- The GCT2 is a 100-question, 2-hour written exam from ETA International with a 75% passing score and no hands-on portion.
- You need a current GCT1 or Associate CET (CETa) to qualify, plus two years of electronics experience for certification issuance.
- Exam fee is USD 105; a two-hour remotely proctored sitting adds USD 16.
- One free retake is available after 30 days and within one year of your first attempt.
The Exam at a Glance
This page condenses what you need to recall on exam morning into a single scannable reference. The credential covered here is ETA International's General Communications Technician - Level 2 (GCT2), a journeyman-level certification. It is not Canada's General Competency Test, and it should not be confused with any other credential that happens to share the acronym. If you are new to the term itself, start with What Is GCT2? and then return here for the numbers.
| Item | GCT2 Fact |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | ETA International (journeyman level) |
| Format | Written knowledge examination |
| Questions | 100 |
| Time limit | 2 hours |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Hands-on assessment | None required |
| Delivery | Trapeza online testing or paper/pencil via ETA Certification Administrators; ExamRoom.AI remote proctoring for non-hands-on exams |
| Exam fee | USD 105 (plus USD 16 for a two-hour remotely proctored exam) |
| Certification term | Four years |
A 75% passing score on 100 questions means you can miss roughly one in four and still pass, but that margin disappears quickly if an entire domain is a blind spot. For a deeper look at how that threshold plays out, see GCT2 Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Eligibility, Fees and Registration Facts
Prerequisites
- Required credential: a current GCT1 or Associate CET (CETa).
- Experience: ETA's 2026 GCT2 training notice specifies two years of electronics experience, earned through field experience, trade school or college, as a journeyman program requirement. Certification issuance may wait until that requirement is met.
- Recommended background: prior RF experience and familiarity with public-safety best practices.
The full eligibility picture, including how the experience clock works, is covered in GCT2 Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Money Facts
- Exam fee: USD 105 on ETA's main certification page and 2026 training notice.
- Remote proctoring add-on: USD 16 for a two-hour remotely proctored exam.
- Price discrepancy to know about: the ETA Press listing for the GCT2 is indexed at USD 100. This sheet follows ETA's main certification page and 2026 training notice, both of which state USD 105. Confirm the current figure at checkout before paying.
- Renewal: USD 25 per year, or USD 100 per four-year cycle.
For a full line-item view including retake and renewal costs, read GCT2 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Test-Day Rules You Cannot Forget
Test-Day Checklist
Under ETA testing rules, the following apply to your sitting:
- Photo ID is required. Bring it, or have it ready on camera for a remote session.
- Scratch paper is permitted.
- A non-programmable scientific calculator is permitted. Practice with the exact model you will use so the keystrokes are automatic.
- The GCT2 is not on ETA's Common Formulas Sheet eligibility list. Do not expect a provided formula sheet; formulas must come from memory.
That last point deserves emphasis. Because no formula sheet is supplied, the math in the next section needs to be committed to memory rather than looked up. Scheduling windows and testing logistics are covered separately in GCT2 Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The 13 Domains in One Pass
ETA's GCT2 competency requirements (copyright 2024) list 13 domains. The source publishes no percentage weightings, so do not rely on any claim that one domain is worth a specific share of the exam. Treat all thirteen as fair game. For a full breakdown of each area, see GCT2 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 13 Content Areas.
| # | Domain | Think of it as... |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safety | Hazards on towers, in power rooms and around RF energy |
| 2 | Electronic and Electrical Principles | The math and physics underneath everything else |
| 3 | Fundamentals of Radio Systems | How signals are generated, carried and received |
| 4 | Tools, Methods and Test Equipment | Measuring and troubleshooting correctly |
| 5 | Connectorization | Terminating cable and connectors properly |
| 6 | Power Systems | Keeping the site energized and backed up |
| 7 | Antennas, Transmission Lines and Towers | The path between the radio and the air |
| 8 | Operating Principles of Radio and Electronic Communications Equipment | What the gear does and why |
| 9 | Networks - Serial Data, Internet Protocol (IP) to Wireless | Data links from serial to IP to wireless |
| 10 | Fiber Optic Systems | Light-based transport and its handling |
| 11 | Telephony | Voice systems and their signaling |
| 12 | Satellite Communications Concepts | Space-segment and earth-station basics |
| 13 | Physical Plant and Site procedures | Grounding, shelters, documentation and site discipline |
Core Electronics Math to Memorize
With no formula sheet and a non-programmable scientific calculator, Domain 2 (Electronic and Electrical Principles) is where memorization pays off most directly. Drill these until they are reflexive:
Domain 2: Electronic and Electrical Principles
Know these relationships cold and be able to rearrange them without hesitation.
- Ohm's Law: V = I × R, and its rearrangements for current and resistance.
- Power: P = V × I, along with the equivalent forms using resistance (P = I²R and P = V²/R).
- Series and parallel resistance: series values add; parallel values combine by reciprocals.
- Frequency and wavelength: the inverse relationship between them, using the speed of light.
- Decibels: power ratios and gain/loss arithmetic, including the rule of thumb that 3 dB is about double or half the power.
- Reactance and impedance: how capacitors and inductors behave as frequency changes.
- Resonance: what happens in tuned circuits and why it matters for filters and antennas.
Decibel math carries across domains. It shows up when you evaluate transmission-line loss in Domain 7, antenna gain in the radio fundamentals domains, and optical loss budgets in Domain 10. Time spent making dB conversions automatic is time well invested.
Field-Focused Topics That Show Up in Practice
Beyond the math, the GCT2 rewards practical, job-site judgment. These are the clusters of knowledge worth reviewing by domain.
Safety and Site Work (Domains 1 and 13)
- Hazard recognition around towers, electrical equipment and RF exposure.
- Personal protective practices and safe work habits at elevated or energized locations.
- Site procedures, including proper documentation and orderly installation practices.
Radio, Antennas and Transmission Lines (Domains 3, 7 and 8)
- How transmitters and receivers function at a block-diagram level.
- Antenna characteristics: gain, polarization and pattern.
- Transmission-line behavior, including loss, impedance matching and standing-wave concepts.
- Tower and mounting considerations that affect performance and safety.
Measurement and Connectorization (Domains 4 and 5)
- Selecting and using appropriate test instruments to verify performance.
- Correct preparation and termination of coaxial and other cable types.
- Recognizing the symptoms of a poor connector or termination.
Power, Networks and Transport (Domains 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12)
- Power system fundamentals, including conversion and battery backup concepts.
- Data communications from serial interfaces through IP networking to wireless links.
- Fiber optic components, handling and loss considerations.
- Telephony basics and signaling concepts.
- Satellite communications concepts at the fundamentals level.
Key Takeaway
Because every domain is fair game and no weightings are published, spread your review so that no domain is left at "I've heard of it." A weak domain you can still guess through is far safer than one you have never opened.
Retakes, Renewal and the Four-Year Cycle
If You Need a Second Attempt
- One free examination retake is available.
- You must wait 30 days after the initial attempt.
- The retake must occur within one year of the initial examination.
- Remote proctoring charges remain payable even though the exam fee is waived.
Keeping the Credential Active
The certification term is four years. General maintenance requires:
- The maintenance form.
- Either 10 continuing-education hours per year (40 over the four-year term) or employer verification.
- USD 25 per year (USD 100 per four-year cycle).
Requirements may be submitted at any point during the cycle, though annual submission is recommended so nothing piles up at the end. If you are weighing the long-term value of keeping the credential current, Is the GCT2 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and GCT2 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis put the costs in context, and GCT2 Jobs looks at where the credential gets used.
A Domain-Ordered Review Sequence
If you have a few weeks, order your review by dependency rather than by the order the domains appear in the list. Math and safety first, then the radio chain, then the transport and network domains. This sketch is a starting point; the fuller approach lives in GCT2 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
Foundations and Safety
- Domain 1 (Safety) and Domain 2 (Electronic and Electrical Principles).
- Drill Ohm's Law, power, series/parallel and decibel math with your exam calculator.
The Radio Chain
- Domains 3, 7 and 8: radio fundamentals, antennas and transmission lines, equipment operating principles.
- Tie loss and gain calculations back to your Week 1 dB practice.
Hands-On Knowledge Areas
- Domains 4, 5, 6 and 13: test equipment, connectorization, power systems, physical plant and site procedures.
Transport and Networks, Then Full Practice
- Domains 9, 10, 11 and 12: networks, fiber, telephony, satellite.
- Take timed 100-question practice sets on the GCT2 practice test site and review every miss by domain.
Finish with at least one full-length timed run: 100 questions in two hours leaves about 72 seconds per question on average, which is comfortable if your fundamentals are automatic and tight if you are still deriving formulas. Use the practice questions to find which domains are costing you the most points, then return to them before test day.
Quick Answers (FAQ)
The exam is a written knowledge examination with 100 questions in 2 hours. The passing score is 75%. There is no hands-on assessment.
You need a current GCT1 or Associate CET (CETa). ETA's 2026 training notice also specifies two years of electronics experience through field experience, trade school or college, and certification issuance may wait until that requirement is met.
A non-programmable scientific calculator and scratch paper are permitted under ETA testing rules. The GCT2 is not on ETA's Common Formulas Sheet eligibility list, so plan to know your formulas from memory. Photo ID is required.
One free retake is available after a 30-day wait and within one year of the initial examination. Remote proctoring charges still apply to the retake.
The term is four years. Maintenance requires the maintenance form, 10 continuing-education hours per year (40 over four years) or employer verification, and USD 25 per year (USD 100 per cycle). Annual submission is recommended.
Keep this sheet handy alongside your full prep materials, and revisit this cheat sheet in the final days before your sitting to confirm that every number above feels automatic.