Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) exam-day guide
Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exact appointment time, delivery format, and testing location with the provider
Exam logistics for the Phius CPHC exam are set by Phius and its testing partner, and details can change between exam windows. Before you study around a schedule, log into your Phius account and read the current candidate handbook or appointment confirmation. Verify whether you are sitting a remotely proctored exam or an in-person test-center exam, since the two require different preparation (room scan and system check versus travel and arrival buffer). Do not rely on secondhand forum posts for timing, fees, or rescheduling rules; confirm with the provider.
Government-issued photo ID matching your registration name
Testing vendors require a valid, unexpired government ID (passport, driver's license, or national ID) whose name matches your registration exactly. A mismatch between your registration and your ID is a common cause of being turned away. If your name changed or your registration has a typo, contact the provider well before exam day to correct it. Confirm the specific accepted ID types with the provider rather than assuming.
Your admission or confirmation document and any candidate ID number
Print or save the appointment confirmation email and note any candidate or eligibility number. Some test centers ask to see the confirmation at check-in, and remote proctors may ask you to read an appointment code. Keep a digital copy on your phone as backup, but expect to stow the phone during the exam.
A quiet, private room and a stable internet connection if testing remotely
Remote proctoring typically requires a private room with a closed door, a clear desk, no other people, and a reliable wired or strong Wi-Fi connection. Run the vendor's system test on the same machine and network you will use on exam day, at roughly the same time of day, to catch bandwidth or firewall problems. Have a backup plan (a phone hotspot or a second location) if your connection drops.
A compatible computer with the required browser, webcam, microphone, and power cable
Remote proctoring platforms have specific operating-system, browser, and webcam requirements, and they usually require you to close other applications. Update the browser and operating system a few days ahead so a forced update does not interrupt you mid-exam. Plug in the power cable and disable sleep, notifications, and automatic updates for the exam window.
Permitted reference materials, only if the provider allows them
Whether the CPHC exam is open-book, and which references (for example, a passive house design handbook or a standards document) are permitted, is a provider policy that varies by exam version. Do not bring books, notes, or a second screen unless your candidate handbook explicitly permits them; unauthorized materials can void your result. Confirm the permitted-materials list with the provider.
A basic calculator if permitted, plus scratch paper only if allowed
The exam includes quantitative work such as heating demand, specific heat load, and energy-balance checks, so a calculator helps. Many remote platforms supply an on-screen calculator and prohibit physical ones, and scratch paper may need to be shown to the proctor and destroyed afterward. Check the allowed-tools list in advance and confirm with the provider.
Water, a snack, and any medication for before or after the exam
Keep these outside the testing area and use them only during scheduled breaks or after the exam, according to the provider's rules. Staying hydrated and avoiding a heavy meal right before a long exam helps concentration. If you have a documented accommodation need, arrange it with the provider in advance rather than on exam day.
A plan for breaks and time management
Know in advance whether breaks are scheduled or optional, whether the clock stops during breaks, and how many questions and how much time the exam contains. The candidate handbook states the current format; confirm with the provider. Decide your pacing strategy beforehand so you do not spend too long on one calculation-heavy item.
A review sheet of your own weak topics, studied before exam day
Prepare a one-page summary of formulas and concepts you tend to forget, such as envelope U-value assembly math, thermal-bridge treatment, ventilation heat-recovery efficiency, and the difference between demand and load metrics. Review it in the final days, then put it away. Do not bring it into the exam unless the provider permits notes.
A backup plan for technology or travel failure
For remote exams, know the vendor's support phone number and how to reconnect if the session drops. For in-person exams, plan your route, parking, and a fallback transport option, and arrive with buffer time. Save the provider's contact details where you can reach them without entering the testing area.
Confirm current exam content outline and scoring from the provider
Content emphasis and passing standards are set by Phius and can be revised. Before final review, download the current exam blueprint or candidate handbook from the provider and weight your study time to match it. Do not assume a passing score or question count you saw in an older study guide; confirm with the provider.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new material to consolidating. Reread your own summary sheet of formulas and weak topics, and work a handful of calculation problems end to end without notes so you can see where you stall. Confirm your appointment details, ID, and permitted-materials list against the candidate handbook, and resolve any name or scheduling discrepancy with the provider now rather than on exam day. If testing remotely, run the vendor's system check on your exam computer and network, and clear the desk area you will use. Protect sleep: do not plan late-night cramming in these final days.
Do a light review only: skim your summary sheet and the exam content outline, then stop. Prepare and lay out your ID, confirmation document, charger, water, and snack. For remote testing, close background applications, disable notifications and automatic updates, and confirm the webcam and microphone work. For in-person testing, confirm the address, travel time, parking, and arrival buffer, and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at your usual time. Recheck the start time and time zone in your confirmation, since remote appointments can be listed in a different zone than you expect.
Eat a normal breakfast and limit caffeine to your usual amount so you are not jittery. Log in or arrive early per the provider's instructions; remote check-in with identity verification and a room scan can take longer than expected. Have your ID and confirmation within reach. Close every other application, silence your phone, and put it out of reach unless the proctor instructs otherwise. Take a few minutes to breathe and reread your pacing plan before the clock starts.
Read each question fully before answering, and watch for qualifiers such as 'annual heating demand' versus 'peak heating load', or 'primary energy' versus 'source energy'. Do calculation items in a fixed order: write the given values and units, state the formula, compute, then sanity-check the magnitude against typical passive house ranges. If an item stalls you, flag it and move on; return after clearing the easier questions. Use only permitted tools and references. If the session drops or a technical problem occurs, stop and contact the vendor's support immediately rather than continuing blindly.
Note which topics felt weak while the memory is fresh, in case you need to retake or want to deepen your practice. Confirm with the provider how and when results are reported and what the retake policy is, since these are provider policies that can change. Do not discuss specific exam questions with others in a way that violates the candidate agreement.
Rules to check
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration exactly. If the names differ, contact the provider before exam day to correct the record; do not expect an exception at check-in.
Follow the provider's rules on permitted materials, calculators, scratch paper, and second screens. Unauthorized materials or devices in the testing area can lead to your session being terminated or your result being voided. Confirm the allowed list with the provider.
Expect identity verification and, for remote exams, a room scan and continuous proctoring. Keep your desk clear, stay in camera view, and do not leave the room except during an approved break.
Breaks, their timing, and whether the clock stops during them are set by the provider and stated in the candidate handbook. Ask before the exam if it is unclear, and do not assume you can pause the clock at will.
Scoring and the passing standard are set by Phius and may be revised. Do not rely on a passing score quoted in older study material; confirm the current standard with the provider.
Keep exam content confidential. Do not copy, photograph, record, or share exam questions, and do not bring in or reproduce material from commercial question banks; doing so can breach the candidate agreement.
If a technical failure occurs during a remote exam, stop and contact the vendor's support immediately and follow their instructions for documenting the incident, rather than attempting workarounds that a proctor may treat as a violation.
Arrange any accommodation for a disability or medical need with the provider well before exam day; accommodations are generally not granted at the testing site on the day of the exam.