Is the NCSO exam open book?
ACSA does not publish the NCSO exam as an open-book exam. Its NCSO Information Booklet (February 2025) confirms the exam is written online with up to 2 hours and a 75% pass mark, but states no open-book allowance. Prepare as though it is closed book, and confirm the current rules with ACSA directly when you register.
Why you should prepare closed-book regardless
Even where reference material is permitted, exams of this kind are not passed by looking things up. With up to two hours and an unknown number of questions, time spent searching a document is time not spent answering. Candidates who rely on references typically run out of clock.
The practical standard to aim for: you should be able to answer without hesitation, and use any permitted reference only to confirm something you already believe.
What is confirmed about the format
- Written online
- Up to 2 hours
- 75% overall to pass
- Various question formats; no published question count
- $65 initial, $80 per rewrite, with a 3-month deferral after a failure
Confirm with ACSA
Exam rules change. ACSA is the certifying body in Alberta and its booklet is the authority — check the current version when you register rather than relying on second-hand accounts.
Questions people ask
Is the NCSO exam open book?
ACSA does not state that it is. Prepare as though it is closed book and confirm current rules with ACSA when registering.
Is the NCSO exam online?
Yes, ACSA states the exam is available online.
Last updated 9 August 2026.
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Sources
Exam facts on this page come from the certifying body's own published material. Last verified 9 August 2026.
- ACSA, NCSO Information Booklet (February 2025) — 75% pass mark, up to 2 hours, $65 initial / $80 rewrite, 3-month deferral, 11 compulsory + 2 elective courses, 3 years (6,000 hours) field experience within 10 years.
- Alberta Construction Safety Association — NCSO program
- Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations
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