Failed the ASP exam? What to do next

A failed ASP attempt is not the end of the path to the CSP. BCSP has a written retesting policy, and your score report holds what you need to plan the next attempt.

Step 1: know when you can retake

BCSP's ASP page says you may schedule the exam at any available time "as long as it is at least six (6) weeks from your last exam attempt." That rule has been in BCSP's retesting policy since July 2018.

Two more limits from BCSP's Credentials At-A-Glance sheet:

• You have one year from application approval to schedule and pass the exam.
• If you are within 60 days of that deadline, you can pay $100 for a one-time extension valid for one year.

Before you pick a date, count back from your eligibility deadline and make sure a second attempt fits.

Step 2: know what a retake costs

BCSP lists an ASP exam fee of $350 for one attempt. Its exam bundle, $600, includes two attempts and one self-assessment. If you bought the bundle, your retake is already paid for; if not, plan on another exam fee. BCSP notes that fees can change without notice.

Step 3: read your score report

Results are available as soon as you submit, and BCSP says you can view your score report in your Pearson VUE account. For each domain, the report shows how many questions were in that domain and how many you answered correctly.

What BCSP says about reading it:

• The result is based on your total of correct answers on scored questions, with every scored question weighted the same.
• You are not required to reach a minimum score in each domain.
• BCSP suggests identifying the domains where your performance was below what the overall exam requires.

BCSP's current At-A-Glance sheet does not publish a passing score. See How to read your BCSP score report for a line-by-line walkthrough.

Step 4: rank domains by points lost, not by percent

One domain, Safety Programs and Concepts, is a quarter of the ASP11 exam:

For each domain, multiply its exam weight by the share of its questions you missed. The biggest products are where extra study buys the most points. A weak Legal score, at 5% of the exam, usually matters less than a middling Domain 2 score. Our free ASP retake plan does this math from your report's numbers and links free practice for each focus domain. It stores nothing personal and never asks about exam questions.

Step 5: if you tested on ASP10

If your report uses ASP10 domain names, the nine domains line up with ASP11 by number. BCSP's change notes describe new titles with most content kept; for example, ASP10 Domain 2 (Safety Management Systems) is now Safety Programs and Concepts, and ASP10 Domain 9 (Law and Ethics) is now Legal. Pick the ASP10 outline in the ASP retake plan and it carries your counts across.

Step 6: build the next six weeks or more

1. Put most of your hours on your top two or three domains from step 4.
2. Keep some time on every other domain.
3. Drill the math: Mathematical Calculations is 10% of the exam, and formulas show up across other domains too.
4. Practice timed: BCSP allows 5 hours for the ASP.
5. Re-check each focus domain with fresh practice questions before you book.

Start with the ASP domain pages, the ASP formula sheet and, for a baseline across every domain, the free diagnostic.

What not to do

Do not share or look for actual exam questions. BCSP's Discipline Policy lists disclosing any examination question as grounds for discipline, and the candidate rules say you may not discuss test questions or answers with anyone. Your own domain counts are fine to use for study.

FAQ

How long do I have to wait to retake the ASP?

At least six weeks from your last attempt, per BCSP's ASP page and retesting policy.

Does a retake cost the full exam fee?

BCSP's exam fee of $350 covers one attempt. The $600 exam bundle includes a second attempt.

Is there a minimum score per domain?

No. BCSP says candidates do not need a minimum score in each domain. The result depends on your total correct.

What is the ASP passing score?

BCSP's current At-A-Glance sheet does not list one and says passing scores can change without notice. We don't guess at it.

Does failing the ASP affect my path to the CSP?

Only if the ASP is your route in. The CSP requires a BCSP Qualified Credential, and the ASP is one of them; the GSP is another. Your eligibility clock for the CSP starts with its own application. See ASP vs CSP for how the two fit together.

Can I appeal a failed ASP result?

BCSP's Appeals Policy says the passing score may not be appealed, and candidates may not access exam items, answers or the answer key. The policy lists some decisions that can be appealed, such as examination quality, with a written request within 60 days.