CHA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

Why the CHA Doesn't Have Fixed Exam Dates

If you're searching for a calendar of official "CHA exam dates 2026," it's worth resetting expectations first. The Crossover Hiring Assessment (CHA) isn't a certification exam with quarterly testing windows like a professional licensing board. It's a hiring-pipeline assessment that Crossover deploys the moment you apply to a role on its platform. There's no registration portal to book a seat in March or a fall sitting to plan around - the "date" that matters is the date you submit your application and receive an invitation link.

This distinction matters for how you should think about scheduling. Instead of marking a single test day on your calendar, you're managing a rolling window that opens the moment a recruiter triggers your assessment and closes once your six-month score badge expires or you accept/decline a role. For a broader picture of what the assessment actually measures once that window opens, see the CHA Exam Domains 2026 guide.

How CHA Scheduling Actually Works

Understanding the mechanics removes most of the guesswork around "when" you'll test:

1. You apply to a Crossover-listed role. This is the only trigger - there's no standalone CHA registration outside a job application.
2. You receive a link to the free CCAT. Criteria's Cognitive Aptitude Test is the cognitive-aptitude stage Crossover uses, and it's completed online, on your own schedule, within whatever window the invitation specifies.
3. You complete 50 questions in 15 minutes. That's roughly 18 seconds per question, spanning verbal reasoning, math and logic, and spatial reasoning.
4. Your score is measured against a role-specific threshold. Crossover sets these per position, though 35/50 is the most common minimum bar.
5. If you clear the bar and advance as a finalist, you retake the same 50-question format live and proctored - this is the PCCAT stage, and it's scheduled directly with Crossover once you're shortlisted.

Because everything hinges on an active application, the practical "exam date" question becomes: how quickly can you get ready before that invitation lands? The CHA Study Guide 2026 breaks down a first-attempt prep sequence that assumes exactly this kind of short-notice trigger.

The Two-Stage Timeline: CCAT to PCCAT

The CHA process really has two distinct scheduling moments, not one. Knowing the difference helps you avoid being caught off guard by the proctoring requirements at stage two.

Note that both stages use the identical question count and time limit - the PCCAT isn't a longer or harder version, it's a verification pass to confirm the CCAT score reflects your own ability under supervision. If you want a full breakdown of what a "difficult" score curve actually looks like on this format, How Hard Is the CHA Exam? covers it in detail, and CHA Pass Rate 2026 discusses what the available data shows about outcomes.

Score Validity: The Six-Month Badge Window

Once you clear the CCAT stage, your score doesn't stay usable forever. Crossover issues a score badge that remains valid for six months. That badge functions like a rolling "exam date" of its own - it defines the window during which your result can be applied to new role applications without retesting.

This validity window is also why timing your prep matters more than it would for a fixed-date exam - you're not just aiming to pass once, you're aiming to bank a usable score during an active job search. For context on what "passing" actually means numerically, see CHA Passing Score 2026.

Retake Timing If You Miss the Threshold

If your CCAT score falls short of the role's threshold, Crossover doesn't allow an immediate second attempt. Unsuccessful candidates must wait six months before retaking the assessment. That six-month gap is the closest thing the CHA has to a hard scheduling rule, and it's worth planning around deliberately rather than treating it as a footnote.

For candidates evaluating whether the time investment is worth it given this retake structure, Is the CHA Certification Worth It? and CHA Certification Cost 2026 both address the return-on-effort question from different angles.

Proctored PCCAT Scheduling Requirements

Once you're a finalist, the PCCAT stage introduces scheduling logistics that don't exist at the CCAT phase. You'll need to coordinate:

• Government-issued ID for identity verification before the session begins.
• A computer webcam positioned to monitor you throughout the retest.
• A second camera device (commonly a phone) providing an alternate angle of your workspace.
• A workspace scan confirming your desk and surroundings meet the proctoring standard.

Because these requirements take setup time - clearing your desk, testing camera angles, locating your ID - it's worth confirming everything works the day before your scheduled PCCAT slot rather than the morning of. A failed camera check or missing ID can cost you the scheduling slot itself, and rebooking eats into the momentum you built during the finalist stage.

Building a Prep Timeline Around Rolling Dates

Because the CHA doesn't give you months of advance notice, the most realistic prep approach is to get domain-ready before you apply, then use short bursts of review once an invitation lands. A compressed, domain-sequenced timeline works better here than an open-ended generic study plan.

This kind of compressed, domain-mapped schedule is covered in more depth in the CHA Study Guide 2026, which pairs each week with specific practice priorities rather than generic advice.

Domain Readiness Checklist Before You Get Invited

Since your actual "exam date" could arrive as soon as you submit an application, it pays to be domain-ready in advance rather than reactive. Here's what each of the three areas actually demands.

For a deeper walkthrough of each domain's weighting and question style, the CHA Exam Domains 2026 guide is the most complete resource on this site. If you're still confirming whether you're even eligible to apply for roles that trigger the assessment, check CHA Requirements 2026 first.

Staying Ready Between Application Cycles

Because there's no fixed exam season, the candidates who perform best treat readiness as an ongoing state rather than a one-time cram session. Running periodic timed practice sets on our practice test platform keeps your pacing sharp so that whenever a Crossover invitation does land, you're not starting cold. It's also worth revisiting your practice scores every few weeks against the 35/50 common threshold and the 43/50 excellent benchmark, since your actual target score depends on the specific role Crossover is evaluating you for.

If you're weighing whether to pursue a Crossover role at all, it helps to understand what kinds of positions actually use this assessment - CHA Jobs outlines the hiring context, while CHA Salary Guide 2026 and CHA Certification Cost 2026 address the financial side of the equation. For quick pre-test review once you do get an invitation, the CHA Cheat Sheet 2026 is designed for exactly that narrow window between notification and test day.

FAQ