How to choose the right CRST exam date
When should you do this?
So you’ve applied and gotten approved by the BCRSP to take the CRST exam. Congratulations! Now, you need to pick an exam date. But which one?
Picking the right exam date
Overall it could be said that you have 24 months and 3 attempts to write the CRST exam. However, this is only possible if you write the first exam at the end of the first year. The reason for this is because, following the first attempt you will have 12 months to use your other 2 attempts. Let’s take a look at some examples.
The diagram below demonstrates the optimal case that would make the best use of the time frame. In this example, candidates should write the exam towards the end of the first 12 months. This way, they will have another 12 months for the remaining 2 attempts if needed.
But, the this timeline could be shorter!
Assuming that a candidate writes the exam 3 months after their application has been approved and they were not successful in meeting the grade requirement, they will still only have another 12 months from that point to make their 2nd and 3rd attempts. Therefore, in this example, the overall time frame would be 15 months for all three attempts. (Keep in mind that a $175 fee is required for every attempt made.) See below for a diagram.
How long do you need to prepare for the CRST exam?
Moving on to exam preparation, now you can get a sense of why the timing and planning aspects are important. If you come with a strong background and have already prepared well for your examination, you could sit the exam almost immediately after your application is approved. On the other hand, if you haven’t studied or aren’t comfortable with the material yet, it could be worth taking the exam later in your 2 year window to maximize your study time. As you can see, we are using a preparation window of 2 to 4 months between having your application approved and sitting the exam as an example.
Tip: The best advice for anyone who is planning to write the CRSP exam is to set a date congruent with your schedule and register. After taking some time to consider your individual timeline and how comfortable you are with the content, setting a date and following through by registering is the perfect way to stay accountable as it sets a deadline for you to work towards.