FPGEE exam-day guide
FPGEE · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Bring a valid driver's license, state ID, or passport. The name must match your NABP registration exactly, including middle names and suffixes. If your name has legally changed, contact NABP well before test day to update your record; an expired or unsigned ID will be refused at check-in.
Appointment confirmation / eligibility record
Have your testing appointment confirmation and NABP identification number available. Confirm with NABP or the test vendor whether a printed confirmation is required or whether an electronic copy is acceptable at your specific center.
Plan to arrive 30+ minutes early
Check-in involves ID verification, a photograph, and a rules briefing. Arriving late can result in being turned away and losing your seat fee. Build in buffer for traffic, parking, and building security screening.
Verified test center address, parking, and route
Do a dry run or map the route the day before. Identify parking or transit options and the exact building entrance, since testing centers inside office parks or university campuses can be hard to locate.
Leave prohibited items at home
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, bags, notes, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Most centers provide a small locker; anything that does not fit may not be accommodated. Confirm your center's storage policy in advance.
Comfort layers and eyeglasses
Testing rooms are often cold, and you will be seated for long blocks. Wear layers you can adjust. If you wear contacts, consider bringing glasses as a backup for long screen sessions.
Snack and water for the break
Bring a light, familiar snack and water to leave in your locker for the scheduled break. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food. Confirm whether the break allows access to your locker at your center.
Confirm any approved testing accommodations
If you requested extra time, a separate room, or other accommodations, verify in writing that they were approved and will be in place. Unapproved accommodations cannot be granted on test day.
Read the NABP candidate handbook and test center rules
Review the current handbook for the exam format, timing, break policy, ID requirements, and score reporting before test day so nothing at check-in is a surprise.
Confirm the current exam format
Verify the number of items, number of testing blocks, and total seated time from your NABP appointment materials, since exam structure and delivery logistics are periodically updated.
Practice the pacing math once
Divide total testing minutes by the number of items on your confirmation to get your target per-item pace, and rehearse holding it during at least one full-length practice set before test day.
Rest and a normal morning routine
Protect sleep in the 48 hours before the exam and eat a normal breakfast. Cramming new material the night before reliably costs more in fatigue than it gains in recall.
Plan the day
Print or save your appointment confirmation, re-read the NABP handbook sections on ID, prohibited items, and breaks, and physically set aside your ID and comfort items in one place. Stop starting new content areas.
Do one timed, full-length or half-length practice set at the same time of day as your real appointment to calibrate pacing and stamina, then review only your error patterns, not new topics.
Confirm the test center address, route, and travel time, and decide your departure time. Check the weather and any transit disruptions. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, snack, and layers.
Limit review to a short pass over high-yield lists and formulas you already know. Avoid alcohol and screens late; set two alarms; aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal breakfast, hydrate moderately, dress in layers, and leave with buffer time. Leave your phone and study materials at home or in the car if your center's storage is limited.
Present your ID, complete photo and verification steps, store all personal items in the locker, use the restroom, and read the on-screen instructions before the clock starts.
Work at your rehearsed per-item pace. Answer every item, flag long or uncertain ones, and move on rather than sinking time into a single question.
Take the offered break: stand, stretch, drink water, and eat your snack, then return promptly. Confirm before test day whether break time counts against your exam clock.
Use remaining time to clear flags and confirm no item is left blank. Do not change answers on a hunch unless you can point to a specific reason.
Note any irregularity or equipment problem to the proctor before you leave, and keep your score report and any documentation with your records.
Rules to check
Your ID name must match your NABP registration exactly. Name discrepancies or expired documents can result in being denied entry; contact NABP before test day to correct your record.
No personal belongings, notes, or electronic devices are permitted in the testing room. Lockers, if provided, are for storage only and access is limited to the break.
Scratch material, if provided by the test center, must be returned or accounted for at the end of the session and may not be removed from the room. Confirm the specific scratch-material policy with the provider.
Break timing varies by center and exam. Confirm with NABP and your test center whether breaks are scheduled or unscheduled and whether break time is deducted from your testing time, then plan bathroom and snack timing accordingly.
Answer every question. Unanswered items score as incorrect, and there is no benefit to leaving an item blank instead of making an educated choice.
Results are reported as a scaled score against a passing standard set by NABP. Confirm the current passing standard and score-report timing with NABP; any on-screen indication at the center is not the official result.
Exam content is confidential. Communicating, publishing, or reconstructing exam items is prohibited and can lead to score invalidation or other sanctions.
Follow all proctor instructions, including seating, room entry and exit, and sign-out procedures. Suspected misconduct or irregular behavior may result in a cancelled score and a report to the board.