- The A&L exam is 70 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, delivered via NWSA's Online Remote Proctoring with the Guardian Browser.
- Antenna Systems (29%) and Appurtenances (28%) together make up over half the exam - prioritize these two domains first.
- TTT-2 certification is a hard prerequisite; you cannot sit for A&L without it.
- Exam applications expire six months after payment, and a failed attempt requires a 30-day wait plus a new re-exam fee.
Quick-Reference Snapshot
If you're printing one page to review the night before your test, this is it. A&L - the Antenna and Line Specialty certification from the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) - is a single-sitting, criterion-referenced exam built around real tower work: field scenarios, drawings, and schematics, not just definitions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) |
| Exam fee | USD 274 |
| Question count | 70 multiple-choice questions |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Delivery method | Online Remote Proctoring via NWSA candidate portal (live proctor, Guardian Browser) |
| Prerequisite | Telecommunications Tower Technician 2 (TTT-2) |
| Scoring | Pass/fail, criterion-referenced standard |
| Certification validity | 5 years |
| Application expiration | 6 months after payment |
| Retake wait period | 30 days minimum, plus re-exam fee |
Every one of these figures comes straight from the NWSA Candidate Handbook (revision 10/25). If a source elsewhere gives you different fees or formats, it isn't describing this credential - Antenna and Line Specialty has one governing body and one handbook.
Domain Weight Cheat Sheet
The exam blueprint splits into five domains with approximate weightings. Knowing these numbers tells you exactly where to spend your limited study hours - a full breakdown of each domain's scope lives in the A&L Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas, but here's the condensed version for quick review.
| Domain | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Antenna Systems | 29% |
| Appurtenances | 28% |
| Hazards | 22% |
| Transmission Lines and Connectors | 12% |
| Grounding | 9% |
Notice that Antenna Systems, Appurtenances, and Hazards together account for roughly 79% of the entire exam. Grounding and Transmission Lines and Connectors matter - you can't skip them - but if your review time is short, these three heavyweight domains deserve the first pass.
Key Takeaway
Spend at least twice as much review time on Antenna Systems and Appurtenances combined as you do on Grounding - the weighting difference is real and should shape your schedule.
Domain-by-Domain Must-Know Facts
Here's what each domain actually tests, distilled to the essentials. Treat this as a checklist, not a textbook - for deeper explanations and sample scenarios, cross-reference the A&L Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Domain 1: Appurtenances (28%)
This domain covers everything mounted on or attached to the structure that isn't the antenna itself - mounts, platforms, safety climb systems, and associated hardware.
- Identify appurtenance types and their correct installation orientation
- Recognize hardware compatibility issues and torque/mounting requirements
- Interpret drawings showing appurtenance placement relative to structural members
Domain 2: Antenna Systems (29%)
The largest single domain, focused on antenna types, mounting configurations, and how systems are installed and maintained in the field.
- Distinguish between antenna types and their typical applications
- Read schematics depicting antenna array configuration and orientation
- Understand installation sequencing and alignment requirements
Domain 3: Grounding (9%)
The smallest domain by weight, but still tested with schematic-reading questions on grounding paths and bonding practices.
- Trace grounding conductor paths through a system schematic
- Know proper bonding points and continuity requirements
Domain 4: Transmission Lines and Connectors (12%)
Covers coax and hybrid cable runs, connector types, and line-related field practices.
- Identify connector types and correct termination practices
- Interpret transmission line routing on drawings
Domain 5: Hazards (22%)
The second-largest domain - RF exposure, fall hazards, and general site-safety scenarios drawn from real field conditions.
- Recognize RF exposure zones and mitigation steps
- Apply hazard-recognition logic to field scenario questions
- Understand how hazard awareness intersects with appurtenance and antenna work
For a candid look at how these domains combine to make the exam feel harder or easier than expected, see How Hard Is the A&L Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Registration, Fees, and Timeline Mechanics
The logistics around A&L trip up more candidates than the content does. Keep these dates and dollar amounts straight:
- Exam fee: USD 274, paid through the NWSA candidate portal.
- Application expiration: Your application expires six months after payment - schedule your test date well within that window.
- Prerequisite: TTT-2 certification must be completed before you're eligible to sit for A&L.
- Delivery: Online Remote Proctoring only, through the NWSA candidate portal, with a live proctor monitoring via the Guardian Browser.
- If you fail: Wait at least 30 days, reapply, and pay the applicable re-examination fee before your next attempt.
- Recertification: Certification lasts five years. Recertify by passing the applicable exam within the 12 months before your certification expires, and by meeting current policy requirements.
For a full cost breakdown including everything tied to the exam fee and re-testing, see A&L Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If your bigger question is how the pass/fail standard is actually applied, the A&L Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass article walks through the criterion-referenced scoring model in more detail. And if you're still mapping out when to register, check A&L Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling before that six-month application clock starts running.
Final-Week Review Schedule
You don't need a complex study system for a one-page cheat sheet review - you need a schedule that matches domain weight to time spent. Here's a compressed final-week pass built around the exam blueprint.
Antenna Systems (29%)
- Review antenna types, mounting configurations, and schematic reading
- Practice interpreting array orientation drawings
Appurtenances (28%)
- Drill hardware compatibility and mounting orientation questions
- Review drawings showing appurtenance placement
Hazards (22%)
- Run through RF exposure and fall-hazard field scenarios
- Connect hazard logic back to antenna and appurtenance work
Transmission Lines and Grounding (21% combined)
- Review connector types and termination practices
- Trace grounding paths through sample schematics
Full Review
- Run a timed 70-question practice set on the practice test platform
- Re-check logistics: portal access, Guardian Browser setup, ID requirements
This isn't a generic Pomodoro template - it's a schedule that directly mirrors the exam's domain weighting, so your final week of effort lines up with how the 70 questions are actually distributed.
Who This Cheat Sheet Is Actually For
A&L candidates are typically tower technicians who've already earned TTT-2 and are moving into more specialized antenna and line work - installation crews, tower rigging teams, and site maintenance contractors who need documented competency in antenna systems, appurtenances, and the hazards that come with working at height on active RF structures.
If you're trying to decide whether pursuing this credential fits your career path, the Is the A&L Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and the A&L Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go into that decision more fully. For eligibility specifics beyond the TTT-2 prerequisite, see A&L Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Whatever stage you're at, running scenario-style questions on our practice test platform before test day is the most direct way to confirm this cheat sheet actually sticks. A quick pass through drawings and schematic-based questions on A&L Exam Prep's practice tests will show you which domain still needs another look.
Seventy multiple-choice questions covering five domains: Appurtenances (28%), Antenna Systems (29%), Grounding (9%), Transmission Lines and Connectors (12%), and Hazards (22%). Questions include field scenarios, drawings, and schematics, not just definitions.
Through Online Remote Proctoring via the NWSA candidate portal, with a live proctor monitoring your session using the Guardian Browser.
You must wait at least 30 days, reapply, and pay the applicable re-examination fee before attempting the exam again.
Yes. Telecommunications Tower Technician 2 (TTT-2) certification is a prerequisite for the A&L exam.
Certification is valid for five years, with recertification requiring a passing exam score within the 12 months before expiration. Separately, your exam application expires six months after you pay the fee, so schedule your test date within that window.