CCHP-RN exam-day guide
CCHP-RN · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport). The name on the ID should match your registration record exactly; if it does not, contact the certification provider before test day to correct it.
Exam appointment confirmation
Save or print your scheduling confirmation and any authorization email. Confirm with the provider whether the test center requires a printed copy or whether a digital copy on your phone (viewed before you enter the testing room) is acceptable.
Second form of ID, if required
Some testing vendors request a second ID. Check your appointment confirmation or confirm with the provider whether one is needed; do not assume it is optional.
Confirm delivery format and, if remote, run a system check
Determine whether your exam is delivered at a test center or remotely proctored. If remote, confirm platform and equipment requirements (webcam, microphone, browser) with the provider well in advance and complete any required system test.
Directions, parking, and arrival time
Confirm the test center address and recommended arrival time with the provider (arrival windows vary by vendor; commonly you are asked to arrive 15-30 minutes early). Plan parking or transit and a backup route.
Know what is prohibited and where to store it
Plan to leave phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials at home or in your vehicle. Confirm with the provider whether lockers are available at the center, since storage rules differ by site.
Review the published content outline
Use the provider's official content outline and reference list to structure your final review. Do not rely on recalled exam content from other candidates, which is unreliable and may violate the testing agreement.
Accessibility or testing accommodations
If you need accommodations, confirm the request process and deadline with the provider. Accommodation requests generally require advance approval and cannot be arranged on test day.
Break and timing policy
Ask the provider in advance whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the exam clock stops during breaks. Policies vary by delivery vendor.
Result reporting expectations
Confirm how and when results are released and how a retake would be scheduled. Do not assume immediate scoring.
Plan the day
Re-confirm your appointment date, time, location, and delivery format. Verify that the name on your registration matches your photo ID. Review the official content outline and do a final pass on your weakest domains using your own notes. Resolve any pending accommodation or ID questions with the provider now, not later.
Stop introducing new material. Do mixed practice questions under timed conditions to rehearse pacing. Note topics you repeatedly miss and do targeted review of just those topics.
Pack your ID and confirmation in the bag or folder you will carry. Lay out clothes and confirm your route and departure time. Do a light review of high-level frameworks only, then stop. Prioritize sleep over one more hour of studying.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Leave earlier than you think you need to. Do not cram in the waiting area; arrive calm, complete check-in, and use the restroom before the exam begins.
Read each question stem fully and identify what is being asked before looking at options. Answer every question; if unsure, select your best answer and flag the item if the platform allows, then return if time permits. Set rough time checkpoints (for example, note the clock at the halfway point) and adjust your pace. Use breaks as permitted, but confirm whether the clock continues to run.
Rules to check
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. You will not be admitted without acceptable identification, and the name must match your registration.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, phones, smartwatches, or other electronic devices into the testing room. Confirm with the provider what storage is available at your site.
Treat exam content as confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record, or discuss specific exam questions before, during, or after the exam; doing so can void your score.
Follow all proctor and test-center instructions. If a rule is unclear, ask the proctor before the exam starts rather than assuming.
Confirm the break policy and scoring policy with the provider in advance. Whether breaks pause the clock, the passing standard, and score reporting timelines are set by the certification body and testing vendor, not determined at the test center.
If you need accommodations, do not request them on test day. Approved accommodations must be arranged in advance through the provider.
If something goes wrong (ID issue, equipment failure, illness), notify the proctor or provider immediately and ask what documentation is required; do not simply leave without reporting it.