CH Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CH exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
CH exam key facts
- The Certified Hydrographer examination consists of 160 multiple-choice questions covering six categories of hydrography. Source
- The Certified Hydrographer examination has a time limit of three hours (180 minutes). Source
- The Certified Hydrographer examination fee is $150, payable in addition to a $50 nonrefundable application fee. Source
- Candidates denied Certified Hydrographer certification may reapply after 12 months from the submission date of the denied application and may reapply any number of times. Source
- The Certified Hydrographer certification is valid for a period of two years. Source
📋 CH Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CH Topics to Study (53)
✍️ Sample CH Questions & Answers
1. A hydrographer notices that a restored reach has a sinuosity ratio of 1.05. What does this indicate?
A sinuosity ratio near 1.0 indicates an almost straight channel; reference reaches for the same valley slope typically have higher sinuosity.
2. What is multi-factor authentication in CH security?
MFA requires multiple verification factors (knowledge, possession, biometrics), significantly reducing unauthorized access.
3. What is change management in CH technology?
IT change management ensures changes are evaluated, approved, tested, and implemented in a controlled manner.
4. A geodetic baseline measured along the Earth's surface is 10 000 m. What type of line connects the two endpoints with the shortest path on the ellipsoid?
A geodesic (or geodetic line) is the shortest path between two points on the surface of an ellipsoid, analogous to a great circle on a sphere.
5. What is the purpose of the S-57 Object Catalog in hydrographic GIS?
The S-57 Object Catalog (IHO Publication S-57 Appendix A) defines the complete dictionary of feature classes and attributes allowed in Electronic Navigational Charts.
6. Satellite radar altimetry contributes to hydrography and geodesy primarily by providing:
Radar altimeters precisely measure sea surface height relative to a reference ellipsoid; these measurements underpin mean sea level determination, geoid modeling, and ocean circulation studies.
🎯 Free CH Practice Tests
📖 CH Guides & Articles
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- A timed, full-length CH mock exam — 160 questions in 180 minutes with a 70% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
- A fixed CH question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
- Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
- A printable CH cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- CH flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free CH practice tests with the correct answer shown after each question.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nsps.us.com — Test delivery, exam format, renewal, retake policy, test dates, time limit, score validity, fees · verified Oct 2026