership dues, and no hidden processing charge layered on top by Certification Partners, the body that administers the exam.
This is worth stating plainly because "NTA" is an acronym used by several unrelated credentials in completely different industries, each with its own pricing structure, testing vendor, and renewal cycle. If you see cost figures elsewhere that don't match what's described here, you're likely looking at information for a different certification entirely. Everything in this article refers specifically to the CIW Network Technology Associate exam administered through Certiverse.
Full Cost Breakdown for 2026
Because Network Technology Associate does not require formal training as a prerequisite, the mandatory cost structure is unusually simple compared to certifications that bundle coursework, labs, or proctoring surcharges into the price. Here's how the numbers actually break down when you're planning to sit for 1D0-61C.
| Cost Item | Amount / Requirement | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Certiverse exam fee (1D0-61C) | $175 | Yes |
| Formal training course | Not required | No |
| Study materials (books, practice tests) | Varies by candidate choice | No |
| Retake fee (if needed) | Same $175 Certiverse fee | Conditional |
| Renewal after 3 years | Same exam fee, retake required | Every 3 years |
Because there's no mandatory training component, your total out-of-pocket cost for Network Technology Associate is essentially the $175 exam fee plus whatever you choose to spend on optional prep resources like practice exams, textbooks, or a structured guide. Some candidates spend nothing beyond the exam fee itself, relying on the NTA Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts and free reference material. Others invest in more structured resources to reduce their risk of a costly retake.
Retake Costs and How to Avoid Them
Since the exam is scored on a pass/fail basis at 63.33% correct across 30 multiple-choice questions, there's no partial credit or reduced-fee retake path - a failed attempt simply means paying the full $175 again to reschedule through Certiverse. That makes preparation an economic decision as much as an academic one: spending a modest amount on quality prep resources, or none at all if you're already comfortable with the material, is almost always cheaper than facing a second $175 charge.
The most common reason candidates fail on their first attempt isn't a knowledge gap in a single domain - it's being unprepared for the exam's tight format. Thirty questions in thirty minutes leaves very little room for second-guessing or re-reading long scenario questions. Understanding this format in advance, and practicing under similar time pressure, is one of the cheapest ways to protect your $175 investment. For a full breakdown of what makes the exam format challenging (or manageable), see How Hard Is the NTA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Key Takeaway
Treat your first attempt as your only planned attempt. Budget your prep time around avoiding a second $175 charge rather than assuming a retake is a cheap safety net.
Optional Training and Study Material Costs
Formal training is explicitly not required to sit for 1D0-61C, which means the "cost" of preparation is almost entirely up to you. This is a meaningful difference from certifications that require you to purchase a bootcamp or authorized course before you're even eligible to register. For Network Technology Associate, your prep budget can range from essentially free (using publicly available references and a study plan) to whatever you're willing to spend on paid practice tests, guides, or courses.
What you're actually spending money on, if anything, is time efficiency. Since the exam draws from 11 official Version 2.2 objectives spanning everything from basic data communications to virtualization concepts, most candidates find it worthwhile to organize their review around those domains rather than studying networking topics at random. A structured resource like the NTA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt or a domain-by-domain breakdown such as the NTA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas can save hours of unfocused review, which for many people is worth more than the price of the resource itself.
What the Domains Actually Cover
Since there's no bundled training to walk you through content, it helps to know exactly what you're paying $175 to be tested on. The 11 official objectives cover:
Domains 1-4: Foundations
Basic data communications and Internet fundamentals, networking hardware roles and configuration, IP addressing and domain name relationships including subnet assignment, and the functions of common Internet servers.
- These early domains build the conceptual base for everything else on the exam.
Domains 5-8: Operations and Troubleshooting
Internet security and availability issues at both user and enterprise levels, diagnosing client performance problems, hardware and system maintenance for network-aware devices, and managing client operating systems.
- Expect scenario-style questions that test applied troubleshooting logic, not just definitions.
Domains 9-11: Modern Networking Topics
Configuring and troubleshooting wireless networks, understanding virtualization concepts, and explaining personal privacy protection on the Internet.
- These domains round out the exam with contemporary networking realities candidates encounter on the job.
Renewal Costs After Three Years
Network Technology Associate certification is valid for three years from the date you pass. When it's time to renew, there's no separate "renewal fee" distinct from the exam itself - you maintain your credential by passing the same exam (1D0-61C) or its successor version again, at whatever the current Certiverse fee is at that time. There are no continuing education units, no annual maintenance dues, and no separate paperwork process to track.
This structure means your long-term cost of holding the credential is predictable: essentially the exam fee, paid once every three years, assuming you pass on your first renewal attempt. Because networking technology and the exam's objectives can evolve between versions, it's worth treating each renewal as a genuine study cycle rather than a formality - reviewing the current domain list again before you sit down for round two.
Budgeting Your Prep Timeline
Since there's no mandatory course to pace your learning, building your own lightweight timeline around the 11 domains is the most cost-effective way to prepare without paying for anything beyond the exam fee itself. A simple four-week structure works well for most candidates balancing this against a job or coursework.
Foundations
- Review Domains 1-3: data communications, hardware roles, and IP addressing/subnetting
- Take an initial practice assessment to identify weak spots
Servers and Security
- Study Domains 4-5: server functions and Internet security/availability issues
- Work through scenario-based practice questions on troubleshooting logic
Systems and Wireless
- Cover Domains 6-9: performance diagnosis, maintenance, client OS management, and wireless configuration
- Practice under a 30-minute time limit to build exam pacing
Final Review
- Study Domains 10-11: virtualization and privacy concepts
- Retake full-length practice tests and revisit any domain scoring below your target
If you'd rather see this mapped against exact registration windows, the NTA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling guide covers how to time your Certiverse booking around your study schedule.
Cost vs. Value: Is the Price Justified?
A $175 exam fee with no required training is a relatively low financial barrier compared to many IT certifications that require paid bootcamps before you're even allowed to register. That accessibility is part of what makes Network Technology Associate an approachable entry point for candidates building foundational networking knowledge, whether they're students, career-changers, or professionals validating existing skills.
Whether that $175 is "worth it" depends on what you plan to do with the credential afterward - how it fits into your broader career goals, what roles value it, and how it compares to your alternatives. Those questions are explored in depth in Is the NTA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026, and if you're curious how the credential connects to job opportunities, NTA Jobs covers the kinds of roles where this foundational networking knowledge applies. For a look at how candidates typically perform on the exam itself, see NTA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
If you're still confirming eligibility before committing to the fee, it's worth double-checking that there are no prerequisites blocking you - there aren't, but the specifics are laid out clearly in NTA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. And if you're new to the credential entirely, starting with What Is NTA Certification? or NTA Certification will help you confirm this is the right exam before you pay the fee.
Once you've decided to move forward, practicing with realistic, timed questions on our practice test platform is one of the most direct ways to make sure your $175 attempt counts. Reviewing your weak domains through targeted practice sessions before exam day is far cheaper than paying for a retake.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Certiverse exam fee for the CIW Network Technology Associate exam (1D0-61C) is $175. This is the sole mandatory cost, since formal training is not required to register.
No mandatory add-on fees exist. Any additional spending, such as study guides or practice tests, is optional and depends on how you choose to prepare.
Yes. Since there's no bundled retake, failing to reach the required 63.33% score means scheduling and paying the $175 Certiverse fee again for another attempt.
Renewal requires passing the same exam or its successor version at the current fee - there is no separate discounted renewal rate.
No. Formal training is not a prerequisite for Network Technology Associate, so candidates can self-study using free or paid resources of their choosing before registering.
Understanding the true cost of Network Technology Associate comes down to one number - $175 - plus whatever time and optional resources you invest in making sure you pass on the first try. For a deeper look at exactly what score you need and how the exam is graded, see NTA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.