What the NWSA written exams actually cover
The single biggest reason candidates fail an NWSA exam is studying the wrong things in the wrong proportions. NWSA publishes exactly what each exam covers and how heavily. This page is that information, in plain language, with nothing added.
The exams at a glance
All NWSA certification exams are written, multiple-choice, and delivered by online remote proctoring (ORP). Results are reported as pass or fail; candidates who do not pass receive a strength-and-weakness report. NWSA sets each passing score through a standard-setting process and does not publish the number.
| Exam | Questions | Time | Prerequisite | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTT-1 Telecommunications Tower Technician 1 | 85 | 90 minutes | None | $274 |
| TTT-2 Telecommunications Tower Technician 2 | 100 | 2 hours | Active TTT-1 | $274 |
| A&L Antenna & Line Specialty | 70 | 2 hours | Active TTT-2 | $274 |
| ARC Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty | 95 | 150 minutes | Active TTT-2 | $274 |
| Foreman | 70 | 90 minutes | Active TTT-2 | $274 |
The practical (hands-on) exams were retired at the end of 2023. Everything is now the written exam. The A&L exam includes scenario-based questions built around the drawings and schematics common to antenna and line work.
TTT-1 — five domains
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Planning the scope of work and job logistics | ~15% |
| Fall protection, climbing and rescue | ~30% |
| Hoisting equipment and rigging | ~20% |
| Structures | ~15% |
| Appurtenance installation and maintenance | ~20% |
Notice what that means: fall protection is nearly a third of the exam, and appurtenance work — antennas, mounts, lines — is a fifth. A candidate who spends most of their study time on rigging because it feels the most technical is studying 20% of the paper.
TTT-2 — the same five domains, different weights
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Planning the scope of work and job logistics | ~18% |
| Fall protection, climbing and rescue | ~28% |
| Hoisting equipment and rigging | ~24% |
| Structures | ~18% |
| Appurtenance installation and maintenance | ~12% |
TTT-2 is written from a supervisor's point of view. The questions test whether you can direct the work — inspect equipment, sign off a rigging plan, decide whether a climb goes ahead — not just do it. Fall protection and rigging together are over half the exam.
Antenna & Line Specialty
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Appurtenances | ~28% |
| Antenna systems | ~29% |
| Grounding | ~9% |
| Transmission lines | ~12% |
| Hazards | ~22% |
Advanced Rigging Concepts Specialty
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Pre-job planning and drafting the rigging plan | ~15% |
| Verifying onsite conditions | ~27% |
| Condition assessments | ~15% |
| Executing the rigging plan | ~43% |
Execution is 43% on its own. Expect sling-angle and load-share arithmetic, gin pole and block configurations, and the ASME B30 and ANSI/ASSP A10.48 rules that govern them.
Foreman
| Domain | Share of exam |
|---|---|
| Environmental health and safety | ~17% |
| Rigging | ~22% |
| Quality and productivity | ~16% |
| Leadership | ~45% |
Leadership is 45% — running a crew, documentation, stop-work authority, fitness for duty. Foremen who assume the exam is a harder TTT-2 get surprised. One detail worth knowing: a Foreman certificant only needs to pass the then-current Foreman exam to maintain all their lower-level certifications, and the same rule applies to A&L.
How to use these numbers
- Split your study time roughly by the weightings. Thirty percent of the paper deserves thirty percent of your hours.
- Take a practice exam that is weighted the same way, and read the domain breakdown of your score before you read the total. The domain you scored lowest in is the one that fails you.
- Do not buy "actual exam questions" from document sites. NWSA's exam is its property; reproducing it is a security violation that can invalidate a result, and the people selling those files have no way of knowing whether they are current.
Study to the weightings, not to rumours
Each of our five courses is built module-for-module on the domain weightings above, with a weighted practice exam and a weak-area report that tells you which domain to go back to. Single courses from $39; the Career Pack is all five for $179, and every course has a 7-day money-back guarantee.See the guides Try the free 8-question Gauntlet
Questions people ask
How many questions are on the NWSA TTT-1 exam?
The NWSA Candidate Handbook (REV 10/25) lists the TTT-1 exam as 85 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit, delivered by online remote proctoring.
What is the passing score for NWSA exams?
NWSA does not publish passing scores. Each exam has a passing score set beforehand through a psychometric standard-setting process, and results are reported only as pass or fail. Candidates who do not pass receive a strength-and-weakness report.
Is there still a hands-on practical exam?
No. NWSA retired the practical exams at the end of 2023. All certifications are earned through the written, remotely proctored exam.
Do I need TTT-1 before TTT-2?
Yes. TTT-2 requires an active TTT-1 certification. The Antenna & Line, Advanced Rigging Concepts and Foreman specialty exams each require an active TTT-2.
Source for every NWSA figure on this page: NWSA Candidate Handbook, CH REV 10/25. Exam fees, formats and rules change — the handbook is the authority, we are not. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NWSA.