If you're looking into ServiceNow certifications, one of the first questions is: how much does it actually cost? The short answer is $150–$300+ per exam, but the real cost includes training, study materials, and potentially retakes.
Here's the full breakdown so you can budget properly and avoid surprises.
Quick Cost Summary Table
| Certification | Exam Fee | Training (Optional) | Total Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSA (System Administrator) | $150 | $0–$2,000 | $150–$2,150 |
| CIS (Implementation Specialist) | $150 | $0–$3,000 | $150–$3,150 |
| CAD (Application Developer) | $150 | $0–$2,500 | $150–$2,650 |
| CAS (Application Specialist) | $150 | $0–$3,000 | $150–$3,150 |
| CMA (Certified Master Architect) | $300+ | Required training | $2,000–$5,000+ |
| Micro-Certifications | $0–$100 | Free (Now Learning) | $0–$100 |
ServiceNow CSA Certification Cost: The Starting Point
The Certified System Administrator (CSA) is where most people begin their ServiceNow career. Here's what you'll spend:
Exam Fee: $150
- Format: 60 multiple-choice questions
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Passing score: 70%
- Delivery: Online proctored or test center (Kryterion)
- Validity: Requires annual maintenance ("delta") exam
Training Costs
ServiceNow offers several training paths:
| Training Option | Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Now Learning (free platform) | $0 | Self-paced |
| ServiceNow Fundamentals (instructor-led) | $2,000 | 3 days |
| On-demand training | $400–$800 | Self-paced |
| Third-party courses (Udemy, etc.) | $10–$50 | Self-paced |
Pro tip: You can pass the CSA using only free resources. ServiceNow's Now Learning platform provides free training paths, and our free CSA practice questions cover all exam domains.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
- PDI (Personal Developer Instance): Free from ServiceNow — request one at developer.servicenow.com
- Maintenance exam (annual): ~$50 per year to keep your cert current
- Retake fee: $150 (full price — no discount for retakes)
- Study materials: $0–$50 if using third-party resources
Total CSA Cost
- Budget path: $150–$200 (exam + maintenance)
- Moderate path: $200–$500 (exam + some paid courses)
- Premium path: $2,000–$2,500 (official training + exam)
CIS (Implementation Specialist) Certification Cost
CIS certifications are role-specific and there are many variants. Each costs the same to sit for, but training investments differ.
Exam Fee: $150 per CIS module
Popular CIS certifications:
- CIS – IT Service Management (ITSM)
- CIS – Customer Service Management (CSM)
- CIS – Human Resources (HR)
- CIS – Security Incident Response (SIR)
- CIS – IT Operations Management (ITOM)
- CIS – Software Asset Management (SAM)
Prerequisites
Important cost consideration: Most CIS exams require the CSA certification first. So your real cost is:
- CSA exam: $150
- CIS exam: $150
- Minimum total: $300 for your first CIS certification
Training
- Official ServiceNow training per CIS module: $1,500–$3,000
- Now Learning paths: Free
- Third-party training: $20–$100
CAD (Application Developer) Certification Cost
Exam Fee: $150
- Format: 60 questions
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Prerequisite: CSA certification recommended but not required
- Focus: Building applications on the ServiceNow platform
Total Investment
- Budget: $150 (self-study)
- With training: $150 + $2,500 = $2,650
CMA (Certified Master Architect) Cost
The CMA is ServiceNow's highest-level certification and significantly more expensive:
- Exam/review fee: $300+
- Required training: Multiple courses ($3,000–$5,000+)
- Portfolio review: Additional fee
- Prerequisites: Multiple CIS certifications + significant experience
- Total: $5,000–$10,000+
This is an elite certification — only a few hundred people globally hold it.
Micro-Certifications: The Budget Option
ServiceNow introduced micro-certifications that are much cheaper:
- Cost: Free to $100
- Duration: 1–3 hours
- Platform: Now Learning
- Examples: Flow Designer, Virtual Agent, Service Portal
These are great for building your resume incrementally before investing in full certifications.
Retake Policy and Costs
If you fail a ServiceNow exam:
- First retake: Must wait 24 hours, costs $150 (full price)
- Second retake: Must wait 14 days, costs $150
- Third+ retake: Must wait 30 days, costs $150
There are no discounted retakes. This is why preparation matters — failing twice means $450 total instead of $150.
Annual Maintenance (Delta Exams)
ServiceNow releases new platform versions twice a year. To maintain your certification:
- Frequency: Annual delta exam required
- Cost: ~$50 per delta exam
- Format: 20–30 questions on new features
- What happens if you lapse: Certification becomes inactive; you may need to retake the full exam
Budget $50/year per certification for ongoing maintenance.
How to Save Money on ServiceNow Certification
1. Use Free Resources First
- Now Learning: Free courses directly from ServiceNow
- Developer instances: Free PDIs for hands-on practice
- CertStud: Free CSA practice questions and flashcards
- ServiceNow Community: Free study groups and forums
2. Employer Sponsorship
- 71% of ServiceNow employers reimburse certification costs
- Average reimbursement: $500–$3,000/year
- Ask your employer before paying out of pocket
3. ServiceNow Partner Programs
- If you work at a ServiceNow partner, training is often included
- Partners get discounted or free exam vouchers
- Partner employees get priority access to beta exams
4. Bundle Your Training
- Purchase multiple Now Learning courses together for discounts
- Some training providers offer certification bundles (CSA + CIS) at a discount
- Watch for ServiceNow Knowledge conference promotions
ServiceNow Certification ROI: Is It Worth the Cost?
Let's look at the numbers:
| Career Stage | Without Cert | With CSA | With CSA + CIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | $55,000 | $70,000 | N/A |
| Mid-Level | $75,000 | $95,000 | $110,000 |
| Senior | $95,000 | $120,000 | $140,000+ |
- Average salary increase with CSA: ~$15,000–$25,000/year
- Cost of CSA: $150 (self-study) to $2,500 (with training)
- ROI payback: 1–4 weeks based on salary increase
ServiceNow is one of the fastest-growing enterprise platforms, with over 7,700 customers including 85% of the Fortune 500. Certified professionals are in high demand.
Certification Path: What to Get and In What Order
Recommended Path for Most People:
- CSA ($150) — the foundation for everything
- CIS-ITSM ($150) — the most in-demand CIS module
- CAD ($150) — if you want to build applications
- Additional CIS modules ($150 each) — specialize further
Total cost for a strong ServiceNow portfolio:
- 3 certifications (CSA + CIS + CAD): $450 in exam fees
- With maintenance (3 years): $450 + $450 = $900
That's incredibly affordable compared to other enterprise platforms.
Comparison: ServiceNow vs Other Platform Certifications
| Platform | Entry Cert Cost | Training Cost | Total to Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceNow CSA | $150 | $0–$2,000 | $150–$2,150 |
| Salesforce Admin | $200 | $0–$3,000 | $200–$3,200 |
| SAP Associate | $250+ | $5,000+ | $5,250+ |
| Oracle Cloud | $245 | $0–$3,000 | $245–$3,245 |
| Microsoft AZ-900 | $165 | $0–$1,000 | $165–$1,165 |
ServiceNow offers one of the best value propositions in enterprise platform certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the ServiceNow CSA exam?
The CSA exam costs $150 USD. There are no discounts for retakes. Annual maintenance delta exams cost approximately $50.
Can I get ServiceNow certified for free?
The exam always costs $150, but all training can be done for free through ServiceNow's Now Learning platform and free Personal Developer Instances. Our free CSA practice questions help too.
Does ServiceNow certification expire?
Yes. You must pass an annual delta exam (~$50) to maintain active certification status. If you miss the maintenance window, your cert becomes inactive.
Is ServiceNow certification worth it in 2026?
Absolutely. ServiceNow-certified professionals earn $15K–$25K more on average. With 7,700+ enterprise customers and growing, demand for certified admins and developers continues to increase.
How many times can I retake the ServiceNow exam?
There's no limit on retakes, but wait times increase: 24 hours after the first fail, 14 days after the second, and 30 days after the third. Each retake costs $150.
Next Steps
- Create a free account on Now Learning
- Request a PDI at developer.servicenow.com
- Start practicing with our free ServiceNow CSA practice questions
- Review flashcards with our CSA flashcards
- Schedule your exam when you're consistently scoring 80%+ on practice tests
Good luck with your ServiceNow certification journey!
