Examinations

CPS and CAP examinations

The CPS® and CAP® exams are administered on the first consecutive Friday and Saturday of May and November.

Parts 1-3 of the CPS® and CAP® exams are administered all day Saturday and Part 4 of the CAP® exam is administered Friday afternoon.

Application to register for the exam must be submitted by the end of February for the May exams and the end of September for the November exams.

Candidates have the option of applying for either the three-part exam and achieving the CPS® rating, or applying for the four-part exam and achieving the CAP® rating. A CPS® holder can earn the CAP® rating by applying for and passing Part 4 of the exam.

Candidates must start the examination in the year approved or the following year, otherwise a new application and processing fee will be required .

CPS candidates must take all three parts of the examination on the first attempt and new CAP® candidates must take all four parts.

All candidates have three consecutive calendar years (six consecutive attempts), if necessary, in which to pass all parts of the examination. The three year time limit starts the first time the examination is taken and ends six exams later (whether or not the exam has been taken at each administration).

If all parts are not completed within the three-year time limit, the candidate may submit a new application and fees and start over. Credits for parts previously passed will not apply.

If the examination fee payment has been made and the candidate cancels BEFORE 1 April or 1 October, the exam fee will be refunded, less R100.00 processing fee. Should the registration be cancelled AFTER 1 April or 1 October, there will be NO REFUNDS.

If the candidate is absent for the examination, they will not be entitled to a refund, unless a medical certificate is provided. A processing fee of R100.00 will be deducted from any such refund.

Examination fees are not transferable to future exams. If a candidate has applied for a given exam and decides they are not prepared for the exam, the candidate will have to withdraw from the given exam and re-register for the next exam, paying all exam fees.

Prior to exams, exam permits will be issued to all candidates which indicates the location of the exam center, directions and the name and phone number of the exam center manager.

The pass/fail cut-score will be determined using a criterion-referenced method. This is a method where candidate’s performance is measured based on a predetermined standard or set passing score. The educators on the Institute for Certification, using psychometric data from the current exam and psychometric history, set the cut-score. A psychometric consultant is included in this process.

A certificate plaque, dated for five years, and pin are received after meeting all requirements and passing all examination parts. The certificate is dated for five years as CPS® and CAP® holders are required to recertify to keep their certification active.