CCT Routing & Switching Exam Guide: Status, Skills, and the Right Preparation Path
CCT Routing & Switching validated practical support skills for technicians working with Cisco routers, switches, cabling, interfaces, and IOS-based operating environments. That exam path is no longer available: Cisco retired the 100-490 RSTECH exam, with February 9, 2025 as its final test date, and identifies 800-150 FLDTEC as the replacement. This guide helps former RSTECH candidates decide whether they are preserving an existing certification or preparing for CCT Field Technician instead, then turn the relevant equipment-identification and CLI skills into a focused study plan.
What happened to CCT Routing & Switching?
The former CCT Routing & Switching certification cannot be earned or renewed by taking 100-490 RSTECH now. Cisco lists the certification and its associated exam as retired, and identifies CCT Field Technician and the 800-150 FLDTEC exam as the replacement path.
The former exam and certification
CCT Routing & Switching was associated with Supporting Cisco Routing and Switching Network Devices v3.0, exam 100-490 RSTECH. Cisco described the certification as focused on onsite support and maintenance of Cisco routers, switches, and operating environments.
The final date to take 100-490 RSTECH was February 9, 2025. Cisco states that retired exams are no longer available for certifying or recertifying. A certification earned through a retired exam remains valid until the individual holder’s expiration date, so existing holders should check their own certification record rather than assume that retirement immediately invalidates it.
The replacement decision
Cisco states that CCT Field Technician replaced the former CCT Collaboration, CCT Data Center, and CCT Routing & Switching certifications. Cisco made 800-150 FLDTEC available starting February 10, 2025, and requires passing it to earn CCT Field Technician.
This creates two different candidate situations. If you already hold CCT Routing & Switching, your immediate task is to verify its individual expiration date and decide whether the broader Field Technician credential matches your next role. If you never took RSTECH, do not schedule a retired-exam attempt or build a plan around old registration information; use the current FLDTEC materials and exam page instead.
Who should use this guide?
This guide is most useful to three groups: technicians researching the former credential, current CCT Routing & Switching holders planning their next certification, and candidates whose practical work resembles the old routing-and-switching support role but who now need to prepare for CCT Field Technician. The correct study scope depends on which of those situations describes you.
Candidates researching an old job requirement
Some job descriptions and internal training records may still mention CCT Routing & Switching or 100-490 RSTECH. Treat those labels as historical references. Confirm with the employer whether the requirement means an active legacy certification, a general field-support capability, or the current CCT Field Technician certification.
Do not infer equivalence from the names alone. Cisco says FLDTEC covers onsite replacement across routing, switching, data center, UCS, and collaboration platforms. It is therefore a broader replacement exam than the former routing-and-switching-only path.
Existing certification holders
A current holder should separate certification maintenance from skills maintenance. Cisco says a certification based on a retired exam remains valid until the holder’s individual expiration date, but the old exam cannot be used for recertification. Confirm your personal status through Cisco’s official certification records and investigate the current Field Technician requirements before choosing a new exam.
Your practical preparation can still begin with the former RSTECH skill set if routers, switches, interfaces, cabling, and IOS troubleshooting make up most of your work. It should then expand to the wider FLDTEC scope if the replacement credential is your objective.
New candidates
New candidates should not prepare as though 100-490 RSTECH were still an available entry point. Cisco states that the current CCT Field Technician certification has no formal prerequisites and requires passing one exam. That makes FLDTEC the relevant certification decision, even when your preferred work is limited to routing and switching.
The older RSTECH topics remain useful as a foundation for field support, but they are not a substitute for reviewing the current FLDTEC exam information. Use official current documentation to establish the examinable scope before buying training or booking an appointment.
What practical skills did RSTECH validate?
The former RSTECH exam targeted hands-on support judgment rather than abstract network design. Cisco said candidates needed to identify router and switch models, accessories, cabling, and interfaces; understand Cisco IOS operating modes; and use the Cisco CLI to connect to and service products.
Recognizing hardware and connection choices
A field technician must be able to turn a physical device into an actionable service decision. That means distinguishing a router from a switch, identifying the relevant model or hardware family, recognizing accessories, and matching the available cable or interface to the service task.
Prepare by studying equipment as connected systems rather than as isolated vocabulary. For each device or image, ask: What is this component? What does it connect to? Which interface or cable would a technician inspect first? What information would confirm that identification? This approach is a practical recommendation, not a claim about an undisclosed question format.
Understanding IOS operating modes
Cisco specifically identified IOS operating modes as part of the former RSTECH skill set. Your preparation should therefore include the purpose of each mode, the kind of action appropriate to it, and the way a technician moves between modes during a service task.
Avoid learning mode names without learning the operational reason for the transition. A useful exercise is to write a short sequence for a routine service action: connect to the device, establish the required access level, inspect the relevant information, make only the intended change, and return to a safe state. Then explain why each transition occurs.
Using the CLI for service work
The CLI objective was practical: connect to and service Cisco products. Study the difference between observing a condition and changing a configuration. A technician should be able to interpret the prompt, select an appropriate inspection command, recognize whether the output answers the question, and avoid making an unnecessary change.
Use a lab or approved practice environment to rehearse command navigation and output interpretation. Read the output closely instead of treating command execution as success by itself. The valuable habit is linking a symptom to evidence, then choosing the smallest safe next action.
Supporting a device rather than redesigning a network
The former certification focused on onsite support and maintenance. That emphasis should shape your study time. Prioritize hardware recognition, physical connectivity, operating modes, CLI service actions, and disciplined troubleshooting over advanced architecture or large-scale network design unless your current role requires both.
This distinction also helps explain why a memorization-only approach is weak. A field-support question can test whether you recognize the object, interface, mode, or service action that fits a situation. Build the ability to explain the relationship between the physical device and the IOS task.
What did the former RSTECH exam require?
Cisco described 100-490 RSTECH as a closed-book exam that prohibited outside reference materials. It was listed as 90 minutes long with 60–70 questions. Those details describe the retired exam only and should not be transferred to the current FLDTEC exam.
How to use the old format information
The retired format is useful for understanding why concise recall and fast interpretation mattered to former candidates. It is not a scheduling specification for a current attempt. There is no valid RSTECH appointment to book after its final date, and Cisco’s current FLDTEC page provides the relevant delivery and timing information for the replacement.
For historical RSTECH study records, mark format details with the exam code 100-490. This prevents a common error: copying the old time limit or question range into notes intended for FLDTEC. Keep legacy notes clearly separated from current exam notes.
Why closed-book preparation still matters as a habit
Because Cisco described the former exam as closed book, candidates preparing for that exam needed to recognize equipment, modes, and service actions without consulting outside material. That remains a sensible practice exercise for the underlying skills, even though it cannot recreate the retired test.
Use references while learning, then remove them during timed recall sessions. When you miss an item, record the reason: unfamiliar hardware, confused interface purpose, incorrect mode transition, or misread CLI output. Correcting the category of error is more useful than simply adding another memorized answer.
Should you study RSTECH material or FLDTEC material?
Study old RSTECH material only when you need the routing-and-switching foundation or are maintaining knowledge associated with an existing legacy credential. Study current FLDTEC material when you need an available Cisco technician certification. Do not treat a former RSTECH course or question bank as a complete FLDTEC preparation source.
When legacy material is still useful
The former course and exam-topic information identify a coherent foundation: Cisco router and switch identification, accessories, cabling, interfaces, IOS operating modes, and CLI-based service work. Those subjects remain sensible preparation areas for anyone entering onsite network support.
Cisco’s former RSTECH course overview listed e-learning duration as equivalent to 6–7 classroom hours and listed no prerequisite for that course. That is course information, not a promise that the same amount of study is sufficient for a certification attempt. Use it as an indication of the course’s compact introductory scope, not as a personal study-hour target.
When legacy material is not enough
Cisco says FLDTEC covers onsite replacement across routing, switching, data center, UCS, and collaboration platforms. A candidate who studies only routers and switches may therefore leave substantial parts of the replacement certification unprepared.
Before committing to a study package, compare its objectives with the current official FLDTEC information. Ask whether it addresses the wider platform coverage, not merely whether its title contains “CCT,” “technician,” or “routing and switching.” Course branding is not evidence that the content matches the current exam.
How to handle unofficial practice content
Use practice questions to expose weak concepts and to rehearse careful reading, not to predict or reproduce live exam content. Exam dumps, leaked questions, and memorization shortcuts are not a reliable or appropriate basis for certification preparation, and they do not replace official objectives or practical understanding.
A sound review item should lead you back to a concept you can explain: why a cable or interface fits, what an IOS mode permits, what CLI evidence means, or what onsite replacement action is appropriate. If a resource claims certainty about undisclosed live questions, treat that as a warning sign.
How should you prepare for the practical skill set?
Build preparation around a repeatable service workflow: identify the equipment, map the physical connections, establish the correct IOS access context, inspect evidence through the CLI, and select a controlled service action. This sequence connects the former exam’s separate topics and makes gaps visible.
Step 1: Create an equipment identification sheet
Start with a one-page inventory for each device family or lab item you are studying. Include the device type, visible identifiers, relevant accessories, interface names, cable relationships, and the evidence you would use to confirm the identification.
Do not fill the sheet with unsupported specifications or obscure model trivia. The former RSTECH topic description specifically emphasized models, accessories, cabling, and interfaces. Keep each entry tied to a field-support decision: identify, connect, inspect, replace, or escalate.
Step 2: Draw the physical path before touching the CLI
For a service scenario, sketch the device and its connected interfaces before entering commands. Label what is known and what is uncertain. This prevents a common mistake: using a correct command against the wrong interface or troubleshooting an IOS symptom before checking the physical connection.
Then compare the drawing with the available hardware and cabling. Ask whether the proposed connection is physically plausible and whether an accessory or interface mismatch explains the symptom. This exercise turns recognition into diagnosis without requiring access to live customer equipment.
Step 3: Rehearse mode transitions deliberately
Practice entering the device and stating the purpose of each operating mode before moving onward. For every transition, write the task it enables and the risk of performing the wrong action from the current context.
A useful drill is to begin from an unfamiliar prompt, identify the current mode, and describe the next safe step aloud. Repeat until the mode is recognized from context rather than from a memorized linear sequence. The aim is controlled navigation, not speed for its own sake.
Step 4: Read CLI output as evidence
Choose a service question before running a command. For example, decide whether you are checking identity, interface state, connectivity, or configuration context. After viewing the output, state exactly which line or condition answers the question and what remains unknown.
This habit prevents command collecting. A long list of commands does not demonstrate troubleshooting skill if the results are not interpreted. Keep a log with four fields: symptom, evidence, conclusion, and next action. Review the log for unsupported leaps between evidence and conclusion.
Step 5: Separate observation from intervention
A technician should know when to inspect and when to change. Mark each practice action as read-only observation, controlled configuration, physical intervention, or escalation. Begin with the least disruptive category that can answer the service question.
This is a practical recommendation based on the former support-and-maintenance emphasis, not an additional Cisco requirement. It improves judgment because it makes you explain why a change is necessary instead of treating configuration activity as the default response.
What study mistakes should you avoid?
The most damaging mistakes are strategic: preparing for a retired exam, confusing a course with a certification, memorizing commands without interpreting output, and ignoring the broader replacement scope. Correct these before increasing study volume.
Mistake: booking from an old exam reference
A page, document, or forum post may still mention 100-490 RSTECH. Check the publication context and the official retired-exam information before relying on it. Cisco lists February 9, 2025 as the final date to take RSTECH, so an old booking instruction is not a current route to certification.
Next action: write the exam code at the top of your study plan. If it is 100-490, decide whether you are studying historical material for a legacy knowledge goal or whether you need to replace the plan with FLDTEC preparation.
Mistake: treating the former course duration as a study guarantee
The former course overview listed e-learning duration as equivalent to 6–7 classroom hours. That describes the course format, not the total preparation required for every candidate and not a current FLDTEC preparation estimate.
Next action: use a diagnostic task to set your workload. Try to identify unfamiliar equipment, explain IOS modes, and interpret CLI evidence without notes. Expand study time around the areas where you cannot explain the reasoning, rather than around a fixed number of hours.
Mistake: learning interfaces as a vocabulary list
Names alone do not show that you can service a device. If you cannot connect an interface to a cable, neighboring device, likely symptom, or verification step, the information is not yet operational.
Next action: convert every interface note into a relationship diagram or service prompt. Explain what is connected, what you would inspect, and what observation would support your conclusion.
Mistake: practicing only successful commands
Real service work includes incomplete information, wrong assumptions, and outputs that require a second check. A practice routine that records only correct command sequences can hide whether you understand the problem.
Next action: deliberately include ambiguous scenarios. Stop after the first output and list competing explanations. Then identify what additional physical or CLI evidence would distinguish them. This builds a troubleshooting process without relying on live exam questions.
Mistake: assuming the replacement has the old scope
The replacement FLDTEC exam is not described by Cisco as routing-and-switching-only. Cisco identifies onsite replacement coverage across routing, switching, data center, UCS, and collaboration platforms.
Next action: create a scope checklist from the current official FLDTEC information and mark every platform area that your chosen training addresses. If a resource covers only the former RSTECH subjects, label it as foundation material rather than replacement-exam preparation.
What is known about the current FLDTEC exam?
Cisco lists 800-150 FLDTEC as the replacement exam and says it covers onsite replacement across routing, switching, data center, UCS, and collaboration platforms. Cisco lists the exam at US$200 with a 120-minute duration, and states that current CCT exams are proctored securely online or at testing centers.
Certification and prerequisite information
Cisco states that there are no formal prerequisites for the current Cisco Certified Field Technician certification and that earning it requires passing one exam. “No formal prerequisites” does not mean no preparation is needed; it means Cisco does not require a prior certification or specified prerequisite credential for this certification.
Use that distinction when planning. If you are new to Cisco support, allocate time to foundational device and CLI work before attempting broad platform coverage. If you already support routers and switches, use that experience as a base while checking the areas added by FLDTEC.
Delivery and result information
Cisco says current CCT exams are proctored in a secure environment online or at testing centers, are graded pass/fail, and usually provide results online within 48 hours. Confirm the current appointment rules, identity requirements, technical conditions, and availability through Cisco before scheduling because delivery arrangements can change.
Do not use the former RSTECH duration, question range, or closed-book statement as a description of FLDTEC. The former details belong to the retired 100-490 exam; the current exam page is the appropriate source for current delivery information.
Cost and timing discipline
Cisco lists 800-150 FLDTEC at US$200 and a 120-minute duration. Treat both as current official listing details that should be checked again before purchase or appointment, particularly if you are comparing providers or planning several attempts.
The practical decision is not simply whether the listed fee fits your budget. First confirm that FLDTEC is the credential your employer or role recognizes, then verify that your study materials cover the current scope. A lower-cost legacy resource is poor value if it prepares you for an unavailable exam.
A practical four-stage study roadmap
A staged plan is more efficient than alternating randomly between hardware flashcards and CLI commands. First establish the current certification target, then build the routing-and-switching foundation, add the wider replacement scope when required, and finish with evidence-based review under exam-like constraints.
Stage 1: Confirm the target before studying
Record your situation in one sentence: existing legacy holder, historical RSTECH learner, or new FLDTEC candidate. Check the official retirement and current certification pages. Write down the exam code you are actually preparing for and remove outdated appointment instructions from your notes.
For an existing holder, verify the individual expiration date and identify whether CCT Field Technician is the intended next credential. For a new candidate, start from 800-150 FLDTEC rather than treating 100-490 RSTECH as an alternative booking option.
Stage 2: Build the core support model
Study device and model recognition, accessories, cabling, and interfaces together. Use diagrams, equipment photographs, approved documentation, or a lab environment to connect each physical item to its service purpose.
Next, rehearse IOS operating modes and basic CLI service actions. Keep the focus on connecting to and servicing a product: identify the current context, inspect the relevant evidence, and make a controlled decision. End this stage with a short self-test in which you explain each step without notes.
Stage 3: Expand to the replacement scope
If FLDTEC is your target, add the platform areas Cisco identifies beyond the former routing-and-switching focus: data center, UCS, and collaboration, alongside routing and switching. Organize the material around onsite replacement decisions rather than attempting to master unrelated advanced design topics.
For each platform area, create a concise service card containing the equipment or system category, what must be identified, what physical or operational evidence matters, and when the technician should escalate. Use the current official exam information to validate coverage, because the former RSTECH topic page cannot define the complete FLDTEC scope.
Stage 4: Test readiness through explanation
Finish with closed-reference drills even though the old closed-book rule applies specifically to RSTECH. Ask yourself to identify an item, explain a connection, name the relevant IOS context, interpret a CLI result, and select the next service action. Then check the reference and correct the reasoning, not just the final label.
Readiness is stronger when you can explain why an answer fits and why the closest alternatives do not. Keep a final error list organized by physical identification, interface and cabling, IOS modes, CLI interpretation, and replacement-scope coverage. Review the largest category first.
How should you schedule the next action?
Your next action depends on status: verify an existing certification, replace a retired-exam plan, or validate FLDTEC scope before purchasing preparation materials. Scheduling should come after that decision, not before it.
If you already hold CCT Routing & Switching
Check your personal certification expiration date and confirm whether your employer still accepts the legacy credential for the role. Then compare your career objective with CCT Field Technician, which Cisco identifies as the replacement certification.
Use your existing routing-and-switching knowledge as an advantage, but do not assume it covers the full replacement exam. Build a gap list for data center, UCS, and collaboration coverage, and verify current exam details before selecting a testing option.
If you planned to take 100-490 RSTECH
Stop using the old exam as your scheduling target. Cisco lists February 9, 2025 as its final test date and states that retired exams are unavailable for certification or recertification.
Decide whether you need the current FLDTEC credential or only the former RSTECH skill foundation. If certification is required, move your plan to 800-150 FLDTEC and review the current official scope. If practical knowledge is the goal, retain the RSTECH topics but label them as foundational or historical.
If you are ready to book FLDTEC
Confirm the exam code, current price, duration, delivery options, and appointment requirements on Cisco’s official page immediately before scheduling. Cisco currently lists 800-150 FLDTEC at US$200 with a 120-minute duration and describes secure online or testing-center proctoring.
Before paying, perform a scope check. You should be able to explain the former routing-and-switching foundation and identify how your preparation addresses the additional data center, UCS, and collaboration coverage described for FLDTEC. If that check exposes a gap, study first and schedule later.
Official sources to keep open
Use Cisco’s current certification and exam pages for scheduling decisions, and use the retired-exam and certification-update pages to distinguish historical RSTECH information from the replacement path. The former exam-topics page and course overview are useful for understanding the legacy skill foundation, not for treating RSTECH as an available exam.
Current certification and exam information
The Cisco technician certification page explains the current CCT Field Technician structure, including the absence of formal prerequisites and the one-exam requirement. The Cisco exams and training page provides current FLDTEC scope and listed delivery information.
Review these pages again when you are ready to schedule. They are the appropriate references for current exam details rather than archived study notes or third-party summaries.
Historical RSTECH information
The former exam-topics page identifies the RSTECH association, support focus, skills, format, and retired exam context. The former course overview provides the historical course description, including its listed e-learning duration and prerequisite statement.
Use these sources to understand what the legacy credential represented. Do not use them to infer that the same exam remains open or that the former course alone prepares a candidate for FLDTEC.
The final candidate check
Before starting an appointment, answer four questions in writing: Which exam is available for my goal? Is my source current or historical? Does my study plan cover the official scope? Can I perform and explain the physical and CLI service workflow without relying on memorized answer patterns?
If any answer is unclear, resolve it through the official Cisco source before spending money or setting a date. That short verification step prevents the most expensive preparation error in this certification path: preparing carefully for an exam that is no longer available.
Conclusion
CCT Routing & Switching remains relevant as a description of practical Cisco support skills, but 100-490 RSTECH is retired and cannot be used for a new certification or recertification attempt. Existing holders should verify their individual status; new candidates should evaluate 800-150 FLDTEC, the replacement exam for CCT Field Technician. Build preparation around equipment identification, cabling and interfaces, IOS operating modes, CLI evidence, and controlled service decisions, then extend the plan to the broader FLDTEC platform scope before scheduling.
The material includes a comprehensive collection of practice questions and detailed explanations, providing a thorough review of the topics covered. test. These questions are written in an easy to understand format and designed to test your knowledge and determine your readiness for the exam.