CASAC exam-day guide
CASAC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID you used when registering, with a name that matches your registration exactly. If your legal name differs, confirm with the provider which documents they accept before test day.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email showing your appointment time, test center or remote-proctoring link, and any candidate ID number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required.
Know your testing format and location
Confirm with the provider whether you are testing at a physical center or by live remote proctoring, and the exact address or software link. Do a dry run of the route or the software check the day before.
Approved calculator or on-screen calculator
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is provided on screen, permitted as a personal item, or prohibited. Do not assume; the CASAC exam includes content where arithmetic may appear.
Reference materials policy
Confirm with the provider whether any reference sheets, code tables, or scratch paper are supplied or forbidden. Assume nothing may be brought in unless the provider states otherwise.
Personal items plan
Plan for keys, phone, wallet, and outerwear to be stored as the provider directs. Most testing programs prohibit phones in the testing room; confirm the storage rules with the provider.
Break and timing plan
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops during breaks, and whether you may access food, water, or medication. Plan hydration and medication around those rules.
Rest and logistics the night before
Set two alarms, lay out ID and confirmation, and plan arrival with a buffer. Aim for a normal night's sleep rather than last-minute cramming.
Content review map
Bring a one-page outline of your weakest domains (for example screening and assessment, counseling, case management, ethics, and laws) to review lightly, not to learn new material.
Scratch paper and pencil expectations
Confirm with the provider whether scratch materials are provided and collected. If allowed, use them to jot numbers and flag uncertain items.
Accessibility or accommodation arrangements
If you need accommodations, confirm with the provider that approval is on file and how it will be delivered on test day. Do this well before the exam; last-minute requests may not be honored.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's candidate services number in case of delay, illness, or a technical problem. Confirm with the provider how to report a testing irregularity.
Plan the day
Stop learning new content. Review your one-page domain outline and practice recalling frameworks aloud: the helping relationship stages, screening and assessment concepts, treatment planning, referral and case management, ethics and confidentiality, and relevant laws and regulations. Do a timed set of practice questions only if it builds confidence; review why answers are right, not just which letter is correct. Confirm your appointment time, location or remote link, ID requirements, and calculator and break rules with the provider. Protect sleep.
Do a light review of your weakest two domains and your outline. Pack ID, confirmation, and any permitted items. Check the route, parking, transit, or software and equipment check for remote proctoring. Eat a normal meal, avoid heavy caffeine after midday, and set alarms. Do not attempt a full-length practice exam the night before.
Eat a normal breakfast, take medications as prescribed, and arrive early with a buffer. Leave prohibited items in the car or at home where possible. At the center or on the remote session, follow proctor instructions for ID check, secure storage, and the rules briefing. Take a few slow breaths and read the first questions carefully rather than rushing.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as first, best, most appropriate, and except. Answer the question asked, not the one you wish were asked. On calculation or law items, write the key numbers or statute elements on scratch paper if permitted. Flag uncertain items and return to them if the format allows review. Use scheduled breaks as permitted; stand, stretch, and hydrate. If equipment fails or you believe there is an irregularity, stop and notify the proctor immediately and note the time.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID that matches your registration name. If your name or documentation situation is unusual, confirm with the provider before test day which documents are accepted.
Follow all proctor instructions about personal items, phones, notes, and scratch materials. Unless the provider explicitly permits an item, assume it is prohibited in the testing room.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, do not share or copy exam content, and do not attempt to record questions. Exam content is confidential.
Confirm with the provider in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access during them. Do not leave the testing area without proctor permission.
Understand the scoring rule before you sit: confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalized and whether unanswered questions count against you. If there is no penalty, answer every question.
If you experience illness, a technical failure, or a testing irregularity, report it to the proctor or provider immediately and ask how to document it. Do not wait until after the exam.
Arrive within the provider's check-in window. Confirm with the provider what happens if you are late, and whether a missed appointment forfeits fees or allows rescheduling.
Do not rely on memory of a specific passing score, number of questions, or time limit. Confirm the current format and passing standard with the provider or your jurisdiction's credentialing authority before test day.