To apply for an NCSG certification, you must complete the online application form located on NCSG’s certification management system, operated by Prolydian, at app.prolydian.com/organizations/NCSG. If you are a new user, you will need to create a profile. The application must be filled out completely, and your name must match exactly as it appears on a current, approved government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport).
The NCSG will review your application and notify you of its status within seven business days. If your application is approved, you will receive a verification email containing instructions on how to register for the examination. If your application is not approved, you will receive information about the next steps. If you do not receive a confirmation email within seven business days, you should contact certifications@ncsg.org to check the status.
Once your application is approved, you have six months to register for and take the certification examination.
NCSG complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and strives to ensure that no individual with a documented disability is deprived of the opportunity to take the certification exam solely by reason of that disability, provided that reasonable special accommodations can be made. Applicants requesting accommodations must notify NCSG prior to applying for the exam using this form. Once your accommodation has been approved, you will be able to apply for your exam.
On the day of your exam, you are required to present a valid, original (not a copy) government-issued photo identification to the proctor. Acceptable forms of ID include a government-issued driver’s license, passport, non-US military ID card, or any physical government-issued ID card that includes your photo. The name and photo on the ID must exactly match the information provided during registration. Failure to present proper identification will result in being denied the opportunity to test, and all fees will be forfeited.
Remote proctored exams have strict rules to ensure fairness and security. Candidates must not have any other individuals in the testing location, and electronic devices (watches, cell phones, etc.) and external resources (notes, books) are prohibited. Adequate lighting is required, and candidates must remain in view of the proctor at all times (except during a pre-scheduled break). Activities like reading aloud, capturing exam content, or attempting to manipulate the testing environment are forbidden. Technically, you will need a compatible operating system (macOS X 10.13 or higher, Windows 10 or higher), a webcam with sufficient resolution, a stable internet connection with minimum 2Mbps upload and download speed (10Mbps preferred), a functioning microphone, and at least 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended). Tablets, mobile devices, ARM CPUs, and Chromebooks are not supported. The Guardian Browser is required for testing and must be downloaded prior to the exam.
You can reschedule or cancel your exam appointment as long as you do so at least four hours before your scheduled test time and within your six-month eligibility window. Specific instructions for rescheduling will be provided in your exam scheduling confirmation email. If you cancel with less than four hours' notice, miss your appointment, arrive late, or provide inadequate identification, you will be required to pay an additional $100 testing fee to schedule a new appointment. No fees will be refunded if you fail to report for your exam or fail to register within the six-month window.
NCSG recommends starting with the study guides found in the Resources section. These guides outline the content of the exam in detail and offer links to trusted education and training to help you prepare. Candidates can also benefit from mentoring, apprenticeship and networking with experienced sweeps.
NCSG offers two testing options: remotely proctored exams taken online, and in-person testing events with a live proctor. You can select a convenient date and time for a remote exam after approval. Information about scheduled in-person testing events will be available on the NCSG website.NCSG offers two testing options: remotely proctored exams taken online, and in-person testing events with a live proctor. You can select a convenient date and time for a remote exam after approval. Information about scheduled in-person testing events will be available on the NCSG website.
You won’t find many typical “study guides” or review course for NCSG certifications because:
The certification cycle is three years from the date you passed your exam.
You can apply for recertification anytime in your third years, as long as you've earned 36 CEUs.
When you applied to take one of the certification exams, you created an account through Prolydian, our testing software system. Your Prolydian account is where you can find your certificate, track CEUs, apply for exams, and submit your recertification.
Visit https://app.prolydian.com to log in with the email and password you used to apply. If you've lost access to your email, please contact certifications@ncsg.org for assistance.
Only NCSG-pre-appproved courses with a course number are eligible. Activities like college classes, volunteering, or public service do not qualify.
CEUs must be earned after your certification begin date and within your three-year cycle.
Yes, if the course aligns with the domains of each certification and is completed within each cycle. You'll still need to submit a separate application for each certification.
You can retake and pass the certification exam to recertify. You will need to pay the full exam fee.
You have a 3-month grace period after the end date of your certification to submit your application. All 36 CEUs must still be earned within your certification cycle.
Yes. If you don't recertify within the grace period, your certification will expire and you'll need to retake the full exam to become certified again.
NCSG will work with members to plan and facilitate onsite training and exams. If your business or local Guild would like to plan an event, share your interest with staff in the Support Form.
The new CCP and CCR is actually less expensive than the original. Over a 6-year period, previous CCP holders invested $1,050 to complete the exam every 2 years ($350 x 3 exams). The new CCP is still cost-competitive, requiring $499 for an NCSG member’s exam registration and $299 to renew (+ 36 CEUs), making the total cost to maintain the new CCP and CCR certifications $798 over 6 years. With no annual maintenance or other required fees, this simplifies down to about $133/year to be certified — the most cost-competitive option in the industry.
Badge numbers are randomly assigned by the certification management software and may not be requested.
The NCSG board of directors recently voted on the future of the CMCT. As a way to honor true mastery of the trade, NCSG is rolling out the Master Chimney Professional (MCP) program which will replace the CMCT program. To qualify, candidates must actively hold the Certified Chimney Journeyman (CCJ).
No. As existing CCP or CCR certifications expire, all candidates must pass the new exam or advance to the Certified Chimney Journeyman.
After a thorough, year-long evaluation, the NCSG was granted accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) in January 2024 for its certifications.
Specifically, these three NCSG certifications have achieved the most respected and internationally accepted standards for personnel certification bodies: Certified Chimney Professional (CCP), Certified Chimney Reliner (CCR), and Certified Chimney Journeyman (CCJ).
Being ANAB-accredited means that the NCSG has been evaluated and deemed compliant with specific standards set by ANSI and ANAB. ANSI is a private, non-profit organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus standards, while ANAB is the accrediting body that assesses conformity to these standards.
ANAB accreditation is a testament to the NCSG’s unwavering commitment to excellence and dedication to upholding the highest levels of professionalism, quality, and safety.
Submitting your classes for CEU credit has never been easier! Use our streamlined submission process through this link to ensure that your class is approved.
How it works:
Application Fees:
Exam Fees:
Retest Fees:
All payments are made online through the Prolydian portal at the time of the initial application and recertification application using major credit or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). For payment-related questions, contact NCSG at 317-837-1500 or certifications@ncsg.org.
Each NCSG certification is valid for three years from the date of passing the exam. To maintain your certification, you must recertify before it expires. You can apply for recertification anytime during the third year of your certification. The recertification requirements include completing 36 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and paying the recertification fee, or alternatively, you can retake the certification exam and pay the recertification fee. It is your responsibility to understand and meet the recertification requirements to retain your credential.