DHCA Nursing Exam exam-day guide
DHCA Nursing Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of ID the testing provider requires. Confirm acceptable ID types and name-matching rules with the provider in advance; if your name differs from your registration, ask how to resolve it before test day.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Bring your appointment confirmation, registration number, or authorization-to-test document if the provider issues one. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is needed or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your test location and route
Confirm the exact address, building, and room with the provider, and plan your route and parking. If testing remotely, confirm the software, camera, and microphone requirements with the provider.
Arrival time buffer
Arrive earlier than your scheduled start to allow for check-in and security screening. Confirm the required arrival window with the provider, since late arrival policies vary.
Acceptable calculator or scratch materials
Confirm with the provider what calculators, scratch paper, or writing tools are permitted or supplied. Do not assume any device is allowed.
Personal items plan
Plan for storage of bags, phones, and watches, which are typically restricted in the testing room. Confirm the provider's personal-item policy.
Hydration and light snack plan
Eat a normal meal and stay hydrated beforehand. Confirm with the provider whether food, drink, or breaks are allowed during the exam and where they may be kept.
Rest and sleep the night before
Prioritize sleep over last-minute cramming. Fatigue affects recall and reasoning more than one extra review session helps.
Review logistics for breaks and timing
Know in advance whether the exam is timed continuously or by section, and whether breaks are scheduled or optional. Confirm these details with the provider.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Have a backup plan for transportation and a contact number for the testing site. Confirm the provider's reschedule policy in case of illness or emergency.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new material to consolidating. Review high-yield summaries, formulas, and your own notes. Take at most one full-length practice set under timed conditions, then review errors without spiraling into new topics.
Confirm all logistics with the provider: test time, location or remote setup, ID requirements, permitted items, and break policy. Resolve any name or registration discrepancies now, not on test day.
Do a light review only, then stop. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and clothing for the next day. Set two alarms and confirm your transportation plan.
Protect your sleep. Avoid heavy caffeine late in the day and avoid alcohol. If you feel unwell, check the provider's illness and reschedule policy promptly.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, and arrive with time to spare. Bring only permitted items. Do a brief calm-down routine rather than last-minute content review.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best,' 'first,' or 'except.' Answer what is asked, not what you wish were asked.
Work at a steady pace and monitor your time against the number of remaining questions. If a question stalls you, flag it, make a reasonable choice, and move on.
Use breaks as permitted to reset. Return to flagged questions if time allows, and confirm you have answered every item before submitting.
Rules to check
Follow all testing-provider conduct rules. Do not bring unauthorized materials, phones, smartwatches, or notes into the testing area. Confirm the provider's prohibited-items list in advance.
Present valid, unexpired identification that matches your registration. If your ID name differs from your registration, contact the provider before test day to resolve it.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not attempt to record, photograph, or share exam content. Exam content is confidential.
Confirm the provider's break policy: whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access. Do not assume breaks pause the timer.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: confirm whether scoring is pass/fail or scaled, whether questions are weighted, and whether unanswered questions are penalized. Ask the provider if unclear.
If a technical problem, illness, or emergency occurs, notify testing staff immediately and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to troubleshoot in a way that violates provider rules.
Arrive within the provider's required window. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your appointment or fee; confirm the specific policy with the provider.
If you are unsure about any rule, ask the provider before test day rather than guessing. Policies on ID, items, breaks, and rescheduling vary by site and provider.