FAC-C Professional exam-day guide
FAC-C Professional · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a valid, unexpired photo ID (agency PIV credential and/or state driver's license). The name on the ID must match your registration exactly. Confirm with your testing provider which forms of ID it accepts before test day.
Appointment / registration confirmation
Bring a printed or saved copy of your confirmation showing the date, start time, time zone, delivery mode, and any confirmation or registration number.
Login and account credentials
If the assessment is delivered through an agency learning portal or vendor platform, verify your username, password, and any multi-factor method work. Do not rely on a password reset on test morning.
PIV/CAC card and reader (remote testing)
Many agency-hosted platforms require PIV/CAC authentication. Have your card and reader ready and test them in advance. Confirm with the provider whether CAC login is required for your session.
Completed system / equipment check
Complete any required pre-test system check (browser, webcam, microphone, bandwidth) at least 24 hours ahead, and again on the morning of the test.
Approved reference materials only
If the assessment is open-book, confirm in writing which references are permitted. If it is closed-book, plan to clear your workspace of notes, printed materials, and second screens.
Permitted calculator or scratch materials
Confirm whether a calculator, scratch paper, or an on-screen whiteboard is allowed, and whether the provider supplies them. Bring only what is expressly permitted.
Quiet, private test space
For remote delivery, use a room with a door you can close, no interruptions, and a clear desk. Tell household members your test window in advance.
Provider support contact and backup plan
Save the testing provider's technical support phone number and your agency acquisition career manager's contact so you can reach someone quickly if the session fails.
Approved accommodations documentation
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or other accommodations, confirm approval and keep the approval notice on hand. Accommodations generally must be requested in advance, not on test day.
Confirmed scoring and retake terms
Know in advance the passing standard, how and when results are reported, and the retake or waiting-period rules. Ask your provider or acquisition career manager to confirm these in writing.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment date, start time, and time zone in writing. Verify the delivery mode and location or link. Resolve any discrepancy immediately rather than on test morning.
Run the full system or equipment check and fix anything that fails. Update your browser and disable auto-updates that could interrupt the session.
Confirm which reference materials, if any, are permitted and gather only those. Confirm calculator and scratch-material rules.
Do targeted review of your weakest domains using the official course learning objectives. Stop adding new material after this point; consolidate instead.
Protect sleep. Two full nights of rest before the test matter more than one late-night review session.
Lay out your ID, confirmation, and any permitted materials. Charge devices and test your webcam, microphone, and internet connection once more.
Clear and set up your test space. Remove notes, second monitors, phones, and anything the provider prohibits from arm's reach.
Confirm the check-in procedure and how early you should arrive or log in. Confirm the provider's policy on late arrival and missed appointments.
Eat, hydrate, and avoid last-minute cramming. Do a five-minute skim of your own summary notes only if that calms you.
Log in or arrive well before the start time to absorb check-in, ID verification, and any room scan. Close all other applications and silence your phone.
Read the instructions and note the total time and number of questions. Budget roughly a minute per question and leave time to review flagged items.
Answer easy questions first, flag anything that requires long calculation or careful reading, and return to flagged items after clearing the rest.
Take only the breaks the provider allows. Assume unscheduled breaks may not stop the clock unless the proctor confirms otherwise.
If the session freezes, disconnects, or the proctor chat fails, stop and contact provider support immediately. Do not repeatedly refresh or close the browser on your own.
Save or screenshot your completion confirmation and note how and when results will be reported. Confirm next steps with your acquisition career manager, since certification typically also requires training, experience, and continuous learning requirements beyond any single assessment.
Rules to check
Present an unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration. Confirm accepted ID forms with the provider in advance.
Bring only materials the provider expressly permits. Phones, smart watches, second screens, and unauthorized notes should be off and stored out of reach.
Do not disclose, reproduce, or discuss specific assessment content. Most programs require you to accept a confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement at check-in.
Request any accommodations well before test day and keep the approval notice with you. On-the-day requests generally cannot be honored.
Confirm the break policy before you start, including whether the clock stops during breaks and whether you may leave the testing area.
Confirm the passing standard, score reporting method, and retake or waiting-period rules with the provider or your acquisition career manager rather than assuming a default.
Follow the proctor's instructions immediately, including room scans, desk checks, and identity verification. Disputes are handled after the session, not during it.
Treat any single assessment as one component of the credential. Confirm with your agency acquisition career manager how the assessment maps to the overall certification requirements, including experience and continuous learning.