CRD Practice Test

The Certified Residential Geothermal Designer credential from IGSHPA is aimed at people who design ground source heat pump systems for homes. This page gives you free practice sets split by topic, from load calculations to commissioning, along with a plain summary of how the successor exam is delivered, scored and renewed.

CRD Exam at a Glance

What the CRD is and how it works

According to International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA); the successor GRSD certification is issued by CSA Group, “The GSHP Residential System Designer examination consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions.”^[1]

The CRD credential comes from the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). IGSHPA states that the Certified Residential Designer course is being replaced by the GSHP Residential Design Workshop. The successor certification, GSHP Residential System Designer (GRSD), is issued by CSA Group. Current CRD holders may take the GRSD exam without taking the courses if they wish.

The GRSD exam is delivered on a computer, either at a testing centre on demand or through remote online proctoring on your own computer. It has about 80 scored multiple-choice questions, plus up to 10 unscored ones. You get 180 minutes, and the exam is closed book. The exam fee listed by IGSHPA is $450, with no member discount.

CSA Group does not publish the cut score. It uses a criterion-referenced method, so the standard is set against what a competent designer should know, not against other candidates. Official notification of your result arrives about 2 weeks after the exam.

If you do not pass, you may make up to 3 attempts in 6 months, with a 2-week wait between attempts. Re-examination fees apply to attempts 2 and 3. The GRSD certification is valid for 5 years. Renewal is done with 30 GSHP CEUs from the past 3 years, or by retaking the exam. Check the CSA Group certification guide and the IGSHPA site before you book, because fees and rules can change.

Worked examples: how to reason through CRD questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which ASHRAE publication serves as the primary industry reference for ground-source heat pump system design in the United States?

1. ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications, Chapter on Geothermal Energy
2. ASHRAE Standard 90.1
3. ASHRAE Guideline 14
4. ASHRAE Standard 62.1

Answer: A. ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications, Chapter on Geothermal Energy

Explanation:

The correct choice is the ASHRAE HVAC Applications Handbook chapter on geothermal energy, because that chapter covers design methods, equipment selection and loop sizing for ground source systems. The other options are real ASHRAE documents, but they cover different topics. Standard 90.1 deals with energy efficiency in buildings other than low-rise residential. Guideline 14 deals with measuring energy and demand savings. Standard 62.1 deals with ventilation and indoor air quality. None of them is a design reference for heat pump loops.

The general rule: when a question asks for the primary design reference, match the document to its subject. A standard or guideline named for another purpose is a distractor, even if it is well known.

Example 2

Question: In residential load calculations, infiltration is typically measured using which unit?

1. ACH (air changes per hour)
2. CFM per square foot
3. BTU/hr per degree-day
4. Tons of refrigeration

Answer: A. ACH (air changes per hour)

Explanation:

Infiltration is expressed in ACH, air changes per hour, which describes how many times the volume of air in the home is replaced by outdoor air. That ties directly to the size of the heating and cooling load. CFM per square foot is a flow rate scaled to area, so it is used for ventilation or duct design rather than for leakage of the whole house. BTU/hr per degree-day is not an air-leakage unit at all. Tons of refrigeration measure cooling capacity, not air movement.

The general rule: check what the unit measures. Leakage is a volume of air exchanged over time, so look for a unit built from air volume and time.

Example 3

Question: What is the main goal of Ground Loop & Heat Pump Configuration?

1. To increase energy consumption.
2. To optimize system performance and efficiency
3. To reduce system lifespan.
4. To complicate system design.

Answer: B. To optimize system performance and efficiency

Explanation:

The correct answer is to optimize system performance and efficiency. Configuring the ground loop and the heat pump together is what lets heat move efficiently between the earth and the building, which lowers operating costs and keeps the home comfortable. Increasing energy consumption, reducing system lifespan and complicating the design are all outcomes a designer is trying to avoid, so they cannot be the goal of a design task.

The general rule: on goal-style questions, pick the option that describes a better result for the owner. Options that describe harm or needless complexity are almost always wrong.

How to use these practice tests

Start by reading the current exam guide from CSA Group and the IGSHPA certification page, so you know what the exam covers and how it is delivered. Then take the main practice test on this page to see where you stand, without looking anything up.

Next, work through the topic sets in short sessions. Spend more time on the ones where you miss questions, such as load calculations, ground loop and heat pump configuration, or system design principles. After each set, read the explanation for every question, including the ones you got right, and write down the rule behind each wrong answer in your own words.

Where a question exposes a gap, go back to your course notes or your reference handbook and read that section, then retry the set a few days later. Add the sets on installation standards, controls, commissioning and regulatory compliance once the design topics feel steady. Because the real exam is closed book, practise without notes and with a timer. Our questions are written by us for practice and are not real exam questions, so use them to find weak areas, not to predict what you will see.

Sources & last verified

1. csagroup.org — number of questions, time limit, passing score, retake policy (official source). “The GSHP Residential System Designer examination consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.
2. International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA); the successor GRSD certification is issued by CSA Group — exam fee (official source). “GSHP Residential System Designer Certification exam – NOTE 4$450.00” Verified Oct 22, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
3. International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA); the successor GRSD certification is issued by CSA Group — validity (official source). “A three-year membership is recommended, as recertification is only required every three years.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.
4. International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA); the successor GRSD certification is issued by CSA Group — renewal (official source). “The Certified Residential Designer (CRD) course is being replaced by the GSHP Residential Design Workshop. The IGSHPA certificate may be renewed indefinitely, as long as…” Verified Oct 30, 2026 · source checked Oct 30, 2026.
5. International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA); the successor GRSD certification is issued by CSA Group — eligibility (official source). “Current IGSHPA CRD (Certified Residential Designer) or AI (Accredited Installer) certified individuals may take the exam without taking the courses if desired.” Verified Oct 22, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.