9/14/22, 8:08 AM Certification Exams and Testing

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ISA Certification and Certificate Programs / Certification Exams and Testing

Certification Exams and Testing

Taking an exam is the final step to earning an ISA certification. When you go
through the check-out process to pay an application fee, you will be prompted to
confirm that you are aware of, have met, and can document that you meet all the
following requirements:

You agree to commit to the ISA Code of Conduct

You meet the education and work experience requirements for the
certification for which you are applying
You acknowledge that you may be randomly chosen for an audit and will
need to provide supporting documentation

Once you successfully pass the exam you will receive a digital badge and if you
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Once you successfully pass the exam, you will receive a digital badge, and if you
choose, you will be listed in the ISA Credential Directory.

Certification Exams Available

Certified Automation Professional® (CAP ®)

Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) — Level 1
Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Specialist — Level 2
Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Master — Level 3

Application Fees 

Submit payment to apply for the chosen certification when you are ready to take
the exam and can confirm that you meet the requirements to sit for the exam.
You will be notified by email with next steps to schedule your exam.

CAP 

CAP Requirements
CAP Application Fee
347 USD — ISA Members
467 USD — Non-members 

CCST 

CCST Requirements
CCST — Level I Application Fee
331 USD — ISA Members 
415 USD — Non-members
CCST Specialist — Level 2 Application Fee
315 USD — ISA Members 
397 USD — Non-members
CCST Master — Level 3 Application Fee
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331 USD — ISA Members

415 USD — Non-members

Apply for CCST Certification for Free

Register for one of the CCST review courses and apply for certification for no
additional fee. The following courses qualify: Level I Review Course (TS00), Level II
Review Course (TS02) or Level III Review Course (TS03). You will automatically
receive an exam invitation once you start the course. By paying for the review
course, you are confirming that you are aware of, have met and can document
the requirements for the certification level for which you are applying.

Payment Methods

ISA accepts payment for exam fees by check, certified check, money order, PayPal
payment, wire transfer in US Dollars, or credit card. Make checks payable to ISA.

For wire transfer account information, please contact ISA Customer Service. The
following credit cards are accepted: AMEX, Discover card, Master Card, and VISA.
Purchase orders are not accepted.

Fees are nonrefundable. It is your responsibility as the applicant to thoroughly

review the requirements of the certification for which you are applying. No
refunds will be made for applicants who do not appear for testing on the
appropriate exam date. There are no group discounts for certification application
fees.

Exam Scheduling

After you submit the application, you will receive an

email from candidatesupport@scantron.com one month before the beginning
of your assigned exam window with steps to schedule the exam. Follow the
instructions in the email to schedule your exam—online or at a test center—
through the online exam scheduling system. You can get more information about
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your exam window deadline by accessing the “My Credentials” tab in your ISA
account.

It is important to be certain when selecting the method and time you want
to take the exam. You may incur fees if you change the time and method of
testing. Exams must be scheduled in advance as follows:

Candidates in the United States and Canada: You must submit your
scheduling request at least two calendar days prior to your desired exam
date
Candidates in other countries: You must submit your scheduling request at
least five calendar days prior to your desired exam date

If you do not receive confirmation of your scheduled exam within two business
days of submitting the request, please contact Scantron by phone at +1 919-572-
6880 or email candidatesupport@scantron.com.

Exam Windows

If you are applying for CAP or CCST certification, you have a twelve-month exam
window.  You may take the exam at a test center or online during one of three
exam windows (see chart below). Each exam window will have a deadline for
applications to be submitted. Eligible candidates will only be able to take the exam
during the following exam windows.

Exam Window Application Submission Deadline

2022 Window 3:
1 November 2022 – 15 September 2022
31 October 2023

2023 Window 1:
1 March 2023 – 28 15 January 2023
February 2024
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Exam Window Application Submission Deadline

2023 Window 2:
1 July 2023 – 30 June 15 May 2023
2024

2023 Window 3:
1 November 2023 – 15 September 2023
31 October 2024

Passing Scores

A modified Angoff Method is used to determine the pass point for each form of
each exam. The modified Angoff Method uses expert judgements to determine
the difficulty level of the exam. The easier the exam, the higher the pass point.
Likewise, the more difficult the exam, the lower the pass point. The following is a
basic outline of the modified Angoff Method (some details have been omitted):

1. A group of subject matter experts (SMEs) independently rate each exam

question within a given form of the exam. The ratings are defined as the
probability, or likelihood, that an acceptably (minimally) competent person
with the requisite education and experience will answer the question
correctly. An acceptably (minimally) competent person is defined as
someone who adequately performs all job functions safely and requires no
further training to do so.
2. The SMEs review each exam question as group. A statistical consensus is
reached for the difficulty rating of each exam question.
3. After the data are refined, the final step is to calculate the mean, or average,
of all the exam question ratings. This becomes the overall pass point
estimation.

Grievances Appeal Process

If you feel you were wrongly denied certification, either original or renewal, from
the CAP or CCST programs, then you have the right to appeal. Review
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the Grievances Appeal Process.

Exam Procedures

Verifying Computer Set-Up for Online

Exams

Your Notice to Schedule (NTS) email from Scantron will have

links for you to check your computer system. It is important to
verify that your computer meets the minimum requirements
below, and that you have reliable access to the Internet. An
internet connection disruption will suspend the exam session. If
you have computer system questions after following the
instructions provided by Scantron's schedule confirmation email,
please contact Scantron at +1 919-572-6880
or candidatesupport@scantron.com. 

IMPORTANT: If taking the exam online, you must use a

computer that you have full admin access for.

Check your set-up for Scantron's delivery system.

Configure your set-up for the LOP environment before the
exam. 

Items to Bring for In-Person Exams

Your valid, government issued photo ID (e.g., driver's

license, passport, state-issued ID card) 
The printed exam confirmation notice you received from
Scantron.
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No other items can be brought into the exam

environment. A calculator and any other needed resource
materials will be provided on the computer for those taking
the exam electronically.

All ISA certification exams are closed-book. No reference

material will be allowed in any test room. Please note that
storage space will be limited.

For all CCST level exams, Units Conversion Tables will be

provided to candidates in either paper format (paper/pencil
exams) or accessible within the electronic test interface for
reference during the exam. Click here to review the Units
Conversion Tables.

Cancelation and Rescheduling Policies

Cancelling an Exam

You can cancel an exam through the online exam scheduling

system.

Online exam appointments must be cancelled no less

than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment date
and time. There is no cancellation fee
Exam center appointments must be cancelled no less
than two calendar days prior to the scheduled testing
appointment. There is a cancellation fee of 50
USD payable to Scantron via a secure e-commerce site
(credit card)

Scheduling a Retest or Missed Exam

You may retest as many times as needed within your exam

d h
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window. However, there is a retest fee each time that is payable

to ISA. If you are outside your exam window,
contact certifications@isa.org. If you are within your exam
window, you may reschedule your exam appointment before
the online and test center reschedule cut-off times via the online
exam scheduling system.

Rescheduling Exams

There is no rescheduling fee to change the time and date from
one online exam appointment to another online exam
appointment. However, it must be changed no less than 24
hours prior to the scheduled appointment date and time.

There is no rescheduling fee to change the time and date of an

online exam appointment to an exam center appointment.
However, it must be changed at least 24 hours in advance of
the scheduled appointment. Additionally, you must reschedule
the new appointment no less than two calendar days in
advance of the new appointment at a Scantron test center.

You will incur a rescheduling fee of 50 USD if you change the

appointment time and/or date of a test center exam
appointment. Rescheduling fees are payable to Scantron via a
secure e-commerce site (credit card). The reschedule cut-off time
is no later than two calendar days prior to the exam
appointment. Additionally, if you are scheduling a new online
exam appointment, it must be done no less than 24 hours
prior to the new appointment date and time.

No-Shows and Late Arrivals

If you fail to appear for a scheduled exam, or arrive more than

15 minutes after the scheduled start time, fees will apply. See
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reschedule fees without proper advance notification. You must
reschedule your exam within your twelve-month exam window.
Retaking Missed Exams

If you are within your exam window, you may retake a missed
exam. However, there will be a reschedule fee, payable to ISA. To
reschedule, email certifications@isa.org or contact customer
service at info@isa.org or +1 919-549-8411 with your request.

You may qualify for an exception if you meet certain conditions

and submit documentation to Scantron no later than five
calendar days after the scheduled exam appointment. If the
exception is approved, there will be a no-show exemption fee
of 50 USD payable via secure e-commerce (credit card) and
collected by Scantron. Please contact Scantron by phone at +1
919-572-6880 or email candidatesupport@scantron.com for
more details.

Exam Results

Scantron will email the results to you immediately after you

complete the exam. If you pass, you will receive an email
containing a digital badge from isa_badges@isa.org within 48
hours of completing the exam.

ISA does not provide a passing score; you are only notified
whether you passed or failed. If you fail an exam, you will receive
a score report that lists the domains and indicates the
percentage of questions answered correctly within each domain.
Note that the percentages are not used to calculate a candidate’s
passing score.

If you do not receive an email containing your results within 24

hours, please contact Scantron by phone at +1 919-572-6880 or
email candidatesupport@scantron.com.
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Certification Links

Certified Automation Professional (CAP)

Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)

Recertification

Certificate Programs

Special Test Accommodations

Candidates who request special test accommodations under the Americans

with Disabilities Act (or a similar international standard) must submit their
test scheduling requests at least 30 days prior to their preferred test
dates. Note that some special test accommodations may not be available for
online testing.

If you have a request, contact one of ISA's Customer Support representatives

at +1 919-549-8411 or email certifications@isa.org.

Contact Scantron

You can contact Scantron by phone at (919) 572-6880 or email

candidatesupport@scantron.com.

Scantron's business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding
holidays. Voice mail will accept candidate inquiries outside of these business
hours.

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International Society of Automation

PO Box 12277
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Email: info@isa.org
Phone: +1 919-549-8411
Fax: +1 919-549-8288

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