Getting Started in ServiceNow: The Road to a Successful CSA Exam 

By: Isabel Ronza 

I started my ServiceNow journey this past February with no prior knowledge of the platform. If you are beginning or even thinking about a career in ServiceNow, follow these tips/tricks to successfully   achieve the first steppingstone of your ServiceNow career — The ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) exam.  

The first step on this journey is to enroll in the ServiceNow Fundamentals course. You can either enroll in a self-paced course or a 3-day instructor-led course. There is a significant difference in cost, however. The self-paced course is $300 compared to the $2,400 instructor-led course. Choose whatever suits you best.  

I completed the self-paced course. Here is what I did throughout that helped me learn the material and pass the exam —  

1.  Type notes.  

Within the training course itself, ServiceNow offers a note-taking function where you can take notes throughout the course. However, I found it easier to type notes on a separate computer as it gave me full visibility of the content screen. I also recommend typing instead of writing, because the videos in each module move at a rapid pace. It’s also nice to have a consolidated study guide at the end rather than notes separated by domain on the platform itself. 

I also utilized the transcript (rather than rewinding the video) after I watched a video to make sure I didn’t miss anything important. 

2.  Take breaks.  

Throughout the course you might get a bit overwhelmed. There is a lot of information that you are learning in a limited amount of time. Take breaks and review the material as you go. I found it helpful to read through my notes prior to starting another domain, especially because the material builds on each other. 

3.  Complete the Simulator Activities Critically.  

The simulator activities give you hands on experience of all the content you learn throughout the course. This also gives you a better idea of how ServiceNow actually works. Make sure you do not rush through them. Try to recall information learned and identify any key concepts as you work through each activity.  

4.  Review  

Make sure you give yourself enough time to review. Try creating a Quizlet of flashcards with concepts and their exact definitions. Remembering key words from definitions will definitely help you on the exam. You also might be able to find preexisting ServiceNow CSA exam Quizlets. But be wary that all the information may not be 100% accurate as content changes each ServiceNow release. 

Another strategy I used was rewatching videos at a faster pace. When watching the videos the first time around, I felt like the videos moved fairly quickly. However, after I completed the course and had a bit of review under my belt, I felt the videos moved too slowly. So, I went ahead an utilized the speed capability and started watching videos at 1.5 times the speed. This saved me a lot of time. 

5.  Read the Exam Specification 

The ServiceNow Certified System Administrator Exam Specification can be found here: https://www.servicenow.com/content/dam/servicenow/other-documents/training/servicenow-sys-admin-exam-specs.pdf. Within the guide, you will find the exam purpose, audience, preparation, and scope. The exam scope divides the material into learning domains, weightings, and sub-skills. This is super helpful, because it gives you a baseline of what to expect on the exam. The specification also goes over exam registration, structure, results and even gives some example questions.  

6.  Schedule the exam at a time that works best for you. 

The Exam Specification goes over how to register for the exam. Make sure you select a time that works best for you. If you have to reschedule your exam, make sure you do so up to 72 hours in advance, so you don’t face any penalty.  

7.  Make sure you have an external webcam. 

An external webcam is required for all proctored ServiceNow certification exams. 

8.  Try your best. 

This exam is not easy. Take your time and read carefully. The exam will have multiple answers that sound correct. Choose the one that is the most correct (key words come in handy here). If you do not pass the first time around, immediately jot down everything that you remember you struggled with. This recall helps when you begin restudying, because it points out areas you know you need to review.