Blog [1]: From CSA to CAD to FSM: My ServiceNow Certification Experience
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
3 hours ago
Hi All,
One of the most commonly asked questions on the community by new members is about the CSA and CAD certifications.
I’m sharing my experience on how I cleared these exams this year (2025). Everyone learns differently ,we all have different capacities and learning styles , so this post is simply my personal journey, not a one-size-fits-all guide
1) CSA (Certified System Administrator) (29-03-2025)
The first certification I cleared this year was CSA. As I already worked on this platform which helped me sail through this certification. CSA sets the base for new learners and newcomers to the ServiceNow platform. It is the easiest of all certifications available provided you have your fundamentals clear.
Preparation tips for CSA :
1) Go through foundational video, CSA has one of best learning videos on platform.
2) Read E-book and follow the tasks
3) Get hands-on experience by playing around in a PDI
4) Get exam ready by practicing available mock test available online (Udemy) but be mindful that many questions and topics there are outdated
ServiceNow university learning path and exam blueprint for CSA:
2) CAD (ServiceNow Certified Application Developer) (30-12-2025)
its was one of the most hyped certification until (until CIS-DF took that spot recently. Its the tests your basics of platform, ServiceNow scripting well. I would consider it medium difficulty.
Preparation tips for CAD:
1) Practice and read E-book thoroughly.
2) Understand the content scripts, Flow designers, ACLs etc. As these are basics and build your path to been good ServiceNow Developer.
3) Build at least one custom application, you can follow E-book or creating your own
4) Dumps can give you a general idea of the exam but don’t rely on them entirely
ServiceNow university learning path and exam blueprint for CAD:
3) CIS-FSM (Certified Implementation Specialist — Field Service Management) (29-04-2025)
Out of the three certifications, FSM was most challenging one. unfortunately I had to sit twice to clear it. Even though I had project experience, the exam truly tests you. It is mostly scenario-based exam
Preparation tips for CIS-FSM:
1) E-book is source truth for this certification. read it multiple times as each and every word here carries significance. Plugins, tables, schedules it tests your memory.
2) Practice using lab simulators. also there are concepts of equipment transfer, crew management , etc.. need to be aware of
3) Dumps available are outdated and largely useless as most of answers are marked wrong
ServiceNow university learning path and exam blueprint for FSM:
I’ve always believed that certifications are like a driving license , they prove that you understand the basics, but there is still a lot to learn, practice, and improve through real-world implementation.
My goal for next year (2026) is to to learn and clear these three certifications, possibly CIS-DF, ITSM, and CSM. If you’ve already completed any of these, I’d love to hear about your preparation journey and exam tips.
If you found this blog helpful, please leave a like or a helpful comment, it really motivates me and helps others discover the post too.
Thanks for reading, and happy learning!
Regards,
Mohammed Zakir
