ACDIS CCDS-O exam-day guide
ACDIS CCDS-O · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact form of identification the testing provider requires. Most remote and in-person proctoring requires a current government-issued photo ID with a matching name; confirm the accepted ID types and name-matching rules with the provider before test day.
Confirmation and scheduling details
Have your appointment confirmation, registration or eligibility number, and the provider's contact information accessible. Verify your exam date, start time, and time zone on the confirmation, since remote appointments are often listed in a different zone than your local one.
Testing-environment requirements
For remote proctoring, confirm the provider's rules on private room, cleared desk, allowed items, camera and microphone, and permitted software. Test your equipment and connection in advance using any system check the provider offers.
Approved reference materials
Confirm whether the exam is open-book and, if so, exactly which references are permitted and in what format. Do not assume you may use personal notes, annotated books, or a second monitor; ask the provider if the policy is unclear.
Scratch materials policy
Ask whether scratch paper, a whiteboard, or an on-screen notepad is allowed and how it must be handled (for example, shown and erased at the end). Rules differ between in-person and remote delivery.
Break and timing policy
Confirm the scheduled break rules, whether the clock stops during breaks, and what happens if you leave the camera view. These details affect pacing, so verify them with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Scoring and results information
Know the passing standard, when results are released, and how a failing attempt can be retaken. Confirm current cut score and retake policy with the provider or the certifying body, since these can change.
Calculator and on-screen tools
Check whether an on-screen calculator or other built-in tools are provided and whether a physical calculator is allowed. Confirm with the provider; do not bring a personal device unless it is explicitly permitted.
Physical comfort items for in-person testing
If testing at a center, confirm the site's rules on items such as water, medication, eyeglasses, and layered clothing. Many centers restrict what can be brought into the testing room, so ask the site in advance.
Plan for arrival or log-in
For in-person testing, plan to arrive earlier than the appointment to allow for check-in. For remote testing, plan to start the check-in process well before the appointment time. Confirm the specific arrival or check-in window with the provider.
Backup plan for technical problems
Have the provider's support number or chat channel ready and know the procedure if your connection drops or the session is interrupted. Confirm in advance how time lost to technical issues is handled.
Content-review priorities
Bring a short, handwritten list of the topics you most often miss on practice questions, such as query practice, severity and risk-of-mortality assignment, or documentation requirements. Review it briefly rather than attempting new material on test day.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidating what you already know. Re-read your error log and focus on recurring mistake patterns rather than broad review. Practice applying the official coding and reporting guidelines to short scenarios, and rehearse the workflow for physician queries: identify the documentation gap, decide whether a query is appropriate, and choose a compliant query format. Confirm all logistics: appointment time in your local time zone, ID requirements, permitted references, and the testing-environment rules. If you are testing remotely, run the provider's system check and resolve any equipment issues now rather than on test day.
Do a light review only. Skim your condensed notes on high-yield topics such as principal and secondary diagnosis selection, present-on-admission indicators, severity of illness and risk of mortality, and query escalation. Stop studying early enough to sleep well. Prepare and lay out your ID, confirmation details, approved references, and any permitted comfort items. Reconfirm the appointment time and the check-in window, and note the provider's support contact. Avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar material, which tends to increase anxiety without improving performance.
Eat a normal meal and arrive or log in with time to spare. For remote testing, close unnecessary applications, keep your phone out of reach as the provider requires, and complete the identity and room check calmly. For in-person testing, allow extra time for check-in and security procedures. Read the exam instructions and any tutorial screens carefully, particularly if the interface is unfamiliar. Take a few slow breaths and set a simple pacing intention before the first question.
Work in passes. Answer questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them later. Read each scenario fully before looking at the options, since key details such as the setting, the documentation available, and the question being asked often determine the correct answer. For query questions, ask whether the documentation supports the query and whether the query is compliant and non-leading. For coding questions, confirm the diagnosis or procedure being asked about and check whether guideline conventions change the answer. Watch the clock and reserve time to review flagged items. Use scheduled breaks only as permitted, and note how break time affects your remaining clock.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification the provider requires. The name on your ID must match your registration; confirm accepted ID types and name-change procedures with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctoring and conduct rules. For remote testing this typically includes staying in camera view, keeping the room private, and avoiding unauthorized materials or devices. Ask the provider about anything not explicitly addressed rather than assuming it is allowed.
Use only approved reference materials, and only in the approved format. If you are unsure whether a resource is permitted, confirm with the provider before the exam; unauthorized materials can lead to score invalidation.
Observe the break policy exactly. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you must do before and after leaving your seat or camera view.
Do not discuss, reproduce, or share exam content. Exam items are confidential, and disclosing them can result in disciplinary action by the certifying body. Confirm the specific confidentiality terms you agreed to with the provider.
Understand the scoring and retake rules before you sit. Confirm the current passing standard, how results are reported, and the retake waiting period and fees with the certifying body, since these policies can change.
Report technical or environmental problems immediately through the provider's support channel, and follow the proctor's instructions. Confirm in advance how interrupted sessions and lost time are handled.
If a question seems ambiguous, choose the best answer supported by the documentation and guidelines given in the item, then flag it and move on. Do not let one difficult item consume time needed for the rest of the exam.