Failed the CHST exam? What to do next

You can retake the CHST once six weeks have passed since your last attempt. Before you book, use your BCSP score report to find the domains that cost you the most points, then study those first.

Published October 17, 2026. Facts checked against the sources listed below.

Short answer

BCSP lets you schedule a new CHST attempt no sooner than six weeks after your last one. Your score report lists, for each domain, how many questions it had and how many you got right, so use those counts to pick the one or two domains to study first.

Source: BCSP, Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)

The CHST has only four domains, so your score report points to a short list. Here is the wait, the cost, and how to use the report to plan the next attempt.

Step 1: know when you can retake

BCSP's CHST 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.

Count back from your eligibility deadline before you pick a retake date.

Step 2: know what a retake costs

BCSP lists a CHST exam fee of $300 for one attempt. Its exam bundle, $550, 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

Hazard and Risk Identification and Control is more than a third of the CHST5 exam:

CHST5 domain	Exam weight
1. Hazard and Risk Identification and Control	36.6%
2. Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response	19.9%
3. Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment	22.5%
4. Leadership, Communication, and Training	21%

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. With four domains, focus on the top one or two. Our free CHST 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: watch for a new CHST outline

The CHST5 blueprint is current today. BCSP's exam development page lists a CHST job and task analysis panel for December 7 to 9, 2026, so a new outline may follow later. If your retake falls near a change, check BCSP's CHST page for the blueprint in force on your test date.

Step 6: build the next six weeks or more

Put most of your hours on your top one or two domains from step 4.
Keep some time on the others.
Tie each hazard back to the construction standard behind it.
Practice timed: BCSP allows 4 hours for the CHST.
Re-check each focus domain with fresh practice questions before you book.

Start with the CHST domain pages, the CHST formula sheet, our CHST study plan and, for a baseline, 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 CHST?

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

Does a retake cost the full exam fee?

BCSP's exam fee of $300 covers one attempt. The $550 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 CHST 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.

How many questions are on the CHST?

Your score report shows the question count for each domain, which is the most reliable number for your own attempt. Our retake plan pre-fills an estimate you can overwrite with the counts on your report.

Can I appeal a failed CHST 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.