Exam

Once the CMSP Certification Board has approved you to take the online CMSP exam, you will receive an email with a link to the CMSP exam platform. The CMSP exam is open book, meaning that you may use notes or refer to references while taking each part of the exam. When you log in, you will be directed to the Welcome page that contains exam instructions and links to the resources, practice quizzes, and the CMSP exam. The CMSP exam is divided into three parts:  Part I, Part II and Part III. 

Apprentice Applicants
Apprentice applicants will take Part I to complete the Apprentice level exam. Part I consists of 40 multiple choice questions. Once you begin the Apprentice level exam (Part I), you will have four hours to complete it. To reach the Apprentice level, an examinee must score a 70% or above on Part I.

Practitioner Applicants
Practitioner applicants will take Part I and Part II to complete the Practitioner level exam. Each part of the Practitioner exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions for a total of 80 questions for both parts. Once you begin Part I, you will have four hours to complete Part I.  Once you begin Part II, you will have six hours to complete Part II. Part II must be completed within seven days of completing Part I. To reach the Practitioner level, an examinee must score an average of 70% or above across Parts I and II.

Master Applicants
Master applicants will take Part I, Part II, and Part III to complete the Master level exam. Each part of the Master exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions for a total of 120 questions for all three parts. Once you begin Part I, you will have four hours to complete Part I.  Once you begin Part II, you will have six hours to complete Part II.  Once you begin Part III, you will have eight hours to complete Part III. All three parts must be completed within 14 days of beginning Part I. To reach the Master level, an examinee must score an average of 70% or above across Parts I, II, and III.

CMSP Exam Resources

We recommend that you review the resources listed here as a study tool for the exam. In addition, you can review the slides from the CMSP Professional Development Workshop (PDW) presented at I/ITSEC 2023 by Dr. Ivar Oswalt. The next CMSP Professional Development Workshop will be presented at I/ITSEC 2024.

The following resources (from above list) can be borrowed from NTSA to help review for the exam.  You may borrow the books requested for 1 month and will have to only pay for shipping.  Contact Carol Dwyer at cdwyer@NTSA.org for more information or to arrange borrowing the resource books.

  • Modeling and Simulation Fundamentals: Theoretical Underpinnings and Practical Domains 
  • Handbook of Simulation: Principles, Methodology, Advances, Applications, and Practice
  • The Profession of Modeling and Simulation: Discipline, Ethics, Education, Vocation, Societies, and Economics
  • Principles of Modeling and Simulation: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The exam platform also includes practice quizzes that you can take to get a good sense of each exam part.

Following the CMSP Exam

Please email Carol Dwyer at cdwyer@NTSA.org upon completion of all parts of your specific exam for your official CMSP exam notification.

Upon successfully passing the exam, you will receive your CMSP certificate and certificate frame. The CMSP certificate includes your CMSP number and the certification’s effective dates. A CMSP certification is valid for four years. You will also be asked to sign a pledge that you will abide by the Simulationist Code of Ethics.

If you do not pass the exam, you will have one opportunity, within one year, to re-take the exam. There is no additional fee to re-take the exam in this scenario. Appeals can be made in writing and emailed to Carol Dwyer at cdwyer@NTSA.org. Appeals take up to 30 days to receive a response. 

Questions?

Contact Carol Dwyer at cdwyer@NTSA.org or (703) 247-9471.