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Are you Getting Ready for a CSA Assessment?
The following information will help prepare an
individual for a test. Please share this information
with the participants taking the test. This is important
information which may help them pass the test the first time.
Questions About Getting CSA
Certified: Are you new to CSA Assessments? This brochure along
with our web site should
answer all your questions. Please review for very valuable
information. [To print as tri-fold brochure with a duplex printer you may
want to rotate the second page 180 degrees within Acrobat before printing.
Printer settings will vary].
Watch Your Time
- This sheet
provides summary information such as which code books are needed for each assessment, how many
questions, and how much time is allowed for an assessment. Note that time
slots at the test centers are blocked out in hourly intervals. The test center will
also add 30 minutes to allow for signing in and processing.
Therefore, the time indicated on your ACT confirmation notice does NOT represent
the amount of time you will have for your assessment. Example: The test center
will block out a 2.5 hour slot for a test that
only gives you 1.5 hours. View this document to see how much time is
allowed for the assessment. Some assessments have study guides that will
provide additional information. Some assessments will require documents
from this web site. See below for additional information related to
specific assessments.
PASSING SCORE: Unless indicated otherwise, all CSA assessments
require an 80% score for passing. If you do not pass an assessment,
you are required to pay the full fee and submit a new request to retake the
assessment.
CODE EDITIONS:
If you are purchasing or studying for an assessment you should use the following
editions: 2011 NFPA 96. 2010 = NFPA 10, 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 20, 24, 72.
2009 = IBC/IFC, and NFPA 17A. 2008 = NFPA 25, 70. We strongly recommend that
you purchase and use handbooks when available. The handbooks contain all
the respective code information, in addition to a lot of other useful study
information not found in the individual code books. Verify with your
jurisdiction which CSA assessments will satisfy their requirements. Not
all jurisdictions require all assessments. NFPA standards / codes can be
purchased at www.NFPA.org. International
Codes can be purchased at www.ICCSafe.com.
TEST FORMAT: All assessments are computer based. Unless
indicated otherwise, all of our assessments are open book. All tests will require that you have the appropriate books, and require
that you refer to information such as tables, charts, etc. You are
allowed to highlight and tab pages in the book before the assessment.
Any marking in a book during an exam may disqualify you from that and
any future CSA assessments. Assessments are audio and video
recorded with proctors monitoring participants locally and in some cases
remotely. Assessments are timed with the intent that
participants will not be able to look up every question.
Participants must be experienced with the material and documents so that
when necessary, information can be quickly found within the books.
All material taken into the exam must be bound (no loose papers). All assessments are in English. Participants should be comfortable
with using a mouse to maneuver around computer screens. If a
participant requires any special accommodations such as those covered
under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please notify CSA at least
three weeks in advance of your assessment so that proper arrangements
can be made. Do not take cell phones, pagers, radios, etc. into
the test center. Drivers license and confirmation with user name and
password is required. Additional information can be found in the Assessment
Overview Manual.
Click on colored
underlined links to access the
indicated document in pdf format.
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FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND
KITCHEN HOOD ASSESSMENT INFORMATION:
FEX=Fire Extinguisher Service Technicians; CKH2=Commercial Kitchen
Hood Technicians; KHFE2=Combination test including FEX and CKH2
FEX and CKH2: A new combination test has been
implemented that will incorporate both Commercial Kitchen Hood and Fire Extinguisher
assessments in one 2-hour sitting. The new exam will be $200 rather than the $270 if taken
individually. A 25% savings. However, you must pass the entire test
with 80% score. You can not retake just a portion. Also, a new study
guide is available below for FEX exam.
FEX
and KHFE2 Study Guide: This is a pdf document that contains some sample
questions for the FEX and KHFE2 assessments. The questions are intended to
give you an idea of what questions will be like. This document also provides
study tips, number of questions, time allowed, etc.
CSA Kitchen Hood Design Manual - This
manual is required for those taking our kitchen hood assessment.
The Commercial Hood Install and Service test also includes questions
from NFPA 17A and NFPA 96.
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FIRE ALARM ASSESSMENT INFORMATION:
FA2=Fire Alarm Technicians; FA4=Fire Alarm Business
Representatives
Important Note: NFPA 72 has had major additions and is totally
re-arranged in the 2010 edition. Those taking a test involving NFPA 72 shall allow
additional time to study and find where material has been moved.
We strongly recommend using Handbook editions of a code (when available)
when studying for exams. Handbooks include additional commentary,
figures, and pictures to help explain critical concepts.
FA2 and FA4
Study Manual: This is a pdf document that contains some sample
questions for the FA2 and FA4 assessment. Updated
1-20-11 to correct error in Question #5.
We strongly recommend using NFPA 72 Handbook for study and
assessments.
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SPRINKLER ASSESSMENT INFORMATION:
ASC2=Automatic Sprinkler Commercial Installer; ASR2=Automatic
Sprinkler Residential Installer; ASCR2=Automatic Sprinkler Commercial
and Residential Installer; ASCR4=Automatic Commercial and Residential
Business Representative: ASD2=Automatic Sprinkler Domestic Installer.
Contractors testing for Colorado should view links at bottom of this
page for jurisdiction specific information.
Download CPVC Installation Manual (required
for all sprinkler assessments (EXCEPT ASD2) Print this manual and take
it with you to assessment.
Study Guide for ASCR2, ASCR4,
ASC2: This document contains sample questions for commercial
sprinkler tests indicated. It also provides information on number
of questions, time allowed, and books required for the exams.
Multiple documents are required for ASC2, ASR2, ASCR2, and ASCR4.
Review the "Watch Your Time" document or study manual for related
exam documents.
The score reports for ASCR2, ASCR4, and ASC2 are
being modified. Topics are being modified to improve the
categories for the score reports. A list of common topics has been
included in the study guide above.
ASD2 for Automatic Sprinkler Domestic
has been developed specifically for contractors such as plumbers who are
installing one and two family sprinkler systems in accordance with NFPA 13D and includes combination
sprinkler / domestic systems.
ASD2 Exam Material:
If you are studying for or will be taking the ASD2 assessment you MUST have this
document with you for the exam. This document includes the CPVC manual and
sprinkler head cut sheets needed for the assessment.
ASD2 Study
Guide: This document contains some sample questions for the ASD2 assessment.
You will need the ASD2 Exam Material document above for the study questions and to take into the exam.
We strongly recommend using handbooks for study and assessments, such
as those for NFPA 13, NFPA 13D/R, and NFPA 25.
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UNDERGROUND FIRE MAINS:
UFM2=Underground Fire Mains Installer; UFM4=Underground Fire Mains
Business Representative
UFM2 and UFM4 Study Guide: This was updated
April 8, 2011 and includes study questions for the UFM2 and UFM4 exams.
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FIRE HYDRANT SERVICE AND INSPECTION:
CTFH2=Confidence Testing Fire Hydrants Technician
New CTFH2 for Confidence Testing for Fire
Hydrants went into effect September, 2010. Primarily developed for Pikes
Peak Regional Building Department, others may adopt this assessment. This test has been developed
for contractors who conduct fire flow tests on hydrants, and provide service /
inspection / testing of fire hydrants. This test by itself is not intended
for new installations of underground systems. Make sure to obtain handouts
below.
CTFH2 Exam Material:
CSA CTFH2 Material and
Kennedy K81 O&M. Both of
these documents are required in addition to NFPA 25 Handbook. Print, bind, and take
both of the above pdf documents along with the NFPA 25 Handbook with you to the assessment.
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Screen shots and overview
of CSA testing screens and participant dashboard. Based on major
enhancements implemented March 24, 2008. Please review this material and share it with the individuals taking the test.
It may help them pass the test.
To access a participants
Dash Board and view information about past assessments (tests taken since
3/24/08),
click here. Please
make sure you have reviewed
instructions here on how to
use this feature. From your Dash Board you can also see which tests you
are currently scheduled for, how much time will be on the test, and how many
questions will be on the test. Please allow 2-3 days for this information
to be updated after you have requested a new test.
Review our Assessment Overview Manual
This document includes some study material, sample questions, process
overview, and more. It is formatted for double-sided printing.
NEW CODE EDITIONS - During 2010 we
implemented new
tests with questions from new code editions. Each of our tests are
reviewed and updated as codes are updated. We realize that some
jurisdictions take several years to adopt new codes. However, many adopt
new codes within months of issue. We try to accommodate both conditions.
Most of our test questions will be based on criteria from the last 3 code
cycles. However, during each cycle we will incorporate new questions based
on critical new concepts from new codes. Criteria no longer in a code will
be removed from the test. When a new concept or change is introduced the
question should start off with a statement such as: "Effective with the 2010
Edition ..." This is your clue that the criteria is different than the
previous edition.
RENEWAL: CSA assessments require a three year renewal. To
renew, participants are required to retake the respective test at the
current fee. This avoids having to keep track of professional
development hours and other training records while ensuring that
participants stay current with code changes.
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Information on Colorado Division of Fire
Safety Requirements
Information on Pikes Peak Regional Building Department
Licensing
Find
ACT, Inc. Testing Locations
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Adobe Acrobat
to view pdf documents on this site.
If you are taking an assessment at a location
not listed and need information,
Email us.
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