NCATT AET exam-day guide
NCATT AET · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or military ID) with a name that exactly matches your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID forms are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required.
Appointment confirmation / registration receipt
Print or save the confirmation showing your test center, date, time, and candidate/eligibility number. Some centers ask to see it at check-in; confirm with the provider.
Eligibility/experience documentation (if required)
If your certification pathway requires documented training or work experience, confirm with the provider whether it must be submitted before test day or brought in person. Do not assume it can be submitted at the desk.
Read the candidate handbook before test day
The provider's candidate handbook is the authoritative source for ID rules, allowed items, scoring, and rescheduling. Read it rather than relying on secondhand advice.
Confirm test center location, parking, and arrival time
Do a route check the day before and note where to park and which entrance to use. Arrive at least 15-30 minutes early to complete check-in; confirm the provider's late-arrival cutoff.
Confirm the calculator and reference-material policy
Many computer-based certification exams provide on-screen calculators and reference data, and some prohibit personal calculators. Confirm with the provider before assuming either way.
Leave phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials at home or in the car
Personal items are typically stored in a locker or left outside the testing room. Assume anything not explicitly allowed is prohibited.
Eyeglasses, medications, and other personal necessities
Bring what you need to read a screen comfortably for the full session. Ask the provider in advance about any medical or dietary items you may need to bring into the testing room.
Know your testing accommodations status
Accommodations generally must be requested and approved before test day. If you need extra time or a separate room, confirm with the provider well in advance.
A light snack and water for after the exam
Keep them outside the testing room. Confirm with the provider whether food or drink is permitted during breaks.
A plan for the results
Know in advance how results are reported (typically on-screen at completion and/or by email) and what to do if you do not pass, including any retake waiting period. Confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook sections on ID, allowed items, scoring, and rescheduling. Verify your appointment date, time, and test center address, and confirm your ID is unexpired and matches your registered name.
Stop learning new material. Return only to topics you have already studied and got wrong on practice sets, focusing on AET knowledge domains: basic electricity and electronics, aircraft fundamentals, and maintenance/regulatory concepts.
Resolve any open logistics: parking, transportation, time off work, childcare, and accommodations approvals.
Do one short, calm review pass (30-45 minutes) over formulas, units, and vocabulary. Then stop. Cramming the night before reliably costs more in fatigue than it gains in recall.
Pack your ID, confirmation, glasses, and any provider-approved items in one place by the door. Lay out clothing. Set two alarms.
Confirm the test center's phone number and hours in case of a last-minute issue. Get a full night's sleep; sleep is the cheapest score improvement available.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate normally. Avoid heavy caffeine if you are not a regular user.
Arrive 15-30 minutes before your appointment. Allow extra margin for traffic, security screening, and check-in paperwork.
At check-in, present your ID, store all personal items as instructed, and follow the proctor's directions exactly. Ask the proctor any procedural questions before the clock starts.
Read the tutorial and any on-screen instructions, then do a quick scan of the number of questions and the time limit so you can pace yourself.
Answer in two passes: work through questions you know confidently first, flag anything that needs more thought, then return to flagged items. Never leave a question blank if the exam does not penalize guessing; confirm the guessing policy with the provider.
Take any allowed breaks when you notice your focus dropping. Stretch, hydrate, and return with your remaining time budget in mind.
In the last few minutes, verify you have answered every question, then submit. Note your result as reported and keep any confirmation number or receipt.
Rules to check
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. If your name has changed or your registration has a typo, contact the provider before test day, not at the desk.
Assume that phones, smartwatches, notes, and study materials are prohibited in the testing room. Store them as directed; even possessing a device during the exam can result in score cancellation.
Do not disclose, reproduce, or discuss exam content afterward. Certification exams are typically covered by a confidentiality agreement you accept at check-in; confirm the exact terms with the provider.
Break policy varies by provider and test center. Ask before the exam starts whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops during them; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Scoring and the passing standard are set by the provider, and results are generally reported as pass/fail rather than a raw score. Confirm the passing standard, score reporting method, and retake policy with the provider.
Arrive early and know the late-arrival cutoff. Candidates who arrive after the cutoff are typically refused entry and may forfeit the fee; confirm this with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions and test center rules. Suspected misconduct or prohibited-item violations can lead to voided results and loss of eligibility, with appeal handled through the provider's process.
If you require accommodations, request and confirm them well before test day. Accommodations are generally not granted on the spot; confirm the provider's deadline.