Any tips for CSA examination?

[HeliosWu]

Any tips or resources for CSA examination can be shared? Any preparation advise too?

[Shubhras]

Take the official ServiceNow Fundamentals course (either instructor-led or Now Learning self-paced).
It covers 90% of what appears in the exam. 

• Go to developer.servicenow.com → request a Personal Developer Instance (PDI).

• Practice everything you learn — creating tables, forms, UI Policies, Business Rules, Flows, etc

• Focus on Key Topics

  🔹Tables & Schema

  • Understand table hierarchy (task, incident, problem, change).

  • Difference between base tables, extended tables, custom tables.

  • Use Schema Map to visualize relationships.

  🔹Forms & Lists

  • Know list layouts, filters, breadcrumbs, and dot-walking.

  • Customize forms and form layouts.

  🔹Access Control (ACLs)

  • Know how ACLs are evaluated: Match on all three — table, field, operation.

  • Understand role inheritance and user permissions.

  🔹Business Rules vs Client Scripts vs UI Policies

• Flow Designer

  • Understand Trigger → Action → Flow execution.

  • Difference between Flow Designer and Workflow Editor.

  • Reuse actions, test flows, and know subflows.

  🔹Service Catalog & Items

  • Components: Catalog, Categories, Items, Variables, Variable Sets.

  • Understand Request (REQ) → Requested Item (RITM) → Catalog Task (SCTASK) hierarchy.

  🔹Notifications

  • When they trigger (record insert/update).

  • Who receives them (To, CC, BCC, Users/Groups/Roles).

  • Practice Sample Questions

    Go through CSA practice exams on:

    • Now Learning

    • ServiceNow community posts

    • Mock exams from Udemy / YouTube 

If this solves your query, mark it as helpful.

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @HeliosWu 

Tips for the CSA Exam (Certified System Administrator)

CSA is the first and foundational exam in your ServiceNow journey. Here are some tips to help you prepare effectively:

• Study the training material thoroughly – Go through it line by line, word by word, at least 2–3 times.

• Practice the labs multiple times – Do each lab 3–4 times. Don’t just complete them; carefully read and understand the instructions as well.

• Follow the official eBook – Review it thoroughly at least 2–3 times to reinforce your understanding.

• Consider supplementary courses – Some candidates have found Udemy courses helpful for additional practice and clarity.

• Watch my experience video – I’ve shared my own preparation journey and tips here:
  https://youtu.be/60KXCXXHW7M

Good luck on your CSA journey!

[Sarthak Kashyap]

Hi @HeliosWu ,

You can prepare full course from now learning that is official from serviceNow please check below link -  https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/now-platform/servicenow-administration-fundamentals-on-demand...

Also check syllabus 

https://learning.servicenow.com/lxp/en/certified-system-administrator-mainline-exam-blueprint?id=kb_...

Please mark my answer correct and helpful if this works for you

Thanks and Regards,

Sarthak

[AndersBGS]

Hi @HeliosWu ,

 be confident in the official learning material provided, and don’t seek advice of any untrusted sir. After you feel confident, then work   Approximately 6 month as an admin before jumping into the exam .