IC&RC Peer Recovery exam-day guide
IC&RC Peer Recovery · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID). The name must match your registration exactly, including hyphenation and middle names. If your ID name differs from your registration, contact your certifying board before test day to update your record.
Appointment / authorization-to-test confirmation
Print or save your scheduling confirmation, authorization-to-test notice, or eligibility letter, plus the testing vendor's phone number in case of a check-in problem. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Exact arrival time and check-in window
Your appointment time is usually not the same as your arrival time. Check your confirmation or candidate handbook for the required arrival window (commonly 15–30 minutes early) and confirm with the provider, since late arrival can forfeit your seat and fee.
Confirmed test site logistics
If testing in person, know the address, parking, building entrance, security screening, and travel time; do a dry run or map it the day before. If testing remotely, complete any system/equipment check and confirm the platform and login with the provider well in advance.
Candidate handbook and test-day rules
Read your board's or vendor's candidate handbook for the current list of prohibited items, locker policy, calculator or scratch-paper rules, break policy, and reschedule/cancellation deadlines. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and vendor.
Approved accommodations documentation
If you were granted testing accommodations, bring the approval letter or confirmation. Accommodations are almost never granted on the day of the test, so confirm the arrangement with the provider at least a week ahead.
Leave prohibited items behind
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, study materials, bags, and outerwear are typically not allowed in the testing room. Leave them at home or in your vehicle; confirm with the provider whether secure storage is available on site.
Small comforts for the wait and any break
Bring water and a light snack for before or after the exam, and dress in layers in case the room is cold. Confirm where these may be stored, since they usually cannot be taken to the workstation.
Sleep, food, and medication plan
Plan a normal night's sleep and a real meal before the test. If you take prescribed medication, take it as usual and confirm with the provider how medication may be handled at the test site.
Backup contact plan
Save the testing vendor's and your certifying board's contact numbers in case of a scheduling, technical, or ID issue. Report any problem to the site staff immediately and ask for documentation.
Plan the day
Re-confirm your appointment date, time, and time zone, plus the exact address or remote-testing link. Check the candidate handbook one last time for ID, prohibited-item, and reschedule rules. If you were approved for accommodations, verify they are on file.
Stop trying to learn new material. Spend limited time on high-yield domains such as ethics and boundaries, advocacy, recovery support, and documentation, and review your own notes rather than new sources.
If your board or vendor offers a practice exam or tutorial, use it once to get familiar with the item format and navigation, not to cram content. Note your pacing so you know roughly how long to spend per question.
Shift your sleep schedule toward what you will need on test day, and plan the route, parking, or remote-testing setup, including a quiet private space and a reliable internet connection.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any approved documentation in one place. Lay out clothing. Charge devices only if the provider permits them; otherwise leave them home.
Do a light review of ethics and scope-of-role material for no more than 60–90 minutes, then stop. Avoid alcohol and heavy late meals, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and take medications as prescribed. Do not study in the car or waiting room - last-minute cramming tends to increase anxiety without improving scores.
Arrive within the required check-in window, or log in early for remote testing. Expect ID verification, a photo, a security screening, and a rule briefing before you are seated.
Read each question completely, including words like 'best,' 'first,' and 'except.' Answer in your own words before looking at the options, then select the option that fits best.
Use a two-pass approach: answer what you know, flag anything uncertain, and return to flagged items at the end. Do not leave blanks unless the provider tells you there is a scoring penalty for guessing - most certification exams do not penalize guessing, but confirm.
Check the clock at planned intervals rather than every question. If you take an unscheduled break, confirm beforehand whether the clock keeps running; it usually does.
If equipment fails, a page freezes, or another candidate distracts you, raise your hand and notify staff immediately so the incident is documented. Ask what your options are before continuing.
Follow the provider's process for score reporting and keep any documentation you receive. If you do not pass, ask your certifying board about the retake window, fees, and any waiting period before you reapply.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Your name must match your registration; name discrepancies must be resolved with your certifying board before test day, not at the check-in desk.
Arrive within the required check-in window. Candidates who arrive late may be turned away and lose their fee. Confirm the exact arrival time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Expect a security screening. Phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are generally prohibited in the testing room; ask ahead where to store personal items, since storage policies vary by site.
Follow all instructions from proctors and the testing vendor's code of conduct. Misconduct, including talking, using unauthorized materials, or attempting to record questions, can result in score invalidation and a report to your certifying board.
Request any disability-related accommodations well in advance through the process your board specifies. Accommodations are typically not granted on test day, and documentation requirements differ by jurisdiction.
Break policy varies by vendor and test format. Confirm before test day whether breaks are scheduled or on request, whether the clock continues to run, and whether you must re-verify your ID when you return.
Scoring is criterion-referenced against a passing standard set by the credentialing board, not graded on a curve. Confirm with the provider whether unanswered items or guessing carry any penalty and when official results are released.
Do not discuss, copy, or share exam content with anyone. The questions are the vendor's proprietary material, and discussing specific items after the test can also violate your certifying board's ethics requirements.