ACDIS CCDS exam-day guide
ACDIS CCDS · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired, valid photo ID (driver's license or passport are typical). The name on the ID must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the testing provider which specific ID forms are accepted.
Appointment confirmation
Bring the email or appointment number from your scheduling confirmation, either printed or accessible, so the check-in staff can locate your reservation quickly.
Account and portal credentials
Know your username and password for the ACDIS account and the testing vendor's platform in case you need to log in at check-in or for a remote-proctored session.
Confirmed test delivery format
Verify in advance whether your exam is delivered at an in-person testing center or by live remote proctoring, since the check-in steps differ. If you are unsure of your format, confirm with the provider.
Remote-proctoring equipment (if applicable)
For remote delivery, have a working webcam, microphone, and stable high-speed internet, plus a government ID for the visual check. Test the equipment and any required software download at least a day ahead.
A quiet, private test space (if remote)
Use a closed, well-lit room with a clear desk and no other people entering. Remove notes, books, second monitors, phones, and smart devices from the area.
Knowledge of permitted desk items
Review the testing provider's rules on scratch paper, pens, calculators, water, and tissues before arriving. Do not assume any item is allowed - confirm with the provider.
Current ACDIS candidate handbook and content outline
Read the official candidate handbook and exam content outline before test day so the domain weightings and policies are fresh. The handbook is the authoritative source for exam rules.
Travel and logistics plan
Know the testing center address, parking, and traffic patterns, or confirm the check-in window for remote delivery. Plan to arrive with buffer time.
Emergency contact details
Save the testing provider's support phone number so you can call promptly if you hit a scheduling, login, or technical problem.
Comfort items that fit the rules
Dress in layers, since testing rooms can be cold, and bring only items the provider explicitly permits. Anything not allowed will need to be stored in a locker.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Reread your own condensed notes on the exam content domains: clinical medicine concepts, documentation requirements and query practice, coding and reimbursement fundamentals, and CDI program/regulatory topics. Recheck your appointment details, delivery format, and provider policies.
If you are testing remotely, run a full dry run: download required software, test your webcam and microphone, confirm your internet stability, and plan where you will sit. For in-person testing, confirm parking or transit and the recommended arrival time with the provider.
Protect your sleep schedule. Shift bedtime earlier rather than cramming late. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and permitted items in one bag or folder so nothing is hunted for on the morning of the exam.
Do a light review only: skim the content outline and a short list of high-yield concepts such as documentation query best practice, clinical indicators, severity of illness/risk of mortality concepts, and coding compliance basics. Stop studying early in the evening.
Reconfirm your appointment time and location or remote check-in window. Lay out your ID, confirmation, clothing, and permitted items. Eat a normal dinner, set two alarms, and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate, but avoid excess caffeine if you are jittery. Leave early enough to arrive ahead of your appointment; confirm the recommended arrival time with the provider if you are unsure.
Do not open study materials or notes at the test site or during remote check-in, since having them in the testing area can violate conduct rules. Arrive calm and use the wait time to settle in rather than cram.
Read each item fully and watch for qualifying words such as 'best,' 'first,' 'except,' and 'most likely.' For scenario items, identify the clinical facts, the documentation gap, and the question's actual ask before choosing.
Pace yourself against the total time and number of items. If a question stalls you, flag it, choose a best answer, and move on. Return to flagged items only after you have answered every question once.
Answer every item, because unanswered items generally score as incorrect. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor or support line immediately and ask for documentation of the incident.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a name that exactly matches your registration. If your legal name has changed, confirm the name-change process with the provider before test day.
Arrive or check in at or before the time specified in your appointment confirmation. Confirm with the provider how late arrivals are handled, because policies vary and a late arrival may forfeit your seat and fee.
Keep only provider-approved items at your workstation. Phones, smartwatches, notes, study materials, and other electronics typically must be stored away or left outside the testing room - confirm the exact list with the provider.
Follow the proctor's instructions completely. Do not communicate with other candidates, do not attempt to capture or reproduce exam content, and expect to accept a confidentiality agreement covering exam questions.
Ask before taking a break and confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted and whether the clock keeps running during them. Plan bathroom visits around the break policy.
Understand the scoring model before you sit: the exam is scored against a predetermined passing standard rather than against other candidates. Confirm the current passing score, reporting timeline, and retake policy in the ACDIS candidate handbook.
Report any technical or environmental disruption to the proctor or support line immediately and request written confirmation of the incident, since timely documentation supports any later score appeal or rescheduling request.
Do not rely on memory of older exam policies. Rules on delivery format, item count, time limit, and fees change, so confirm the current details with the provider rather than assuming.