I'm so relieved to finally have this behind me. Failed my first attempt back in February by 8 points, which honestly crushed me because I'd been studying for about six weeks. The problem was I was reading the ASSE reference material cover to cover like it was a textbook, but that's not really how the exam tests you. It's way more application-based than I expected.
Second time around I completely changed my approach. I spent the first two weeks doing an OHST practice test every other day and reviewing every single wrong answer instead of just moving on. That forced me to understand the reasoning behind industrial hygiene calculations, hazard recognition, and the OSHA recordkeeping rules — not just memorize bullet points.
The study guide I used also helped me figure out which domains were worth the most points so I could prioritize. Anyone else retaking this or prepping for their first attempt? Happy to share more specifics about the sections I found trickiest.