CSP Comprehensive Practice Exam

Who is Eligible?

All CSP candidates are required to have:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution and
• At least four years of professional safety experience with at least 50% of duties being professional safety functions in full-time position and
• At least one other BCSP-approved credential such as an ASP, GSP, CIH, MISPN, CMIOSH, CRSP, SISO, ACRC, etc.

Once your application and application payment of $160 has been submitted, you will then have to pay for your exam. The CSP exam costs $350. This is non-transferable and non-refundable.

When and Where it is Taken?

After you have paid for your exam, its time to schedule it. You will have one year in which to schedule and pass your exam before your application expires. The exam is scheduled through Pearson VUE year-round. Pearson has testing locations worldwide.

Choose a date, time, and place that is convenient for you. However, it is recommended that you schedule your exam early as space is limited in some locations and is filled on a first come, first served basis.

Special accommodations are available for those with disabilities or who may not be able to test under normal conditions. Please make this request at the time of application and provide the appropriate supporting documentation for speedy approval.

If you should need to reschedule or cancel your exam appointment, make sure to do so no later than 48 hours before your original exam. If you wait any longer, your changes will not be made and you will be considered a no-show, forfeiting all fees paid.

What Do I Need to Bring?

It is essential that you arrive at least 30 minutes early for your exam to ensure you have time to complete the check-in process and be prepared to begin. Those who arrive late will not be allowed to test and will be counted as a no-show forfeiting any fees paid.

You will need to present You are allowed to bring one or two calculators with you to use during the exam. However, they must be one of the following brands and models:

• Hewlett Packard models HP 9, 10, 12, or 30
• Texas Instruments models TI-30, -34, -35, or -36
• Casio models FX-115, -250, -260, or -300

Any other personal items are strictly prohibited. This includes cell phones, food and drinks, watches and jewelry, and any study materials. You will be provided with materials such as paper and pencil to work out calculations at the testing center.

What is Covered?

The CSP exam consists of 200 multiple-choice items. 25 of those questions are classified as unidentified pretest questions. These will be scattered throughout your exam and will not count towards your score; however, as they are unidentified, it is important that you answer them.

Below is a brief outline of the exam including the major sections and their weight.

Advanced Science and Math (7.4%)

Core concepts in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and statistics

Management Systems (19.5%)

Concepts and techniques in project management, incident investigation, system safety, performance standards

Risk Management (10.3%)

Risk analysis and assessment, hazard analysis and the costs involved

Advanced Safety Concepts (22.9%)

Workplace hazards, chemical safety, hazardous material management, PPE, tools, and equipment safety

Emergency Preparedness, Fire Prevention, and Security (9.1%)

Fire prevention and protection systems, incident management, hazardous material transport, workplace violence, and prevention

Occupational Health and Ergonomics (8%)

Principles in toxicology, ergonomics, human factors, occupational exposures, epidemiology

Environmental Management Systems (6.3%)

Techniques and practices to protect and sustain the environment and prevent pollution

Training/Education (9.1%)

Techniques for education and training of personnel and training programs

Law and Ethics (7.4%)

BCSP code of ethics, legal issues, confidentiality standards and processes, proper work relationships

You will have five and a half hours to complete all the questions. You are allowed to skip items and return to them later if need be.

How is it Scored?

Scores are determined based on the number of correctly answered questions in relation to the difficulty of those items. That score is then compared to a pre-established minimum passing score for that test version. The minimum passing score for the CSP is 99 out of 175.  

You will receive your score results at the testing center immediately after your exam. This will be indicated as a pass or fail status only for those that pass. You will be rewarded with the CSP credential, a wall certificate, and access to a printable wallet card. To maintain your certification, you will need to pay an annual renewal fee and earn at least 25 recertification points every five years.

For those that fail the exam, your score report will also include a breakdown of your performance in each domain or main section. This is to help you prepare for any retakes you may choose to do. Failing candidates can purchase another exam authorization and use it to retake the CSP no sooner than six weeks after your last attempt.

How Can I Prepare for the CSP Test?

That’s a great question.  We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.

1. Do yourself a favor and study.  Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try.  Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
2. Take care of yourself.  Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping.  All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance.  If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
3. Get a study guide or set of flashcards.  Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them.  We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam.  Below you’ll see links to both!