- ICRI administers CSRT via its online Learning Center, with final performance graded by ICRI evaluators.
- The full certification package costs $599 and bundles education with required video submission.
- The initial knowledge exam is 65 questions across 3 hours, plus five module exams and four ASTM performance demonstrations.
- You get an 18-month window to finish every required component.
CSRT at a Glance
If you need a fast, no-fluff reference before exam day, this cheat sheet condenses the core mechanics of the Certified Concrete Surface Repair Technician (CSRT) credential into one scannable page. CSRT is administered by ICRI through its online Learning Center, and the credential you earn upon completion is formally titled Concrete Surface Repair Technician-Grade 1. Unlike many certifications that lean entirely on a written test, CSRT combines a knowledge exam with module exams and hands-on ASTM performance demonstrations, graded through ICRI's performance evaluation process.
For a deeper walkthrough of how all the pieces fit together, pair this page with our full CSRT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. This cheat sheet is meant to be the quick-reference companion - print it, bookmark it, and use it the week before your scheduled components.
Fees and Package Breakdown
Money matters are often the most confusing part of any certification, and CSRT's pricing structure has a few traps worth knowing before you pay anything.
- Full certification package: $599. This includes education materials and the required video submission component. There is no separate member/non-member pricing displayed for this package - it's one flat fee.
- Education-only options exist separately at $349 (member), $149 (student member), and $495 (non-member) - but these do not buy you the full certification. They cover training content only, so don't mistake an education purchase for your certification registration.
- Renewal fee: $449 every 5 years, handled through a different exam than your original knowledge test (details below).
Because the education-only tiers and the full certification package are easy to confuse, double-check exactly what you're purchasing on the ICRI Learning Center before checkout. For a line-by-line cost comparison, see CSRT Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Buying the $349/$149/$495 education tiers alone will not make you certified - you need the $599 full package that includes the video submission requirement.
Exam Format and Components
CSRT certification is built from multiple required pieces, and ICRI requires that every single one be passed - there's no "pass four out of five and average it out" option.
| Component | Format | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Knowledge Exam | 65 questions | 3-hour time limit; taken alone in one sitting |
| Module Exams | Five exams | One per training module |
| ASTM Performance Demonstrations | Four demonstrations | Video or live performance options; graded by ICRI evaluation |
| Renewal Exam (every 5 years) | 72 questions | 3-hour time limit; 90% minimum passing score |
The precise item-format specification for the initial knowledge exam (multiple-choice vs. mixed formats) isn't publicly detailed, so don't assume every question looks the same. Similarly, whether the exam permits open-book references, calculators, or uses adaptive question delivery isn't confirmed - prepare as though it's closed-book and fixed-form unless ICRI tells you otherwise at registration. If you want a realistic sense of difficulty going in, read How Hard Is the CSRT Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 and review historical trends in CSRT Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows.
The Five Training Modules
CSRT's curriculum is organized into five training modules. It's important to understand these are training modules, not weighted examination domains - there's no published breakdown showing that one module counts for a larger share of the exam than another. Treat them as five areas you must master equally rather than hunting for a "biggest domain" to prioritize.
Module 1: What Is Reinforced Concrete? / Deterioration of Reinforced Concrete
Covers the fundamentals of reinforced concrete composition and the mechanisms that cause it to break down over time.
- Corrosion-driven deterioration mechanisms
- Material composition basics relevant to repair decisions
Module 2: Quality Requirements
Focuses on the standards and benchmarks that define acceptable repair quality on a job site.
- Quality control checkpoints throughout a repair project
- Standards referenced in ICRI/ASTM guidance
Module 3: Repair Methods and Materials
The technical core of the credential - repair techniques, material selection, and application methods.
- Matching repair material to deterioration type
- Application sequencing and compatibility
Module 4: Pre-placement Inspection
What to check and document before any repair material goes down.
- Surface preparation verification
- Conditions that must be confirmed before placement
Module 5: Post-placement Inspection
Evaluating finished repair work against expected performance and quality benchmarks.
- Curing and finish evaluation
- Identifying placement defects after the fact
For a module-by-module study breakdown with more depth than a cheat sheet allows, visit CSRT Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
Completion Window and Scheduling
Once you begin the CSRT process, you have an 18-month overall course completion window to finish all required components - the initial knowledge exam, all five module exams, and all four ASTM performance demonstrations. This isn't a window for just the written test; it covers the entire certification path, so plan your performance demonstration scheduling early rather than leaving it for month 17.
Eligibility specifics - mandatory prior experience, degree requirements, minimum training hours, or references - aren't fully detailed in public materials, and any government registry experience flag appears to require direct clarification from the issuer. If you're trying to confirm whether you currently qualify, check CSRT Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you commit to the $599 package.
Key Takeaway
Your 18-month clock starts when you begin the program - map out when you'll sit the knowledge exam, complete each module exam, and schedule your four ASTM demonstrations well before the deadline crunch.
Renewal Rules
CSRT certification is valid for 5 years. To renew, you must take a separate exam - not the original 65-question knowledge test - consisting of 72 multiple-choice questions over 3 hours, with a required minimum score of 90%. The renewal fee is $449.
- Renewal window: You can renew as early as 6 months before your certification expires, up to 9 months after expiration.
- Miss the window entirely? You'll need to go through full certification again, including the performance demonstration components - not just the renewal exam.
- No CEU shortcut: There's no CEU-based substitute for renewal, and completing education PDHs does not satisfy the renewal requirement on its own. You still have to pass the 72-question exam.
Mark your calendar well ahead of the expiration date - the 90% passing threshold on the renewal exam is notably higher than what many candidates expect from a "refresher" test. See CSRT Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for more on scoring expectations across both the initial and renewal exams.
One-Week Cheat Sheet Review Plan
If you've already done the deep study and just need a final tune-up before your scheduled exam date, use this condensed week to reinforce weak spots rather than relearn everything from scratch.
Reinforced Concrete & Deterioration Review
- Re-read deterioration mechanisms and corrosion pathways
- Drill terminology you'd be tested on in Module 1
Quality Requirements & Repair Methods
- Review material-to-defect matching logic
- Walk through standard quality checkpoints from memory
Pre- and Post-placement Inspection
- Practice listing pre-placement checks in sequence
- Review post-placement defect identification scenarios
Logistics and Final Check
- Confirm your exam format rules (timing, materials allowed)
- Review your ASTM performance demonstration submission requirements
For a full-length prep system rather than this condensed version, go back to CSRT Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. And if you want to rehearse the actual question experience under timed conditions, our practice test platform is built specifically around CSRT's exam structure.
Who This Credential Signals To
CSRT is aimed at technicians working hands-on with concrete repair - professionals whose job involves assessing deterioration, selecting repair materials, and executing or inspecting placement work. Employers in concrete repair, restoration contracting, and related inspection roles use the Concrete Surface Repair Technician-Grade 1 designation as a signal that a technician has been evaluated on both knowledge and hands-on ASTM performance, not knowledge alone. If you're weighing whether the time and $599 investment pays off for your career path, our analysis in Is the CSRT Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CSRT Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis can help you decide, and CSRT Jobs gives a sense of the roles that reference this credential.
Frequently Asked Questions
ICRI (International Concrete Repair Institute) administers CSRT through its online Learning Center, with performance components evaluated directly by ICRI.
The $599 full certification package includes education materials and the required video submission component. It is distinct from the education-only tiers ($349/$149/$495), which do not grant certification on their own.
The initial knowledge exam has 65 questions and a 3-hour time limit. It's taken alone in one sitting, separate from the five module exams and four ASTM performance demonstrations.
You have an 18-month overall course completion window to finish the knowledge exam, all five module exams, and all four ASTM performance demonstrations.
CSRT certification lasts 5 years. Renewal costs $449 and requires passing a separate 72-question, 3-hour exam with a 90% minimum score, completed within a window starting 6 months before expiry and ending 9 months after. Missing that window requires full recertification, including performance demonstrations again.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference companion, and use the detailed guides linked throughout - along with our practice test platform - to turn these facts into exam-day confidence.