FAHM exam-day guide
FAHM · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which specific ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Confirmation or scheduling notice
Print or save the appointment confirmation showing date, time, and test-center location or online proctoring link. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know your login credentials
For online proctoring, verify your username/password and any required authentication steps in advance. Do not rely on autofill alone.
Test your equipment (remote testing)
Run any system check the provider offers for camera, microphone, browser, and internet stability the day before. Confirm with the provider whether a wired connection or specific browser is required.
Review permitted items and materials
Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your seat (scratch paper, pen, calculator, water). Assume nothing not explicitly permitted is allowed.
Plan arrival or log-in time
Arrive or log in earlier than the stated start time to allow for check-in and security screening. Confirm the provider's recommended arrival window.
Plan your route and backup
For in-person testing, know the route, parking, and a backup transport option. For remote testing, choose a quiet, private room with a door.
Sleep and nutrition plan
Protect sleep in the final nights and plan a normal meal before the test. Avoid trying new caffeine or supplement routines on exam day.
Read the candidate handbook or agreement
Review the provider's rules on conduct, breaks, scoring, and rescheduling. Confirm with the provider for anything not clearly stated.
Emergency contact and reschedule policy
Know how to contact the provider if illness or an emergency prevents attendance. Confirm with the provider the deadline and any fees for rescheduling.
Plan the day
Finish content review and shift to practice under timed conditions. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook for conduct, ID, and break rules. Confirm your appointment details and, for remote testing, complete the equipment check.
Do a light review of summaries and commonly missed topics only; stop heavy new learning. Pack ID, confirmation, and permitted items. Confirm travel or room setup. Set two alarms and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and avoid last-minute cramming that raises anxiety. Arrive or log in early for check-in. Keep your ID and confirmation accessible.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers like 'best' or 'except'. Answer easier items first if the platform allows navigation, flag uncertain ones, and return to them. Track time against the number of remaining questions. Use only permitted breaks and materials, and follow proctor instructions exactly.
Note any topics that felt weak while memory is fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the retake policy is.
Rules to check
Present valid, unexpired identification matching your registration; confirm accepted ID types with the provider before exam day.
Follow all proctor and test-center instructions, including any security screening, and keep only permitted items at your seat.
Do not communicate with others, access unauthorized materials, or use unapproved devices during the test; treat all conduct rules in the candidate agreement as binding.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are allowed, how they are timed, and whether leaving the testing area during an unscheduled break is permitted.
Understand the scoring and pass standard before you sit: confirm with the provider how the exam is scored, whether there is a penalty for guessing, and when results are issued.
If testing remotely, remain in view of the camera, keep the room private, and follow the provider's room and environment rules.
Report any technical problem or rule ambiguity to the proctor immediately rather than resolving it yourself.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content afterward; confirm the provider's confidentiality terms in the candidate agreement.