CQT
Certified Quality Technician (CQT)
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The Certified Quality Technician (CQT) is a professional certification offered by ASQ for people who support quality assurance and control processes by performing inspections, collecting data, and analyzing results. ASQ describes the CQT as a critical role in ensuring compliance with quality standards and improving product reliability, which makes the credential a natural fit for inspectors, lab and test technicians, and others doing hands-on quality work who want a formal, recognized demonstration of their competence.
The exam is multiple choice and measures comprehension of the CQT Body of Knowledge, a document ASQ publishes and which includes subtext explanations and the cognitive level at which questions are written. Candidates qualify through four years of full-time, paid on-the-job experience in one or more areas of the Body of Knowledge, with partial waivers for completed degrees or a community college or vocational Quality Technology program.
Preparation is flexible: the exam is open book, so candidates bring their own bound reference materials, and ASQ publishes a reference list plus books and training that support study. The Body of Knowledge is the best starting point for building a study plan, since it defines both content and the depth at which each topic is tested.
What you'll study
About CQT preparation
What is the difference between the computer-delivered and paper-and-pencil CQT exam?
The computer-delivered version is one part with 110 questions, of which 100 are scored and 10 are unscored; total appointment time is four and a half hours with 4 hours and 18 minutes of exam time. The paper-and-pencil version is one part with 100 questions and a four-hour limit. Both are offered in English only.
Is the CQT exam open book?
Yes. All ASQ exams are open book, and you must bring your own reference materials. Every reference, including notes, must be bound by stitching or glue, or fastened securely in its cover by ring binders, spiral binders, plastic snap binders, brads, or screw posts. Hand-stapled documents that are not securely fastened in their covers are not allowed.
How should I sequence my study time?
Start with the CQT Body of Knowledge, which ASQ publishes as a free download and which lists topics with subtext explanations and the maximum cognitive level tested. Use ASQ's posted reference list to pick source material, then work through the Body of Knowledge topic by topic, since the exam is built directly against that document rather than against any single textbook.
What happens if I fail, and can I retake the exam?
If you do not pass a computer-delivered exam, you receive a summary of your performance by email within three to five business days. For two years from your previous attempt you can apply to retake at a significantly reduced retake rate. Results for paper-based tests are slightly delayed.
How soon do I get my score?
For computer-delivered testing you get your result immediately after submitting the exam, and within three to five business days you receive an email confirming it, plus a separate email explaining how to claim your digital certificate and badge. Paper-based results are slightly delayed, and exams with updated or new Bodies of Knowledge are communicated within five weeks.
How much experience do I need, and can education reduce it?
You need four years of full-time, paid on-the-job experience in one or more areas of the CQT Body of Knowledge. Only one education waiver may be claimed: one year waived for certification through a community college or vocational Quality Technology program, two years for an associate degree, or three years for a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate.
What does it cost to change my appointment?
There is a $130 fee for changing an appointment, and you must reschedule at least five days before your appointment using Prometric's website or automated voice response system. Failure to appear for your appointment results in loss of all application fees. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early, because late arrival means you cannot test and forfeit your exam fee.
What can I bring into the test room, and what is prohibited?
Bring one valid, government-issued photo ID with a signature that matches the name on your application. Prometric provides scratch paper and pencils, and a basic scientific calculator is on screen, with a hand-held basic calculator available on request. Prohibited items include programmable calculators such as the TI-89, unbound notes or tablets, hand-stapled materials, and slide or wheel charts.
Where do candidates most often go wrong in preparing?
Two recurring mistakes: treating the exam as closed book and memorizing instead of organizing bound references for quick lookup, and skipping the Body of Knowledge in favor of general quality textbooks. Because the questions are written to the Body of Knowledge and its stated cognitive levels, study time spent outside that structure can leave gaps in coverage.