BCSP exam-day checklist

A printable checklist for test day at a Pearson VUE test center. Everything here comes from BCSP's own pages, linked inline and listed at the end. Rules change, so check the BCSP exam page for your credential the week before you test. For the full walk-through, see what to expect on BCSP exam day; to plan the weeks before, use the free BCSP study plan. Exam pages: ASP, CSP, CHST.

Before test day

• Your exam is purchased and scheduled. You buy the exam with the "Purchase Exam" button and schedule through the single sign-on link in your BCSP My Profile (BCSP CSP page).
• Know your deadline. For the CSP, ASP and CHST alike, you have one year from application approval to take and pass the exam (CSP, ASP, CHST).
• Accommodations are approved in advance. Email accommodations@bcsp.org *before* you schedule. They must be pre-approved and can't be requested at the test site (BCSP, What to Expect).
• Your ID name matches your BCSP record exactly and the ID isn't expired. If anything doesn't match on test day, you won't be able to sit (BCSP, What to Expect).
• Food and drink aren't allowed in the testing room (BCSP), so eat beforehand.

What to bring

• A government-issued photo ID with your signature, current and matching your BCSP name exactly (BCSP).
• That's the essential item. Don't bring a calculator or a formula sheet, since neither is allowed (see below). You can't get to your personal belongings during the exam (BCSP).

At check-in

• You'll read and sign the Pearson VUE Candidate Rules Agreement.
• At the computer, you'll accept a security and confidentiality agreement and the BCSP Code of Ethics before the exam starts. There's then a short optional tutorial on the testing screen.

(Both from BCSP, What to Expect.)

Calculator and formulas

• You get an on-screen calculator that emulates the TI-30XS scientific calculator, plus a whiteboard and dry-erase marker. The center won't hand out a physical calculator, and you can't bring your own (BCSP).
• No formula sheet is given or allowed. When a question needs a formula, it's included in the question, unless the question is testing whether you know that formula (BCSP).
• Practice your calculations on a TI-30XS-style calculator beforehand so the on-screen version feels familiar.

The exam itself

Time allowed is from BCSP's Credentials At-A-Glance. The question format and pilot items come from BCSP's What to Expect article (Sep 15, 2022), a general exam-day guide for BCSP exams at Pearson VUE test centers.

• About 12% of questions are beta items BCSP is piloting. They're unscored, mixed in with the scored questions, and not labeled, so treat every question as if it counts.
• You can see your score report in your Pearson VUE account after the exam (BCSP). BCSP's CSP page says official results are available as soon as you submit (BCSP CSP page).

Timing tips

• Breaks don't stop the clock. You can take self-scheduled breaks, but the exam timer keeps running, and you have to stay in the building or the Pearson VUE-controlled area (BCSP). Budget break time into your pacing.
• Work out your pace before you go. Set a halfway-point check (where you want to be when half your time is gone), and leave a buffer for breaks and review.
• Read each question carefully. There's only one best answer, so weigh all four options before choosing.
• If something goes wrong at the center, stay calm (BCSP).

If you need another attempt

• If you don't pass, BCSP requires you to wait six weeks before retaking the exam (BCSP retesting FAQ).
• If fewer than six weeks are left in your eligibility period, you can't retake without buying an extension. BCSP allows one eligibility extension per application (BCSP retesting FAQ). The extension fee can be paid when you're within 60 days of your deadline (Credentials At-A-Glance).

If you want a low-key way to check your footing before booking, there's a free 25-question diagnostic.