RSA Exam Information

The NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130 – Basic exam covers parts of the current versions of NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130.  The exam tests knowledge, ability to interpret and ability to apply the organization and basic elements of NIST Handbook 44 General Code, and Appendices A, B, C, and D.  The questions also test the knowledge of the model regulations found in NIST Handbook 130, IV Uniform Regulations, D, Uniform Regulation for the Voluntary Registration of Servicepersons and Service Agencies for Commercial Weighing and Measuring Devices and, E, Uniform Regulation for National Type Evaluation.  Some questions will require reading and responding to questions about information on a National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) Certificate of Conformance (CC).

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing Module 8.1 NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130 (Registered Service Agents)  and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to use the NIST Handbook 44 self-study course and to carefully review the two model regulations. NIST Handbook 44, NIST Handbook 130 and the NIST Examination Procedure Outlines are located on the NIST website. Examinees should read an NTEP Certificate of Conformance to become familiar with the format and contents.  NTEP Certificates can be found on the NCWM website, and more details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website. Another study resource for applicants is the NCWM Field Training Manuals for Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers and Retail Computing Scales.  All these resources may be accessed at no cost.

The Large Capacity Weighing Systems exam will test the examinee’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply the concepts registered servicepersons must understand and apply to successfully perform their duties in placing in service, repairing, calibrating, adjusting and testing weighing systems with capacities greater than 150 kg (300 lb). The exam focuses on specific concepts and application of those concepts related to device technology, use, operations, inspection requirements, and test procedures found in NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPOs 7, 12 and 13. The examinee will also be evaluated on their ability to read and apply information found in NTEP Certificates of Conformance (CCs).

Examinees must thoroughly understand and be able to calculate, evaluate and apply tolerances to various situations to pass the exam; it was written with the assumption that applicants have a sound understanding of how NIST Handbook 44 is organized and can interpret and apply the codes and appendices.

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing Module 8.9 Large Capacity Weighing Systems (Registered Service Agents) and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to review the applicable sections of NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 112, EPO 7, EPO 12, and EPO 13. Examinees should read an NTEP Certificate of Conformance to become familiar with the format and contents.  NTEP CCs can be found on the NCWM website, and details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website. All the above resources may be accessed at no cost.

The Small Capacity Weighing Systems exam will test the examinee’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply the concepts registered servicepersons must understand and apply to successfully perform their duties in placing in service, repairing, calibrating, adjusting, and testing weighing systems with capacities up to 150 kg (300 lb). The exam focuses on specific concepts related to device technology, use, operations, inspection requirements, and test procedures found in NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPO 1.

Examinees must thoroughly understand and be able to calculate, evaluate and apply tolerances to various situations to pass the exam; it was written with the assumption that applicants have a sound understanding of how NIST Handbook 44 is organized and can interpret and apply the codes and appendices.

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing Module 8.7 Small Capacity Weighing Systems (Registered Service Agents) and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to use the NCWM Field Training Manual for Retail Computing Scales as a study aid and review the applicable sections of NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPO 1. All these resources may be accessed at no cost.

The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment exam will test knowledge, ability to interpret, and ability to apply the applicable elements of NIST Handbook 44 General Code, Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems Code, Timing Devices Code, and Appendices A, B, C, and D, as well as NIST EPO 30.  Some questions will require reading and responding to questions about information found on a National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP) Certificate of Conformance (CC).

Examinees must understand and be able to accurately perform calculations related to measurements and evaluate the results for conformance to applicable requirements to pass the exam. The exam was written with the assumption that applicants have successfully passed the NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130 – Basic examination offered by NCWM or have a sound understanding of how the Handbook is organized and can interpret and apply the codes and appendices.

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing NIST Handbook 44, NIST EPO 30,  and using Module 8.2 Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems (Registered Service Agents) as a study guide.  NTEP CCs are available on the NCWM website, and details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website. All these resources may be accessed at no cost.

The LPG and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid Metering Systems exam will test the examinee’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply the concepts and regulatory requirements that registered servicepersons must understand to successfully perform their duties in placing in service, repairing, and calibrating LPG and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid Metering Systems. The first 39 questions focus on specific concepts related to device technology, use, operations, inspection requirements, and test procedures for these devices found in NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPO 26. Examinees must also be able to read and apply information found on NTEP CCs.

Questions 40 through 42 require that you accurately perform calculations to determine delivery errors based on the raw data provided in the exam.  You must answer all three questions correctly to pass.  The questions will require you to calculate the delivery error (calculate in %).  For this exam, percent error is calculated as [(prover reading – meter reading) ÷ prover] x 100. You will perform calculations for one set of tests either with an electronic digital register or for one set of tests with an analog register.  You will be asked to compute three delivery errors: one for the normal compensated error, one for the normal uncompensated error and one for the special uncompensated error.  Each result must be accurately rounded to two decimal places. 

Examinees must thoroughly understand and be able to accurately calculate measurement errors and evaluate the errors for conformance to applicable tolerances to pass the exam.

The exam was written with the assumption that applicants have successfully passed NCWM’s NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130 – Basic examination or have a sound understanding of how the Handbook is organized and can interpret and apply the codes and appendices.

You will be required to perform calculations as part of the exam.  You may bring a calculator into the exam or use one provided by the proctor.  Calculators with memory functions are acceptable but programmable calculators are prohibited.  If you use the calculator provided by the Proctor, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with its operation before beginning the exam.

Examinees may prepare by carefully reviewing Module 8.6 LPG and Anhydrous Ammonia Liquid Metering Systems (Registered Service Agents) and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to review the applicable sections of NIST Handbook 44 and the NIST EPO 26 and to practice performing calculations using the LPG Meter Examination Report and the NCWM LPG Exam Reference Tables. The examination report is a report form used in NIST OWM LPG training classes. The Handbook and EPOs can be found on the NIST website. Examinees should read an NTEP Certificate of Conformance to become familiar with the format and contents.  NTEP CCs can be found on the NCWM website and details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website. All the above resources may be accessed at no cost.

Please note that in this exam you will not be able to go back to previous questions to change your answers and you must provide an answer for each question before being allowed to proceed to the next question.

You will be provided with copies of the NCWM LPG Exam Reference Tables and LPG Meter Examination Report. All copies must be returned to the proctor at the end of the exam.

You may download a copy for practice using the links above. The NCWM LPG Exam Reference Tables contain a collection of pertinent tables used in LPG meter testing.  This includes tables for the product and tables for the pressure and temperature corrections for provers used in the exam. The candidate must ensure they use the correct tables for the specific prover referenced in the test data.  Two samples of test data for the official test, in the form it will be presented in the exam, are shown below.

Data Format for System with an Electronic Digital Register

Data Format for System with a Mechanical Analog Register

Exam Specific Passing Score and Grading:
To pass the exam you cannot miss more than 13 of the first 39 questions and you must correctly answer each of the last three questions.  Those passing the exam are issued a certificate that is valid for five years

Please disregard the information after the words “Passed” or “Not Passed.”  Due to the weighted value of each test question and the requirement to answer the last three questions correctly, a complex scoring calculation was used to determine passing and failing scores.

The Retail Motor Fuel Dispenser exam will test the examinee’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply the concepts that registered servicepersons must understand and apply to successfully perform their duties in placing in service, repairing, and calibrating Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers. The exam focuses on specific concepts related to device technology, use, operations, inspection requirements, and test procedures for these devices found in the NIST Handbook 44, NIST EPO 21, and NIST EPO 22.  Examinees must also be able to read and apply information found on NTEP CCs.

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing Module 8.4 Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers (Registered Service Agents) and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to use the NCWM Field Training Manual for Retail Motor Fuel Dispensers as a study aid, review the applicable sections of NIST Handbook 44, and the NIST EPO 21 and NIST EPO 22. The handbook and EPOs can be found on the NIST website. Examinees should read an NTEP Certificate of Conformance to become familiar with the format and contents.  NTEP CCs can be found on the NCWM website, and more details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website.  NIST has produced a series of detailed videos on RMFD inspections that are available on the Internet. All these resources may be accessed at no cost.

The Vehicle Tank Meter exam will test the examinee’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to apply the concepts that registered servicepersons must understand and apply to successfully perform their duties in placing in service, repairing, and calibrating Vehicle-Tank Meter systems. The exam focuses on specific concepts related to device technology, use, operations, inspection requirements, and test procedures for these devices found in the NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPO 23.  Examinees must also be able to read and apply information found on NTEP CCs.

Applicants can prepare for the exam by carefully reviewing Module 8.5 Vehicle-Tank Meters (Registered Service Agents) and using it as a study guide.  Applicants are encouraged to use the NCWM Field Training Manual for Vehicle-Tank Meters as a study aid, review the applicable sections of NIST Handbook 44 and NIST EPO 23. The handbook and EPOs can be found on the NIST website. Examinees should read an NTEP Certificate of Conformance to become familiar with the format and contents.  NTEP CCs can be found on the NCWM website and more details about the NTEP program can be found on the NTEP Frequently Asked Questions page of the NCWM website. All these resources may be accessed at no cost.

The exam was written with the assumption that applicants have successfully passed the NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Handbook 130 – Basic examination offered by NCWM or have a sound understanding of how the Handbook is organized and can interpret and apply the codes and appendices.