- ACTAR's exam is two separately scored parts: 75 theory questions and 25 practical questions plus a scaled diagram, 100 questions total.
- You get four hours per part (eight hours total) with a separate one-hour lunch break in between.
- You must score at least 75% on each part separately - a strong theory score cannot offset a weak practical score.
- Application fees run $175-$200 and exam fees run $75-$125 depending on ACTAR participating-organization membership; apply 60 days out, register 30 days out.
Exam Format Snapshot
Accredited Traffic Accident Reconstructionist certification is administered by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR). Unlike many credentials that blend everything into one scored session, ACTAR runs an in-person, proctored, two-part written examination. That structural detail alone changes how you should prepare, and it's the single fact most candidates underestimate.
Per the preparation guide effective June 1, 2026, the exam consists of 75 theory questions and 25 practical questions plus a scaled diagram - 100 questions total across the two parts. Each part gets a full four-hour block, for eight testing hours total, with a separate one-hour lunch break between parts. If you're building a testing-day strategy, that break matters: you're not sprinting through one long session, you're managing two distinct four-hour efforts with different question styles.
Domain 1: Theory Examination (Part 1)
Theory Examination (Part 1)
This part uses multiple-choice, true/false, and calculation questions across 75 items in a four-hour window. Because numerical answers require correct units and ACTAR's specified reporting precision, sloppy rounding or missing units will mark an otherwise correct answer wrong - and answer ranges are marked incorrect outright.
- Practice showing full unit labels on every calculation, not just the numeral
- Match ACTAR's reporting precision conventions rather than your own rounding habits
- Treat true/false and multiple-choice items as fast points; don't burn time second-guessing them
Because this part is scored separately from the practical section, a candidate who is strong on formulas but rusty on the exact phrasing ACTAR expects can still fail Part 1 even with solid underlying knowledge. For a deeper breakdown of exactly what falls inside each part, see the Accredited Traffic Accident Reconstructionist Exam Domains Guide.
Domain 2: Practical Examination (Part 2)
Practical Examination (Part 2)
Part 2 covers 25 questions built around a controlled-crash case and a manual reconstruction diagram, also within a four-hour window. This is where hands-on drawing skill and case-based reasoning matter as much as formula recall - you're working through a scenario, not just answering isolated questions.
- Practice manual diagramming under time pressure - this is not a multiple-choice skill
- Work through a full controlled-crash case start to finish, not just fragments
- Keep drawing tools and measurement conventions consistent with ACTAR's expected output
Because no partial credit is awarded on either part, an incomplete diagram or a calculation missing proper units counts the same as leaving it blank. If you're trying to gauge how tough this feels relative to other credentialing exams, the Accredited Traffic Accident Reconstructionist difficulty guide breaks down where candidates typically lose points.
Scoring Rules You Cannot Ignore
Two scoring rules define ACTAR's exam more than anything else:
- 75% minimum on each part, separately. A high theory score does not carry you if the practical score falls short, and vice versa.
- No partial credit. Numerical answers need correct units and ACTAR's specified precision; a range instead of a single value is marked incorrect.
These two rules should shape your entire prep timeline. If you want the exact numeric threshold and how it's calculated, the Passing Score guide walks through it in detail.
Key Takeaway
Study theory and practical as two separate pass/fail hurdles, not one combined average. Allocate dedicated review time to each rather than letting strength in one mask weakness in the other.
Fees and Registration Timeline
ACTAR's fee structure has two components, each with two tiers:
- Application fee (nonrefundable): $175 for members of ACTAR participating organizations, $200 for other candidates
- Examination fee: $75 for members of ACTAR participating organizations, $125 for other candidates
Timing matters just as much as the dollar amounts. Submit your application at least 60 days before your intended exam date, and register at least 30 days before it. Missing either window can push your entire testing plan back a cycle. For a full cost breakdown including renewal fees, see the Certification Cost guide, and for the specific deadlines mapped to testing windows, check the Exam Dates guide.
Eligibility and Attempt Limits
Eligibility isn't automatic - ACTAR approves candidates based on documented training, education, and experience, plus at least three references. Once approved, your initial eligibility window lasts two years, during which you get up to three attempts to pass both parts.
If two years pass without success, the guide permits one additional two-year period on request and payment, again with up to three attempts. Importantly, both parts are required in that new window regardless of any earlier partial success - passing Theory once doesn't carry forward if your eligibility period lapses. Full documentation requirements are covered in the Requirements guide.
Materials Allowed in the Testing Room
ACTAR permits printed bound references and laminated or sleeved resource pages, provided they're secured in binders. Approved calculators and manual drawing tools are allowed for the practical portion. What's prohibited is just as important: computers, phones, smartwatches, and electronic reference files are all barred from the testing room. Check the calculator list in the June 2026 preparation guide before test day - showing up with an unlisted model creates an avoidable problem.
- Bring bound, printed references - no loose or unsecured pages
- Confirm your calculator against the June 2026 guide's approved list in advance
- Leave all electronic devices, including smartwatches, out of the room entirely
Renewal: CEUs or Retake
ACTAR accreditation isn't permanent - it renews every five years. You have two paths to renew:
- Earn 80 ACTAR CEUs and pay a $325 renewal fee
- Successfully retake the complete exam for $325 as an alternative to the CEU route
Deciding which path fits your situation early - rather than scrambling near your five-year mark - keeps your credential active without a gap. This renewal structure is also a factor worth weighing when evaluating the credential's long-term value, covered in the ROI analysis.
Quick Reference Table
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Certifying body | ACTAR (Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction) |
| Format | In-person, proctored, two-part written exam |
| Theory (Part 1) | 75 questions, multiple-choice/true-false/calculation, 4 hours |
| Practical (Part 2) | 25 questions plus scaled diagram, controlled-crash case, 4 hours |
| Total questions | 100 |
| Break | Separate 1-hour lunch break between parts |
| Passing standard | 75% minimum on each part, no partial credit |
| Application fee | $175 (member org) / $200 (other) |
| Exam fee | $75 (member org) / $125 (other) |
| Application deadline | 60 days before exam |
| Registration deadline | 30 days before exam |
| Initial eligibility | 2 years, up to 3 attempts |
| Extension | 1 additional 2-year period on request/payment |
| Renewal cycle | Every 5 years: 80 CEUs + $325, or full retake for $325 |
Final-Week Review Plan
A generic study calendar doesn't map well to ACTAR's structure because the two parts test different skills. Instead, split your final review by part, not by topic list.
Theory Recall Sweep
- Drill multiple-choice and true/false items across formula-heavy topics
- Rebuild every calculation with correct units and ACTAR's specified precision
Practical Case Runs
- Complete full controlled-crash case scenarios under a four-hour clock
- Practice the manual reconstruction diagram start to finish, not in isolated pieces
Mixed Timed Simulation
- Run a back-to-back theory-then-practical simulation with the one-hour break in between
- Check approved calculator functions and drawing tools match your actual test-day kit
Logistics and Light Review
- Confirm bound/laminated references are organized and secured in a binder
- Re-verify no phones, smartwatches, or electronic files are packed for test day
For a longer-horizon plan that starts well before exam week, the Study Guide lays out a full first-attempt strategy, and you can pressure-test your readiness with timed sets on the practice test platform.
Who Relies on ACTAR-Accredited Reconstructionists
ACTAR accreditation is typically sought by professionals already working in traffic crash investigation and reconstruction - law enforcement crash investigators, private reconstruction consultants, and engineering-adjacent roles that require documented, defensible crash analysis. Because the credential hinges on demonstrated training, education, and experience just to become eligible, it functions as a practitioner-level accreditation rather than an entry-level certificate. If you're mapping out where this credential fits your career path, the Jobs guide and Salary Guide go deeper on that positioning, and the main practice test site has additional prep resources organized by part.
FAQs
100 total: 75 theory questions in Part 1 and 25 practical questions plus a scaled diagram in Part 2, per the preparation guide effective June 1, 2026.
No. You must score at least 75% on each part separately; the two parts are scored independently, and there is no averaging between them.
The guide permits one additional two-year period on request and payment, with up to three attempts, but both parts must be retaken regardless of earlier partial success.
No. Computers, phones, smartwatches, and electronic reference files are prohibited. Only printed bound references and laminated or sleeved pages secured in binders are permitted.
Renewal occurs every five years. You can earn 80 ACTAR CEUs and pay a $325 renewal fee, or successfully retake the complete exam for $325 instead.
Keep this page bookmarked as your one-glance reference, and pair it with the Pass Rate guide and the Certification overview as you finalize your prep plan.