Exam Information
The exams for the Certified Professional Soil Scientist certification and state Soil Scientist licensing programs are developed and maintained by the Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE). The certification program, in its entirety, is overseen by the Soils Certifying Board of the Soil Science Society of America.
Quarterly exam calendar
Exam registration dates
Register and pay for the exam(s) of your choice.
July 1 - 27, 2026
Oct. 7 - 26, 2026
Available exam dates
Exams will be conducted during this time frame.
August 5 - 19, 2026
Nov. 4 - 18, 2026
Exam registration is only available during the dates listed above. If you want to take your exam during the listed 'Available exam dates' (second column), you must register during the corresponding Exam registration dates (first column).
Examinees in Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin must be approved to register for the exam, please contact your state's licensing board.
Study materials and resources
Soil Science Performance Objectives
The exams are based on performance objectives developed by the Council of Soil Science Examiners. It is recommended that the exam candidate work through the performance objectives and additional resources as supplemental information.
Additional study resources
The following resources may aid in your study.
Exam Information
You will need a valid government issued ID. The first and last name on your ID must match the name we have for you in our system, and you will be required your ID to the remote proctor.
You must be 18 years old in order to register for an exam.
Exams are administered via internet based testing (IBT) with a remote proctor. Please visit the remote proctor page to learn more.
You will receive detailed information about the exam and proctor process via email from [email protected], so make sure our email isn’t marked as spam.
Exam Accommodations
Individuals Needing Exam Accommodations must fill out the Exam Accommodations Request Form 30 days prior to taking the exam. This form must be completed in the fillable PDF format in order for it to be accepted.
The Exam Accommodations Information and Instructions Sheet contains detailed information on determining accommodations, completing the request form, and what documentation is needed.
If you have questions on exam accommodation, please contact us by calling 608-268-4947 or emailing Exam Accommodations.
Passing Score
The minimum passing score is calculated using a criterion-referenced procedure called the Angoff Method. Experts in soil science review each of the exam questions and evaluate them according to how successful a minimally competent candidate would be in answering each question. This process statistically maintains a passing score from year to year that is independent of each candidate's level of expertise. The candidate's score is not compared to the scores of other candidates taking the same exam.
Soil Science Australia
Questions?
View our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information on the exams, or reach out to Stanley Wu.
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