• The Certified Professional EHS Auditor (CPEA) credential demonstrates one’s competence to objectively use requisite knowledge, skills, and behaviors to assess the conformance of a subject operation with predetermined audit criteria through the documented collection and analysis of factual evidence.   BGC will grant the CPEA only to practitioners who achieve the requirements for education and experience, agree to abide byBGC’s Code of Ethics, and, through examination, demonstrate auditing knowledge by passing an exam of general auditing practice.
• BGC places no restrictions or qualifications on the career paths of a CPEA as long as the person meets the ongoing requirements in the certification maintenance program and adheres to the professional, enforceableBGC Code of Ethics. CPEAs also qualify for Professional Membership status with the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). The CPEA credentialing program is fully accredited by the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB).

CPEA Formal Training and Experience Requirements

A Certified Professional EHS Auditor (CPEA) objectively uses requisite knowledge, skills, and behaviors to assess the conformance of a subject operation with predetermined audit criteria through the documented collection and analysis of objective evidence.  Audit criteria may include internal requirements to the audited organization and/or established by an external authority. CPEAs must have a multidisciplinary understanding of management principles, controls, compliance, and systems commensurate with the scope of the specific audit engagement. CPEAs follow a quality-assured process in conducting all audit activities and must adhere to the BGC Code of Ethics during all aspects of their audit work.

A CPEA applicant must have formal training and experience in the job task domains required of a practitioner:

• Ethics
• Due Professional Care
• Program Implementation
• Audit Execution
• Audit Reporting
• Corrective and Preventive Action Plans

CPEA Application Requirements

To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requirements. Documents and forms sent by you and third parties will be needed to assess your eligibility to sit for the exam. BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for certification eligibility and will not discriminate based on race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status. We may ask you for additional documentation when the initial review of your application (or reapplication) indicates that pertinent information is missing or unclear. In that case, a review of your application or reapplication will not proceed until we receive the requested information.

Submitting your application well in advance of deadlines may give you sufficient time to provide additional information without delaying your approval to sit for the exam. Your application packet is active for two years. If you do not pass the exam within two years, you are required to submit an updated reference and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active.

Application Steps

There are four (4) stages to the application process for becoming certified as a CPEA. Please also note that you must meet all eligibility requirements at the time you sit for your exam.

Step 1:   Submission of General Application Documents:

• You must complete an online application form with your contact information, academic background, and the included attestation to abide by the BGC Code of Ethics.
• Ask your university to send official transcripts to BGC. (If your degree was earned outside the U.S. or Canada, BGC may ask you to submit your transcript(s) for a credential evaluation.)
• Ask your references to submit Character Reference Forms (CRF) to BGC on your behalf.
• If you have a documented disability, you may submit a Test Accommodation Request Form at least 45 days before your scheduled examination.

Where to Send Transcripts:

email: applications@gobgc.org

surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
6005 W St Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917 USA

Step 2: Submission of Application Fee(non-refundable). If you have not completed the process within two years, a reapplication fee and updated materials are required.

After you pay the Application, you will receive via your email address, three spreadsheets you will need to complete and return BGC as the address shown on the spreadsheets.

Step 3:  Submit supporting documentation of verifiable formal training and work experience. These forms are sent to you via email by applications@gobgc.org once you complete the above steps. Once you fill them out you will need to email them back to applications@gobgc.org to have them uploaded to your file for review.

• Statement of Audit Experience Form(within 3 years of certification)
• Statement of Formal Training Form(within 3 years of certification)
• Statement of Work Experience Form(within 3 years of certification)

Step 4:  Examination:

• Pay all examination fees.
• Sit for the exam.
• The passing score is 600 out of 800.

If you successfully meet the requirements of all four stages, you will be awarded the CPEA credential.  A CPEA Eligibility Checklist has been designed to determine whether you have met the requirements for stages 1 through 3 before sitting for your CPEA exam. It is included at the end of this document.

Obligations of Credential Holders

After you pass the exam and are issued your credential, you are required to meet several obligations, not limited to:

• paying your fees on or before the due date,
• continually updating your knowledge and skills,
• documenting knowledge and skills through the Certification Maintenance Process and
• upholding the BGC Code of Ethics.

Please be aware that if the requirements for certification and recertification change, you will be required to meet them to hold your certification.

Recap:  Here is a summary of the documents needed to complete your application. Remember that you must first complete an online application form with your contact information, academic background, and an attestation to abide by the BGC Code of Ethics and pay all required fees.   Submitted by you via Email Submitted by 3rd Parties to BGC Statement of Formal Training Form(s) Statement of Work Experience Form(s) Statement of Audit Experience Form(s) Ethics Attestation (Application Form) Official Transcripts (from colleges or universities) International transcript reports – Credential evaluation reports (from credential evaluation services) Character Reference Form (from reference writers)

Qualifications and Evaluation

To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board prerequisites:

• Submit only one application per person
• Meet the education and formal training requirements
• Document meeting professional EHS auditing and work experience requirements
• Be current in the practice of EHS auditing
• Agree to adhere to the BGC Code of Ethics and to be governed by the BGC Ethics Case Procedures
• Pay your application fee and examination fee (non-refundable)

Your application packet will remain active for two years or until you are certified. To keep your application active until you pass the exam, you must submit an updated personal reference and pay a reapplication fee every two years.

 

Evaluation

BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for CPEA eligibility and will not discriminate based on race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status.

We may ask you for additional documentation when the initial review of your application (or reapplication) indicates that pertinent information is missing or unclear. In that case, the review will not proceed until we receive the requested information.

Submit Early! Submitting your application well in advance of when you want to take the exam may give you sufficient time to provide additional information without delaying your exam.

Confidentiality

The BGC Board treats original applications and supporting documentation of Directors and staff as confidential information. As noted in the BGC Privacy Policy, all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized access to individual information. BGC does not disclose personal information obtained from you or any other applicant to third parties except when authorized in writing by you or, if necessary, to complete the process – for example, arranging for you to sit for the exam.

Record Retention

In accordance with the BGC record-retention policy, paper files and electronic documents provided by applicants who have been inactive for three years will be destroyed. Prior to destroying a file, the staff will attempt to notify you using your last known address.

BGC Director Assessment of Your Eligibility: A Director of the Board is not authorized to give you a determination on your eligibility, either before or after your application is filed.

CPEA Reapplicants

An application is considered to be active for two years. After the second year, your application expires. You must update the description of your current practice, provide an updated reference, and pay a reapplication fee to reactivate an expired application to sit for the exam. To reactivate an expired application and sit for the exam, you must complete the following steps:

• Submit a Reapplication Form
• Have a Character Reference Form submitted to BGC by a work colleague that is no more than 12 months old (see the Documentation of Auditing Experience  section)
• Update your work experience information to document your current practice
• Meet all current application requirements
• Pay the reapplication fee (non-refundable)

Don’t Lose your Application! If your application file is inactive for more than three years without your being approved to sit for the exam, it will be automatically purged, and you will have to follow the procedure as a new applicant. Please notify us in writing before three years of inactivity to keep your file open and contact information up to date.

Requirements to Be Eligible for the Certified Professional EHS Auditor Credential (CPEA)

Academic Requirements

You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or another board-accepted college or university.

EHS Auditor Training

Relevant training must address the job task domains required of a practitioner:

1. Ethics: Performing EHS audits to high standards of honesty, objectivity, and diligence
2. Due Professional Care: Applying the skill and judgment expected of a reasonably prudent and competent EHS auditor appropriate to the nature and complexities of the audit
   • 2.1 Auditor Independence and Objectivity: Assuring auditor independence and objectivity
   • 2.2 Auditor Competence, Training, and Credentialling: Ensuring Auditor Performance

3. Program Implementation: Managing an EHS audit program
   • 3.1 Audit Program Planning: Establishing objectives, scope, schedule, criteria, and staffing for audits
   • 3.2 Program Independence and Objectivity: Assuring organizational independence and program objectivity.
   • 3.3 Program Results: Tracking and communicating program-wide findings, corrective actions, data analysis and trends, and risks.
   • 3.4 Program Review: Implementing mechanisms to review the audit program in its entirety, including evaluation of feedback from individual audits and reporting results to management.
   • 3.5 Management of Program Records: Storage, retention, and destruction of audit reports and audit working papers.

4. Audit Execution: Performing an individual audit
   • 4.1 Audit Preparation: Auditor’s individual work to prioritize work and plan evidence collection.
   • 4.2 Communications: Maintaining open communications, including through opening and closing meetings, with the audited personnel and audit team members.
   • 4.3 Collecting Evidence: Physical observations, electronic media, interviews, document review, sampling.
   • 4.4 Analyzing Evidence: Verification, evaluation, confirmation, identifying trends
   • 4.5 Auditor Records: Individual auditor working papers (planning, notes, exhibits, pertinent documents, completed checklists.
   • 4.6 Quality Assurance: Assuring all audit activities conform to established standards

5. Audit Reporting: Documenting results of audit execution and establishing audit report content
   • 5.1 Writing Findings: Individual auditor’s written work product
   • 5.2 Writing Recommendations: individual auditor’s written work product (if applicable)
   • 5.3 Communicating Result: Managing distribution of reports, maintaining confidentiality and privilege

6. Corrective and Preventive Action Plans: Documenting audited facility response to audit results, verification of corrective and preventive actions.

You must submit a Statement of Formal Training Form providing evidence of at least 40 hours of training within three years of certification.

Experience Requirements

Professional-Level Experience

To be recognized as “professional-level” work acceptable to the Board, your experience must meet the following four criteria:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. • Independence of actions. This relates to the amount of planning, self-direction, decision-making, and autonomy involved in your work experience.
                  • Depth of work. This relates to the extent to which your work experience requires data-gathering, analysis, and interpretation.
                  • Level of interaction. This relates to how you interact with a broad spectrum of contacts, including decision-makers.
                  • Responsibility for work outcome. This relates to accuracy and the extent to which you are held accountable for your work and decisions.

Ineligible Professional Experiences:  The following do not count toward the work experience requirement: Pre-professional level experience Courses or research done for academic credit Teaching course content that is pre-professional level

Required Documentation for CPEA Applicants

U.S. and Canadian Degrees

Official transcripts must be submitted for each degree. An official transcript is one sent directly to BGC by your college or university through mail or as secure e-transcripts. Alternatively, you may submit official transcripts if they are in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal. When a degree includes credits transferred from another college or university, official transcripts for those course credits must be sent if requested.

The Board will consider a U.S. college or university to be acceptable when it holds institutional accreditation from one of the six U.S. Regional Accrediting Bodies or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education. Your degree must be awarded when the institutional accreditation is in effect.

A Canadian college or university will be considered acceptable if recognized under applicable provincial standards, depending on where the school is located. In addition, it may hold specialized program accreditation as noted by membership in Universities Canada (formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada).

International Degrees

A degree from a college or university located outside the United States or Canada will be considered for acceptability based on the institution’s accreditation status in the education system that has jurisdiction. Applicants with international degrees must submit their transcript(s) for a credential evaluation unless the academic program is authorized by BGC or through a BGC-recognized accreditation agency to issue BGC verification statements. (BGC verification statements streamline and shorten the review for applicants. Please get in touch with your program director to determine if your college or university has a relevant BGC verification statement.)

A member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. or a member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators must be used to prepare a credential evaluation report. You must request that the report be forwarded directly to BGC through the applications@gobgc.org portal. Below is a list of different services our applicants have successfully used for transcript evaluations. BGC does not explicitly endorse or recommend one service over another.

• World Education Services
• International Education Evaluations (IEE)
• Foundation for International Services
• Academic Evaluation Services

Documentation of Auditing Experiences

Your Statement of Audit Experience Form documents evidence of your audit experience. To qualify, an applicant must conduct a minimum of 20 EHS audits for a minimum of 100 days within four years of certification. Of the 100 days, a minimum of 20 days must be conducted on-site or virtually.

Character References

Submitting References

References are required to document, from firsthand experience, the nature of your auditing practice using a Character Reference Form. A Character Reference Form must comply with the requirements of this section. Each Character Reference Form will remain confidential between the author and BGC.

• You must initiate communication with your references to request they submit the completed electronic Character Reference Form you will send them. BGC does not initiate communication with references for you.
• Each reference must be provided on the Board’s online Character Reference Form.
• It is unacceptable for you to provide the response on the form and then have it signed by your reference. We may use the contact information provided to verify the authenticity of the reference and confirm who prepared the text.
• Each Character Reference Form must be submitted on the BGC website by the person writing the reference.

You are responsible for communicating with your reference(s) as frequently as needed to ensure that the Character Reference Form is submitted in time to meet BGC application deadlines.

Unqualified and Suspicious Documentation

Professional Reference Questionnaires (PRQs) that appear to have been prepared by any of the following individuals may result in your application being rejected or delayed:

• Your spouse or other relatives
• A person whom you supervise
• You preparing your own PRQ (even when it is for someone else to sign)

Avoid Investigations about the Validity of Your References and Documents: When references from different people have identical wording, they will be investigated to determine who prepared the reference. This can cause delays that may cause you to be prevented from taking the exam or being blocked permanently if you are found to have prepared the content of the reference. Sometimes, your supervisors and colleagues who are providing your references may need a memory jog about the work that you have done for them. Provide it verbally, not in writing or from a written job description, so that they are not tempted to cut and paste. Make sure that what you tell them is unique to the job that you did to avoid giving exactly the same information to other references and employers.

Ineligible Professional Experiences: The following do not count toward the work experience requirement: Pre-professional level experience Courses or research done for academic credit Teaching course content that is pre-professional level

CPEA Application Forms and Fees

Application/Reapplication Requirements

Candidates must complete all eligibility requirements, submit documentation, and be approved for the exam.  Documentation consists of:

• A Statement of Work Experience
• A Statement of Audit Experience
• A Statement of Formal Training
• Official transcripts or evaluation reports (for international applicants)
• Reference Forms

Examinations are offered in person at PearsonVUE Testing Centers or via Pearson’s remote testing application.

If you fail an exam, you must wait 120 days before being allowed to retake it.

CPEA Fees

The application and examination fees must be paid before review and scheduling.

Additionally, the credential maintenance processes require fees to be paid on or before the due date. Fees can be found on the applicant payments page.

Application or reapplication fees are neither refundable nor transferrable. Your examination fee is not refundable. If you cancel your examination with the testing center, at least 48 hours in advance, the fee will be carried over to  our new testing date, as long as the new  testing date is within the 2 year application window. If your cancellation is made less than 48 hours in advance, your fee is forfeited.

Overview of the CPEA Exam

BGC conducts a Job Task Analysis (JTA) study, also known as the Role Delineation Study (RDS), and prepares supporting documentation and reports consistent with ISO/ANSI17024, NCCA, and CESB accreditation standards.

A panel of CPEA professionals is selected and convened. The panel represents a variety of practice settings, geographic regions, educational levels, gender, ethnicity, and years of experience. A BGC board member is also included on the panel to assist in documenting the credibility of the process for the BGC board. 

Panel members identify the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills essential to performing the practitioner’s work. A large sample of professionals not involved in the JTA meetings reviewed and validated the information and ensured that the certification exam reflected the essential knowledge necessary for competent practice as a professional. (Validation Survey)

The results from this survey are analyzed and become the basis of the Examination Blueprint, which lists the domains and elements for the credential. The subject matter experts then determine eligibility and recertification requirements for the credential. As an additional validation step, participants can compare and contrast their work against documents prepared by other groups (if available), which identify tasks and supporting knowledge and skills in practice.

To ensure that credentialed practitioners protect the public, organizational/corporate interest, the environment, workers’ health, and safety, BGC conducts a JTA every five to seven years so that eligibility, domains, tasks, knowledge, skills, examination, recertification, and ethical requirements reflect current, real-world practice.

Examination Purpose and Format

The CPEA examination is a single exam covering EHS Auditing. It incorporates 100 scored and 20 unscored (beta) items. You may flag items and go back and review questions at the end of your exam.

There is a short tutorial before the examination and a brief survey following the exam. The tutorial explains how you can submit comments about the content of specific questions during the exam. BGC staff will review your comments; however, for exam security reasons, staff will not be able to discuss your comments with you.

Examination Scoring

Your passing score is based on the total number of questions you answered correctly. You must score 600 or more to pass the exam. It is to your advantage to answer all questions.

• All questions have the same point value.
• There is no penalty for incorrect answers (such as “number correct minus a percentage of the number of incorrect answers”).

Examinees may request a review of their exam scores by filling out the Review of the Exam Score Request Form. The form will be forwarded to our testing vendor for a score verification. There is a $350.00 fee for this verification. The examinee should consider that, given the quality control in place, it is improbable that the score will change.

Notification of Examination Results

Examinees will receive their official results from the exam vendor upon completion of the exam administration.

Confidentiality

The BGC Privacy Policy states that examination reports, scores, and failures are not released outside BGC without your authorization. Studies and reports concerning candidates will contain no information identifiable with any candidate unless authorized by the candidate. The names of those who pass the examination will be listed on the BGC website and entered in the web rosters.

Re-Examination

If you are not successful in your examination attempt, you must wait 120 days before you may retake the examination.

Preparing for the CPEA Exam

The BGC Board encourages you to consider your knowledge and experience and to assess your recognized strengths and weaknesses. Self-study, specific training, and group discussions are recognized methods of improving perceived weaknesses.

The Board does not endorse or support specific training courses, study guides, or other activities that are intended or purported to be prepared for its examinations.

Publications and References

BGC CPEA examination items are supported by varied sources that capture a substantive component of the standard body of knowledge for EHS auditing and associated overarching principles. Frequently cited references are provided below. Note that this list is not intended to be all-inclusive but representative of the standard body of knowledge.

Primary Sources: Standards/Guidelines/Codes

• ISO 19011:2018 – Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems – International Organization for Standardization, 2018
• Code of Ethics – Board for Global EHS Credentialing, 2019
• International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing – Institute of Internal Auditors, 2017
• ASTM E2107-20 – Standard Practice for Environmental Regulatory Compliance Audits – ASTM International, 2021
• Performance and Program Standards for the Professional Practice of EHS Auditing – Board of Environmental, Health and Safety Auditor Certifications, 2008
• Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organizations in a community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), Annex III – European Union, 2009 and current consolidated version

Sample Questions

The following are provided to familiarize you with the nature and form of questions that may be found in the Board’s examination. Their subject matter and difficulty level do not necessarily reflect the content of BGC examinations.

1. Which of the following is not a basic element common to most audit program manuals:
   1. Objectives
   2. Scope
   3. Subjects to be audited
   4. Names of qualified auditors

    

2. The staff assigned to conduct an audit should:
   1. Be comprised of members with a master’s level or equivalent educational background.
   2. Demonstrate overall aptitude in a multitude of industries.
   3. Have qualifications commensurate with the scope and complexities of the audit assigned.
   4. Be comprised only of members with QEP, CIH, or CSP professional certification.

    

3. An auditor finds evidence in the facility files that directly contradicts a statement made by the EHS coordinator. The EHS coordinator refuses to admit his error and comes to the audit team leader and states that the audit team is free to review files, but no more interviews will be granted to that auditor. The best first course of action for the audit team leader in this situation is:
   1. Contact the audit program director for assistance in resolving the conflict.
   2. Work with the EHS coordinator to try to resolve the conflict.
   3. Replace the auditor.
   4. End the audit.

    

4. Under ISO 19011, the auditors of a management system must be objective, independent, and competent. Which of the following circumstances would least fit the ISO requirement for independence and objectivity where compliance with a Corporate Standard was being evaluated at a site?
   1. The auditor wrote the Corporate Standard for the subject s/he is auditing.
   2. The auditor developed the Corporate Guidelines on how to implement the Standard for the subject s/he is auditing.
   3. The auditor works at a plant in a different division and has to implement the Corporate Standard at his/her own plant.
   4. The auditor is an outside consultant who assisted in developing the Corporate Standard.

Scheduling Your CPEA Exam

The Board for Global EHS Credentialing’s certification examinations are delivered at Pearson Vue Test Centers throughout the United States and Internationally. A current listing of Pearson Vue Testing, including addresses and driving directions, may be viewed at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html.

The examinations are administered by appointment only, Monday through Saturday.

Your eligibility to take the examination is valid for two years from the last day of the month when your application was approved and will expire after that time. If you fail to schedule an appointment for this examination within two years, you will forfeit the application and the application fee. A complete application and examination fee are required to reapply for the examination.

​Scheduling Your Appointment

Telephone Scheduling

Call Pearson at 833-256-1420 to schedule an examination appointment. This toll-free number is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, and 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Confirmation Number

Confirming Your Appointment

It is your responsibility to verify that you have been scheduled for the date, time, and place you have requested. You can confirm your appointment online even if you scheduled your appointment by telephone.

Special Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities

Pearson and the Board for Global EHS Credentialing comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and strive to ensure that no individual with a disability (as defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment) is deprived of the opportunity to take the examination solely by reason of that disability. Pearson will provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. Candidates requesting special accommodations must call Pearson at 833-256-1420 to schedule their examination.

1. Wheelchair access is available at all established Test Centers. Candidates must advise Pearson when scheduling that wheelchair access is necessary.
2. Candidates with visual, sensory, physical, or learning disabilities preventing them from taking the examination under standard conditions may request special accommodations and arrangements.

Verification of the disability and a statement of the specific type of assistance needed MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO the Board for Global EHS Credentialing at least 45 calendar days prior to your desired examination date by completing the Test Accommodation Request Form. BGC will review the submitted forms, consult with the vendor, and contact you regarding the decision for accommodations.

Missed Appointments/Forfeitures

You will forfeit the examination registration and all fees paid under the following circumstances:

• You wish to reschedule an examination but fail to contact Pearson at least two business days before the scheduled testing session.
• You wish to reschedule a second time.
• You appear more than 15 minutes late for an examination.
• You fail to report for an examination appointment.

A completed application form and examination fee are required to reapply for examination.

Inclement Weather/Power Failure/Other Emergency

In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen emergencies on the day of an examination, Pearson will determine whether circumstances warrant the cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of an examination. The examination will usually not be rescheduled if the Test Center personnel can open the Test Center. Every attempt is made to administer the examination as scheduled; however, should an examination be canceled at a Test Center, all scheduled candidates will receive notification following the examination regarding rescheduling or reapplication procedures.

If power to a Test Center is temporarily interrupted during an administration, your examination will be restarted. The responses provided up to the point of interruption will be intact.

Cancellation and Rescheduling of Exams

You may reschedule your examination once, at no charge, online at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html or by calling Pearson at 833-256-1420 at least two business days before your scheduled examination appointment. The following schedule applies:

Problems with Pearson Scheduling and Testing

You should call the BGC office at (517) 853-5763 (between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, U.S. Eastern Time) if you encounter either of the following problems:

• You cannot schedule an exam because the Pearson operator does not have a file with your name and identification number.
• You arrive at your scheduled examination appointment but are unable to test due to Pearson technical or personnel difficulties.

What to Expect on Exam Day

Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time. You will not be admitted if you arrive more than 15 minutes after the scheduled testing time. Calculators built into cellular/smartphones are not permitted in the test center.

Pearson Vue Test Center Update – Please Read

The test center will no longer provide paper and pencils for calculations. Each candidate will be provided with a whiteboard with a dry marker for equation-based items. Additionally, scratch paper, which you can use to calculate, is embedded and can be found in the upper left corner of each question next to the equation sheets and the calculator icons. The BGC Equation Sheets will be accessible by clicking the Equation Sheet button on the exam screen – which will be explained during the pre-test instructions.

You must bring these three items:

• Your Authorization to Test (ATT) letter from Pearson.
• Your current, valid, government-issued photo identification document with a signature (e.g., driver’s license or passport) must match the name you used to register for the exam.
• Your Pearson confirmation number.
• Personal calculators will no longer be allowed in the testing session. A calculator has been programmed into the entire examination and is available during the testing session. Instructions on the use and location of the calculator icon are included in the pre-test instructions.
• The URL below can be used to practice with the calculator. www.pearsonvue.com/athena 
• Security measures will be implemented, including capturing a digital fingerprint and information from your identification (including an image of your photo).
•  A score report will be printed at the end of the exam. Candidates may also retrieve their score report from their account after notification that the score report is ready.

Avoid Identification Headaches:  The name on your government-issued photo identification document must match the name that you used to register for the exam. If you have a name change, such as by marriage, please email BGC at applications@GoBGC.org and notify Pearson https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html immediately.  If you do not provide the required identification or fully participate in the identity validation process during check-in and breaks, you will not be permitted to test, and you will forfeit your testing fees.

Examination Restrictions

You are prohibited from bringing items into the examination room except for the items specified above. Banned items include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The use of reference materials is not allowed.
• No documents or notes of any kind may be removed from the Test Center.
• No questions concerning the content of the examination may be asked during the examination.
• Eating, drinking, or smoking is not permitted in the Test Center.
• You may take a break whenever you wish, but you will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost during breaks.

Security

Pearson administration and security standards are designed to ensure all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The Test Center is continuously monitored by audio and video surveillance equipment for security purposes.

The following security procedures apply during the examination:

• Examinations are proprietary. No cameras, notes, tape recorders, pagers, or cellular/smartphones are allowed in the testing room. Possession of a cellular/smartphone or other electronic device is strictly prohibited and will result in dismissal from the examination.
• No guests, visitors, or family members are allowed in the testing room or reception areas.

Personal Belongings

No personal items, valuables, or weapons should be brought to the Test Center. Personal items must be left outside the testing room. You will be provided a locker to store your personal items. You will not have access to these items until after the examination is completed. Please note the following items will not be allowed in the testing room and must be kept in the secured locker:

• Watches
• Hats
• Wallets
• Keys
• Cellphones
• Pagers
• Books and manuals
• Notes or reference materials
• PDAs or other electronic devices
• Food or drinks
• Jewelry
• Jackets

If all personal items do not fit in the locker, you will not be able to test. The site is not responsible for any personal belongings.

Once you have placed your items into the locker, you will be asked to do the following to ensure that no prohibited items enter the testing center:

• If your test center has one, you will be asked to walk through a metal detector.
• The test center administrator will perform a visual inspection of your person.

You will be required to:

• Take off your glasses to check for camera devices.
• Pull up your sleeves and show your forearms for full visibility of your wrists.
• Turn your pockets completely inside out to ensure they are empty.
• Raise your pantlegs for full visibility of your ankles.
• Depending on your exam, a test-day photo may be taken.

If any personal items (cellular/smartphones, alarms) are observed or heard (cellular/smartphones, alarms) in the testing room after the examination is started, you will be dismissed, and the administration will be forfeited.

Telephone Scheduling – Americas

Call Pearson at 888-572-2276 to schedule an examination appointment. This toll-free number is answered from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.

Telephone Scheduling – Asia Pacific

https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html?tab=asia-pacific-region

Telephone Scheduling – Europe, Middle East Africa (EMEA)

https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html?tab=europe%252C-middle-east%252C-africa-%28emea%29-region

Confirmation Number

When you schedule your appointment by telephone or online, you will receive an email from Pearson containing your confirmation number, appointment date, time, location, and driving directions to the center. Make sure you keep a record of your confirmation number and appointment information. You will need your confirmation number to reschedule or cancel your appointment. BGC will not have your confirmation number in our records.

Confirming Your Appointment

You are responsible for verifying that you have been scheduled for the requested date, time, and place.

You may confirm your appointment in two ways.

• Call (888)-572-2276 and speak to the customer service representative.
• Confirm your appointment online at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html.

You can confirm your appointment online even if you scheduled your appointment by telephone.

BGC will review the submitted forms, consult with the vendor, and contact you regarding the decision for accommodations.

Missed Appointments/Forfeitures

You will forfeit the examination registration, and all fees paid under the following circumstances:

• You wish to reschedule an examination but fail to contact Pearson at least 48 hours (two business days) before the scheduled testing session.
• You wish to reschedule a second time.
• You appear more than 15 minutes late for an examination.
• You fail to report for an examination appointment.

A completed application form and examination fee are required to reapply for examination.

Inclement Weather/Power Failure/Other Emergency

In the event of inclement weather or unforeseen emergencies on the day of an examination, Pearson VUE will determine whether circumstances warrant the cancellation and subsequent rescheduling of an examination. The examination will usually not be rescheduled if the Test Center personnel are able to open the Test Center.

You may visit your Pearson Vue Portal before the examination time to determine if Pearson Vue has advised that any Test Centers are closed. Every attempt is made to administer the examination as scheduled; however, should an examination be canceled at a Test Center, all scheduled candidates will receive notification following the examination regarding rescheduling or reapplication procedures.

If power to a Test Center is temporarily interrupted during an administration, your examination will be restarted. The responses provided up to the point of interruption will be intact.

Examination Process

After arriving at the Test Center and confirming your identification, you will be directed to a testing carrel. You will be instructed on-screen to enter your identification number. Your photograph, taken before beginning the examination, will remain on-screen throughout your examination session. This photograph will also print on your score report.

Timed Examination

The CPEA examination is 3 hours long. Before beginning the examination, instructions for taking it are provided on-screen. The computer monitors the time you spend on the examination. The examination will terminate if you exceed the time allowed. You may click on the Time box in the lower menu bar on the screen to monitor your time. A digital clock indicates the time remaining for you to complete the examination. The Time feature may be turned off during the examination.

Only one examination question is presented at a time. The question number appears in the lower right portion of the screen. Choices of answers to the examination question are identified as A, B, C, or D. You must indicate your choice by either typing in the letter in the response box in the lower left portion of the computer screen or clicking on the option using the mouse. To change your answer, enter a different option by typing in the letter in the response box or by clicking on the option using the mouse. You may change your answer as often as you wish during the examination time limit.

To move to the next question, click on the forward arrow (>) in the lower right portion of the screen. This action will move you forward through the examination question by question. If you wish to review any question or questions, click the backward arrow (<) or use the left arrow key to move backward through the examination.

An examination question may be left unanswered for return later in the examination session. Questions may also be bookmarked for later review by clicking on the blank square to the right of the Time button. Click on the double arrows (>>) to advance to the next unanswered or bookmarked question on the examination. To identify all unanswered and bookmarked questions, repeatedly click on the double arrows (>>). When the examination is completed, the number of examination questions answered is reported. If all questions have not been answered and there is time remaining, return to the examination and answer those questions.

Candidate Comments

During the examination, you may comment on any question by clicking on the Comment button to the left of the Time button. This opens a dialogue box where comments may be entered. Comments will be reviewed, but individual responses will not be provided.

Following the Examination

After completing the examination, you are asked to answer a short evaluation of your examination experience. Then, you are instructed to report to the test center supervisor to receive a score report.

Failing to Report for an Examination If you fail to report for an examination, you will forfeit the registration and all fees paid to take the examination. A completed application form and examination fee are required to register for another examination.

Documents and Forms for CPEA Applicants

Application

	CPEA/CPSA Application Preparation Instructions
	CPEA Eligibility Checklist
	CPEA Application
	Character Reference Form

Test Accommodations

	Test Accommodations Policy
	Test Accommodations Guidelines
	Test Accommodation Request Form

Other

	BGC Certifications Reapplication Form (except CIH)
	BGC Certifications Appeal Procedure
	Review of Exam Score Form
	BGC Privacy Policy

CPEA Application Form

CPEA Applicants Payments

BGC
Attn: CPEA Applications
6005 W St. Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI USA 48917

(CPEA Practitioners please refer to the CPEA Practitioners Payments page.)

CPEA APPLICATION/REAPPLICATION FEES

CPEA EXAM FEES