ACRP-CP exam-day guide
ACRP-CP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission or scheduling confirmation from the test provider
Bring the confirmation email or letter showing your appointment date, time, and location, or the remote-proctoring link. Format requirements vary, so confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required and whether an electronic copy on a phone is acceptable given that phones are usually stored during the exam.
Primary government-issued photo ID with signature
Your name on the ID must match the name on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted at your specific test center and country, and whether a middle name, maiden name, or suffix difference will cause a problem. Resolve any name mismatch before test day, not at check-in.
Secondary identification if required
Some sites request a second form of identification. Confirm with the provider whether a second ID is needed for your appointment type and location so you are not turned away at check-in.
Verified test center route or remote-proctoring system check
For an in-person exam, confirm the address and parking or transit options and drive the route in advance. For a remote exam, run the vendor's system test on the same computer, camera, microphone, and network you will use, and confirm the room and desk requirements with the provider.
Arrival plan that builds in buffer time
Plan to arrive well before your appointment and confirm with the provider the latest arrival time after which you may be refused entry. Traffic, security screening, and check-in procedures all consume time, and late arrival policies are set by the provider, not by you.
Knowledge of the personal-items and storage policy
Phones, smartwatches, notes, bags, and study materials are generally not permitted in the testing room, and storage arrangements differ by site. Confirm with the provider what you may keep with you and what must be left in a locker, car, or another room.
Clarification of break and accommodation rules in advance
Confirm with the provider whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks exist, whether the clock runs during them, and what you may access. If you need a medical accommodation, an approved accommodation letter should already be on file, so verify that it is linked to your appointment.
Understanding of what is and is not provided at the workstation
Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper, a marker board, earplugs, a basic on-screen calculator, or a formula reference are supplied, and whether you may bring your own. Do not assume any tool will be available, and do not bring unauthorized aids into the room.
Practical comfort items consistent with the provider's rules
Bring water, a light snack for before or after the exam, and a layer of clothing you can adjust. Confirm with the provider whether these items may enter the testing room, since many sites require them to be stored outside.
A realistic content-review plan for the final days
Identify the two or three weakest domains from your practice-test results and review only those summaries and any official candidate handbook material on exam content and scoring. Confirm the current exam blueprint and passing standard on the provider's site rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Logistics for the score report and next steps
Confirm with the provider how and when results are delivered, whether a preliminary result appears on screen, and how to request a retake or an appeal. Knowing this in advance prevents post-exam confusion.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material and shift to consolidation. Re-read your own summary sheets on ethical and regulatory principles, protocol compliance, informed consent, safety reporting, and data quality, focusing on definitions and the sequence of required actions rather than isolated facts. Take at most one full-length timed practice test under realistic conditions, then spend more time reviewing the explanations than on the score itself. Confirm your appointment details, ID validity, travel route or remote-proctoring setup, and any accommodation status.
Protect your sleep schedule. Move your bedtime earlier rather than planning to compensate with caffeine, and avoid late-night cramming sessions that trade memory consolidation for short-term familiarity. Prepare your identification and confirmation documents in one place so the morning requires no searching.
Do a light review of high-yield lists only, such as core ethical principles, investigator and sponsor responsibilities, essential-document expectations, and safety reporting triggers. Confirm the start time and travel or login plan one final time, including time zones for a remote appointment. Pack your ID, confirmation, and permitted comfort items, set two alarms, and stop studying early enough to wind down. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals, and do not attempt a last-minute full practice exam.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate modestly, and avoid trying to memorize new content. Leave earlier than the map suggests, and for a remote exam log in as instructed and complete any identity verification and room scan. Keep your ID and confirmation within reach and follow proctor instructions exactly. If a technical problem occurs during check-in, contact the provider's support line immediately instead of troubleshooting alone.
Use the tutorial, if offered, to learn the navigation, flagging, and review functions before the clock matters. Work at a steady pace and track your progress against the number of items and time available, flagging difficult items and returning to them rather than stalling. Answer every item, since an unanswered item is generally scored as incorrect. Use breaks if they are available, and confirm whether the clock continues to run while you are away. Write down key definitions or calculation steps on permitted scratch material before you begin reasoning through a long scenario.
Reserve the last few minutes to confirm that no items are left blank and that flagged items you intended to revisit were answered. Submit deliberately, then follow the provider's instructions for receiving your result and retaining your score report.
Rules to check
Bring identification that exactly matches your registration record. If any part of your name differs, resolve it with the provider before test day, because onsite staff generally cannot change registration data and entry may be refused.
Treat the nondisclosure agreement as binding. Do not record, photograph, discuss, or reproduce exam questions or answer choices in any form, including on social media or in study groups, since doing so can void your score and affect future eligibility.
Keep unauthorized materials out of the testing area. Phones, smartwatches, notes, textbooks, and personal bags are typically prohibited, and storage arrangements vary by site, so confirm with the provider where such items must be placed before you arrive.
Devices must be silenced or powered off and stored as directed. Even handling a device during an authorized break can be treated as misconduct, so confirm with the provider what is permitted during breaks and where stored items may be accessed.
Follow all instructions from the proctor or remote proctor. Raised voices, leaving the camera frame, or failing to follow directions can lead to a session being flagged or terminated, so ask questions before acting if a rule is unclear.
Understand the break policy before you begin. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional and whether the time counts against your allotted testing time, then plan your pacing around that answer.
Scoring is criterion-referenced against a passing standard set by the certifying body, not curved against other candidates. Confirm the current passing standard, score reporting format, and retake policy on the provider's official site rather than relying on anecdotal reports.
Report any technical failure or interruption immediately and follow the provider's documented procedure. Do not attempt to restart equipment, continue through a frozen screen, or reconstruct lost answers on your own, because documented issues are handled differently from unreported ones.