ABPM Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine exam-day guide
ABPM Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an original, signed photo ID with a name matching your registration. Confirm the exact accepted ID forms and name-match policy with the provider before exam day.
Appointment or admission confirmation
Bring the confirmation showing your exam date, time, time zone, test vendor, and confirmation number. Confirm whether a printed copy is required or an electronic copy is acceptable.
Test-center address and travel plan
Verify the test-center address, parking or transit options, and expected travel time. Build in a buffer for traffic, security screening, and check-in.
Reporting time and check-in window
Confirm the required arrival time and what happens if you arrive late. Do not assume the appointment time is the same as the reporting time.
Comfortable layered clothing
Wear layers so you can adjust to room temperature. Confirm any dress-code restrictions, such as hats, outerwear, or pockets, with the provider.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Plan hydration and a snack that will not disrupt your focus. Confirm whether food and drink are allowed at the workstation or only in a designated break area.
Approved calculator or scratch materials
Do not assume a calculator, scratch paper, or pen will be provided or permitted. Confirm exactly what the test vendor supplies and what you may bring.
Plan for personal items and secure storage
Expect to store your phone, watch, keys, wallet, and bags as directed. Confirm locker or storage availability and whether any personal items may remain with you.
Accommodation or medical-device arrangements
If you need a testing accommodation, medication, food for a medical condition, or use of a device, confirm approval and documentation deadlines with the provider well before exam day.
Focused high-yield review plan
Limit final review to core undersea and hyperbaric topics such as gas laws, pressure effects, decompression illness recognition, hyperbaric oxygen indications and contraindications, chamber safety, and oxygen toxicity. Avoid starting new material in the last 72 hours.
Backup logistics and emergency contact
Save the test-center phone number and a local contact. Have a backup route or transportation plan in case of delays or cancellations.
Sleep and medication routine
Protect your normal sleep schedule and avoid sedating medications unless prescribed and cleared for exam-day use. If fatigue or a medical condition may affect testing, confirm options with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment details, test-center location, reporting time, ID requirements, break rules, and permitted items with the provider. Print or save your confirmation, plan travel, and review only high-yield summaries. Stop cramming new topics and keep your usual sleep schedule.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any approved items. Confirm calculator, scratch-paper, food, drink, and storage policies. Check the weather and transit advisories, and set two alarms for exam morning.
Lay out clothes and documents, charge your phone, and confirm your route. Eat normal meals, avoid excess alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Do a short review of formulas, pressure concepts, and clinical recognition points, then stop.
Eat a normal breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive with your ID and confirmation, allow extra time for check-in, and follow all sign-in and security instructions. Use the restroom before entering the testing room.
Present your ID and confirmation, store prohibited items as directed, and ask the proctor only about procedural matters such as breaks, clock rules, scratch materials, and how to report a technical problem. Do not request content help.
Read each stem carefully and identify the key pressure, gas-law, clinical, or chamber-safety fact before choosing. Pace yourself, flag uncertain items if the platform allows review, and return to them only after completing the easier questions. Use authorized breaks to stand, hydrate, and reset.
If review is allowed, check that flagged items are answered and that you have not left blanks unintentionally. Confirm the submission screen matches your intent, then follow the proctor's exit instructions.
Rules to check
Bring and present the ID required by the provider, and make sure the name matches your registration. Confirm the exact ID and name-match policy before exam day; do not rely on an assumption.
Follow all test-center and proctor instructions. Unauthorized materials, recording devices, and active electronic devices are generally prohibited; store or turn off devices exactly as directed.
Ask the provider in advance about break timing, break length, and whether the clock runs during breaks. During the exam, raise your hand and obtain permission before leaving the testing room.
Confirm the scoring policy for unanswered questions before exam day. If there is no penalty for guessing and the platform permits it, answer every question rather than leaving blanks.
Request any accommodation in advance and confirm documentation deadlines with the provider. Do not expect accommodations to be arranged on exam day.
Report computer, headset, lighting, noise, or other technical problems to the proctor immediately. Do not attempt to troubleshoot equipment yourself.
Do not discuss, copy, or share exam content during breaks or after the exam. Treat all question content as confidential and follow the provider's conduct agreement.
Confirm the late-arrival and rescheduling policies with the provider. Arrive early enough that a minor delay does not become a test-day emergency.