Certified Robotic Arc Welding (CRAW) exam-day guide
AWS CRAW · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID you registered with; the name must match your registration. For online proctoring, the ID must be valid and unexpired, and you may be asked to show it on camera. Confirm the accepted ID types and name-matching rules with the provider before test day.
Second form of identification (if required)
Some proctoring setups ask for a secondary ID or a confirmation/order number. This varies by delivery method, so confirm with the provider whether a second ID or your scheduling confirmation is needed.
Exam appointment confirmation and scheduling details
Keep your appointment confirmation, registration number, and the provider's support phone number accessible. For online delivery you may need the session link or launch code from your confirmation email.
Quiet, private room for online proctoring
Use a closed room with a door you can shut, a clear desk, and no other people present. Remove papers, phones, notes, and extra monitors from the camera view unless the provider's rules allow them. Confirm the room and desk requirements with the provider.
Working webcam, microphone, and stable internet
Test your camera, mic, speakers, and connection ahead of time. Have a backup connection option such as a phone hotspot. Run the provider's system check if one is offered. Confirm minimum bandwidth and supported browsers with the provider.
Compatible computer with required software
Use a laptop or desktop that meets the provider's OS and browser requirements, with any required secure-browser or proctoring software installed and updated. Close all other applications before launch.
Power and connectivity backup
Charge your laptop and keep the charger plugged in. Have a phone charged and nearby for support contact, but keep it out of reach and silenced unless the proctor instructs otherwise. Confirm whether phones are permitted at all with the provider.
Review the exam guide and scoring/format basics
Know the number of questions, time limit, question format, whether questions are weighted, and the passing score before you sit down. These details are set by the provider, so confirm them from your official candidate handbook rather than from memory.
Know the reschedule and cancellation window
Understand the deadline and any fee for rescheduling or canceling, and where to do it. Policies differ by provider and delivery method, so confirm the exact terms with the provider.
Plan arrival or login time with buffer
Arrive at the test center or log in early enough to complete check-in, ID verification, and any environment scan. Build in extra time for traffic, parking, or software launch issues.
Confirm test-center logistics (if applicable)
If testing in person, confirm the address, parking, and what the center allows in the room (lockers, prohibited items). Center rules vary, so confirm with the provider and the specific test center.
Read the provider's candidate agreement
Review the conduct rules, prohibited-items list, and consequences for violations before test day. The exact terms are set by the provider, so confirm them from the official agreement.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material and switch to consolidation. Re-read your own summary notes, redo missed practice questions, and skim the exam guide for format, timing, and scoring. Confirm your appointment details, ID, and (for online delivery) run the system check on the computer you will actually use. Sleep on a normal schedule rather than cramming late.
Do a light review of high-yield topics and your personal error list, then stop. Prepare your ID, confirmation details, and any permitted items in one place. For online proctoring, clear your desk and room and confirm the launch link works. Set alarms and plan your route or login time. Avoid heavy new practice tests that could dent confidence.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and avoid last-minute cramming beyond a brief skim of your summary sheet. Log in or arrive with buffer time for check-in and ID verification. Close background applications, silence notifications, and put your phone away per the proctor's instructions. Take a few slow breaths and read each question carefully before answering.
Read the full question and all options before choosing. Answer the easier questions first if the interface allows review and flagging, and return to harder ones. Watch the clock and allocate roughly even time per question, leaving a few minutes to review flagged items. If a break is allowed, follow the proctor's instructions exactly. If the software fails, stay calm and contact the provider's support using the method they specify.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID you registered with; the name must match your registration. Confirm accepted ID types and name-matching rules with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions and the candidate agreement. Do not communicate with anyone, use unauthorized materials, or leave the camera view during an online exam unless instructed. Confirm the specific conduct rules with the provider.
Know the rules on breaks before you start. Some exams allow scheduled or unscheduled breaks with conditions such as staying on camera; others do not. Confirm the break policy with the provider rather than assuming.
Understand how the exam is scored before test day: question count, time limit, whether questions are weighted, and the passing score. These are set by the provider, so confirm them from the official candidate handbook.
For online proctoring, keep your desk clear and your room private per the provider's rules; prohibited items and room requirements vary, so confirm them in advance.
If technical problems occur, do not improvise. Contact the provider's support using the specified method and follow their instructions; keep your confirmation number handy.
Rescheduling, cancellation, and retake policies differ by provider and delivery method. Confirm the deadlines, fees, and retake rules with the provider before you rely on them.
Report any suspected exam-content or security issue to the provider after the exam rather than discussing exam content with others, which many candidate agreements prohibit.