CRIE exam-day guide
CRIE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered with. Confirm with the provider which specific ID forms and name-matching rules apply to your delivery format (test center vs. online proctored).
Confirmation email or appointment details
Have your appointment confirmation, candidate/registration number, and the provider's contact number accessible, printed or on your phone.
Know your test format and platform
Confirm in advance whether you sit the exam at a test center or via remote proctoring, and which software or browser the remote platform requires. Confirm with the provider if unclear.
Allowed reference materials
Most professional exams do not permit notes or references. Do not assume anything is allowed; confirm with the provider what, if anything, you may bring into the testing room.
Permitted calculator or tools
If a calculator or on-screen tool is permitted, confirm the exact model or built-in tool policy with the provider beforehand rather than bringing your own.
Quiet, cleared workspace (remote)
If testing remotely, clear your desk of papers, phones, and second screens, and expect a room scan. Confirm the provider's specific environment rules.
Arrive or log in early
Plan to arrive at the test center or launch the remote session well ahead of your start time to absorb check-in and ID verification. Confirm the provider's recommended arrival window.
Rest and logistics the night before
Confirm your start time, location or link, and travel time; get a full night's sleep and avoid last-minute cramming that disrupts rest.
Know the break policy
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or counted against your time, and whether you can leave the room during them.
Know the scoring and result timing
Confirm the passing standard, whether results are immediate or delayed, and how and when you will receive them.
Plan the day
Re-confirm your appointment time, location or remote-testing link, and ID requirements with the provider. Do a final review of weak topic areas using your own notes, then stop heavy new study. Protect sleep.
Lay out your ID and confirmation details, check travel or your testing setup, and confirm the start time and any check-in window. Do a light, confidence-building review only. Avoid cramming new material and get to bed on time.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early per the provider's guidance, and complete ID verification calmly. Keep your workspace or belongings within the rules you confirmed in advance.
Read each question fully, watch your time against the number of items, answer the ones you know first, and flag uncertain ones to revisit. Use only the breaks and tools the provider permits. If a technical problem occurs, stop and contact the proctor or provider immediately rather than improvising.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid government-issued photo ID matching your registered name; confirm the accepted ID forms with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's conduct rules; do not communicate with anyone or use unauthorized materials during the exam.
Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance and follow it exactly; unauthorized breaks may be treated as a violation.
Do not attempt to record, copy, or share exam content; doing so typically violates the candidate agreement.
If you test remotely, follow the environment and room-scan rules you confirmed with the provider, and keep only permitted items at your desk.
If a technical or personal issue arises mid-exam, notify the proctor or provider immediately and follow their documented process rather than continuing on your own.
Confirm the passing score, scoring method, and result timeline with the provider; do not rely on secondhand claims about how the exam is scored.
Report any suspected irregularity or problem to the provider promptly so it is documented.