
Applying for the Certified Professional Product Steward (CPPS) Credential
About the CPPS
The practice of Product Stewardship encompasses the health, safety, regulatory compliance, legal, sustainability, and environmental aspects of chemical raw materials; intermediate materials; or industrial, commercial, and consumer products throughout their life cycle and across the value chain. The Certified Professional Product Steward (CPPS) certification program provides product stewards with the opportunity to distinguish their expertise and build professional credibility within their organizations by obtaining a credential offered through an internationally-respected organization, the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (BGC). The CPPS is the first credential of its kind, developed using industry best practices for psychometrically valid testing.
BGC will only grant the Certified Professional Product Steward to practitioners who achieve the requirements for education and experience, agree to abide by BGC’s Code of Ethics and, through examination, demonstrate professional-level knowledge and skills by passing an exam covering four domains of Product Stewardship:
- Assessment, Impact Analysis, & Risk Management
- Communication
- Data and Information Management
- Regulatory Compliance
Once the CPPS credential is obtained, Diplomates can apply their knowledge in many different situations, some broad scope and comprehensive, some narrow scope as the person specializes. The domains of practice often differ and change many times during the course of a career. Thus, BGC places no restrictions or qualifications on the career paths of a CPPS as long as the person meets the ongoing requirements in the certification maintenance program and adheres to the professional, enforceable BGC Code of Ethics.
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
- 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 in order to hold your certification.
CPPS Application Overview of Steps
To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requisites. Documents and forms sent by you and third parties will be needed to assess your eligibility to sit for the exam(s). BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for the certification eligibility and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status. We may ask you for additional documentation when an 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 supervisory reference and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active.
Application Steps
There are two steps to the application process for becoming certified as a CPPS. Please familiarize yourself thoroughly with the requirements before you begin your application. Please also note that you must meet all current eligibility requirements.
Step 1: Submission of General Application Documents:
- Go to Apply Now where you will tell BGC about yourself and confirm your agreement to abide by the BGC Code of Ethics.
- Ask your university/universities to send official transcripts to BGC:
- They must show all degree courses with conferral dates.
- They must be sent directly to BGC via surface mail or email to applications@GoBGC.org.
- Official transcripts in a sealed envelope with the registrar’s stamp across the seal are acceptable.
- We can NOT accept transcripts uploaded, mailed, or emailed directly from the applicant.
- If your degree was earned outside the U.S. or Canada, BGC will ask you to submit your transcript(s) for a credential evaluation. This can be obtained from a member organization of either NACES or AICE.
email: applications@gobgc.org
surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
6005 W St Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917 USA
- Describe your professional-level product stewardship work experience:
- You will need to show that you have worked for at least 4 years (48 months) at a professional level by submitting either:
- Option 1: Supervisory references covering 48 months (4 years) for which you are claiming professional product stewardship practice at 50% time or more. The most recent reference must cover work done within the last 12 months.
- Option 2: (a) a combination of one supervisory reference documenting your product stewardship responsibilities for work done within the last 12 months, plus (b) verification of employment (e.g., through official job descriptions) and duration of employment from your employer(s). The documentation must cover the 48 months (4 years) for which you are claiming professional product stewardship practice at 50% time or more.
- Each reference must be provided on the Board’s CPPS Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) Form.
- You will need to show that you have worked for at least 4 years (48 months) at a professional level by submitting either:
- Pay the non-refundable application fee and submit your application.
Step 2: Examination:
- If you have a documented disability, you may submit a Test Accommodation Request Form before the application deadline.
- Pay all examination fees.
- Schedule the exam.
If you successfully meet the requirements of both steps and pass the exam, you will be awarded the CPPS credential. A CPPS Eligibility Checklist has been designed for you to determine whether you have met the requirements for steps 1 through 2 before applying for your CPPS.
Qualifications and Evaluation
To qualify for admission to the BGC examinations as an applicant, you must comply with all Board requisites:
- Submit only one application per person.
- Meet academic requirements.
- Meet the professional product stewardship experience requirement documented by references.
- Be in the current practice of product stewardship.
- 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.
Until you are certified, your application packet is active for 4 consecutive exam windows, which is equal to two years. You are required to submit an updated supervisory reference and pay a reapplication fee every two years to keep your application active until you pass the exam.
Deadline
Your application materials, including transcripts, references/proof of professional practice, and educational coursework (including supplemental information) must be postmarked no later than December 1 for the spring CPPS examination or June 1 for the fall CPPS examination. Your application packet will be valid for four test windows, which is equal to two years.
Evaluation
BGC will evaluate all applicants using the criteria established for CPPS eligibility and will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or marital, parental, military, or any other legally protected status.
We may ask you for additional documentation when an 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.
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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 den to sit for the exam.
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Confidentiality
Original applications and supporting documentation are treated by the BGC Board 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 that 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.
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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. |
CPPS Reapplicants
An application is considered to be active for four consecutive exam windows, which equals two years. After the second year, your application expires. You must update the description of your current practice, provide an updated supervisory reference, and pay a reapplication fee to reactivate an expired application in order to sit for the exam. The application deadlines of December 1 or June 1 apply to all materials and fees that must be submitted by reapplicants. To reactivate an expired application and sit for the exam, you must complete the following steps:
- Submit a Reapplication Form.
- Have a CPPS Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) form that is no more than 12 months old submitted by a work supervisor (see Documentation of Work Experience in Product Stewardship).
- Update your work experience information to document your current practice.
- Meet all current application requirements.
- Pay the non-refundable $150 reapplication fee.
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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 if you wish to apply again. 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 CPPS
Academic Requirements
You must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or from another college that is acceptable to the Board.
Experience Requirements
To be eligible for the examination, you must (a) have 48 months (four years) of experience where at least 50% is in the professional practice of product stewardship and (b) currently be engaged in active practice at the time of application. If your product stewardship career has been interrupted for one year or less (because of unemployment, medical leave, or so on), we will consider you to be “in practice” for up to one year following your last position for the purpose of determining examination eligibility. Any time outside of employment, however, cannot be counted toward experience credit.
Professional-Level Experience
To be recognized as “professional-level” work acceptable to the Board, your experience must meet the following four criteria:
- 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 the degree to which 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.
Research, teaching, or product stewardship program administration can also satisfy experience requirements if you have done them at a professional level.
Product Stewardship Practice
A candidate must also be practicing product stewardship. The process of product stewardship practice encompasses the health, safety, regulatory compliance, legal, sustainability, and environmental aspects of chemical raw materials, intermediates, and/or industrial, commercial, and consumer products throughout their life cycle and across the value chain.
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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 actually 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. |
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Ineligible Professional Experiences: The following do not count toward the work experience requirement:
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Required Documentation for CPPS 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 that were transferred from another college or university, official transcripts for those course credits must be sent upon 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 during the time that the institutional accreditation is in effect.
A Canadian college or university will be considered acceptable if it is 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).
Where to Send Transcripts:
email: applications@gobgc.org
surface mail:
BGC attn: Applications
6005 W St Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917 USA
International Degrees
A degree from a college or university that is 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 will be required to 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 contact your program director to find out if your college or University has a relevant BGC verification statements.)
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 that our applicants have successfully used for transcript evaluations. BGC does not specifically endorse or recommend one service over another.
- Academic Evaluation Services
- Foundation for International Services
- World Education Services
- International Education Evaluations (IEE)
- Spantran
Documentation of Work Experience in Product Stewardship
An applicant must assure the independent documentation of 48 months (4 years) of work experience at a minimum of 50% time by choosing one of two options:
- Option 1: Supervisory references covering 48 months (4 years) for which you are claiming professional product stewardship practice at 50% time or more. The most recent reference must cover work done within the last 12 months.
- Option 2: (a) a combination of one supervisory reference documenting your product stewardship responsibilities for work done within the last 12 months, plus (b) verification of employment (e.g., through official job descriptions) and duration of employment from your employer(s). The documentation must cover the 48 months (4 years) for which you are claiming professional product stewardship practice at 50% time or more.
Submitting References
Supervisory references are required to document, from firsthand experience, the nature of your product stewardship practice using a CPPS Professional Reference Questionnaire form (PRQ). A PRQ must comply with the requirements of this section. Each PRQ will remain confidential between the author and BGC.
- You must initiate communication with your references to request that they submit the completed CPPS Professional Reference Questionnaire electronic form that you will send them. BGC does not initiate communication with references for you.
- Each reference must be provided on the Board’s CPPS Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ) electronic 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 PRQ must be submitted on the BGC website by the person writing the reference.
It is your responsibility to communicate with your reference(s) as frequently as needed to assure that the PRQ is submitted in time to meet BGC application deadlines.
Verification of Employment
Verification of Employment is documentation from your employers of the amount of time that you have been employed in product stewardship. The Verification of Employment must comply with the requirements of this section. Each Verification of Employment will remain confidential between your employer and BGC.
- You must initiate communication with your employers to request that they submit the information specified on the Verification of Employment electronic form. BGC does not initiate communication with your employers for you.
- Each Verification of Employment must be provided on company letterhead or include the name of the employer in the body of the document.
- It must identify the applicant as a current or former employee with:
- Full name of the applicant
- The title of the position
- Dates of employment
- Confirmation that 50% of duties or more were in product stewardship
- Official Job Description (a one- or two-paragraph summary of the job from the employer is acceptable if an Official Job Description is not available.)
- It must include the contact information of the author of the document or of someone who can discuss the document in the event of questions from BGC.
- It is preferable that the document include a handwritten signature, but not required.
- It is unacceptable for the applicant to prepare the Verification of Employment or send the form.
- Each Verification of Employment must be emailed, faxed, or sent by certified or registered mail directly to BGC by the Employer.
It is your responsibility to communicate with your employer as frequently as needed to assure that the Verification of Employment 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
- Yourself, preparing your own PRQ (even when it is for someone else to sign)
CPPS – Professional Reference Questionnaire (PRQ)
CPPS Application Dates and Fees
Important Dates
The table, below, shows the dates for the Spring and Fall Examination Windows.
CPPS Test Window | Application Deadline | Examination Dates |
Spring | December 1 | February 1 – March 31 |
Fall | June 1 | August 1 – September 30 |
Application/Reapplication Deadlines
All documentation required for the review and approval of your application or reapplication must be postmarked, faxed, or emailed by December 1 when applying for the Spring examination or by June 1 for the Fall examination.
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.
Examinations are held each year during two testing windows:
- Examinees approved for the Spring examination can make an appointment for February/March.
- Examinees approved for the Fall examination can schedule for August/September.
You are only allowed to schedule one examination in a test window.
CPPS Fees
The application, examination, and credential maintenance processes require you to pay fees on or before the due dates. The fees are listed in the table below. Fees may be subject to change, so please check back here to obtain the most current fee schedule.
Fee | Amount | Description |
Application/Reapplication Fee | $160 | The fee to have your documents reviewed and to maintain your file. Your application/reapplication fee is valid for 4 exam windows, which is equivalent to two years. You must pay a reapplication fee and submit updated documents every two years to keep your file active until you pass the exam. |
Examination (Scheduling) Fee | $370 | The payment to schedule an exam and reserve a seat at the testing center. |
Annual (Maintenance) Fee | $180 ($90) | The yearly fee to maintain your credential after it is awarded. Normally, your annual fee is paid by the beginning of each year. If you pass the exam in the spring, your first annual fee will be prorated to $85 for the remainder of the current year. |
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Application or reapplication fees are neither refundable nor transferrable. Your examination fee is not refundable either, but if you cancel your examination with the testing center at least 48 hours in advance of the exam time, the fee will be carried over to when you schedule your re-examination as long as the additional test 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 CPPS Exam
BGC conducts a Job Task Analysis (JTA) study, also known as the Role Delineation Study (RDS) or Practice Audit, and prepares supporting documentation and reports consistent with ISO/ANSI17024, NCCA, and CESB accreditation standards.
A panel of professionals is selected and convened who must represent 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 must identify the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills essential to performing the work of the practitioner. A large sample of professionals who were not involved in the JTA meetings is asked to review and validate the information and to ensure that the certification exam reflects the essential knowledge necessary for competent practice as a professional. The results are analyzed from the context to become the basis of the final Examination Blueprint, the document, which lists the domains and elements for the credential. The subject matter experts also determine eligibility requirements 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.
In order to ensure that credentialed practitioners protect the public through their work, 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 examination is designed to test your knowledge across the broad, general practice of product stewardship.
The exam contains 150 multiple-choice questions (125 scored and 25 pilot questions) that are selected to match the job analysis. You can find the job analysis currently in use in the CPPS Exam Blueprint.
The duration of the examination is three hours. You may go back and review questions at any time during the exam. There is a short tutorial prior to the examination and a short survey following the exam. Instructions for the exam also explain 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 answer correctly in the examination. It will be 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”).
- A “passing” score is not required in each subject areas (rubrics).
A criterion-referenced passing score has been established by a panel of subject-matter experts in product stewardship using appropriate standard-setting procedures under the guidance of Certiverse’s psychometricians. The passing score for each subsequent administration of the certification examination is based on a statistical equating process, which adjusts for fluctuations in difficulty levels across different versions of the examination. Equating is performed to help ensure that candidates are evaluated according to the same competency standard from year to year.
Examinees may request a review of their exam scores by filling out the Review of Exam Score Form. The form will be forwarded to our testing vendor to verify the scores. The examinee should consider that, given the quality control procedures in place, it is highly unlikely that the score will change.
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.
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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. |
Notification of Examination Results
Examinees will receive their official results in writing approximately four to six weeks after taking the examination.
If you fail your examination, we will inform you of your overall score.
All examinees will receive a performance report indicating their scores in the individual areas.
Confidentiality
As noted in the BGC Privacy Policy, examination reports, scores, and failures are not released outside of 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 fail the examination, you can re-take the exam at a later date. You will need to schedule an examination date and pay the examination fee. Refer to the Examination Scheduling section
Preparing for the CPPS Exam
The BGC Board encourages you to consider your knowledge and experience in the light of the examination rubrics and to assess your recognized strengths and weaknesses.
Self-study, specific training, and group discussions are recognized methods of improving perceived weaknesses. However, the Board does not endorse or support specific training courses, study guides, or other activities that are intended or purported to be preparation for its examinations.
Publications and References
BGC examination questions are supported by many sources that reflect the underlying purposes and principles of product stewardship as well as the current knowledge that is expected of the product steward. Frequently citied resources are provided below, but the list is not exhaustive:
Publications
- Fleeger, Allan K., ed. Realizing the Full Business Value of Product Stewardship. Falls Church: AIHA Product Stewardship Society, 2016.
- Hart, Gailen (Gail) A., ed. Professional Practices of Product Stewardship. Falls Church: AIHA Product Stewardship Society, 2018.
Standards
- United States Government. Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TOSCA), 15 U.S.C. §2601 et seq. (1976). US Government Printing Office, 1976. (https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter53&edition=prelim)
- European Parliament and of the Council. Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Brussels: Publications Office of the European Union, 2006. (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/2018-05-09)
Websites
- European Chemical Agency (ECHA). https://echa.europa.eu. 2020.
Sample Questions
The following are provided to familiarize you with the nature and form of questions that may be found in the Board’s examinations. Their subject matter and level of difficulty do not necessarily reflect the content of BGC examinations.
- Which of the following models represents the best practice for a robust product stewardship program?
- See, say, fix, and watch
- Hire, teach, train, and guide
- Look, listen, speak, and act
- Plan, do, check, and act
- What is the best time to advocate to an industry working group or trade association due to a government ruling?
- When a government ruling places adverse labelling on a product
- When a company possesses robust data to dispute a government ruling
- When a government ruling has unfavorable effects on product sales
- When a company feels public perception may change due to ruling
- Which of the following can be claimed as confidential business information (CBI) under the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)?
- Safety studies, where the chemical has been offered for commercial distribution
- General information describing manufacturing tonnages/volumes
- Precise chemical name of a new molecule offered for commercial distribution
- Process conditions that customarily would be shared with the general public
- Which of the following refers to the regulatory framework designed to protect the Australian people and the environment by assessing the risks of industrial chemicals and providing information to promote their safe use?
- TSCA
- NICNAS
- ECHA
- PMDA
Scheduling Your CPPS 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
After Pearson receives your ATT information from the Board for Global EHS Credentialing, you will receive confirmation of eligibility to schedule an examination appointment. You may schedule the examination using one of the following methods (be prepared to confirm a date and location for testing). Individuals are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
When you receive the email confirming your eligibility to sit for the examination, you may schedule an appointment at any time at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bgc.html.
To use the Pearson Vue Testing Portal, you must create an account by selecting “Create an Account” from the home page. Once logged in, you will be able to:
- Schedule your exam
- Reschedule
- Schedule remote Internet exam delivery
- Cancel exam
- Select a testing venue location
- Request test accommodations
- Contact help desk
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.
If you contact Pearson by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on: | Depending on availability, your examination may be scheduled beginning: |
Monday | Wednesday |
Tuesday | Thursday |
Wednesday | Friday/Saturday |
Thursday | Monday |
Friday | Tuesday |
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 if you want to confirm, reschedule, or cancel your appointment. BGC will not have your confirmation number in our records.
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.
- Wheelchair access is available at all established Test Centers. Candidates must advise Pearson when scheduling that wheelchair access is necessary.
- 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 before 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:
If you contact Pearson by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on: | Depending on availability, your examination may be scheduled beginning: |
Monday | Wednesday |
Tuesday | Thursday |
Wednesday | Friday/Saturday |
Thursday | Monday |
Friday | Tuesday |
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.
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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.
Documents and Forms for CPPS Applicants
Application
Test Accommodations
Other
CPPS Application Form
Application Payment
BGC
Attn: CPPS Applications
6005 W St. Joe Hwy Ste 300
Lansing, MI USA 48917
(CPPS Practitioners please refer to the CPPS Practitioners Payments page.)