NALA ACP exam-day guide
NALA ACP · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID with a signature and photo whose name matches your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required, since remote-proctoring vendors sometimes ask for two.
Exam appointment confirmation
Save the confirmation email or portal screenshot showing date, time, time zone, and testing location or remote check-in link. Know whether your start time is listed in local time or in the provider's time zone.
Login credentials and account access
Verify you can sign in to the testing or proctoring platform before exam day and that you know how to reset the password if needed. Do not rely on a browser's saved password alone.
Approved calculator or on-screen calculator policy
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is permitted, whether it must be a specific model, and whether an on-screen calculator is built into the exam. Do not bring an unapproved device into the testing room.
Reference or formula sheet policy
Ask the provider whether any reference material, formula sheet, or scratch paper is allowed and in what form. Assume nothing is permitted until confirmed in writing.
Testing-environment requirements (remote sittings)
For online proctoring, confirm camera, microphone, bandwidth, browser, and room-scan requirements, plus which desk items may remain in view. Confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Arrival or check-in buffer
Plan to arrive or log in well before the scheduled start; many providers deny entry after a cutoff. Confirm the exact arrival window and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Break and timing policy
Know in advance whether breaks are scheduled, optional, or prohibited, and whether the clock stops during a break. Confirm with the provider for your specific exam delivery.
Scoring and result-reporting expectations
Understand the passing standard, whether results are immediate or delayed, and how a retake would work. Confirm the current passing score and retake rules with the provider before test day.
Accommodations confirmation, if applicable
If you requested accommodations, carry the written approval and confirm the logistics of how they will be delivered. Arrange this well before the exam, as approval can take time.
Logistics: travel, parking, or quiet space
For test centers, confirm parking and travel time. For remote sittings, secure a quiet, private room and tell household members not to disturb you for the full session.
Backup contact for the provider
Save the provider's support phone number or chat link in case of a technical failure or check-in problem. Confirm which support channel is staffed on exam day.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook or exam instructions for ID, permitted items, and check-in rules, and confirm anything unclear with the provider in writing. Do a final review focused on weak areas and on the exam's format and question style rather than learning new material. Take one short timed practice set to check your pacing, then stop heavy study. Verify your appointment details, time zone, and location or remote check-in link.
Prepare your ID, confirmation, and any approved items and place them together. For remote sittings, test your camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection, and clear your desk and room of prohibited items. Confirm travel or parking plans. Get a normal night's sleep, avoid cramming late, and set two alarms.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate moderately. Dress comfortably and in layers. Arrive or log in early per the provider's arrival window. Do a brief warm-up of a few easy questions or key formulas, not a full mock exam. Keep your phone off and stored per the rules.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'except' or 'best'. Answer easier questions first if the platform allows navigation, and flag uncertain ones to revisit. Budget time against the number of questions and check the clock at planned checkpoints. If a technical problem occurs, stop and contact proctor support immediately rather than troubleshooting alone, and note the time and details. Use any permitted break as instructed and return on time.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and approved items the provider lists; confirm the permitted-items list with the provider before exam day, as unauthorized materials can lead to dismissal.
Your registration name must match your ID. If your legal name differs from your registration, contact the provider in advance to correct it rather than arriving with a mismatch.
Follow all proctor instructions, including room scans, desk clearance, and camera or screen-sharing requirements for remote sittings. Ask the proctor if an instruction is unclear.
Do not communicate with anyone other than the proctor during the exam, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Exam content is confidential.
Confirm the break policy with the provider: whether breaks are allowed, whether the clock runs during them, and what check-out and check-in steps apply.
Confirm the scoring and reporting policy with the provider, including the passing standard, when results are released, and how a retake would be scheduled.
If a technical failure or interruption occurs, notify the proctor or provider support immediately and keep a record; ask the provider how such incidents are handled for scoring.
Report any accommodation needs to the provider well before the exam and carry written approval to the sitting, since approval timelines vary.