CHSOS Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How CHSOS Scheduling Actually Works

Unlike certifications tied to a handful of testing windows per year, the Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) exam is administered on a rolling basis through SMT and Prometric on behalf of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) Certification Council. There is no single "2026 testing window" you need to catch - instead, once your application is approved, you gain access to a scheduling portal where you pick a date and time that works for your life, subject to seat availability at your chosen test center or remote proctoring slot.

This flexibility is good news for working simulation operations specialists who can't always plan around a fixed exam date, but it also means the real deadlines that matter are the ones you create yourself: when you submit your application, when your eligibility documents clear review, and how much preparation time you build in before locking in a date.

2026 Testing Windows: What "Year-Round" Really Means

Because CHSOS uses on-demand scheduling rather than defined windows, "2026 testing dates" really refers to appointment availability throughout the calendar year at Prometric test centers or through ProProctor remote sessions. Availability fluctuates by location and by proctoring capacity, so candidates in busy metro areas or during high-demand months (often near the start of academic terms, when many simulation centers push staff toward certification) may find fewer open slots close to their preferred date.

Practically, this means:

• You should apply for eligibility well before you want to test, since the review process takes time.
• Popular test centers can book up two to four weeks out, so don't wait until the last minute to reserve a slot once you're eligible.
• Remote proctoring through ProProctor generally offers more flexible availability than physical test centers, which can be useful if your local Prometric location is booked solid.

Registration Timeline and Deadlines

The path from "I want to get certified" to "I have a confirmed exam date" involves several sequential steps, each with its own processing time. Understanding this sequence helps you avoid the most common scheduling mistake: assuming you can apply and test within the same week.

1. Confirm eligibility criteria. You need a bachelor's degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience), at least two years of healthcare-simulation operations experience, and three confidential references or reports. Review the full breakdown in our CHSOS Requirements 2026 guide before you submit anything.
2. Submit your application and supporting documents. This includes gathering reference contacts, which often takes longer than candidates expect since references must independently submit their input.
3. Wait for eligibility review and approval. Once approved, you receive instructions for scheduling through SMT/Prometric.
4. Book your exam appointment. Choose a Prometric test center or ProProctor remote session based on availability and your comfort level with each format.
5. Prepare using the current content outline. The 2024 examination content outline, based on the 2022-2023 practice analysis, is the blueprint you should study against - not older materials.

Because reference collection and eligibility review are the slowest parts of this chain, start that paperwork months before your target test date rather than days before.

Fees, Payment, and What You're Actually Buying

The CHSOS exam fee is $395 for SSH members and employees of SSH supporting organizations, or $495 for nonmembers. This fee covers your single exam attempt administered through SMT/Prometric - it does not automatically include retake costs if you don't pass, and it's separate from any application processing fees or optional prep materials.

If you're weighing whether SSH membership makes financial sense before you register, the math is straightforward: the $100 difference between member and nonmember pricing may offset some or all of an annual membership fee, depending on your organization's status. For a complete breakdown of every cost associated with certification - application, exam, renewal, and potential retakes - see our CHSOS Certification Cost breakdown.

Prometric Test Center vs. ProProctor Remote Proctoring

When you schedule your CHSOS exam, you'll choose between two delivery formats. Both administer the same two-hour, 115-question computer-based test, but the logistics differ enough that your choice should factor into how far in advance you need to book.

• Prometric Test Center: A traditional in-person option at a proctored testing facility. This can mean travel time and fixed appointment slots, but it removes any concern about home internet reliability or workspace setup.
• ProProctor Live Remote Proctoring: Test from your own location with a live remote proctor monitoring the session. This option often has more flexible availability but requires a quiet, private space and a stable internet connection that meets technical requirements.

If you plan to request ESL accommodations, which can add one hour to your appointment, confirm this during scheduling rather than trying to adjust it after your date is booked - accommodation requests typically need to be processed in advance.

Confirming Eligibility Before You Book a Date

You cannot schedule an exam date until your eligibility application clears review, so it's worth double-checking the requirements before you start the reference and documentation process. CHSOS is designed for professionals working in a healthcare-simulation operations role with focused learner-facing expertise - this isn't a generic IT or AV credential, it's specific to the simulation operations function within healthcare education.

At minimum, you'll need:

• A bachelor's degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least two years of documented healthcare-simulation operations experience
• Three confidential references or reports from people who can speak to your operational role

For the full eligibility checklist and documentation tips, our CHSOS Requirements guide walks through each criterion in detail, and our overview of what CHSOS certification actually verifies can help you confirm this is the right credential for your role before you invest time in the application.

Choosing a Date That Matches Your Domain Readiness

Because you control your own exam date, the smartest scheduling strategy is to work backward from domain mastery rather than picking an arbitrary date and cramming toward it. The CHSOS exam content outline breaks into five domains, and they are not weighted evenly - which should directly shape both your study calendar and when you feel ready to book.

For a deeper breakdown of what each domain actually tests and sample topic areas within them, see the CHSOS Exam Domains Guide. If you're still calibrating how challenging this exam is relative to your current experience, our CHSOS difficulty guide and CHSOS pass rate analysis both offer useful context before you lock in a date.

For structured week-by-week guidance tied specifically to this weighting, the CHSOS Study Guide 2026 lays out a complete preparation plan, and you can pressure-test your readiness with realistic practice questions on our practice exam platform before committing to a scheduled date.

Rescheduling, Cancellations, and No-Shows

Life happens - shift changes, family emergencies, or simply realizing you need more prep time. Because CHSOS scheduling runs through SMT/Prometric's standard system, rescheduling policies mirror typical Prometric procedures: changes made with sufficient advance notice are usually straightforward, while late changes or no-shows can result in forfeiting your exam fee entirely.

• Reschedule as soon as you know you need to, rather than waiting until the last few days before your appointment.
• Missing your appointment without proper notice typically means paying full price again to rebook - there's no partial credit for a no-show.
• If you're testing remotely via ProProctor, confirm your technical setup days in advance, not the morning of, since connectivity failures on exam day can count against you depending on Prometric's specific policy for your session type.

Exam Day Logistics and What to Expect

Whether you test at a Prometric center or remotely through ProProctor, the exam structure itself is identical: two hours to complete 115 four-option multiple-choice questions, of which 100 are scored and 15 are unscored pretest items you won't be able to distinguish from the rest. There is no penalty for guessing, so leaving any question blank is strictly worse than making your best-informed choice.

Passing requires a scaled score of 700. For a full explanation of how that scaled score translates to raw performance and what it means in practice, see our CHSOS Passing Score guide.

• Arrive (or log in, for remote sessions) with time to spare for identity verification and check-in procedures.
• Bring acceptable identification matching the name on your application exactly.
• If you requested and were approved for ESL accommodations, confirm the extra hour is reflected in your scheduled appointment length before exam day.

After You Pass: Certification Validity and Renewal Timing

Once you pass, CHSOS certification is valid for three years. Well before that window closes, you'll need to either earn 45 Continuing Professional Development credits - including activity in every content domain - or retake the exam to renew. Because the domains map directly to the same weighting used on the original exam, it's worth tracking your CPD activity against Domain 2 (Simulation Technology Operations), Domain 3 (Healthcare Simulation Practices, Principles, and Procedures), Domain 4 (Professional Role), Domain 5 (Instructional Design), and Domain 1 (Concepts in Healthcare) throughout your three-year cycle rather than scrambling near the deadline.

If you're still deciding whether pursuing this credential fits your career goals, our analysis on whether CHSOS certification is worth it and our CHSOS Salary Guide cover the broader return on investment, while our CHSOS Jobs overview outlines the types of employers and roles that value this credential.

FAQ: CHSOS Exam Dates and Scheduling