Failing a certification exam is rarely the end of the road. Most providers let you sit the exam again, but the waiting period, the number of attempts and the fee are set by each provider, not by a single industry rule. So the first job is to find your own provider’s retake terms, the second is to read your score report, and the third is to rebuild your study plan around the gaps it shows.
This guide covers what usually happens in the first 48 hours, how retake rules differ across well-known providers (with Six Sigma examined closely), what a retake can cost, and how to prepare so the second attempt is better targeted than the first.
Table of Contents
- What happens in the first hours after a fail
- Does a fail follow you?
- How retake rules differ by provider
- Six Sigma retake rules by body
- What a retake really costs
- Turn your score report into a study plan
- When to rebook
- Our perspective
- Preparing with GetVoucher
- FAQ
- Sources
What happens in the first hours after a fail
The result itself is usually immediate or arrives within days. AWS, for example, says final results are posted to your certification account within five business days of the exam closing. ASQ says that for its computer-based Six Sigma exams, a performance summary arrives by email within 3 to 5 business days.
Whatever the provider, a sensible sequence looks like this:
- Wait a day before deciding anything. A fail feels bigger than it is on the evening itself. Note down, while it is fresh, which topics felt shaky and which question styles slowed you down.
- Find the official score report. Do not rely on memory or on forum threads. The report is the only reliable map of where marks were lost.
- Read the retake policy for your exact exam. Waiting periods, fees and attempt limits change between providers and sometimes between exams from the same provider.
- Check your voucher terms. A voucher may cover one attempt, or it may carry its own expiry. Our guide to voucher terms that affect retakes explains what to look for, and the page on how long exam vouchers last separates redemption deadlines from exam completion deadlines.
- Book nothing until you have a plan. An instant rebook is tempting, but a retake without a changed approach tends to repeat the first result.
Does a fail follow you?
In most cases a fail is a private matter between you and the provider. ASQ states that exam scores are confidential and not released to third parties without your written permission. That is one provider’s policy, so check your own provider’s privacy terms if it matters to you.
A failed attempt does not by itself prove anything about your ability in the job, just as a pass does not prove real-world performance. Employers differ in how they treat certifications, and we make no claim about how any employer reads a result. What you control is the next attempt.
How retake rules differ by provider
There is no universal rule, and that is the main point. The table below compares published policies from several providers so you can see how wide the range is. These are examples of how varied the rules are, not a ranking, and each provider’s own page is the final word.
| Provider | Wait before retake | Attempt limit | Fee on retake |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASQ | Not in the same testing window | No limit, but retake within two years of your last attempt | Retake fee each time |
| IASSC | Two weeks before the 2nd sitting; three months from the first sitting for the 3rd | No stated cap; later sittings at least three months apart | New exam voucher each attempt |
| Microsoft | 24 hours after the first fail, then 14 days | Five attempts in 12 months from the first attempt | You pay to retake |
| AWS | 14 calendar days | No limit | Full registration fee each time |
| CompTIA | None before the 2nd attempt, at least 14 days before the 3rd and later | Not capped in the policy summary | Full exam price each time |
| ISC2 | 30, 60, then 90 test-free days after the 1st, 2nd and later fails | Four attempts in 12 months per programme | Set in the bulletin |
| The Open Group | One month minimum | No limit | Retake or discount voucher may be available, depending on how you registered |
Three patterns are worth noticing. Waiting periods run from nothing to 90 days. Some providers cap attempts inside a 12-month window. And a few offer help with the cost: The Open Group says that depending on how you registered you may be eligible for a retake or discount voucher, and InterSystems offers a free retake support service with a 30% discount on one retake. Neither of these is something you can assume from another provider.
Six Sigma retake rules by body
Six Sigma is a good illustration of why you must not generalise, because several separate bodies run their own certifications with their own rules. ASQ, IASSC and 6sigmastudy are different organisations with different prerequisites, exams and renewal arrangements. Keep them apart when you plan.
ASQ
ASQ lists the Six Sigma Green Belt exam fee at $483 with a $283 retake fee, and the Black Belt at $585 with a $385 retake fee, as shown on its certification pages in November 2026. Candidates have two years from the previous attempt to apply at the reduced retake rate. After a fail, ASQ says you can log in and see a breakdown of correct and incorrect answers in each subtopic of the Body of Knowledge. That breakdown is the most useful single document you will get.
ASQ’s Green Belt requires relevant work experience but not a documented project. The Black Belt has separate project requirements. Check ASQ’s pages for the current wording before you apply.
IASSC
IASSC’s rule is different in shape. It says a second sitting cannot happen within two weeks of the first, a third cannot happen within three months of the first, and later sittings must be at least three months after the most recent fail. Each exam voucher covers one attempt, so a retake needs a new voucher. Recertification has its own limits: IASSC says recertification exams are limited to two attempts, and a failed recertification leads to an Elapsed status rather than revocation. That page dates from 2017, so confirm current fees with IASSC.
6sigmastudy
GetVoucher sells 6sigmastudy vouchers, and we work with established providers including VMEdu, so you should know there is a commercial relationship between us. 6sigmastudy’s own exam format, prerequisites and retake terms are specific to it. Our guide to the Six Sigma exam format by provider sets out questions, timing and rules provider by provider, and the page on 6sigmastudy accreditation explains what its accreditation means and how it compares. We do not state a retake wait or fee for 6sigmastudy here. Confirm the current terms for your exact product before you book.
What a retake really costs
The visible cost is the exam fee. The less visible costs are the weeks lost and, for some exams, the extra training you decide you need. One aggregator comparison puts figures side by side, such as $749 for a CISSP attempt and $150 for AWS Solutions Architect Associate, and notes that major vendors charge the full fee again. Treat those numbers as a snapshot, since fees change. The provider pages above are the ones to rely on.
When you total up a retake, list each of these separately:
- Exam fee or retake fee. Full price at some providers, reduced at others (ASQ’s Six Sigma retake fees are lower than its first-attempt fees).
- Voucher cost. If a voucher is single-use, a new attempt needs a new voucher.
- Mandatory training. Some credentials require approved courses, and that requirement is provider-specific.
- Optional preparation. Practice tests, extra study material, a tutor.
- Waiting time. Days or months between attempts, which can matter if you have a deadline.
No single voucher type is cheapest for every candidate. An exam-only purchase may suit someone who has already studied thoroughly, while a bundle with learning materials may suit someone who has not. The right choice depends on the product, its inclusions and your own starting point. Our Six Sigma exam cost guide breaks down the extras to look for, and the page on what an exam voucher means explains what a voucher does and does not cover.
Turn your score report into a study plan
The score report converts a vague feeling of “I did badly” into a list of topics. Work through it in this order.
1. Sort the weak areas
If your provider gives subtopic results, rank them from weakest to strongest. A common finding is that the failure is concentrated in two or three domains, not spread evenly. If the report gives only an overall score, use your memory notes from the evening of the exam, and map them to the official Body of Knowledge or syllabus.
2. Study against the official outline
Build the plan around the provider’s own Body of Knowledge or guide, not around a general course. For SCRUMstudy exams that means the SBOK® Guide, which is separate from the Scrum Guide used by other bodies. Mixing the two is a common reason for answering by the wrong framework’s logic.
3. Change how you practise
Rereading notes feels productive but tests little. Switch to full-length timed practice and review each wrong answer to find out whether the cause was a knowledge gap, a misread question or time pressure. Spacing your reviews also helps; a spaced repetition schedule sets out intervals that can fit around a working week.
4. Match practice to the real format
Format differs by provider, and you should never assume one exam resembles another. For example, SCRUMstudy’s SMC® uses a 100-question, 120-minute online unproctored exam, and its Scrum Fundamentals Certified exam is 40 questions in 60 minutes, also online and unproctored. Scrum.org’s PSM I is an 80-question, 60-minute exam with an 85% pass score, and the Scrum Alliance CSM® is 50 questions in 60 minutes with a 74% pass score after the required 16-hour course. Those two are separate organisations with separate assessment models, and GetVoucher does not sell their credentials. Do not infer from an online or unproctored format that an exam is open-book, because that depends on the provider’s own rules.
5. Use the waiting time
If your provider imposes a wait, use it. IAPMO, for instance, recommends spending time studying between attempts, and applies a three-month wait after a third attempt. If there is no wait, give yourself one anyway. A short, focused block with a measurable target (for example, raising a weak domain’s practice score before rebooking) beats an impulsive rebook.
When to rebook
Rebook when three things are true: you know why you failed, you have changed what you do about it, and you have read the retake terms. If one of these is missing, the extra week is cheap compared with another fee.
Timelines are personal, so keep estimates cautious. A candidate who missed by a few questions in one domain may need much less time than one who found the whole syllabus unfamiliar. Watch also for deadlines: ASQ’s two-year window for reduced-rate retakes and IASSC’s single-attempt vouchers are examples of terms that quietly expire or reset.
Our perspective
We see many learners who treat a first fail as a verdict on whether they should hold the credential. We think it is better read as information about preparation, and information can be acted on.
The practical lesson from the provider policies above is that terms vary widely, so the cheapest and fastest route depends on the exact certification. That is why we describe what each GetVoucher product includes individually and do not assume every purchase comes with the same training, materials or scheduling support.
For Scrum, Six Sigma, marketing and negotiation learners, we like pathways that let you start with a free introductory certification such as Scrum Fundamentals Certified or Six Sigma Yellow Belt, both listed at £0, and move to paid credentials once you know the format. A candidate who has already met the style of questions before the paid exam usually has fewer surprises on the day.
Whatever you choose, read the voucher terms before you buy, including the redemption deadline and what happens after an unsuccessful attempt.
Rayan
Preparing with GetVoucher
If you are preparing for a SCRUMstudy or 6sigmastudy credential, our catalogue lists the Scrum Master Certified (SMC®) voucher at £249 and the Scrum Product Owner Certified (SPOC®) voucher at £299. In Six Sigma, the Green Belt (SSGB™) is £149, the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB™) is £290, and the Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB™) is £299. The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is £0. Inclusions differ by product, so read the product page for what your purchase covers.
You can browse the full range on our certifications page, or look at the Six Sigma Green Belt voucher if that is the credential you are retaking.
FAQ
Can I retake a certification exam straight away?
Sometimes, but it depends on the provider. CompTIA, for instance, has no wait between the first and second attempts, while AWS requires 14 calendar days and ISC2 requires 30 test-free days after a first fail. Check the policy for your exact exam.
Is there a limit on how many times I can retake?
Some providers set none and others do. ASQ and AWS state no limit on attempts, while Microsoft allows five attempts within 12 months of the first, and ISC2 allows four in 12 months per programme. Fees usually apply each time.
Do I have to pay the full price again?
Often yes, though not always. AWS charges the full registration fee each attempt, whereas ASQ lists a reduced retake fee for its Six Sigma exams. IASSC requires a new voucher because each one is valid for one attempt.
What is the Six Sigma retake policy?
It depends on who certifies you. ASQ, IASSC and 6sigmastudy each set their own waiting periods, fees and rules, and they should not be mixed up. Use the Six Sigma exam format guide to find the right provider’s terms, then confirm them on that provider’s own page.
Sources
- ASQ Exam Results: Pass Rates and Score FAQs
- ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt certification
- ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt certification
- IASSC: How many times can I retake the exams?
- IASSC Recertification
- Microsoft retake policies
- AWS Certification: After Testing
- CompTIA Certification Retake Policy
- ISC2 Candidate Information Bulletin
- The Open Group: retake limits
- The Open Group: What to do if you fail an examination
- InterSystems Certification Exam Policies
- IAPMO Certifications FAQ
- FigigExams: exam retake rules
- Paivio: spaced repetition schedule