Exam
Once the CMSP Certification Board has approved you to take the online CMSA or CMSP exam, you will receive an email with a link to the CMSA/CMSP exam platform. The CMSA/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 CMSA/CMSP exam.
Apprentice Applicants
Apprentice applicants will take CMSA/CMSP Exam I to complete the Apprentice level exam. Exam I consists of 40 multiple choice questions. Once you begin the Apprentice level exam (Exam I), you will have four hours to complete it. To reach the Apprentice level, an examinee must score a 70% or above on Exam I.
Associate Applicants
Associate applicants will take CMSA/CMSP Exam I to complete the Associate level exam. Exam I consists of 40 multiple choice questions. Once you begin the Associate level exam (Exam I), you will have four hours to complete it. To reach the Associate level, an examinee must score a 70% or above on Exam I.
Practitioner Applicants
Practitioner applicants will take CMSA/CMSP Exam I and CMSP Exam II to complete the Practitioner level exam. Each exam of the Practitioner exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions for a total of 80 questions for both parts. Once you begin Exam I, you will have four hours to complete Exam I. Once you begin Exam II, you will have six hours to complete Exam II. Exam II must be completed within one month of completing Exam I. To reach the Practitioner level, an examinee must score an average of 70% or above across Exam I and II.
Master Applicants
Master applicants will take CMSA/CMSP Exam I, CMSP Exam II, and CMSP Exam III to complete the Master level exam. Each exam of the Master exam consists of 40 multiple choice questions for a total of 120 questions for all three exams. Once you begin Exam I, you will have four hours to complete Exam I. Once you begin Exam II, you will have six hours to complete Exam II. Once you begin Exam III, you will have eight hours to complete Exam III. All three exams must be completed within two months of beginning Exam I. To reach the Master level, an examinee must score an average of 70% or above across Exam 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 2025 by Dr. Ivar Oswalt. The next CMSP Professional Development Workshop will be presented at I/ITSEC 2026 on Thursday, December 3.
The following resources (from above list) can be borrowed from NTSA to help review for the exam. You may borrow up to two of the books for 1 month and will have to only pay for shipping. You must apply for the CMSA/CMSP certification and pay the registration fee first before borrowing the resource books. 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 CMSA/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 CMSA/CMSP certificate and certificate frame. The CMSA/CMSP certificate includes your CMSA/CMSP number and the certification’s effective dates. A CMSA/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.