ABMDI Registry exam-day guide
ABMDI Registry · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). The name on your ID must match the name on your exam registration exactly; a middle initial vs. full middle name mismatch is a common reason candidates are turned away. If your name has changed, contact ABMDI before test day to update the registration.
Exam appointment confirmation
Print or save your scheduling confirmation with the confirmation number, test center address (or remote-proctoring link), and start time. Having it on paper is safer than relying on your phone, since phones are typically not allowed in the testing room.
Testing-provider authorization or admission document
If your scheduling provider issues a separate admission letter or authorization code, bring it. Confirm with the provider which documents are accepted, since requirements differ between in-person and remote proctoring.
Directions, parking, and arrival plan
Scout the route the day before. Know the building entrance, floor, and suite, plus parking payment method. Add 30 to 45 minutes of buffer for traffic, security screening, and check-in.
Remote-proctoring system check (if testing online)
Run the equipment/system test in advance on the exact computer and network you will use. Confirm camera, microphone, browser, and bandwidth requirements with the provider, and have a backup internet option (e.g., a mobile hotspot) ready.
Candidate handbook and content outline review
Re-read the official candidate handbook from ABMDI for current exam format, content domains, scoring, and testing rules. The handbook is the authoritative source; if anything in your study materials conflicts with it, follow the handbook.
Glasses or contact lens supplies
If you wear contacts, bring solution and a case, plus your glasses as a backup. Eye strain over a multi-hour exam is common, and you may not be able to leave the room to handle a lens problem.
Necessary medications and a light snack
Bring any medication you may need to take during a scheduled break, and a snack for the break period. Confirm with the provider where personal items must be stored, since food and medication may need to stay in a locker.
Layered, comfortable clothing
Test centers are often cold; dress in layers and avoid clothing with large logos, hoods, or excessive pockets that can trigger additional security screening.
Leave prohibited items at home or in the car
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, books, and bags are generally not permitted in the testing room. Confirm the specific prohibited-item list and locker policy with your testing provider.
Rest and a normal routine the night before
Do not cram into the night. Sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and limit caffeine to your usual amount so you are not jittery or needing frequent bathroom breaks.
Plan for the score report and next steps
Confirm with the provider how and when results are released and how you will be notified. Do not schedule travel immediately after the exam assuming you will leave with a score in hand.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, location (or remote session link), and ID requirements against your registration record. Resolve any name discrepancy with ABMDI now, not on test day.
Do a final content pass by domain, not by random questions. Identify your two or three weakest areas (e.g., scene documentation, cause/manner certification, forensic specialties, legal/testimony) and review those structured outlines once.
If testing remotely, complete the full equipment and environment check on your actual test-day setup, and plan a quiet, private room with a door that closes and a clear desk.
Stop introducing new material. Review your own condensed notes and the official content outline only.
Lay out ID, confirmation document, admission letter, glasses, medications, snack, and clothing in one place. Pack nothing you are unsure about.
Confirm the route and travel time, or confirm the remote session link works and your backup internet plan is viable. Set two alarms.
Do a light review of high-yield frameworks (manner-of-death categories, documentation sequencing, chain of custody, jurisdiction and reporting duties), then stop. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, limit caffeine, and leave with buffer time. Aim to arrive or log in early per the provider's instructions.
Do not study in the waiting area or parking lot. Last-minute cramming increases anxiety and rarely changes an outcome.
Present your ID, complete security screening or the remote room scan, store personal items as directed, and read the confidentiality and testing-rules agreement carefully before starting.
Do a brief brain dump of frameworks on the scratch materials only if the provider permits scratch materials; otherwise keep it mental. Read each stem fully, watch for words like 'best,' 'first,' and 'most likely,' and answer every question.
Use a two-pass strategy: answer items you know, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Do not let one hard question consume time. Move, breathe, and reset between blocks.
If a scheduled break is offered, take it - stand, hydrate, and use the restroom - but check the time and return promptly. Confirm break rules with the proctor before the exam begins.
Note anything you found unclear about the process and report it to the provider if it affected your testing conditions. Follow the provider's stated process and timeline for results.
Rules to check
Identification is mandatory. You will not be admitted without acceptable, unexpired photo ID whose name matches your registration. Confirm the acceptable ID list with the testing provider in advance.
No unauthorized materials in the testing room. Notes, books, phones, smartwatches, and other electronics are prohibited; where your items must be stored, and whether lockers are available, is set by the provider - confirm the policy before test day.
Breaks are governed by the provider's rules and may or may not stop the clock. Ask the proctor before you begin whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the exam timer pauses; do not assume.
The exam is scored against a predetermined standard, not against other candidates, and results are reported as pass/fail. The specific passing standard and score-report timing are published by ABMDI - rely on the official handbook, not on secondhand accounts.
All exam content is confidential. You may not record, photograph, reproduce, or discuss specific exam questions with anyone, before or after the test. Doing so can invalidate your result and affect eligibility.
Follow all proctor instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and behavior monitoring for remote sessions. Suspected misconduct or an unsecured testing environment can lead to score cancellation.
If you encounter a technical failure, environmental disruption, or a problem with an item, stop and notify the proctor immediately and follow the provider's documented incident process; do not attempt to fix the situation by restarting on your own.
Retake and eligibility rules are set by ABMDI, including any waiting period or attempt limits. Confirm the current policy in the official handbook rather than relying on what other candidates have experienced.