60
Questions
1-2 Hours
TYPICAL TIME
70%
To Pass
3 Years
Validity
What CSRP Demonstrates
ACSP offers specialized industry certification via the Commercial Space Regulatory Professional (CSRP) examination. The CSRP credential certifies that the holder has a working introductory understanding of the U.S. legal, regulatory, and commercial framework governing the commercial space industry. Upon completion of the exam with a grade of at least 70%, you will be awarded the CSRP credential and presented with an official credential certificate.
CSRP is a foundational credential. It is not a practice authorization, nor does it establish that the holder is qualified to take independent responsibility for export licensing, launch licensing, contract negotiation, classified facility administration or any other regulated function.
What the Exam Tests
The exam draws from seven content categories spanning the U.S. commercial-space regulatory landscape. The chart shows how the 60 questions are weighted; the cards below explain what each category covers.
General Knowledge
The cross-cutting foundation before any specialty: how the FAA, FCC, and NOAA share jurisdiction over a single mission, the compliance mindset, and the systems vocabulary — bus vs. payload, orbital regimes, frequency bands, mission lifecycle — needed to spot which rules apply.
Launch Licensing
FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation licensing under the Commercial Space Launch Act: Part 450 (launch and reentry) and Part 420 (launch sites), financial responsibility and Maximum Probable Loss, payload reviews, mishap response, and environmental review.
Export Controls
The two U.S. export-control regimes, ITAR (State/DDTC) and EAR (Commerce/BIS), and how to tell them apart: deemed exports, the public-domain and fundamental-research carve-outs, USML categories, technical assistance agreements, and foreign-national hiring.
Government Contracting
How the federal government buys: the FAR framework and contract types, Other Transaction (OT) authority, SBIR, bid protests, and intellectual-property rights, plus a cybersecurity sub-domain for federal contractors.
Telecommunications
The FCC and ITU frameworks for commercial satellite communications: spectrum management and frequency allocations, Part 25 space-station licensing (including streamlined smallsat licensing), ITU coordination, and FCC orbital-debris rules.
Remote Sensing
NOAA's commercial remote-sensing licensing under the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act and 15 CFR Part 960: the three-tier classification system, foreign-customer rules, annual reporting, and pre-application engagement with NOAA's CRSRA office.
FOCI / Classified Work
The National Industrial Security Program for classified contractors: facility and personnel clearances, the NISPOM and DCSA oversight, Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) and its mitigation methods, and how FOCI differs from CFIUS review.
How the Exam Works
The CSRP examination is composed of 60 questions, primarily multiple choice with a small number of True/False and select-all-that-apply questions. Candidates have up to four hours to complete the exam, although it is designed to be completed in 1 to 2 hours. The generous outer limit is provided to accommodate candidates who prefer a slower pace or want to consult source materials.
The CSRP is an open-book exam: you may consult reference materials as you work. Please review the Academic Honesty and Use of AI section below, which explains what that does and does not allow.
Academic Honesty & Use of AI
The CSRP is an honor-based credential. By sitting for the exam, you affirm that the answers you submit reflect your own knowledge and judgment.
Because the exam is open-book, you are welcome to consult statutes, regulations, agency guidance, and other reference materials as you work. Each question asks you to read a situation, identify the authority that applies, and reason your way to the answer. That reasoning is the skill the credential certifies, so it needs to be yours.
You may not outsource it. Do not use another person as a resource, and do not use AI or other generative tools to produce, compose, or select your answers. Looking up a rule in a source document is fine; having a person or a tool analyze a question or supply an answer is not.
The CSRP only means something if it reflects what its holder actually knows. The questions are written to reward applied judgment over rote recall, and exam sessions are reviewed for irregularities. Credentials obtained in violation of this policy may be revoked.
How to Prepare
Members can prepare with our CSRP Study Resources — expert video sessions and reference materials organized by exam category. We also recommend the Space Regulatory Bootcamp, an in-depth program covering the regulatory landscape; it isn't required, and the next session will be announced soon.
Credential Validity
The CSRP credential is valid for three years from the date of issuance. Renewal requires successful completion of the then-current CSRP examination — re-examination ensures that renewed credential holders demonstrate familiarity with the current regulatory environment, which may evolve materially over a three-year cycle.
Retakes and Support
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may retake the exam after a one-week waiting period. The retake registration fee is waived.
To schedule a retake, ask a question about the exam, or report a technical issue during your session, email info@acsp.space and we'll help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the exam cost?
Is there a student discount?
I live or work in New Mexico — how do I get free access?
Is the exam online?
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Is it pass/fail, or do I get a score breakdown?
How do I get my certificate?
The name on my certificate is misspelled — can it be fixed?
How can an employer verify my credential?
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Ready to Get Started?
Register for the CSRP examination and join the community of commercial space professionals who have demonstrated foundational mastery of the U.S. regulatory framework.
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