Preparing for Exam

A certification examination is based on an explicit set of competencies. These competencies have been determined through a job analysis study conducted on practitioners. The competencies are subdivided into domains, subdomains, and tasks. As the CSCP tests content only pertaining to these competency statements, they serve as the outline, or blueprint of the examination.

The CSCP examination is developed through a collaborative effort between NSCP and Pearson VUE. A group of experts drawn from a wide variety of work environments and geographical areas write the examination items. The content is reviewed by NSCP's Board of Governors and CSCP Review Committee. The staffs at NSCP and Pearson VUE also edit items for clarity, bias, context, setting, language, terminology and content.

The CSCP Curriculum was developed to provide candidates with body of knowledges, learning outcomes, learning statements, and references directly related to the ten (10) domains of the CSCP Competency Statements. As the CSCP examination is not entry-level, the curriculum assumes that candidates are already familiar with current U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Self-Regulatory Organizations (SRO) rules and regulations pertaining to broker-dealers and investment advisers.

The curriculum was designed to familiarize candidates with a description of possible examination question topics; it does not purport to be all-inclusive nor is it a guarantee of passing the actual examination.

Only candidates who have registered and scheduled their CSCP testing appointment through Pearson VUE will have full access to the CSCP Curriculum in its entirety. Unique logins and passwords granting access to the CSCP Curriculum will be sent via e-mail to eligible registrants. NSCP is proud to partner with Omnipress in the online delivery of the CSCP Curriculum.

As the CSCP Curriculum directly correlates to the current CSCP exam form, it is strongly recommended that candidates sit for the exam within the same calendar year. New versions of the exam and curriculum are implemented every calendar year, typically within the 4th quarter. Candidates should be cognizant of this fact as they develop preparation strategies or if they plan to reschedule testing appointments.

The CSCP consists of four-option, multiple-choice questions written at the cognitive levels of recall, application, and analysis. The cognitive levels are explained in the table below.

Cognitive Level	Purpose	Performance Required
Recall (RE)	Primarily measuring memory.	Identify terms, specific facts, methods, procedures, basic concepts, basic theories, principles, and processes.
Application (AP)	To measure simple interpretation of limited data.	Apply concepts and principles to new situations; recognize relationships among data; apply laws and theories to practical situations; interpret charts and translate graphic data; classify items; interpret information.
Analysis (AN)	To measure the application of knowledge to solving a specific problem and the assembly of various elements into a meaningful whole.	Select an appropriate solution for responsive action; revise policy, procedure, or plan; evaluate a solution, case scenario, report, or plan; compare solutions, plans, ideas, or aspects of a problem; evaluate information or a situation; perform multiple calculations to arrive at one answer.

The CSCP is a 2 hour, 135 question examination consisting of 100 scored questions and 35 unscored pretest questions. The CSCP examination is only administered in English.

Pretest questions are placed on the exam to evaluate the item's difficulty level for possible inclusion as a scored question in the future. Candidates' scores are based upon the number of scored items on the exam — pretest items do not affect the candidates' score. Pretest questions are dispersed throughout the examination and cannot be identified.

The CSCP is a self-directed study program. Essential information and materials, such as competency statements, content outline, recommended curriculum, and passing score may be found within this handbook, the certification website, and materials sent to registrants.

The CSCP credential recognizes the competence and expertise of compliance professionals in a number of specified content areas. The CSCP examination is not entry-level and may only be taken by those candidates who have fulfilled established eligibility criteria. Once a candidate has determined that he or she has met the eligibility criteria, the candidate is encouraged to utilize the CSCP Competency Statements in conjunction with the CSCP Curriculum to plan, execute, and customize an exam preparation strategy.

The CSCP examination contemplates that candidates will be familiar with current laws, rules and regulations of both the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) that apply to registered investment advisers, registered broker-dealers and, to some extent, to registered investment companies. A candidate's formal education, professional training, and practical experience will be useful in preparing for the CSCP examination. Utilization of the CSCP Competency Statements and Curriculum can guide a candidate in mastering the content areas that will be tested. NSCP has not established any additional courses or programs that are intended to assist candidates in preparing for the CSCP examination.

NSCP and the Board of Governors do not endorse any review books, “boot camps” and/or review sessions, or study guides.

A sample preparation strategy:
Understand that the examination covers broker-dealer, investment adviser, and investment company regulation. The Competency Statements are the blueprint of the examination. Using a highlighter, you might identify areas of weakness on the Competency Statements. You might also refer to the learning outcomes and learning statements within the Curriculum for additional clarification. This approach provides you with a customized guide to prepare for the examination. Organize this information by Domain as listed in the Competency Statements. Prioritize and order these Domains based on the number of questions asked on the examination (e.g. percentage of questions asked from Domain 3 is significantly higher compared to Domain 8).

Before the start of the exam, you will be given the opportunity to navigate through a tutorial on the computer. The maximum time allowed for the tutorial is 10 minutes. The time used for this tutorial is not counted as part of the exam time, and does not affect the examination score. When you are comfortable with the computer testing process, you may end the tutorial and begin the timed examination.

The computer will monitor the time you spend on the examination. The examination will terminate at the allotted time limit. A digital clock will indicate the time remaining to complete the examination in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

There are no official breaks during the examination. You may leave the room to take a break at any time, but the time you spend on break will count against your exam time, and you will not be allowed additional time to make up for time lost.