AFAA PFT exam-day guide
AFAA PFT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification named in your registration confirmation. If the name on your ID differs from your registration name, contact the provider before test day to confirm whether a correction is needed.
Printed or digital admission/confirmation notice
Have your registration confirmation and any candidate ID number accessible. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether a digital copy is accepted.
Two writing instruments
Bring two pens or pencils in case one fails. Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper or a calculator is supplied and whether personal items are permitted.
Layered clothing
Test rooms can vary in temperature. Wear layers you can easily remove, and confirm whether the provider has a dress code.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and a small snack for before or after the test. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the testing room itself.
Directions and arrival buffer
Plan the route in advance and arrive ahead of your scheduled report time. Confirm the exact report time and location with the provider, as arrival windows and late-arrival policies vary.
Leave valuables at home
Bring only what you need. Confirm with the provider what personal items are permitted in the testing room and whether secure storage is available.
Review the practical skills list
Re-read the skills and standards your practical assessment covers so you can demonstrate correct form, cueing, and safety without prompting. Confirm the assessed skill list with the provider.
Practice your verbal cueing aloud
Rehearse concise setup, safety, and teaching cues for each skill. Practical assessments often score communication and safety as well as execution.
Know the scoring and retake policy
Confirm with the provider how the practical is scored, what constitutes a passing result, and the retake and appeals process before test day.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Prioritize sleep in the days before the test and eat a normal meal beforehand. Avoid trying new supplements or routines on test day.
Backup contact for the provider
Save the provider's contact number in case of an emergency or schedule question. Confirm the correct number with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm your test date, report time, and location with the provider. Re-read the assessed skills list and the scoring criteria. Complete a full dry run of each practical skill with a partner if possible.
Do a focused review of the skills you are least confident in. Practice verbal cueing and safety checks aloud. Lay out your ID, confirmation notice, and clothing.
Do a light review only; avoid cramming new material. Confirm your travel plan and set two alarms. Eat a normal dinner and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate, and arrive early with your ID and confirmation notice. Do a brief warm-up and mental rehearsal of your cueing sequence. Avoid last-minute studying that could increase anxiety.
Listen carefully to each instruction, state your safety checks aloud, and demonstrate skills with controlled form. Ask the assessor to repeat an instruction if unclear. Stay within the time allowed for each task and confirm with the provider how time limits are enforced.
Confirm with the provider when and how results are released and what the next steps are if you need to retake the assessment.
Rules to check
Bring the exact form of identification named in your registration; if you are unsure what is accepted, confirm with the provider before test day.
Arrive at the report time stated in your confirmation. Late-arrival and rescheduling policies vary, so confirm the specific rule with the provider.
Follow the assessor's instructions and demonstrate each skill only as directed; do not improvise variations unless instructed.
State safety checks and verbal cues aloud so the assessor can score them. Confirm with the provider whether communication is part of the scored criteria.
Ask the provider in advance about break policy, testing-room rules, and whether personal items, notes, or devices are permitted.
Do not discuss or share specific assessment content with other candidates; treat the practical content as confidential.
If you believe a scoring error occurred, follow the provider's stated appeals or review process rather than raising it informally during the test.
Confirm with the provider the passing standard, scoring method, and retake policy before test day so you know what to expect.