The Certified Safety Professional, or CSP, is a certification offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). It is designed for experienced safety, health, and environmental professionals who help manage risk, develop safety programs, evaluate hazards, and lead safety initiatives in the workplace.
The CSP exam measures advanced safety knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge across safety principles, program management, risk management, emergency management, environmental management, occupational health, and training.
CSP Exam Overview
| Credentialing organization | Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) |
| Exam format | Computer-based multiple-choice exam |
| Number of questions | 200 total questions, including scored and unscored pretest questions |
| Time limit | 5.5 hours |
| Testing provider | Pearson VUE |
Online CSP Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online CSP Prep Course. The course includes review lessons, practice questions, flashcards, videos, progress tracking, and study tools designed to help you review the major areas tested on the exam.
- 80 CSP lessons
- 600 CSP practice questions
- 460+ digital flashcards
- 20+ review videos
- Progress tracking
- Bonus study tools and test-taking tips
Who Is Eligible for the CSP?
To qualify for the CSP, candidates must meet BCSP eligibility requirements. At minimum, candidates need a bachelor’s degree, professional safety experience, and a BCSP-qualified credential.
- A bachelor’s degree in any field
- Four years of safety, health, and environmental experience
- At least 50% of that experience must be preventive, professional-level safety work
- A BCSP-qualified credential, such as ASP, GSP, TSP, CIH, CMIOSH, CRSP, or another approved credential
- A passing score on the CSP exam
Candidates should review the current BCSP requirements before applying, especially if their degree was earned outside the United States or if they are using a credential other than ASP, GSP, or TSP to qualify.
What Is Covered on the CSP Exam?
The CSP exam blueprint is divided into seven domains. Each domain represents a major area of professional safety practice.
| Domain | Percent of Exam | Main Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Application of Safety Principles | 25% | Prevention through design, process safety, workplace hazards, facility safety, fleet safety, materials handling, tools, machines, and equipment |
| Program Management | 25% | Safety performance, incident investigation, management of change, system safety analysis, indicators, audits, budgeting, leadership, project management, and data analysis |
| Risk Management | 15% | Risk evaluation, hazard identification, hierarchy of controls, financial risk strategies, and risk communication |
| Emergency Management | 9% | Emergency response plans, disaster response, business continuity, fire protection, hazardous materials transportation, security, and workplace violence prevention |
| Environmental Management | 6% | Pollution prevention, hazardous materials, waste management, sustainability, environmental issues, and environmental protection practices |
| Occupational Health and Applied Science | 10% | Exposure assessment, sampling, toxicology, public health, ergonomics, human factors, chemistry, and physics |
| Training | 10% | Training needs assessment, training program development, adult learning, training delivery methods, continuous improvement, and training effectiveness |
How Do I Apply for the CSP?
Candidates apply through BCSP. After creating a BCSP profile, candidates can submit an application and required documentation for review.
Once the application is approved, candidates have one year to take and pass the CSP exam. The exam is scheduled through Pearson VUE, and testing appointments are available at Pearson VUE testing centers.
What Should I Bring on Test Day?
Plan to arrive early so you have time to complete the check-in process. If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to test.
- Bring the identification required by Pearson VUE and BCSP.
- Follow the calculator rules listed in your candidate instructions.
- Do not bring prohibited items into the testing room.
- Review your appointment confirmation before test day.
Personal items such as phones, watches, food, drinks, study materials, and unauthorized electronics are not allowed in the testing room.
How Is the CSP Exam Scored?
The CSP exam includes scored questions and unidentified pretest questions. Pretest questions are used to evaluate items for possible use on future exams and do not count toward the candidate’s score.
Scores are based on the number of correctly answered scored questions and the difficulty of the exam form. Candidates receive official results after completing the exam.
Can I Retake the CSP Exam?
Candidates who do not pass may retake the exam, but they must purchase another exam authorization and follow BCSP’s retake rules. BCSP currently requires candidates to wait at least six weeks between exam attempts.
How Can I Prepare for the CSP Exam?
Start by reviewing the current CSP exam blueprint. The blueprint shows the seven domains tested on the exam and the percentage assigned to each domain.
Then focus your study time on the highest-weighted areas, especially Advanced Application of Safety Principles and Program Management. These two domains make up half of the exam, so weak performance there can hurt quickly.
Practice questions are useful because they help you apply safety concepts the way they may appear on the exam. After each practice session, review missed questions carefully so you understand the rule, calculation, safety principle, or management concept behind the correct answer.
