- What C)HT Training Actually Covers
- Two Credentials, One Course
- The Hardware Half: Domains 1-14
- The Operating Systems Half: Domains 15-25
- Training Formats and Class Structure
- Exam Mechanics: What the Sources Say and Don't Say
- Sequencing Your Preparation by Domain
- After Training: Validity and Renewal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Mile2 administers this credential; its course combines Certified Hardware Technician and Certified Operating Systems Technician training.
- Published preparation topics span 25 headings, but no official domain percentage weights are published.
- The outline cites a 70% minimum grade, roughly two hours and 100 multiple-choice questions, without clearly splitting them by exam.
- Credentials are valid for three years, with CEU-based or exam-based renewal routes.
What C)HT Training Actually Covers
Training for the Hardware Technician & Operating Systems Technician (C)HT) credential is built around one practical idea: a competent technician must be able to open a machine, diagnose what is wrong with it, and then fix the software environment that runs on top of it. Mile2, the governing and administering body, packages both halves in a single course, and its public outline describes two certifications delivered together.
If you are still orienting yourself, our explainers on what C)HT certification is and what C)HT stands for cover the naming. In short, Mile2's terms identify the hardware credential as Certified Hardware Technician and the companion as Certified Operating Systems Technician. This site covers both under one label, which is why the content outline reaches 25 topic headings rather than a more typical single-credential list.
Two Credentials, One Course
The Mile2 self-study page describes two certifications inside one course, and the course outline treats the hardware and operating systems portions as distinct bodies of knowledge. The published outline lists eleven detailed operating systems chapters and a longer hardware sequence, plus a TCP/IP and transport protocols topic that appears in the hardware summary.
| Aspect | Hardware (C)HT) | Operating Systems (C)OST) |
|---|---|---|
| Mile2 name | Certified Hardware Technician | Certified Operating Systems Technician |
| Topic headings on this site | Domains 1-14 | Domains 15-25 |
| Live class length | Five days | Five days |
| Focus | Physical components, troubleshooting, peripherals, procedures | Windows management, networking, virtualization, security |
A point worth noting: the 25 headings are the union of published, unweighted preparation topics. They are not an official count of exam domains and not an exhaustive exam blueprint. For a deeper walk through each area, see our complete guide to all 25 content areas.
The Hardware Half: Domains 1-14
The hardware chapters begin with troubleshooting and move through the physical building blocks of a computer, then out to peripherals, mobile gear, printers, custom builds, procedures, and networking fundamentals.
Domain 1: Troubleshooting
This opens the course for a reason: every later domain feeds a diagnostic mindset. Expect to practice isolating a fault rather than memorizing parts.
- Identify the problem before changing anything
- Test a theory, then plan and apply a fix
- Verify functionality and document the result
Domains 2-4: Motherboards and CPUs, Computer Power Supplies, Memory
These are the core internal components. The hardware summary lists Power Supplies as the shorter name for Computer Power Supplies, so don't be surprised to see either wording.
- How processors, sockets, and boards fit together
- Power delivery and what failing supplies look like
- Memory types, capacity, and compatibility concerns
Domains 5-8: Expansion, Physical Storage, Input-Output Devices, Display Devices
Here the course widens from the motherboard to everything attached to it, from add-in cards and drives to keyboards, pointing devices, and monitors.
- Expansion cards and slot types
- Physical storage media and interfaces
- Peripheral installation and configuration
- Display technologies and connections
Domains 9-14: Cabling, Mobile, Printers, Custom Computers, Procedures, TCP/IP
The back half of the hardware sequence is where practical job tasks live: running and terminating cable, supporting laptops and mobile devices, servicing printers and multifunction devices, and following operational procedures.
- Network Cables and Connectors for physical connectivity
- Mobile Devices and Printers and Multifunction Print Devices
- Custom Computers, which lists Wi-Fi standards and wireless-encryption subsections
- Operational Procedures for safe, professional work habits
- TCP/IP and Transport Protocols as the networking bridge
The Operating Systems Half: Domains 15-25
The eleven operating systems chapters shift from the machine to the software and services around it. They begin with operating system fundamentals and Windows management, then build into networking, virtualization, and security.
Operating Systems and Windows Management
Domains 15 and 16 set the foundation: understanding what an operating system does, how Windows is administered, and how a technician navigates configuration tools. These chapters reward hands-on time in a lab environment more than reading alone.
Networking Across Four Domains
Networking appears repeatedly on the OS side: Network Basics, Network Protocols, Wireless Networking, and Windows Networking (Domains 17-20). Combined with the hardware-side TCP/IP topic and cabling, networking is arguably the most distributed theme in the course. Candidates who treat it as a single block in one study week often struggle to retain it.
Virtualization, Security, and SOHO Configurations
Domains 21-25: The Modern Technician Toolkit
The closing chapters reflect current support work.
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing
- Security Principles and Security Technologies
- Securing Devices and Data
- SOHO Network Configurations, where hardware, networking, and security knowledge converge
SOHO configuration is a natural capstone: setting up a small office or home network touches cabling, wireless, protocols, and security all at once. Treat it as a synthesis exercise as well as a topic.
Training Formats and Class Structure
Mile2 describes a five-day live class for each credential, and the course is also available in self-study form. The outline references 80 CEUs as a course measure. Those CEUs reflect training credit, not exam time, and should not be confused with the CEUs used later for renewal.
Public Mile2 course listings for the hardware and operating systems courses corroborate the detailed chapter sequence. Protected lessons, workbooks, and examination content are not publicly viewable, so you cannot fully preview materials before enrolling. Ask the provider what labs and practice resources are included.
Exam Mechanics: What the Sources Say and Don't Say
This is where careful reading matters. The combined outline describes 100 multiple-choice questions, approximately two hours, and a 70% minimum grade. However, its exam paragraph is singular and does not clearly say how those figures divide between the separately named hardware and operating systems exams. Because of that ambiguity, we do not state a per-exam question count or duration, and you should confirm the specifics with Mile2 when you register.
| Item | What is published | What is unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Question format | Multiple choice | Exact split across the two exams |
| Time | Approximately two hours | Whether per exam or combined |
| Minimum grade | 70% | Domain-level weighting (none published) |
| Exam version | No revision published | Alignment to any current industry exam |
| Delivery | Mile2 online Learning Management System via a Mile2.com account | Scheduling windows |
The legacy CompTIA A+ 220-1002 reference in the outline does not establish the exam version or current alignment for this Mile2 credential, so do not treat A+ study materials as a one-to-one match. For score detail, see what you need to pass, and for the general difficulty picture, read how hard the exam is.
Registration and Testing Logistics
Testing runs through Mile2's online Learning Management System, identified in the policies as LearnDash, using your Mile2.com account. Expect identification verification and policy acceptance before you sit the exam. A caution on purchasing: the course-outline page's Exam Only or Purchase Exam Combo link leads to an unrelated product, the C)CSA exam combo. That page cannot be used to confirm hardware and operating systems exam fees or identity, so verify pricing directly with Mile2. Our certification cost breakdown explains what can and cannot be confirmed, and exam dates and scheduling covers timing.
Sequencing Your Preparation by Domain
Because the course covers 25 topic areas, order matters more than raw hours. A domain-driven sequence, rather than a generic template, keeps related concepts together. The version below assumes a self-study candidate working through hardware first.
Troubleshooting plus core components
- Domain 1 methodology first, since it frames everything
- Domains 2-4: motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, memory
Expansion, storage, peripherals, displays
- Domains 5-8, ideally with physical hardware in hand
Cabling, mobile, printing, builds, procedures
- Domains 9-13, then TCP/IP in Domain 14 to bridge toward networking
Operating systems and Windows management
- Domains 15-16 with a Windows lab or virtual machine
Networking cluster
- Domains 17-20 together, revisiting Domain 9 and Domain 14 for context
Virtualization, security, SOHO synthesis
- Domains 21-25, finishing with SOHO configurations as a full-scope review
Key Takeaway
Since no official domain weights are published, avoid over-investing in any single area. Spread practice evenly, then use timed questions to find your weakest domains. The C)HT study guide and one-page cheat sheet can help you consolidate, and you can test yourself on our C)HT practice tests.
After Training: Validity and Renewal
Credentials are valid for three years. The current Certification Renewal Program and Paths to Renewal pages describe a standard 60-CEU cycle with documented activities, paid renewal, and an ethics attestation, or renewal by passing the latest applicable certification exam. The FAQ lists USD 200 for the U.S. regional CEU renewal path, with a lower price possible for eligible developing-region candidates and exam-based renewal potentially costing more.
If you are weighing the long-term payoff, our ROI analysis, salary guide, and C)HT jobs overview discuss career outcomes, and the pass rate article explains why published success figures are limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Mile2's May 26, 2026 Policies and Procedures permit certification-exam entry without buying Mile2 training. You still need to verify your identity and accept policies through your Mile2.com account.
The outline describes a five-day live class for each credential, with 80 CEUs listed as a course measure. Those figures describe training, not examination time.
The combined outline mentions 100 multiple-choice questions, approximately two hours, and a 70% minimum grade, but does not clearly assign these to each separate exam. Confirm details with Mile2 at registration.
Three years. Renewal is described through a 60-CEU cycle with documented activities, paid renewal and ethics attestation, or by passing the latest applicable certification exam.
No. They are the union of published, unweighted preparation topics from Mile2's outlines. No official percentage weights are published, so treat them as a study map rather than an exam blueprint. For more on terminology, see what C)HT is and our related training overview.