CAQ-Derm exam-day guide
CAQ-Derm · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a secondary ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital ID will be accepted.
Admission or scheduling confirmation
Print or save the confirmation email with your test date, time, and location or remote-proctoring link. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Know your exact reporting time and arrival buffer
Arrive earlier than the stated check-in time to allow for security screening and ID verification. The required buffer varies by site; confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Review the current candidate handbook or exam blueprints
Download the latest version from the certifying body before test day. Policies on permitted items, breaks, and scoring can change between administrations; confirm with the provider that you have the current edition.
Confirm permitted and prohibited personal items
Most secure testing environments restrict phones, smartwatches, notes, and outerwear. Confirm with the provider the exact list, including whether a locker is available and whether water or snacks are allowed at the workstation.
Plan your transport and backup route
Identify the building entrance, parking, and public transit options, and note a backup route. For remote testing, confirm your internet connection, webcam, microphone, and a quiet private room meet the provider's technical requirements.
Prepare for the break policy
Ask in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and whether you must remain in view of the proctor. Confirm with the provider; break rules differ between in-person and remote delivery.
Know the question format and navigation rules
Find out whether items are multiple-choice, case-based, or image-based, and whether you can flag and review items or move backward. Confirm with the provider, since some exams lock answers once submitted.
Understand how scoring works
Determine whether the exam is pass/fail with a scaled cut score, whether some items are unscored pilot questions, and when results are released. Confirm with the provider; do not rely on secondhand reports of passing scores.
Plan a light final review, not new material
Limit the last day to high-yield summaries such as dermatologic emergencies, drug reactions, and common guideline thresholds. Avoid cramming new topics that can increase anxiety.
Arrange sleep, meals, and medication
Protect a normal night's sleep and eat a usual meal before the test. If you take prescription medication or need accommodations, confirm with the provider well before test day how accommodations are requested and documented.
Remote-testing environment check (if applicable)
If testing remotely, run the provider's system check in advance, close other applications, and clear your desk. Confirm with the provider which room conditions and camera angles are required.
Plan the day
Re-read the candidate handbook for ID, permitted items, break, and scoring rules, and confirm your appointment time and location or remote link. Do focused review of high-yield dermatology: severe cutaneous adverse reactions, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer recognition, blistering diseases, and common pediatric and infectious exanthems. Stop studying new, low-frequency topics.
Pack your ID, confirmation, and any permitted comfort items, and lay out clothing that meets the dress code. Do a short review of summary notes only, then stop early. Confirm your transport or run a final remote system check, set two alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and arrive with time to spare for check-in. Leave phones and smartwatches secured as directed. Do a brief calming routine rather than last-minute cramming, and reread the on-screen instructions before starting.
Read each stem for the key descriptor, such as lesion morphology, distribution, time course, and relevant exposures, before looking at the options. Answer every item, flag uncertain ones if review is allowed, and watch the clock so you reserve time for flagged questions. Take scheduled breaks exactly as the proctor directs, and if a technical problem occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Present original, unexpired government-issued photo ID matching your registration name; confirm accepted ID types with the provider before test day.
Follow all proctor instructions on permitted items, electronics, and workspace setup. Unauthorized materials or devices may lead to dismissal, so confirm the exact list with the provider.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not copy, photograph, or share exam content. Exam content is confidential.
Breaks are governed by the provider's policy. Confirm in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops, and what supervision applies.
Scoring and the passing standard are set by the certifying body. Confirm the cut score, retake policy, and result-release timeline with the provider rather than relying on unofficial sources.
If you need testing accommodations, request and document them with the provider well before your appointment; approval timelines vary.
Report any technical failure, illness, or irregularity to the proctor or provider immediately and ask how it will be documented.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your seat or fee, so confirm the provider's late-arrival policy.