SFMA exam-day guide
SFMA · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Exam confirmation / admission letter
Print or save the confirmation showing your test date, time, location or online access link, and candidate number. The provider's exact check-in requirements should be confirmed with them.
SFMA course materials and movement-pattern notes
Review your own notes on the seven SFMA top-tier movements, the breakouts, and the scoring logic (FN, DN, DP, FP). Do not bring unauthorized reference sheets into the testing area; confirm with the provider what materials, if any, are permitted.
Comfortable clothing and athletic shoes
You may be asked to demonstrate or model movements. Wear clothing that allows full squat, lunge, and overhead reach. Confirm with the provider whether you will perform movements or only assess and score.
Water and a light snack
Practical exams can run long with waiting periods. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed in the holding area and whether breaks are scheduled.
Review of the scoring criteria and breakouts
Be able to state the criterion for each top-tier movement and the purpose of each breakout. Arrive able to explain why a pattern is scored FN, DN, DP, or FP without referring to notes.
Practice explaining findings aloud
Rehearse concise verbal reasoning: what you observed, which breakout you chose, and what the result implies for intervention. Examiners commonly score communication as well as handling.
Timing device or watch
A simple watch can help you pace stations if timing is your responsibility. Confirm with the provider whether watches or phones are permitted in the testing area.
Transportation and arrival plan
Plan to arrive with buffer time. Confirm with the provider the exact arrival window, late-arrival policy, and parking or building access details.
Knowledge of the provider's retake and scoring policy
Understand pass/fail thresholds, partial credit, and retake rules before test day. These are provider-specific; confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand information.
Plan the day
Re-read your course manual and notes on the SFMA top-tier movements and breakouts. Practice the full sequence aloud on a willing partner: screen, score, select breakout, retest. Identify any movement you cannot explain confidently and clarify it before test day.
Confirm logistics: test location or online platform, arrival time, what to bring, and any equipment the provider supplies. Reconfirm with the provider any policy you are unsure about, including ID, materials, and breaks.
Sleep on a normal schedule and avoid cramming new material in the last 24 hours. Practical performance depends on clear communication and calm handling more than last-minute memorization.
Lay out ID, confirmation, clothing, shoes, water, and snack. Review only your own summary sheet of scoring criteria and breakout logic. Confirm travel time and set two alarms.
Do a light rehearsal of verbal explanations for each of the seven top-tier movements. Stop studying early enough to sleep well.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and arrive at the confirmed arrival window with buffer. Leave unnecessary items at home or in the car per the provider's rules. Do a brief mental rehearsal of the screen-to-breakout flow while waiting.
Listen to each instruction fully before acting. State your findings and reasoning clearly. If you are unsure of a scoring decision, describe what you observed and how the criterion applies rather than guessing silently. Ask the examiner only procedural questions; content questions may not be answered.
Manage your time across stations or scenarios. If a station runs long, note it and move on rather than leaving later items incomplete. Use any scheduled breaks to reset and review your plan for the next section.
Note which movements or explanations felt weak while memory is fresh, in case a retake is needed. Confirm with the provider when and how results are released.
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 a second form is required.
Arrive within the provider's stated arrival window. Late-arrival and admission policies are provider-specific; confirm with the provider in advance rather than assuming you will be admitted.
Follow all instructions from examiners and proctors. Do not bring unauthorized notes, reference sheets, or recording devices into the testing area; confirm with the provider what materials are permitted.
Breaks are typically limited and may not be permitted during timed stations. Confirm with the provider whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed and how they affect your time.
Scoring criteria, pass/fail thresholds, and partial-credit rules are set by the provider. Confirm these with the provider before test day; do not rely on secondhand accounts.
Maintain professional conduct toward examiners, proctors, and other candidates. Disruptive behavior or attempts to obtain unauthorized assistance may result in removal; confirm the provider's conduct policy.
If you believe a testing condition affected your performance, report it to the proctor immediately and follow the provider's appeals or incident-reporting process. Confirm that process with the provider.
Do not discuss or share specific exam content after the test. Provider confidentiality rules vary; confirm with the provider what may be shared.