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Your FREE Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Practice Test 2026 – 210+ Q&A

Prepare with realistic, BCSP Construction Health and Safety Technician-style questions — take a full practice test or drill one content domain at a time.

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Click Start Test above to launch a full-length CHST practice test weighted like the real exam, or drill a single content domain — Hazard Identification and Control, Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention, Safety Program Development and Implementation, or Leadership, Communication, and Training. Every question includes a clear explanation so you learn the reasoning, not just the answer.

The Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) is a certification awarded by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) to safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) practitioners who work in the construction industry.

[1] It is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam administered at Pearson VUE test centers and built on the current CHST5 blueprint.

These practice questions follow the four published BCSP domains, covering hazard and risk identification and control, emergency preparedness and incident response, safety program development and implementation, and leadership, communication, and training — grounded in OSHA construction standards (29 CFR 1926), with the heaviest-tested subparts being Fall Protection, Concrete, and Steel Erection.

[2] For complete prep, pair these with our free study guide, flashcards.

CHST at a Glance

CHST (BCSP Exam) at a glance
DetailCHST (BCSP Exam)
Questions200 multiple-choice (175 scored + 25 unscored pretest)
Question typeSingle-best-answer multiple choice
Time limit4 hours of testing time (~5.5 hours total seat time with tutorial and survey)
ResultPass/Fail — scaled-score standard set by the modified-Angoff method (~70%)
Administered byBCSP via Pearson VUE computer-based testing centers
Eligibility3 years of construction safety experience with at least 35% of duties in SH&E
Cost140applicationfee+140 application fee + 300 exam fee (exam bundle $550; verify at bcsp.org)
MaintenanceRecertification every 5 years (annual $145 renewal fee)

What Is on the CHST Exam?

The CHST exam covers four domains: Hazard and Risk Identification and Control (~37%), Safety Program Development, Implementation, and Sustainment (~22%), Leadership, Communication, and Training (~21%), and Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response (~20%).[2]

Hazard and Risk Identification and Control is the single largest block, and content is grounded in OSHA construction standards (29 CFR 1926). Our full practice test mirrors these published weights:

CHST5 weighting by content domain
Hazard Identification and Control37% · ≈20 Qs
Safety Program Development and Implementation22% · ≈12 Qs
Leadership, Communication, and Training21% · ≈12 Qs
Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention20% · ≈11 Qs
CHST practice test — practice questions by domain with answer explanations

Practice Questions by Domain

Use Start Test for a full weighted CHST simulation, or open the hub and pick a single domain to drill your weak area. After each full exam, your results show a per-domain breakdown so you know exactly where to focus — most candidates need the most reps on hazard identification and control and on OSHA 1926 regulatory specifics.

What Are the Requirements to Take the CHST?

To take the CHST exam you need three (3) years of construction safety experience in which at least 35% of your job duties require technical skills and knowledge in safety, health, and environment (SH&E).

[1] No formal degree is required — the credential is experience-based, which makes it accessible to field supervisors, foremen, and safety coordinators.

As part of the application you must disclose any felony convictions and any non-minor misdemeanor offenses from the past five years, and report any professional license or credential that has been denied, suspended, or revoked. BCSP verifies your experience before approving you to schedule the exam.

How Do You Register for the CHST Exam?

You register for the CHST at bcsp.org by creating a profile and submitting your application with the $140 application fee.

[4] Once BCSP approves your eligibility, you pay the $300 examination fee (or choose the $550 exam bundle) and schedule your exam through the single sign-on (SSO) link to Pearson VUE in your BCSP My Profile. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE test centers worldwide.

Confirm current fees, your one-year eligibility window, and scheduling rules directly with BCSP, as policies and pricing change.

What Is the Passing Score for the CHST?

The CHST is reported as pass/fail, with the cut mapping to roughly 70% of scored items.[3] BCSP sets that standard with the modified-Angoff method and applies scaled scoring, so your result depends on your own performance rather than on how other candidates did.

Of the 200 multiple-choice items, 175 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest questions that do not count toward your result; because you cannot tell them apart, answer every question.

You have four hours of testing time, and results are typically provided at the test center on completion.

How Hard Is the CHST? (Pass Rate)

BCSP does not publish an official ongoing pass rate, but reported figures place the CHST first-attempt pass rate in the mid-60% range (a 65% pass rate was cited for 2023).[5] Candidates who struggle most are often those who rely on general field experience without systematically studying the OSHA 29 CFR 1926 construction standards and the heavily weighted hazard-control domain. Working full-length, domain-weighted practice exams is the most reliable way to close those gaps before test day.

~65%
First-attempt pass rate
mid-60% range cited
~70%
Passing standard
of scored items (pass/fail)
37%
Hazard Control domain
largest section

The CHST is demanding because it tests applied judgment, not just recall — many items present a construction scenario and ask for the best control or response.

Its challenge is breadth across four hours: fall protection, scaffolding, excavation, electrical, cranes and rigging, concrete and steel erection, emergency and fire prevention, program management, and training and communication.

The Hazard and Risk Identification and Control domain alone is about 37% of the exam, so OSHA 1926 fluency — especially Subparts M (Fall Protection), Q (Concrete), and R (Steel Erection) — pays off disproportionately.

Experienced field professionals usually find the material familiar, but the regulatory specifics and program-development questions reward deliberate review.

What to Expect on Exam Day

Arrive at your Pearson VUE test center at least 15 minutes early to check in — bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your BCSP application.[4] You’ll store phones and personal items in a locker; no notes are allowed.

A short tutorial precedes the exam, then you have 4 hours of testing time to answer 200 multiple-choice questions, with total seat time of about 5.5 hours once the tutorial and survey are included. Because 25 of the items are unscored pretest questions you can’t identify, answer every one.

Results are typically provided at the test center on completion. Having simulated the full timing with practice tests makes that long clock feel routine.

How to Use This CHST Practice Test

  • Recreate exam conditions. Take the full test timed, with no notes.[5]
  • Diagnose, then drill. Use a full CHST simulation to find weak domains, then drill them.
  • Prioritize hazard control + OSHA 1926. They’re the biggest score-movers.
  • Learn the why. Read every explanation — understanding beats memorizing.
  • Answer everything. There’s no guessing penalty, so never leave a question blank.

Why Get CHST Certified?

The CHST is a widely recognized construction safety credential, often required (or strongly preferred) by employers and tied to higher pay and advancement for field-level SH&E professionals.[1] These free CHST practice tests are the most efficient way to get there.

Conclusion

Passing the CHST comes down to knowing your OSHA 1926 construction standards, hazard controls, and program-management fundamentals cold. Use this free CHST practice test to find your weak domains, then reinforce them with our study guide, flashcards to drill them to mastery, and walk in confident on test day.

CHST Practice Test FAQ

CHST stands for Construction Health and Safety Technician, a certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) for safety, health, and environmental practitioners in the construction industry. It is designed for field-level professionals — safety coordinators, supervisors, foremen, and SH&E technicians — and is experience-based, requiring no college degree.

References

  1. 1.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST).” bcsp.org, 2026. ↑
  2. 2.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “CHST5 Examination Blueprint.” bcsp.org. ↑
  3. 3.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “Credentials At-A-Glance.” bcsp.org. ↑
  4. 4.Board of Certified Safety Professionals / ASSP. “CHST Application and Examination Information.” assp.org. ↑
  5. 5.Board of Certified Safety Professionals. “Get Certified — Exam Process and Preparation.” bcsp.org. ↑
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