ABPMR Pediatric Rehab exam-day guide
ABPMR Pediatric Rehab · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with signature; the name must match your ABPMR registration exactly. Confirm accepted ID forms with ABPMR and the test vendor before exam day.
Appointment confirmation
Save the scheduling confirmation showing test center address, reporting time, and confirmation number. Ask the vendor whether a printed copy is required; a digital copy is often sufficient.
Test center logistics plan
Know the route, parking, and transit options, and build in a traffic buffer. A dry run at the same time of day removes day-of surprises.
Arrival time buffer
Plan to arrive roughly 30 minutes before your reporting time so ID verification and check-in do not cut into exam time. Confirm the exact reporting time on your confirmation.
Current candidate handbook and blueprint
Download the current ABPMR candidate handbook and exam blueprint. Use them to confirm content weights, item format, and test-day procedures rather than relying on memory.
Layered clothing
Test center temperatures vary. Wear layers you can remove or add, and choose clothing without large logos that may slow security checks.
Snack and water for breaks
Pack a small snack and water for scheduled breaks if the center permits storage in lockers. Confirm the center's food and drink policy in advance.
Accommodation approval documentation
If you requested testing accommodations, confirm approval and the day-of logistics well before the exam. Unapproved accommodations generally cannot be granted at the center.
Test center phone number and emergency contact
Note the center's phone number and your emergency contact. Your phone will be stored during the exam, so plan how to handle urgent messages afterward.
Rest and sleep plan
Protect sleep in the final week and avoid all-night cramming. Fatigue costs more points on a long computer-based exam than one extra hour of review gains.
Interface familiarity
Use the vendor's tutorial or practice test to learn flagging, review, and navigation. Confirm whether the introductory tutorial is timed so you know how to pace it.
Leave valuables at home
Bring only essentials. Most centers require phones, watches, and bags to be stored in a locker; leaving valuables home removes risk.
Plan the day
Reconfirm your appointment, reporting time, and test center address. Check ID validity and name spelling against your registration. Review the blueprint to identify two or three weak content areas and study only those; stop adding new material after this point.
Pack your ID, confirmation, layers, and snack. Plan the route and backup route, check weather, and set two alarms. Do a light pass over high-yield lists and common pediatric rehabilitation decision points, then stop studying by early evening.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. Lay out clothes and bag by the door so the morning requires no decisions.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and leave with a buffer. Arrive early, complete ID verification, store personal items, and use the restroom before entering the testing room.
Work through the tutorial carefully, confirm the flag and review functions, and note the time budget per question. Write nothing outside materials the center provides.
Answer straightforward items first, flag long or uncertain ones, and return to them. Take scheduled breaks to stand, drink water, and reset; confirm whether the clock runs during breaks so you can plan.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID with a signature; the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm acceptable ID forms with ABPMR and the test vendor, since rules vary by site.
Personal items, phones, watches, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Store them as directed by the proctor; confirm locker availability with the center.
Follow all proctor instructions. Talking, looking at notes, or using unauthorized devices can void your score regardless of intent.
Breaks: confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, and whether the exam clock continues to run. Plan your pacing around the answer you receive.
Scoring is pass/fail against a standard set by the board, not a fixed percentage of correct answers. Confirm the result release timeline with ABPMR rather than relying on secondhand reports.
Arrive by the reporting time on your confirmation. Late arrival may forfeit your seat or test appointment; contact the center immediately if you are delayed.
Request any testing accommodations well before the exam and confirm approval in writing. Accommodations cannot be arranged at the center on exam day.
If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately and note the time. Do not attempt to troubleshoot the workstation yourself.