AACE CCP exam-day guide
AACE CCP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired photo ID you registered with. The first and last name on the ID should match your AACE registration exactly; if they differ (maiden name, shortened name), resolve it with AACE before test day rather than at the counter. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form of ID is required.
Appointment confirmation
Have your scheduling confirmation (email or printed copy) with the appointment time, test center address or remote-proctoring link, and your candidate/eligibility number. Screenshot it to your phone in case connectivity fails.
Confirmed delivery mode and start time
Verify whether your sitting is in-person at a test center or online-proctored, and the exact local start time including any check-in buffer. Reconfirm 72 hours out; provider policies on rescheduling and late arrival vary and are strict.
Calculator policy check
Confirm with AACE and the test delivery provider whether an on-screen calculator is supplied, whether a specific handheld model is permitted, and whether memory-reset rules apply. Do not assume your everyday calculator is allowed. Practice using whichever calculator you will actually have.
Reference-material policy check
Confirm whether any printed reference, formula sheet, or open-book component is permitted for the CCP exam. Many certification exams are closed-book with all reference content on-screen or none at all. Plan to sit the exam without outside material unless the provider confirms otherwise.
Scratch paper and writing instrument policy
Confirm whether the test center supplies a whiteboard, laminated sheet, or paper, and whether you may bring your own pen or pencil. If supplies are provided, you generally cannot bring your own. Do not plan on bringing loose paper.
Practice the delivery-platform tutorial
Use the provider's free online tutorial or demo well before test day so you know the navigation, flag-for-review, and calculator interfaces. Familiarity here buys back real minutes during the exam.
Formula and concept refresher set
Prepare one condensed page (to review before entering, not to bring in) covering the earned value, progress measurement, productivity, escalation, contingency, cost estimating, and scheduling relationships you keep misremembering. Review it in the car or lobby, then stow it.
Logistics: route, parking, and backup transport
For in-person sittings, know the route, parking, building entrance, and floor. For remote sittings, test your webcam, microphone, internet, and the provider's system check on the same machine and network you will use.
Approved accommodations arranged in advance
If you need extra time, a separate room, medical devices, or other accommodations, these must be requested and approved before the appointment, typically with supporting documentation. They are not granted on arrival. Confirm deadlines with AACE.
Medication and personal essentials
Bring only what the provider permits into the testing room; most personal items go into a locker. If you need food, water, or medication for a documented reason, confirm the procedure in advance.
Rest and a realistic arrival buffer
Protect sleep for two nights before the exam rather than cramming the last one. Aim to arrive with a comfortable buffer so a delay does not become a forfeited appointment.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment: date, time, time zone, delivery mode, and address or link. Re-read AACE's candidate handbook sections on ID, permitted items, and rescheduling. Run the provider's system check if you are testing remotely.
Shift from learning to retrieval. Work through your weak knowledge areas using practice questions and formula recall, not new material. Stop opening new references you have not already studied.
Do one timed mixed-topic practice set to rehearse pacing, then review only the explanations for questions you missed. Confirm your calculator workflow matches what you will actually have on test day.
Lay out ID, confirmation, and any permitted items by the door. Print or screenshot directions. Do a light review of your one-page refresher only; no full practice exams. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time.
Check messages from AACE and the test delivery provider for cancellations, outages, or weather notices, and know how to reach them if something goes wrong in the morning.
Eat a normal breakfast and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Arrive at the test center well ahead of your appointment, or log in early for a remote proctored session. Late arrivals can be turned away, so confirm the provider's cutoff.
Review your one-page refresher in the lobby or before logging in, then put it away. Stow phone, watch, and notes in the locker or out of the room as instructed.
Expect ID verification, a photo, a signature, and a rules acknowledgment; remote sessions add a room scan and desk check. Follow the proctor's instructions exactly and raise a hand rather than troubleshooting silently.
Read the instructions screen and take the tutorial if offered, even if you practiced it, to confirm the calculator and flag tools work. Note the time remaining and set your target pace per question from the question count on screen rather than from memory.
Answer in two passes: clear the questions you know, flagging anything requiring long calculation, then return. Budget time for a final pass to ensure no question is left blank if the exam does not penalize guessing.
For calculation items, sanity-check the magnitude and units of your result and use the answer choices to catch unit or escalation errors. Do the easy elimination first on conceptual items.
Take permitted breaks only if you need them; unplanned breaks may count against your time. Note where the clock stands before and after any break.
Follow the provider's instructions on receiving your score report and any survey. Record your result and, if you did not pass, note the performance feedback and AACE's stated retake waiting period before planning the next attempt.
Rules to check
Bring the original, unexpired government-issued photo ID that matches your registration name. Copies, expired documents, and mismatched names are common causes of denied entry; if your name differs, resolve it with AACE before the appointment.
Bring only items the provider explicitly permits into the testing room. Assume phones, smart watches, notes, books, and outside calculators are prohibited unless confirmed otherwise; confirm the exact permitted-items list with AACE before test day.
Arrive early and respect the provider's late-arrival cutoff. Candidates who arrive after the cutoff may be refused entry and may forfeit the fee. Confirm the cutoff for your specific appointment.
For remote-proctored sittings, keep your face in view, keep the room clear of unauthorized materials, and do not leave the camera frame without permission. Follow the proctor's instructions immediately.
Follow the break policy communicated at check-in. Breaks may be timed and may count against your overall test time, so confirm whether your clock stops during a break before you take one.
Work within the time limit shown by the exam clock on screen. If the exam does not penalize incorrect answers, answer every question rather than leaving blanks. Confirm the guessing policy with AACE if it affects your strategy.
Scores are based on a criterion-referenced passing standard set by AACE rather than on a curve against other candidates. Confirm the current pass point, score-report format, and any retake waiting period with AACE; these are not inferable from other candidates' results.
If equipment fails, the proctor interrupts you, or you believe a question is defective, stop and notify the proctor or the provider's support channel at the time. Document the incident and follow AACE's stated appeal or incident-report process rather than waiting until afterward.