Failed the CSP exam? What to do next

You can retake the CSP 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 CSP 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 two or three domains to study first.

Source: BCSP, Certified Safety Professional (CSP)

Not passing the CSP is common enough that BCSP has a written retesting policy. This guide covers the wait, the cost, how to read your report, and how to turn it into a study plan.

Step 1: know when you can retake

BCSP's CSP page says you "may schedule the exam at any time available 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.

So the real question is not only "six weeks or more?" but "does a second attempt fit inside my window?" Count back from your eligibility deadline before you pick a date.

Step 2: know what a retake costs

BCSP lists a CSP 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, so check the At-A-Glance sheet before you pay.

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 two numbers: how many questions were in that domain and how many you answered correctly.

Three things BCSP says about reading it:

The pass or fail decision 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, so be wary of anyone quoting an exact cut score. Our guide How to read your BCSP score report walks through the report line by line.

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

A low percentage in a small domain can cost fewer points than a middling percentage in a big one. Two domains make up half the CSP11 exam:

CSP11 domain	Exam weight
1. Advanced Application of Safety Principles	25%
2. Program Management	25%
3. Risk Management	15%
4. Emergency Management	9%
5. Environmental Management	6%
6. Occupational Health and Applied Science	10%
7. Training	10%

A simple way to rank: for each domain, multiply its exam weight by the share of its questions you missed. The biggest products are where your study hours buy the most points. Our free CSP retake plan does that 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 CSP10

CSP11 replaced CSP10 on August 1, 2025. If your report uses the old nine CSP10 domains, BCSP's change notes show where most of that content moved. For example, CSP10 Domain 5 (Emergency Preparedness, Fire Prevention, and Security) maps to CSP11 Domain 4, and CSP10 Domain 8 (Training/Education) maps to CSP11 Domain 7. The CSP retake plan can translate an old report for you; pick the CSP10 outline when you enter your test date.

Step 6: build the next six weeks or more

Put most of your hours on your top two or three domains from step 4.
Keep a little time on every other domain so it doesn't slip.
Practice timed: BCSP allows 5.5 hours for the CSP.
Re-check each focus domain with fresh practice questions before you book.

Start with the CSP domain pages and the CSP formula sheet. If you need a baseline across all domains, the free diagnostic is 25 questions.

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 CSP?

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

Does a retake cost the full exam fee?

BCSP's exam fee of $350 covers one attempt. If you bought the $600 exam bundle, it 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 CSP 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.

Can I appeal a failed CSP 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 does list some decisions that can be appealed, such as examination quality, with a written request within 60 days, so read it if you think something went wrong on test day.

Should I change how I study for the retake?

Your report tells you where points were lost. Weight your study by those domains first, and use practice questions in each one to check that the gap is closing before you book.