CRD Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CRD 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.
CRD exam key facts
- The CSA GSHP Residential System Designer (GRSD) exam has about 80 multiple-choice questions, and CSA may add up to 10 unscored pretest questions. Source
- Candidates have three hours (180 minutes) to complete the CSA GSHP Residential System Designer (GRSD) exam. The exam is closed book, but a copy of the C448:25 standard is provided. Source
- CSA Group sets the GRSD passing standard with a criterion-referenced method and does not publish a fixed passing percentage. Source
- The GSHP Residential System Designer (GRSD) certification exam, which replaced the CRD, is listed at $450, and IGSHPA's member discount does not apply to it. Source
- Candidates can take the GRSD exam up to three times within a six-month eligibility period, must wait two weeks between attempts, and pay a re-examination fee for the second and third attempts. Source
📋 CRD Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CRD Topics to Study (31)
✍️ Sample CRD Questions & Answers
1. In a closed-loop geothermal system, what is the primary purpose of the expansion tank?
The expansion tank accommodates the volumetric expansion and contraction of the loop fluid as its temperature changes, preventing dangerous pressure spikes.
2. Which window property most directly affects the cooling load from solar radiation?
SHGC measures the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window, making it the primary factor for solar-driven cooling loads.
3. Which document is typically completed and left with the homeowner after geothermal system commissioning?
A commissioning report documenting all measured parameters provides the homeowner and future technicians with a performance baseline for the system.
4. In residential load calculations, infiltration is typically measured using which unit?
Infiltration in residential buildings is expressed as ACH (air changes per hour), representing how many times the home's air volume is replaced by outdoor air.
5. A Thermal Response Test (TRT) is performed on a pilot borehole. What is the primary output used by the designer?
A TRT measures the temperature rise of circulating fluid under a constant heat injection rate to back-calculate the ground's effective thermal conductivity and borehole resistance.
6. Which of the following best describes 'degree-days' as used in energy consumption estimation?
Heating degree-days (HDD) sum the daily differences between 65°F and the average outdoor temperature, providing a seasonal measure of heating energy demand.
🎯 Free CRD Practice Tests
📖 CRD Guides & Articles
What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for CRD
An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:
- A timed, full-length CRD mock exam — 50 questions in 120 minutes with a 80% 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 CRD 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 CRD cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
- CRD flashcards built from the same question bank.
- Free CRD 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
- igshpa.org — Renewal, fees, eligibility, score validity · verified Oct 2026
- csagroup.org — Test delivery, exam format, passing score, renewal, retake policy, score release, time limit, score validity · verified Oct 2026