DHCA Doctor Exam exam-day guide
DHCA Doctor Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you registered under. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email/letter with your test date, time, and location or remote-testing link. Confirm arrival time with the provider.
Login credentials for remote testing
If testing online, verify your username/password and any proctor check-in steps work in advance. Confirm system requirements and the check-in window with the provider.
Compatible computer and webcam (remote only)
Run any required system/equipment check ahead of time. Confirm supported browsers and device requirements with the provider.
Quiet, private testing space
For remote testing, arrange a distraction-free room and tell household members not to interrupt. Confirm room and desk rules with the provider.
Approved calculator or reference materials
Only bring tools the provider explicitly permits. Confirm the approved list and whether on-screen tools are supplied; do not assume any aid is allowed.
Water and a light snack for breaks
Bring only if the provider permits items at your seat or in a designated break area. Confirm break and food/drink rules with the provider.
Comfortable layers
Room temperature can vary; dress in layers you can remove. Confirm any dress-code or pocket/access restrictions with the provider.
Transportation and parking plan
Know your route, parking, and backup plan, and arrive with buffer time. Confirm the exact address and arrival deadline with the provider.
Emergency contact and provider support number
Save the provider's support line in case of technical or scheduling problems. Confirm the correct contact and hours with the provider.
Rest and logistics review the day before
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for check-in, prohibited items, and scoring. Confirm any policy you are unsure about directly with the provider.
Plan the day
Finish light review of high-yield topics and stop cramming new material. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and confirm your test time, location or remote link, and ID requirements. Run any required equipment check for remote testing and resolve technical issues early.
Confirm your route or testing setup, lay out ID, confirmation, and approved materials, and set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep, eat normally, and avoid last-minute policy assumptions-confirm anything unclear with the provider.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, and arrive or log in with buffer time before your scheduled start. Complete check-in and ID verification as instructed, then take a few minutes to settle before the timer begins.
Read each question fully and watch your pace against the clock. Use only permitted breaks and tools, flag uncertain items to revisit if the interface allows, and answer every question before time expires. Follow all proctor instructions.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID the provider requires and ensure the name matches your registration; confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Follow all check-in and identity-verification procedures, including any photo, signature, or proctor steps; confirm the process with the provider.
Bring only permitted items to your testing area and follow the provider's rules on phones, notes, and personal belongings; confirm the prohibited-items list with the provider.
Use breaks only as the provider allows, and note whether the clock keeps running during breaks; confirm the break policy with the provider.
Do not communicate with others or use unauthorized aids during the exam; treat proctoring and monitoring rules as binding.
Understand how the exam is scored and whether wrong answers are penalized before you decide whether to guess; confirm scoring and any pass standard with the provider.
If a technical problem occurs, notify the proctor or provider support immediately and follow their instructions rather than troubleshooting alone.
Confirm rescheduling, cancellation, and retake policies with the provider in advance so you understand your options and deadlines.