ARRT Cardiac-Interventional Radiography exam-day guide
ARRT Cardiac-Interventional Radiography · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Appointment confirmation
Bring a printed or electronic copy of your testing appointment confirmation (date, time, and test center address). If you cannot access it, confirm with the provider how to retrieve it before test day.
Primary photo ID with signature
A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with your signature. The first and last name on the ID must match your registration record exactly; resolve any mismatch (e.g., maiden name, hyphenation) with the provider before test day.
Second form of identification
Many testing providers require a second ID. The accepted types and whether a second ID is required vary - confirm with the provider and with the ARRT candidate handbook rather than assuming a debit card or student ID will be accepted.
Approved eligibility / authorization to test
Verify that your ARRT application has been processed and you are authorized to sit for the exam. Bring your candidate/eligibility ID number if the provider instructs you to.
Candidate handbook reviewed
Read the current ARRT candidate handbook and the test center's rules on personal items, calculators, scratch materials, and prohibited devices. Policies change; use the version in effect for your appointment.
Test center logistics plan
Confirm parking, transit routes, building entrance, and security screening. Have a backup route and a phone number for the test center in case of delay.
Time buffer planned
Plan to arrive well before your appointment time (commonly about 30 minutes, but confirm the exact requirement with the provider). Late arrivals may be denied entry or forfeit the fee.
Content outline last review
Do a short, high-yield pass through the published exam content outline categories (e.g., patient care, imaging procedures, image production/equipment, radiation safety, pharmacology) rather than new material.
Rest and fuel plan
Protect sleep in the final nights, plan a normal meal before the appointment, and bring any necessary medication or medical accommodation documentation approved in advance by the provider.
Personal items staged to stay outside the testing room
Phone, smartwatch, notes, and study materials generally must be left in a locker or outside the room. Confirm the provider's locker policy; do not carry study notes into the testing area.
Eyewear and comfort layers
Bring prescription glasses if you use them (readers are not guaranteed to be provided). Dress in layers because testing room temperatures vary.
Accommodation approval (if applicable)
If you requested extra time or other accommodations, confirm approval and how it will be delivered on test day with the provider in advance.
Plan the day
Confirm appointment date, time, and test center address; verify your ID names match your registration exactly; re-read the candidate handbook rules you are least sure about (ID, personal items, breaks).
Do focused review of your weakest content areas using the published outline, plus one or two timed practice sets to rehearse pacing. Stop adding brand-new topics.
Protect sleep schedule, hydrate, and plan meals and travel. If you feel unwell, contact the provider about rescheduling rules before the appointment rather than after.
Lay out ID(s), appointment confirmation, and travel details. Charge devices you need for the trip but plan to leave them outside the testing room. Confirm the building entrance and parking.
Light review only - skim formulas, normal values, and safety principles for 30–60 minutes, then stop. Avoid cramming late into the night.
Eat a normal meal, take routine medications, and leave early with a buffer for traffic and security screening. Do not bring study notes into the testing area.
Present your ID(s), complete any signature or photo requirements, store personal items as directed, and ask staff to clarify anything about breaks or scratch materials before you start.
Read each item fully and choose the best answer; answer every item, since unanswered items are scored as incorrect. Pace yourself against the clock and avoid getting stuck on one hard item.
If a mark-for-review or review-screen feature is available, flag uncertain items and return to them if time allows. Use only scratch materials the provider supplies.
If you need to step out, raise your hand and follow staff instructions. Unscheduled breaks generally do not pause your timer - confirm the specific policy with the provider.
Follow the staff's instructions on receiving your results and official score report, and keep the report with your ARRT records.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired identification exactly matching the name on your registration. Name mismatches are a common reason candidates are turned away - resolve them with the provider in advance.
Expect a secure environment: personal items, phones, smartwatches, and notes are typically not allowed in the testing room. Confirm the provider's locker and prohibited-item list before you arrive.
No unauthorized aids of any kind. Whether a calculator, scratch paper, or reference sheet is provided is determined by the provider - ask at check-in rather than bringing your own.
Scheduled versus unscheduled breaks and whether the clock stops during them vary; confirm the policy with the provider and with test center staff at check-in.
The exam is confidential. Sharing, reproducing, or discussing specific exam content violates the testing agreement and can void your score.
Irregular behavior - communicating with others, using prohibited devices, or attempting to access outside information - can result in dismissal and score cancellation.
Scoring is pass/fail against a standard set by the credentialing body, and preliminary results are typically issued at the test center; confirm how and when official results are delivered.
If a technical problem or distraction occurs during testing, notify the proctor immediately and ask that it be documented before you leave the center.