Cisco Certified Support Technician

"Cybersecurity Analysts in New Zealand earn NZ$83,000 on average, and Cisco CCST is the entry point to one of the country's most in-demand career paths."

85%

of professions across Australia and New Zealand experience moderate to extreme skills shortages in technology and digital sectors

Hays 2025 Skills Report, Australia & New Zealand

NZ$83K

average salary for Cybersecurity Analysts in New Zealand, with senior roles reaching NZ$180,000

PayScale NZ / Glassdoor NZ, 2026

What certifications are available?

A certification is only as good as the name behind it.

Find Your Certification

Cybersecurity

Get certified with the Cisco Certified Support Technician: Cybersecurity certification. Validate your cybersecurity skills with a Cisco certification.Exam Retake available as a separate add-on. All...

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IT Support

Get certified with the Cisco Certified Support Technician: IT Support certification. Validate your it support skills with a Cisco certification.Exam Retake available as a separate add-on. All exams...

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Networking

Get certified with the Cisco Certified Support Technician: Networking certification. Validate your networking skills with a Cisco certification.Exam Retake available as a separate add-on. All exams...

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A master of all trades

Why settle for mastering one tool when you can master the whole toolkit? Stack complementary certifications across productivity, design, and technology to build a profile that stands out from the crowd.

Shop Bundles Pathways

With you every step of the way

The Journey

From first lesson to final exam.

Follow a structured path that takes you from learning the basics to earning a recognised certification.

Choose Your Path

Pick the certification that matches your goals, or start mastering the full suite one at a time.

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Learn

Video lessons, labs, and structured content show you exactly what to know and how to do it.

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Pratice

Work through real exam tasks, get instant feedback, and build confidence before the real thing.

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Sit Your Exam

Take the exam online from home or at a local testing centre.

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Get Your Badge

Pass and receive a digital badge through Credly. Add it to your LinkedIn, CV, and email signature. Employers can verify it directly.

Backed By The Data

The Career
Impact

What Employers Think

Cisco is the worldwide leader in networking technology, the infrastructure that connects every business, hospital, school, and government agency to the internet. Cisco certifications are among the most recognised credentials in IT, and the CCST programme is designed specifically as the entry point for candidates starting a career in IT support, networking, or cybersecurity.

The CCST was built by Cisco employees, networking professionals, hiring managers, and educators working alongside Certiport to ensure it bridges the gap between education and the skills employers actually need. It prepares candidates for high-demand roles including cybersecurity analysts, network technicians, help desk support specialists, and IT auditors. In New Zealand, ICT Security Specialist roles appear on Immigration New Zealand's Green List, a direct signal of how urgently the country needs these skills.

Salaries & Promotion

Cybersecurity Analysts in New Zealand earn an average of NZ$83,000, with top earners in Auckland reaching NZ$123,000. Senior cybersecurity professionals earn NZ$130,000 to NZ$180,000. Network Administrators command NZ$75,000 to NZ$100,000, and IT Support Specialists start at NZ$55,000 to NZ$75,000.

CCST is the first step on the Cisco certification pathway. CCST Cybersecurity leads to CyberOps Associate. CCST Networking leads to CCNA, one of the most widely requested certifications in IT job descriptions worldwide. Each step up the Cisco ladder unlocks higher salaries and more senior roles. Starting with CCST gives candidates a verified Cisco credential from day one, proving they are ready to contribute from their first shift.

Productivity

CCST-certified professionals are expected to have completed at least 150 hours of instruction before sitting the exam. This is not a theoretical knowledge test, it covers practical, hands-on skills like network troubleshooting, endpoint security, vulnerability assessment, incident handling, and device configuration.

For employers, this means certified candidates require less onboarding and ramp up faster. In a country where 85% of tech roles face skills shortages, reducing the time between hiring and productivity is a competitive advantage. CCST holders demonstrate that they can perform real IT support tasks from day one, not just describe them.

Job Opportunities

IT Support Specialist / Help Desk Technician — CCST IT Support

Network Support Technician / Junior Network Administrator — CCST Networking

Junior Cybersecurity Analyst / SOC Analyst (Tier 1) — CCST Cybersecurity

IT Auditor / Compliance Support Analyst — CCST Cybersecurity

Desktop Support Engineer — CCST IT Support + Networking

Junior Systems Administrator — CCST Networking

Educational Outcomes

CCST exams are delivered through Certiport and align with Cisco Networking Academy's free learning pathways, including the Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, Network Technician, and IT Support Specialist career paths. Students can access all Cisco learning materials at no cost through Cisco Skills for All, then sit the certification exam through NZIQ.

For schools delivering digital technology or computing curriculum in New Zealand, CCST provides a structured, industry-recognised credential backed by the biggest name in networking. It gives students a clear pathway from classroom learning to a verified entry-level qualification, and from there to CCNA, CyberOps Associate, and a professional IT career.

Globally Recognised

Your Knowledge Passport

Our certifications are recognized in 148 countries around the world. Designed to build trust with employers all over the world that you have the right skills.