QSD and QSP applicant FAQs  - frequently asked questions

How do I retake the exam

How will the online retake exams be handled?  If I don’t pass, will I be able to retake the exam immediately?  Are there a set number of times I can retake the exam?
You will be able to retake your exam immediately. Only 1 retake will be possible. If you do not pass the exam a second time, you will be required to retake training for the exam you did not pass before you can retake your exam again.

Taking the Online Exam(s)

Will there be a time limit to the online exam; how is this going work?
Yes, the online testing will be timed.  The computer will automatically stop the test when the alloted time is up.

What controls have been put in place to discourage and punish cheating on the online exams?
1) Virtually no 2 exams will be the same - 
As opposed to the paper version of the exam(s), of which there were a limited number of versions, each subject to theft; online testing allows us to generate thousands of versions — virtually no two exams will be alike so serial cheating will be virtually impossible.  

2) We can examine and identify suspicious patterns - 
The online system greatly facilitates our ability to identify abuses by analyzing metrics on the exams and examinees' information. An ability we did not have with the paper test.

3) Legal Affidavit - 
Before proceeding to take an exam, examinees must agree to an affidavit statement regarding the identity of the exam taker stating that no assistance was received from any persons, and that only specifically allowed aids were used to take the exam.

The affidavit statement subjects examinees to punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law for falsification of their affidavit and there is sufficient legal case history to support that punishment.  
Examinees will be required to agree to the following affidavit statement:  "I hereby certify under penalty of law that I personally will complete the exam on my own and without assistance from any persons, and that the only aids I will use in taking the exam will be the California Construction General Permit and a non-programmable calculator.  I acknowledge that falsification of this affidavit will result in punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law." 

When a person is taking the exam is it possible for them to go back to a previous page and review and/or change their answers?
Yes.

Registration, Fees, Payment

We have several employees that need to get registered.  Can I register all of them at one time?
No. Each individual exam taker must create their own individual login and submit their registration.

I need to use the same e-mail address for all of our employees but the system is not letting me.  What can I do?
The system will only allow one registrant per e-mail address, therefore you must use individual e-mail addresses for each registrant. Consider employees' using their personal e-mail addresses.

I have already taken my QSP exam, and received my certificate from CASQA, and paid $95 to register.  I would now like to take my QSD exam through the new online system and it is asking me to pay $125.  Is this correct?
Yes. This is true even if it is a retake exam, since this is the first time you will be using the new online system.

I have already started to register through CASQA, have paid $95, and am working to complete my registration.  Do I need to register online and pay the $125?
No.  If you have started to register or have already registered with CASQA directly, you do not need to register through the new online system.  Doing so will result in a duplicate payment for which refunds are not available.

Would I need to pay the $125 upfront to retake an exam? 
If you have not already paid the examination / registration fee -- yes.  The $125 fee covers training, exam, and program development which includes exam hosting and scoring, pre-requisite verification, database management, certificate issuance, and program management for a two-year period.

I passed both the QSD and QSP exams.  Do I pay $125 per certificate for a total of $250?
No, a QSD Certificate covers you as a QSP and therefore, one fee of $125 is required.

What forms of payment will the new online system accept for examination / registration?
Online examination / registration will require payment with a credit card ONLY (Visa, MasterCard, American Express). Mail-in registrations using checks or cash is not available.

When I register with CASQA does that make me a CASQA member? 
No.  A CASQA membership is an yearly paid membership.  Please refer to our membership brochure for more information about the benefits, discounts and levels of membership available.

Other FAQs

Does meeting QSD qualification requirements satisfy meeting QSP qualification requirements?
Yes.

What is the minimum NICET level to satisfy the prerequisite QSD registration?
The State Water Board has stated that a Level 3 NICET is required.

ToR Training

CASQA issues a Request for Qualifications once a year for individuals to respond to who are interested in trying to qualify as a Trainer of Record. The next solicitation will be in February 2012 or so next year.
 

QSD and QSP applicant FAQs  - frequently asked questions

How do I retake the exam

How will the online retake exams be handled?  If I don’t pass, will I be able to retake the exam immediately?  Are there a set number of times I can retake the exam?
You will be able to retake your exam immediately. Only 1 retake will be possible. If you do not pass the exam a second time, you will be required to retake training for the exam you did not pass before you can retake your exam again.

Taking the Online Exam(s)

Will there be a time limit to the online exam; how is this going work?
Yes, the online testing will be timed.  The computer will automatically stop the test when the alloted time is up.

What controls have been put in place to discourage and punish cheating on the online exams?
1) Virtually no 2 exams will be the same - 
As opposed to the paper version of the exam(s), of which there were a limited number of versions, each subject to theft; online testing allows us to generate thousands of versions — virtually no two exams will be alike so serial cheating will be virtually impossible.  

2) We can examine and identify suspicious patterns - 
The online system greatly facilitates our ability to identify abuses by analyzing metrics on the exams and examinees' information. An ability we did not have with the paper test.

3) Legal Affidavit - 
Before proceeding to take an exam, examinees must agree to an affidavit statement regarding the identity of the exam taker stating that no assistance was received from any persons, and that only specifically allowed aids were used to take the exam.

The affidavit statement subjects examinees to punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law for falsification of their affidavit and there is sufficient legal case history to support that punishment.  
Examinees will be required to agree to the following affidavit statement:  "I hereby certify under penalty of law that I personally will complete the exam on my own and without assistance from any persons, and that the only aids I will use in taking the exam will be the California Construction General Permit and a non-programmable calculator.  I acknowledge that falsification of this affidavit will result in punishment to the greatest extent allowable by law." 

When a person is taking the exam is it possible for them to go back to a previous page and review and/or change their answers?
Yes.

Registration, Fees, Payment

We have several employees that need to get registered.  Can I register all of them at one time?
No. Each individual exam taker must create their own individual login and submit their registration.

I need to use the same e-mail address for all of our employees but the system is not letting me.  What can I do?
The system will only allow one registrant per e-mail address, therefore you must use individual e-mail addresses for each registrant. Consider employees' using their personal e-mail addresses.

I have already taken my QSP exam, and received my certificate from CASQA, and paid $95 to register.  I would now like to take my QSD exam through the new online system and it is asking me to pay $125.  Is this correct?
Yes. This is true even if it is a retake exam, since this is the first time you will be using the new online system.

I have already started to register through CASQA, have paid $95, and am working to complete my registration.  Do I need to register online and pay the $125?
No.  If you have started to register or have already registered with CASQA directly, you do not need to register through the new online system.  Doing so will result in a duplicate payment for which refunds are not available.

Would I need to pay the $125 upfront to retake an exam? 
If you have not already paid the examination / registration fee -- yes.  The $125 fee covers training, exam, and program development which includes exam hosting and scoring, pre-requisite verification, database management, certificate issuance, and program management for a two-year period.

I passed both the QSD and QSP exams.  Do I pay $125 per certificate for a total of $250?
No, a QSD Certificate covers you as a QSP and therefore, one fee of $125 is required.

What forms of payment will the new online system accept for examination / registration?
Online examination / registration will require payment with a credit card ONLY (Visa, MasterCard, American Express). Mail-in registrations using checks or cash is not available.

When I register with CASQA does that make me a CASQA member? 
No.  A CASQA membership is an yearly paid membership.  Please refer to our membership brochure for more information about the benefits, discounts and levels of membership available.

Other FAQs

Does meeting QSD qualification requirements satisfy meeting QSP qualification requirements?
Yes.

What is the minimum NICET level to satisfy the prerequisite QSD registration?
The State Water Board has stated that a Level 3 NICET is required.

ToR Training

CASQA issues a Request for Qualifications once a year for individuals to respond to who are interested in trying to qualify as a Trainer of Record. The next solicitation will be in February 2012 or so next year.