ABPP Clinical Health Psychology exam-day guide
ABPP Clinical Health Psychology · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact name-matching ID your testing provider requires. Confirm acceptable forms and name-match rules with the provider; do not assume a student ID or expired document will be accepted.
Authorization / eligibility confirmation
Have your board eligibility or authorization-to-test documentation and any provider scheduling confirmation available. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy suffices.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save the confirmation number, arrival time, and site address or remote-proctoring link. If testing remotely, run the provider's system check in advance.
Know your allowed reference materials
The exam is closed-book in most board formats, but confirm with the provider what, if anything, is permitted. Do not bring notes or devices unless explicitly authorized in writing.
Break and timing plan
Review the scheduled break policy and total seat time. Confirm with the provider how breaks affect the clock and whether they are optional.
Personal comfort items within policy
Layers, water, and snacks may be restricted to designated areas. Confirm with the provider what can be brought to the testing station versus stored in a locker.
Medication and medical accommodation plan
If you have an approved accommodation, bring the approval documentation. Confirm with the provider how to access medication during breaks.
Transportation and arrival buffer
Plan to arrive ahead of your appointment per the provider's stated window; late arrival can forfeit your seat. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider.
Logistics for the day (childcare, coverage, phone off)
Arrange coverage so you are not reachable mid-exam. Personal devices are typically prohibited at the testing station; confirm storage rules with the provider.
Content review focus, not cramming
Prioritize the assessment, intervention, consultation, and ethics/science-base domains described in the board's published blueprint. Confirm the current blueprint with the provider.
Scoring and results expectations
Know in advance how and when results are released and whether a passing standard is criterion-referenced. Confirm scoring and reporting details with the provider; do not rely on secondhand accounts.
Rest and readiness plan
Protect sleep in the final days and avoid new, untested strategies on exam day. Treat fatigue management as part of preparation.
Plan the day
Stop introducing new material. Do targeted review of your weakest blueprint domains and rehearse your decision-making approach for vignette-style items (identify the question, weigh options, select the best-supported answer). Reconfirm appointment time, location or remote link, and ID requirements with the provider.
Run any required system or equipment check if testing remotely, and confirm the provider's rules on room setup, permitted items, and proctor interaction. Resolve any uncertainty with the provider now, not on exam day.
Do a light review only, then stop. Pack your ID, confirmation, and approved accommodation documentation. Lay out comfortable layers. Confirm transportation and set two alarms. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than an early one.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive within the provider's stated window. Leave devices stored per policy. Do a brief grounding exercise; avoid last-minute group discussion that can raise anxiety.
Read each item fully, including qualifiers such as 'most likely' or 'best.' Answer every item; there is usually no penalty for guessing, but confirm the provider's scoring rule. Flag and move past stalled items, then return. Use scheduled breaks as permitted to reset attention.
Pace against the total item count and remaining time rather than perfection on any single item. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Note how and when results will be released per the provider, and follow the board's process for any next steps. Do not rely on informal score estimates.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name exactly; confirm acceptable forms and name-change documentation with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's security rules. Unauthorized materials, notes, or devices at the testing station can result in score invalidation; confirm what is permitted with the provider.
Do not discuss, record, or share exam content. Item content is confidential, and disclosure may violate the board's ethics and testing-integrity policies.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy; confirm whether they are scheduled or optional and how they affect remaining time. Unauthorized breaks may not stop the clock.
If you need an accommodation, request and confirm it through the provider's formal process well before the exam; day-of requests are generally not accommodated.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: confirm with the provider whether the exam is criterion-referenced, how the passing standard is set, and when and how results are reported.
Report any testing irregularity, technical failure, or illness to the proctor and provider immediately and in writing; follow their documented process for remedies.
Arrive within the provider's stated arrival window. Late arrival may forfeit your appointment and fees; confirm the specific cutoff with the provider.