Exam Information
The CIT examination is "closed book," online, and administered by a proctor who remains in the room during the test. It consists of 150 questions and should be taken in one sitting of 3 hours or less. The applicant is permitted a simple calculator (no smartphone apps or programmable calculators) and a sheet of writing paper with a pen or pencil. The paper must be remitted to the proctor at the end of the exam. Once a date is set for the exam, that should be communicated to cit@entocert.or with at least 10 days' notice if not included in your initial application. Exams are scheduled weekly and sent to the proctor and applicant at that time, including the username and password to access the exam. The test covers material from the Content Outline. The exam is rigorous by design. The Certification Board feels that applicants, regardless of how long they have been in the industry, should prepare for the exam with a minimum of 40 hours of self-study prior to attempting the exam. Please see the CIT resources page for more information on how to study for the CIT exam.
Content Outline
The CIT examination is designed to recognize practicing pest management professionals who have a solid introductory grasp of the practical aspects of Integrated Pest Management. The five knowledge domains of competency covered by the exam include these areas:
- Inspection and Monitoring (25% of the exam)
- Identification (25% of the exam)
- Control (Management) (20% of the exam)
- Evaluation (20% of the exam)
- Documentation (10% of the exam)
After the Exam
The exam is scored immediately by the testing software and a score is sent to the applicant. Passing score is 75%.
If the exam is passed, ESA will contact the applicant with an official welcome to the CIT program. The CIT is issued as a digital credential- holders can print a PDF of their credential if they desire. Digital credentials can be shared in the holder's mobile wallet as well as shared online. Renewals will be annual and will require CEUs, but not retesting.
All applicants must pass the exam within 3 years of their application acceptance date or the application will expire.
If an applicant does not earn a passing score the first time they take the exam, they can retake it no sooner 30 days and no more than 365 days later. To schedule a retake, the applicant need only email cit@entocert.org with their exam date and proctor. As with scheduling initial exams, please make sure to give ESA staff at least 10 days' notice. There is no fee to retake the CIT exam.