Servicenow CSA and CAD certification exam

rmsneha
Kilo Contributor

How can a student write ServiceNow  CSA and CAD exam freely .Can you please suggest some ways?

Since, Exams are too expensive ,Small town students cannot afford to pay for it and get certified.

Thank you so much .

Please respond ASAP.

4 REPLIES 4

suraj sengar
Giga Guru

@rmsneha 

It is completely understandable that the cost of certification can be a significant barrier, especially for students starting their careers from smaller towns. While ServiceNow has moved away from "free vouchers" for their standard on-demand courses as of 2026, there are still legitimate pathways to get certified for free or at a deep discount through specific community and academic programs.

​Here are the most effective ways for a student to pursue the CSA and CAD exams without the full out-of-pocket cost:

​1. RiseUp with ServiceNow (NextGen Program)

​This is the most direct way to get free certifications. ServiceNow runs intensive training programs designed specifically for students and those new to the ecosystem.

  • What it is: A 10-to-14-week "NextGen" or "RiseUp" academy.

 

  • Benefit: If accepted, the training is free, and you typically receive free exam attempts for both CSA and CAD upon completion.
  • How to Apply: Look for the "RiseUp with ServiceNow" application page on the ServiceNow website. Programs are often region-specific (e.g., RiseUp India).

 

​2. NASSCOM / AICTE Partnerships (For Indian Students)

​Since you are in India, you have access to specific government and industry-led initiatives.

  • The Program: ServiceNow often partners with NASSCOM and AICTE to offer free training to college students.
  • The Discount: In previous cycles, these partnerships provided codes (like NASSCOMSNAF) that made the $300 training free and offered the exam voucher for a heavily discounted price (sometimes as low as $70 instead of $300).
  • Next Step: Check the NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime portal to see if a current ServiceNow cohort is active.

​3. ServiceNow Academic Program

​If your college or university is a member of the ServiceNow Academic Alliance, you can get access to the curriculum and certification vouchers as part of your degree.

  • How it works: Ask your Training and Placement Officer (TPO) if your college has a tie-up with ServiceNow.
  • Benefit: Students in these programs often get vouchers included as part of their course credits.

​4. ServiceNow Promotions & Events

​ServiceNow occasionally runs limited-time "Get Certified" campaigns.

  • Knowledge Conference: During the annual Knowledge conference (usually in May), they sometimes offer free or discounted certifications for attendees (including virtual attendees).
  • Quarterly Promos: Keep an eye on the ServiceNow Community and their official LinkedIn page. They sometimes offer free vouchers for completing a specific "learning path" within a 30-day window.

Even if you cannot afford the exam today, you can access all the learning materials for free on Now Learning. You can build a full portfolio using a Personal Developer Instance (PDI). Many companies in the ecosystem (like Infosys or other partners) will actually pay for your certification once they hire you based on the skills you showed during the interview.

Now Learning - https://learning.servicenow.com/now/lxp/home

 

Want to understand ServiceNow - and actually see it in action? In this hands-on ServiceNow tutorial for beginners, I answer the question "What is ServiceNow?" with a real, step-by-step demo of the ServiceNow platform. You'll log in, explore the ServiceNow UI, see the built-in applications, and ...

Can I get link to register my institution  for the same?

Jhilik SilSarma
Tera Contributor

I understand the concern—ServiceNow certification exams like CSA (Certified System Administrator) and CAD (Certified Application Developer) can be quite expensive, especially for students in smaller towns. There’s no legitimate way to take these exams completely free on your own, but there are several practical and ethical ways to significantly reduce or even eliminate the cost.

Here are the best options you should explore:


 1. ServiceNow Academic Programs (Best Option)

ServiceNow runs an official university initiative called ServiceNow University Program.

  • If your college is partnered, you can:
    • Get free training
    • Access labs
    • Receive free or heavily discounted exam vouchers
  • Ask your college administration or placement cell about this.

 Even if your college is not enrolled, you can encourage them to apply—it’s free for institutions.


2. Scholarships & Sponsored Training

Many training partners and NGOs offer sponsored programs:

  • Look for:
    • Skill development initiatives in India (e.g., government or CSR programs)
    • NGOs that focus on IT upskilling
  • Some programs fully sponsor certification exams for deserving students.

 3. ServiceNow Training Partners / Institutes

Authorized training partners sometimes:

  • Offer bundled packages (training + exam voucher at a reduced cost)
  • Provide discounts during promotions

Search for official partners via ServiceNow’s website and compare pricing.


4. Discount Vouchers & Events

ServiceNow occasionally provides discounts:

  • During global events like:
    • Knowledge Conference
    • Webinars and learning campaigns
  • Discounts can range from 20% to 100% (rare but possible)

 Follow ServiceNow on LinkedIn and join their community forums to stay updated.


 5. Get a Job/Internship First

Many companies using ServiceNow will:

  • Pay for your certification
  • Provide free training access

Even internships or entry-level roles can include this benefit.


 6. Prepare for Free First (Very Important)

Before spending money, make sure you're fully prepared:

  • Use Now Learning (official platform)
  • Create a free developer instance
  • Study from:
    • YouTube tutorials
    • Community forums
    • Documentation

This ensures you only pay once and pass confidently. Please mark the answer helpful if this resolves your doubt.