CHRC exam-day guide
CHRC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name you used to register. Confirm with the provider which specific forms are accepted and whether a second ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or a digital copy will be accepted.
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save your scheduling confirmation and the exact test-center address offline on your phone and on paper. If you are testing remotely, confirm the platform, the check-in link, and the system requirements with the provider well before test day.
Know your arrival and check-in time
Your admission ticket or confirmation email states the reporting time. Confirm with the provider how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late; late arrival policies vary and can result in forfeiture of your seat.
Review the provider's current candidate handbook
The handbook is the authoritative source for ID rules, permitted items, break policy, scoring, and rescheduling. Download the current version rather than relying on older study material or forum posts.
Confirm what is prohibited in the testing room
Phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags are commonly restricted, but the exact list and storage arrangements are provider-specific. Confirm with the provider what you may keep at your desk and where personal items must be stored.
Plan your route and a backup
Do a dry run or map the route in advance, including parking, public transit, and security lines. Add a buffer for traffic and building entry so a delay does not become a missed appointment.
Prepare for a remote-proctored session if applicable
If you are testing online, confirm the room requirements, camera and microphone checks, and any required ID scan. Run the system check and close background applications before check-in.
Sleep, food, and hydration plan
Protect sleep in the final two nights, eat a normal meal before the test, and bring water only if the provider permits it. Avoid trying new caffeine levels or unfamiliar food on test day.
Light, high-yield review only
In the last 24 hours, review summary sheets, formulas, and your own error log rather than starting new material. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Know the break rules before you sit down
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and whether you may access food, medication, or notes during breaks. Rules differ by exam and delivery mode.
Plan the day
Switch from new content to consolidation. Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and verify ID, appointment time, address or remote check-in details, and permitted items. Take one or two timed practice sets under exam conditions, then review every wrong answer and write the underlying rule or concept next to it. Build a one-page summary of high-yield facts you keep getting wrong. Confirm your transport plan and, for a remote test, run the full system and equipment check. Protect sleep starting now.
Do a short review of your summary sheet and error log only; do not start new topics. Prepare your ID, confirmation, and any permitted items in one place by the door. Check the provider's website or email once for last-minute schedule or venue changes. Confirm your alarm and a backup wake-up. Eat a normal dinner, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. If you feel anxious, write down the two or three things most likely to trip you up and the correct approach for each.
Eat a normal breakfast and limit caffeine to your usual amount. Leave with more time than the route requires. Re-check that your ID and confirmation are with you before you leave. Arrive at the reporting time the provider specifies and follow check-in and security instructions exactly. Avoid last-minute cramming in the waiting area; a brief glance at your summary sheet is enough. Use the restroom before you are seated.
Read the instructions and confirm the number of questions and time limit before you begin. Do a first pass answering what you know and flagging uncertain items, then return to flagged questions. Watch the clock against the question count so you are not rushed at the end. Read each question stem fully, including qualifiers such as 'except' or 'best', and eliminate options before choosing. If the exam permits review, use remaining time to check flagged items rather than changing answers without reason. If a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name used at registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether additional identification is required.
Arrive at the reporting time stated in your confirmation. Confirm with the provider the late-arrival and rescheduling policies before test day rather than assuming a grace period.
Follow all proctor instructions and the provider's prohibited-items list. Do not bring notes, phones, smartwatches, or other unauthorized materials into the testing area; confirm with the provider where personal items must be stored.
Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance: whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what you may access. Do not leave the testing area without proctor permission.
Understand the scoring rules before you sit: confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalized, whether questions can be flagged and reviewed, and how the pass standard is set. Do not guess at these rules from memory.
Report any technical failure, distraction, or irregularity to the proctor immediately and ask for it to be documented. Do not attempt to fix equipment or restart a session on your own.
Do not discuss, record, or share exam content during or after the test. Confirm with the provider the confidentiality terms you agreed to when you registered.