Taking the Exams

Before registering for any CSI exam, be sure to read the corresponding Handbook for Exam Candidates. These free publications are found in the CSI Bookstore and contain important information for you as a prospective CSI certification holder.

CDT®, CCCA®, CCS® and CCPR™
CSI offers the CDT, CCCA, CCS, and CCPR examinations twice annually in the Spring and the Fall. Open registration for the tests begin in the Winter and Summer respectively.

Remote Testing Option
Secure remote testing allows examinations to be completed virtually during the exam window. Test-takers will need to pre-schedule their exam and there are unique technology requirements that must be met.

Where do I take the exam in-person?

The exam is administered at Prometric test centers in the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada. To view the Prometric test center locations, visit www.prometric.com/CSI and select "Locate a Test Center."

Your Authorization To Test (ATT) Email
The Authorization To Test (ATT) email contains all of the necessary information for scheduling an appointment at a Prometric testing center, including your candidate National ID number. You’ll receive your Authorization To Test notification within one week after your application has been processed. Be sure to check your spam folder for your ATT and if you cannot locate it, reach out to CSI at certification@csinet.org.

What type of identification is required for entry at the test center?
One form of government-issued, photo- and signature-bearing ID must be provided when entering the Prometric test center. Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • Driver’s License
  • State or government-issued ID
  • Passport

IMPORTANT: ID must have FIRST and LAST names that identically match those used for registration; middle names and suffixes are not required. The address used for registration does not have to match the address on the ID.

Which Prometric test centers are available to exam candidates?
You may choose from any of the Prometric test center locations in the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada. CSI's current contract with the test vendor does not permit testing outside of these locations, however, remote exams are available globally.


How long is the exam? 
CDT: Two hours; 120 multiple-choice questions
CCCA: Four hours; 150 multiple-choice questions
CCS: Four hours; 170 multiple-choice questions
CCPR: One and-a-half hours; 70 questions
*Add 30 minutes for introduction/tutorial screens and post-exam surveys.
All exams are computer-based and multiple-choice.

Why do I have to wait for my CSI certification exam results?
Intermittently, all CSI exams will undertake a “passing score” analysis. This means the research to determine the “cut score” (to pass/fail) cannot be determined until after all candidates have taken the exam and the testing window has closed.

Exam items are individually evaluated and those questions (items) that did not perform as expected are analyzed to determine how to score, modify, or eliminate. Items are reviewed by a confidential group of subject matter experts (SMEs), CSI members, and staff, in meetings facilitated by a psychometrician, a.k.a. test development specialist.

Once the review is completed, the “cut or passing score” is set and status reports are sent to individual candidates.

**The entire review and scoring process takes roughly 6-8 weeks and can only start after the close of the testing window.


ADA Test Accommodations Guidelines for CSI Examination Registrants

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Certification exams are continuing as scheduled through remote testing and in-person testing. Further information on Prometric site openings and safety policies are published on their website, prometric.com.

Please visit Prometric’s Coronavirus Update webpage for information about mask policies, permissible personal care items, as well as test center cleaning procedures and requirements.