Certified Passive House Designer / Consultant exam-day guide
Certified Passive House Designer / Consultant · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID in the name used for registration. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required; do not rely on a photocopy or digital copy.
Admission confirmation and appointment details
Print or save the confirmation email showing date, start time, test centre or remote-proctoring link, and any candidate number. Re-read it for arrival time, which is usually earlier than the start time. needs_review: exact arrival buffer and check-in window vary by provider.
Permitted reference materials
Passive House criteria values, boundary-condition assumptions, and unit-conversion factors are worth having in memory, but confirm with the provider whether any printed standards, formula sheets, or your own notes are allowed in the room. Many computer-based exams permit nothing; assume nothing until confirmed.
Approved calculator
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether an on-screen calculator is supplied. Practise the PHPP-style arithmetic you will face: U-value build-ups, thermal-bridge surcharges, ventilation heat-recovery efficiency, specific heat demand, and primary-energy factors.
Silent, non-smart watch or none at all
Some providers ban all wrist devices, others allow simple watches. Confirm the rule and plan to rely on the on-screen timer. Do not bring smart watches, fitness bands, or phones into the testing area.
Comfort and logistics items
Layers for variable room temperature, water in a permitted container, any medication declared in advance, and reading glasses if used. Confirm with the provider what may be brought to the desk; loose paper, pens, and bags are commonly prohibited.
Remote-proctoring setup if applicable
If testing online, run the system check days ahead: camera, microphone, stable connection, browser lock, cleared desk, and a quiet private room. Confirm with the provider the room-scan procedure and the fallback if the connection drops.
Exam-day plan for time and travel
Know the route, parking, and a backup transport option. Arrive with margin so a delay does not consume exam time. For remote exams, confirm the check-in window and the provider's late-arrival policy.
Question-strategy plan
Decide in advance how you will handle multi-step calculation items: write the given values, state the formula, carry units, sanity-check the magnitude, and flag uncertain items to revisit. Decide a target pace from the number of items and the time allowance.
Personal readiness check
Sleep, a normal meal, and a short warm-up reviewing your own formula sheet and common unit traps. Avoid last-minute cramming of new material the morning of the exam.
Confirm scoring and result-release details
needs_review: pass marks, score reporting, and result timelines are set by the provider and certifying body. Confirm them from your admission documents rather than assuming a percentage.
Backup contact and contingency
Save the provider's candidate-support contact and know the procedure if you fall ill, the test centre has a technical failure, or the remote session cannot start. Confirm with the provider how such incidents are documented and whether rescheduling applies.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Re-read your own one-page summary of Passive House criteria, boundary conditions, and the calculation chain from envelope to demand to primary energy. Work through a handful of full calculation items under timed conditions and mark where you lose time.
Rehearse the arithmetic you will actually perform: U-value layers with surface resistances, thermal-bridge add-ons, window installation thermal bridges, ventilation efficiency with frost protection, and conversion between delivered energy and primary energy. Check every unit you habitually mistype.
Confirm logistics: ID, admission documents, travel, remote-proctoring system check, permitted calculator, and permitted materials. Pack the night before. Re-read the provider's candidate rules so no surprise at check-in.
Light review only: skim your summary and formula sheet, then stop. Prepare clothes and documents, set two alarms, eat normally, and protect sleep. Do not attempt new practice exams late at night.
Eat, arrive early, and do a ten-minute warm-up on formulas and unit conversions only. At a test centre, follow check-in instructions and store prohibited items as directed. For remote exams, start the check-in early and complete the room scan exactly as instructed.
Read the instructions and note the number of items and time allowance. Do a quick scan to identify calculation-heavy sections. Start with items you can answer confidently to build momentum, and keep a running sense of pace rather than watching the clock constantly.
For calculations, write givens, formula, substitution with units, and result, then sanity-check the magnitude. For conceptual items, eliminate options that contradict Passive House boundary conditions or the certification logic. Flag uncertain items and return to them; never leave a blank if there is no penalty for guessing.
Confirm every item has an answer, revisit flagged items, and check that units and orders of magnitude are plausible. Submit deliberately and confirm the submission screen before leaving or closing the session.
Rules to check
Bring the original government-issued photo ID in the registered name; confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether additional identification is required.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted items exactly. Phones, smart watches, notes, and loose paper are commonly prohibited in the testing area; confirm the list for your exam rather than assuming.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share, photograph, or reproduce exam content afterward. Exam content is confidential.
Confirm with the provider in advance how breaks work, whether the clock stops during breaks, and what identification or re-check-in is needed after a break. Do not leave the testing area without permission.
If you test remotely, keep the camera and microphone on as instructed, keep the desk clear, and stay in frame. Unapproved movement or devices may be treated as a violation; confirm the provider's specific rules.
Report technical failures, illness, or interruptions immediately to the invigilator or proctor and follow their documentation procedure; confirm with the provider how such incidents affect scoring or rescheduling.
Confirm with the provider the scoring method, whether wrong answers are penalised, and the pass mark. If there is no penalty, answer every item.
Results, certificates, and any retake policy are set by the provider and certifying body. Confirm timelines and procedures from official admission documents rather than second-hand sources.