Associate Safety Professional or ASP Exam is needed to achieve the Associate Safety Professional certification awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Those that are certified have proven they are competent in their field and act professionally in all scenarios.
Who is Eligible?
To apply for the ASP, you must have:
- At least a bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited university
- Or an associate’s degree in safety, health, or the environment including at least four courses with at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours in the health, safety, or environmental topics covered in the ASP and CSP exams.
- At least one year of professional safety experience
After your application has been reviewed, you will be invited to pay for your exam. The fee is $160. You will have one year from this date to schedule and pass the ASP before your application expires.
When and Where is it Taken?
All BCSP exams are computer administered by Pearson VUE year-round at one of their many testing sites around the world. A complete list of available dates, times, and locations will be provided during the scheduling process online. It is recommended you schedule your exam early, as space may be limited.
What Should I Bring?
It is crucial you arrive early for your scheduled exam, as there is a check-in process that will need to be completed prior to taking the exam.
Two forms of identification are required. These must be current and valid, containing your signature and full name as it appears on your application. One must also contain a recognizable photo.
You will be allowed to use a calculator during this exam. However, only the following brands and models are permitted.
- Texas Instruments models TI-30, -34, -35, or -36
- Casio models FX-115, -250, -260, or -300
- Hewlett Packard models HP 9, 10, 12, or 30
All other personal items are prohibited and will be kept in a designated area during the exam. This include cell phones, food, and study materials. Writing materials will be provided upon your arrival.
What Does it Cover?
The ASP exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions. You have five hours to complete them all. About 10-15% questions will be unidentified pre-test items and are not included in your score.
Below is a brief outline of domains and topics covered on the ASP.
Domain 1: Mathematics 18% of the exam
Topic 1: Chemistry and Industrial Hygiene Calculations
Flammables, toxic materials, chemical reactions, corrosives
Topic 2: Electrical Calculations
Circuits, arc flash, energy, resistance, power, impedance
Topic 3: Radiation Calculations
Half-life, source strength, decay
Topic 4: Mechanical and Structural Calculations
Rigging and load and loading and storage capacity
Topic 5: Engineering Control Calculations
Noise, fire suppression and system design, climate conditions, ventilation and system design, fall protection
Topic 6: Physics Calculations
Friction, gas laws, kinetic and potential energy, movement
Topic 7: Financial Principles
Life cycle cost and net present value
Return on investment and cost-benefit analysis
Topic 8: Statistics
Probability, correlational statistics, inferential statistics, descriptive statistics
Topic 9: Performance Metrics and Indicators
Leading indicators, effects of losses, lagging indicators
Domain 2: Safety Management Systems 23%
Topic 1: Risk Management and Hazard Control Process
Selection of control methods, identification methods, risk analysis and examination, monitoring and reevaluation, risk transfer, implementation of controls
Topic 2: Management Processes
Inspection and audits, incident investigation, emergency, disaster response planning, business continuity, crisis
Topic 3: Project Management
Assigning responsibilities and accountability and evaluation of cost, schedule, risk, performance
Topic 4: System Safety
Process safety management and risk analysis methods
Topic 5: Fleet safety
Safety features, driver behavior, crash and collision investigation, vehicle inspections
Topic 6: Safety Programs
Control of hazardous energy, excavation, trenching, shoring, physical security, fall protection, substance abuse, wellness programs, workplace violence, hazard communications and globally harmonized system, confined space
Domain 3: Ergonomics 13%
Topic 1: Human Factors
Stressors, work design, aging workforce, organizational, behavioral, psychological influences, fitness for duty, risk factors
Topic 2: Measurement and Monitoring
Quantitative and qualitative methods
Topic 3: Controls
Work practice controls, written plans, procedures, training, material handling, human-machine interface, user-centered design
Domain 4: Fire Prevention and Protection 11%
Topic 1: Fire and Explosion Hazards
Electrical, chemical, structural, natural hazards, hot work, mechanical
Topic 2: Fire Controls
Detection, fire science, suppression, housekeeping, grounding and bonding, segregation and separation, fire science
Topic 3: Fire and Emergency Management
Written plans, procedures, work practices, life safety
Domain 5: Occupational Health 11%
Topic 1: Biological Hazards and Controls
Sources, control strategies, exposure assessment
Topic 2: Chemical Hazards and Controls
Sources, routes of entry, acute and chronic exposures, exposure limits, Nano-technology, incompatibilities and reactivity of agents
Topic 3: Physical Hazards and Controls
Vibration, noise, electrical, radiation
Domain 6: Environmental Management 15%
Topic 1: Environmental Hazards
Water, remediation, air, land and conservation, disaster preparedness, environmental hazards awareness
Topic 2: Engineering Controls
Water pollution, air pollution, above ground and underground storage tanks, ventilation, land pollution, segregation and separation, hazardous materials containment and design, substitution and selection of alternative design strategies
Topic 3: Administrative Controls and Practices
Housekeeping, warnings, conservation, sustainability, environmental management system standards, written plans, procedures, work practices
Topic 4: Hazardous Waste Storage and Disposal
Transportation, spill prevention, containment, response, waste removal, treatment, disposal, storage and documentation
Domain 7: Training, Education, and Communication 9%
Topic 1: Training and Education Methods
Assessing competency, data collection and feedback, behavior and performance modification, presentation tools, adult learning theory and techniques
Topic 2: Communication and Group Dynamics
Mentoring, methods of facilitating teams, interpersonal communication, negotiation strategy, conflict resolution, multidisciplinary teamwork
How is it Scored?
Your ASP exam score report will be given to you at the testing center before you leave. This will include your pass/fail status, your raw score, and breakdown of your performance in each domain on the exam.
If you have passed this exam, you will receive your certification and wallet card through your BCSP account.
How Can I Prepare for the ASP Safety Fundamentals Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!
