PHECC FAR exam-day guide
PHECC FAR · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the name you registered under. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID it accepts and whether a copy is acceptable, since requirements vary by test centre. A name mismatch between your ID and your booking is a common reason candidates are turned away.
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Have your confirmation email, candidate or registration number, and the test centre address and start time available on paper and on your phone. Confirm with the provider whether you must present a printed confirmation or whether a digital copy is accepted.
Arrival time confirmed with the provider
Ask the provider how early you should arrive and what happens if you are late. Arrival cut-offs and late-entry rules are set locally, so do not assume a standard grace period. Plan to be at the centre with time to spare for sign-in and ID checks.
Uniform and personal presentation requirements
Wear the uniform and presentation standard your provider or training institution requires for practical assessment, and bring any items it specifies. Confirm with the provider the exact dress and grooming expectations, since these are set by the assessment site and not by a single national rule.
Stethoscope and personal clinical items
Bring your own stethoscope and any personal items the provider lists as required. Confirm with the provider whether equipment such as a watch with a second hand, pen, notebook, or PPE is supplied at the station or must be brought.
PPE and infection-control supplies as directed
Bring the gloves and other PPE the provider specifies, and know the hand-hygiene routine expected at each station. Confirm with the provider whether PPE is provided at the centre or whether you must supply your own.
Knowledge of the current clinical practice guidelines
Review the current PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines relevant to your scope of practice, including CPR and AED use, patient assessment, and the skills listed in your provider's practical schedule. The guidelines are updated periodically, so check you are studying the current edition rather than an older copy.
Practised skill sheets and station format
Rehearse each skill against the assessment criteria your provider uses, including the order of steps, safety checks, and verbalisation of findings. Ask the provider which skills are assessed and how stations are structured, because the practical format differs between courses and levels.
Scenario practice with a partner
Practise running full scenarios aloud with a partner so you can verbalise assessment findings, handover, and clinical reasoning under time pressure. Confirm with the provider whether candidates are expected to talk through their findings or whether examiners prompt for them.
Travel and accommodation plan
Confirm the test centre location and plan your route and travel time, allowing a buffer for traffic or public transport delays. If travelling far, arrange accommodation the night before so a long journey does not affect your performance.
Rest, hydration, and meal plan
Protect sleep in the days before the assessment and plan a normal meal before you travel. Practical stations reward steady hands and clear communication more than last-minute cramming, so avoid an all-night revision session.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number so you can report an unexpected delay or illness. Confirm with the provider its policy on illness, rescheduling, and no-shows before the day, since fees and rebooking rules are set by the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the current Clinical Practice Guidelines for your scope and work through each skill sheet your provider assesses. Run at least two full scenarios with a partner, practising aloud the primary survey, vital signs, findings, and handover. Check your uniform, ID, and equipment against the provider's list, and confirm the test centre address, start time, and arrival instructions. Stop introducing new material in the last 24 hours and focus on consolidating what you already know.
Pack your bag with ID, booking confirmation, uniform, stethoscope, PPE, and any items the provider requires. Charge your phone, save the provider's contact number, and confirm your travel plan. Do a light review of skill sequences and the CPR and AED algorithm rather than a long cram session. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep. If you become unwell, contact the provider immediately to ask about its illness and rescheduling policy.
Eat breakfast and hydrate normally. Dress to the required uniform standard and double-check your bag against the checklist before leaving. Arrive at the centre at the time the provider specified, allowing extra travel time. At sign-in, present your ID and confirmation, follow staff instructions, and use any waiting time for calm breathing rather than last-minute quizzing of other candidates.
Listen carefully to each station's instructions and read any written prompt fully before starting. Introduce yourself, confirm patient consent where the scenario allows, and state your safety checks aloud. Verbalise your assessment findings, vital signs, and clinical reasoning as you go, and keep to the time allowed per station. If you make an error, correct it calmly and continue rather than freezing. Treat simulated patients and examiners professionally throughout, and ask for clarification only in the way the provider permits.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by the provider and ensure the name matches your booking. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before the day, as candidates without acceptable ID may not be admitted.
Follow the provider's instructions on arrival time, sign-in, and late entry. Cut-off times and late-entry rules are set by the provider, so confirm them in advance rather than assuming a grace period.
Ask the provider in advance about breaks, withdrawal from a station, and what to do if you feel unwell during the assessment. Do not assume you can leave and return freely, because station timing and security rules vary by centre.
Maintain academic integrity: do not share station content with candidates who have not yet been assessed, and do not bring unauthorised notes or devices into assessment areas. Follow whatever confidentiality instruction the provider gives.
Treat simulated patients, examiners, and other candidates with professional courtesy. Unprofessional conduct or unsafe practice during a station can be recorded by examiners and may affect your result under the provider's rules.
Understand how you will be scored before the day: ask the provider whether stations are marked pass or fail, whether there is an overall pass standard, and when and how results are issued. Scoring and appeals processes are set by the provider, not assumed.
If you have a disability or need an accommodation, request it from the provider well before the assessment date and confirm what evidence it requires. Accommodation arrangements are individual and cannot usually be made on the day.
Report any illness, injury, or circumstance that could affect your safe performance to the provider as early as possible, and confirm its policy on deferral and fees. Do not attempt stations if you are unfit to practise safely.