IC&RC AADC exam-day guide
IC&RC AADC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID you registered with. The first and last name on your ID must match your registration record exactly; a mismatch is the most common reason candidates are turned away. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted (driver's license, passport, state ID) and whether a second form of ID is required.
Appointment confirmation / authorization to test
Bring the scheduling confirmation or authorization notice you received. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether an electronic copy on your phone is acceptable before you leave prohibited devices in a locker.
Test center address, parking, and arrival time
Look up the exact testing site the day before and plan the route plus a 15-20 minute buffer for parking, security screening, and check-in. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time; arriving late can forfeit your seat and fee.
A plan for prohibited items
Phones, smartwatches, notes, bags, and study materials are not allowed in the testing room. Most centers provide a small locker, but space is limited. Confirm with the provider what storage is available so you can decide what to leave at home or in the car.
Copy of the official content outline / candidate guide
Review the domains and task statements published in the IC&RC candidate guide for the AADC exam, not third-party summaries. Use it to spot any domain you have not revisited. Leave the printed copy in the car or locker; do not bring it into the testing room.
Layered clothing
Testing rooms are often cold and sessions run long. A removable layer lets you adjust without distraction. Avoid clothing with large pockets or logos that could slow security screening.
Glasses and any needed comfort items
If you wear contacts, bring your glasses as a backup for long screen time. Confirm with the provider whether items such as earplugs, tissues, or a sweater are permitted in the testing room.
Water and a snack for before/after
Eat a normal meal beforehand and hydrate. Food and drink generally cannot be taken into the testing room, so plan to have these before check-in and after you finish.
Practice with the computer-based testing tutorial
Most computer-delivered exams offer a short tutorial on navigating, flagging, and reviewing items. Take it slowly on exam day rather than clicking through, so no time is lost to interface confusion.
Sleep and medication plan
Protect sleep for the two nights before the exam and take prescribed medications on your normal schedule. Do not start or stop any medication or new supplement to 'sharpen up' for test day.
Scoring and results plan
Know in advance how and when results are released and what happens if you need to retest. Confirm with the provider whether you receive a preliminary score at the center and what the retest waiting period and fee are.
Plan the day
Re-read the official IC&RC AADC content outline and note the two or three domains where you are weakest. Spend remaining study time there only. Stop adding new resources; consolidate notes you already have instead of opening new material.
Confirm the appointment date, time, and testing site address, and check the provider's current rules on ID, arrival time, and permitted items. Resolve any name discrepancy on your registration now, not on exam day.
Do one timed practice set under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing, then review only the rationales for items you missed. Do not cram new content in the final 24 hours.
Lay out ID, confirmation, clothing, glasses, and directions by the door. Charge nothing you will need to bring (phones stay behind). Set two alarms.
Do a light review of high-level frameworks only (screening and assessment, treatment planning, counseling, case management, ethics, and legal considerations). Then stop. Eat a normal dinner, avoid heavy alcohol and late caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time.
Eat a normal breakfast, take prescribed medications, and leave with a large time buffer. Avoid last-minute reviewing in the car or lobby; it increases anxiety more than it adds knowledge.
At check-in, follow staff instructions, store prohibited items, present your ID, and read the rules screen carefully. Ask staff about the break policy and about how to flag or revisit items.
Take the tutorial slowly, then work at a steady pace. Answer every item; there is no penalty for guessing on a multiple-choice credentialing exam. Mark difficult items and return to them if the interface allows.
Use the break if one is offered and your clock is not running, but confirm the rules first. If you feel panicking, set the mouse down, breathe slowly for thirty seconds, and resume with the next item.
Follow the center's procedure for receiving your score report, and keep the documentation. If you did not pass, note the retest waiting period and fee in your calendar and ask the provider for your domain-level score report to guide the next attempt.
Rules to check
Identification must be an original, unexpired, government-issued photo ID with a name matching your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a second form is required; do not assume a photocopy, expired document, or digital ID will be accepted.
Arrive before your scheduled time. Candidates who arrive late may be refused admission and may forfeit the exam fee. Confirm with the provider the exact cut-off for late arrival and the policy on rescheduling.
Do not bring cell phones, smartwatches, notes, or study materials into the testing room, and do not attempt to record, photograph, or reproduce exam content in any form. Doing so is grounds for score invalidation and can affect eligibility for future credentialing exams.
Follow all instructions from test center staff and the exam administrator, and read the confidentiality and candidate agreement you sign at check-in. If any instruction is unclear, ask before you begin rather than assuming.
Break policy varies by site and delivery method. Confirm with the provider in advance whether unscheduled breaks are permitted, whether the clock stops during a break, and what you may access during one; assume the clock keeps running unless told otherwise.
Scores on this type of credentialing exam are typically criterion-referenced, meaning the passing standard is set by subject-matter experts rather than curved against other candidates' performance. Confirm with the provider how the passing score is set, what the score range and report look like, and how results are released.
If something goes wrong during the exam (equipment failure, a disruption, illness), notify the proctor immediately and ask for it to be documented before you leave. Afterward, contact the provider promptly; undocumented incidents are difficult to remedy later.
If you must reschedule or cancel, follow the provider's published deadline and fee policy. Do not simply fail to appear, as a no-show is often treated as a used attempt.