ServiceNow CSA - ServiceNow Certified System Administrator

If a user reports that theycannot see certain modulesin theApplication Navigator, the best way to troubleshoot is toimpersonate the user. Impersonation allows an administrator to see exactly what the user seeswithout needing their password.

Click on your profile icon (top-right corner).

SelectImpersonate User.

Search for and select theuser’s name.

The instance will reload, and you will see the UI as the user experiences it.

Navigate to theApplication Navigatorand check for missing modules.

Once done, clickStop Impersonation.

Ensures security(no need to reset or look up passwords).

Speeds up troubleshootingby allowing admins to replicate user issues.

Helps verify role-based access permissions.

Steps to Impersonate a User in ServiceNow:Why is Impersonation Useful?

Incorrect Answer Choices Explanation:A. Look up their password, so you can login with their account

This is asecurity violationand not an acceptable practice.

B. Initiate a Connect Chat session

Chatting with the user can help gather information, but it does not allow you to see what they see.

C. Install the Bomgar plug-in

Bomgaris a remote support tool, but impersonation is thebuilt-inand recommended method for troubleshooting in ServiceNow.

E. Launch a NowChat window

NowChat is used forcustomer support and collaboration, not for verifying module visibility.

Impersonate Users in ServiceNow

User Roles and Permissions

Official CSA Documentation Reference:

AUI Policyis the preferredno-codeapproach in ServiceNow to dynamically control themandatory, read-only, or visibilitystate of form fields based on specified conditions. Unlike Client Scripts, which require JavaScript coding, UI Policies provide aneasy-to-configure, rule-based solution.

They allow administrators tocontrol form behaviorwithout scripting.

They arefaster and more efficientthan Client Scripts.

Theyrun on the client-side, meaning changes occur dynamically as users interact with the form.

Defineconditions(e.g., "Priority is High").

Setactions(e.g., make "Due Date" mandatory, read-only, or hidden).

Apply the UI Policy to the form automatically when the condition is met.

A. UI Action→ UI Actions create buttons, links, or context menu items; they do not control form fields.

B. Client Script→ While Client Scripts can achieve similar functionality, they require JavaScript coding, making them alow-coderather than ano-codesolution.

C. UI Script→ UI Scripts are reusable JavaScript libraries, not designed for controlling form fields.

D. UI Rule→ No such feature exists in ServiceNow.

InServiceNow Knowledge Management, thepublishing and retiring process for knowledge articlesis managed throughWorkflows. These workflows define the steps an article must go through before it is published, updated, or retired.

Submission:

A user creates a knowledge article and submits it for approval.

Approval Process:

Based on the workflow, an article may require manager or SME (Subject Matter Expert) approval.

Publishing:

Once approved, the article ispublishedand made available in the Knowledge Base.

Updating & Versioning:

If edits are needed, the article enters adraft or reviewstate.

Retirement:

When an article is no longer needed, it follows the workflow toretire or archiveit.

Knowledge Approval Publish(requires approval before publishing)

Knowledge Instant Publish(automatically publishes the article)

Knowledge Retire(handles retiring or archiving articles)

A. Approval Policies(Incorrect)

ServiceNow does not use a separate "Approval Policy" for knowledge articles; approvals are managed within the workflow.

B. Approval Definitions(Incorrect)

There is no such specific feature in ServiceNow. Approvals are configured within workflows, not separate definitions.

C. Workflow Designer(Incorrect)

TheWorkflow Designeris a tool used tocreate workflows, but it does not control the publishing process directly. The workflows themselves do.

E. State Lifecycle(Incorrect)

While knowledge articleshave a lifecycle (Draft → Review → Published → Retired), this is controlledby workflows, not by an independent "State Lifecycle" feature.

Knowledge Workflows Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/rome-servicenow-platform/page/product/knowledge-management/reference/r_KnowledgeWorkflows.html

ServiceNow Knowledge Management Process:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-it-service-management/page/product/knowledge-management/concept/knowledge-management-overview.html

How Workflows Control Knowledge Article Publishing & Retiring:Common Knowledge Workflows in ServiceNow:Explanation of Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, every record in a table has a unique 32-character identifier calledsys_id. This ID uniquely identifies a record and is stored in thesys_id fieldfor every table.

sys_id is a globally unique identifierassigned to every record in ServiceNow.

It is a 32-character hexadecimal string, ensuring uniqueness across instances.

It remains constant for a record, even if other fields in the record are modified.

sys_id is used in API calls, reference fields, and update setsto track records across environments.

A. sn_rec_id:No such field in ServiceNow.

B. rec_id:Not a valid field in ServiceNow.

C. u_id:Not a standard ServiceNow field. Custom fields may use "u_" prefix butu_id is not a system field.

E. sn_gu_id:No such field in ServiceNow.

F. sn_sys_id:No such standard field in ServiceNow.

G. id:Generic term, but not a standard field in ServiceNow.

ServiceNow Data Model and sys_id Explained: ServiceNow Docs

sys_id Best Practices for Data Management

Why is the Correct Answer "sys_id"?Why Not the Other Options?References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Official Documentation:Thesys_idis crucial for tracking and managing records efficiently in ServiceNow and plays a key role in integrations, workflows, and automation.

In ServiceNow,Pluginsare used to activate additional applications or functionalities within a development instance. A plugin is apackage of features, configurations, and applicationsthat extends the platform’s capabilities.

Plugins introduce new capabilities– They allow you to enable or disable specific functionalities, such as ITSM, CMDB, HR Service Delivery, and Performance Analytics.

Plugins can be installed or activatedfrom theSystem Definition > Pluginsmodule.

Some plugins are available by default, while others require activation by an administrator or ServiceNow support.

Plugins can depend on other plugins, meaning some functionality requires multiple plugins to be activated.

A. App Package:No such term in ServiceNow. Applications in ServiceNow are delivered viaPlugins or App Engine Studio, not "App Package."

B. Updated Pack:Not a ServiceNow term. ServiceNow updates are delivered aspatches or application updates, not an "Updated Pack."

C. Patch:Apatchis a minor update or bug fix released by ServiceNow but does not introduce new functionality.

E. App Updated Set:Update Setstrack changes in a development instance but are used formigrating configurationsbetween instances, not for activating functionality.

ServiceNow Plugins Documentation:ServiceNow Docs

Managing and Activating Plugins in ServiceNow(Admin Guide)

Why is the Correct Answer "Plugin"?Why Not the Other Options?References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Official Documentation:

TheServiceNow platformprovides variousinterfacesfor users to interact with the system based on their role and requirements. These interfaces cater to different use cases, such as web-based, mobile, and portal-based access.

Now Mobile Apps (A) –Correct

ServiceNow providesNow Mobile applicationsfor bothiOS and Android.

These apps allow users to access self-service options, request services, check approvals, and complete tasks from mobile devices.

Apps includeNow Mobile, Field Service Mobile, and Mobile Agent.

Service Portals (D) –Correct

Service Portalsprovide auser-friendly web interfacethat allows users tosubmit requests, search for knowledge, and interact with catalog itemsin a simplified way.

Service Portals are customizable and used forself-service and customer-facing interactions.

Now Platform® User Interfaces (E) –Correct

This includes the standardUI16 (Current Web Interface), UI Builder for custom interfaces, and theClassic UIfor legacy systems.

Users can access ServiceNow throughdesktop web browsers, mobile web interfaces, and UI frameworks.

B. Agent Control Center(Incorrect)

No such predefined interface exists in ServiceNow as "Agent Control Center."

C. Back Office Dashboard(Incorrect)

This is not a standard ServiceNow interface but may be a custom-built dashboard.

F. Field Service Taskboard(Incorrect)

This is afeaturewithinField Service Management (FSM), not a platform-wide interface.

ServiceNow User Interfaces Overview:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/administer/navigation-and-ui/concept/c_NavigationAndTheUserInterface.html

Now Mobile App:https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-now-mobile/page/administer/service-now-mobile/concept/now-mobile-overview.html

Types of Interfaces in ServiceNow:Incorrect Options:Official References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow,UI Actionsare used to addinteractive elementslikebuttons, links, and context menu itemsto forms and lists. They can triggerscripts, workflows, or other actionswhen clicked.

Form Buttons– Buttons that appear on a form (e.g.,Save, Update, Resolve Incident).

List Buttons– Buttons that appear in a list view and perform actions on multiple records.

Related Links– Links that appear in theRelated Linkssection of a form and provide quick navigation or actions.

Common Types of UI Actions:SinceForm Buttons, List Buttons, and Related Linksare alltypes of UI Actions, they arevalid UI Actions.

Search is a built-in system functionalitythat allows users to find records but doesnot involve UI Actions.

UI Actionsexecute predefined actions, whereasSearch simply retrieves and filters data.

ServiceNow search functions (Global Search, List Search, and Quick Search)arenot part of UI Actions.

B. Form Buttons→Valid UI Action

Appears on forms (e.g.,Submit, Save, Update).

C. List Buttons→Valid UI Action

Used in list views for bulk actions (e.g.,Close All, Approve Selected).

D. Related Links→Valid UI Action

Provides quick links in forms (e.g.,View CI Details, Reopen Ticket).

ServiceNow Docs: UI Actions Overviewhttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-administration/page/administer/form-administration/concept/c_UIActions.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (UI Actions & User Interface Customization)

Why "Search" is NOT a UI Action?Why the Other Options Are UI Actions?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

To translateService Catalog itemsinto multiple languages in ServiceNow, theTranslation Framework plugin (com.glide.translation_framework)must be activated. This plugin enablesautomatic translation of text fields, including:

Service Catalog items

Knowledge Base articles

Field labels

UI components

Providesmulti-language supportfor catalog items.

Usesmachine translation or manual translation mapping.

Works with theServiceNow Language Packsto provide localized experiences.

Key Features of the Translation Framework Plugin:

TheTranslation Framework plugin (com.glide.translation_framework)is specifically designed to supportmulti-language content translationfor the Service Catalog.

It allows translation of catalog item descriptions, labels, and options without custom scripting.

Why "B. Translation Framework Plugin" is the Correct Answer?

A. Localization Framework Plugin (com.glide.localization_framework) – Incorrect

This plugin helps withlocalization settingsbut is not specifically for catalog item translation.

C. Multiple Language Framework Plugin (com.glide.multiple.language_framework) – Incorrect

No such plugin exists in ServiceNow.

D. Language AI Framework Plugin (com.glide.language.ai_framework) – Incorrect

This is not a valid ServiceNow plugin.

Explanation of Incorrect Options:

ServiceNow Docs: Translation Framework Plugin

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Multi-language Support

ServiceNow Product Documentation: Translating Service Catalog Items

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation: