Prometric Testing Centers: What to expect on exam day?

The alarm clock is ringing. Your heart is beating fast. Today is the day of your Prometric exam. If you are taking the CPA exam, USMLE, NCLEX or any other professional certification, going to a Prometric testing center for the time can be scary. The security checks, the new place, the stakes. It is normal to feel nervous.

But here is the good news: getting ready for the exam is not about studying, it is also about knowing what to expect when you get to the testing center. This guide will walk you through every step of your Prometric testing center experience from when you arrive to when you finish so you can focus on doing your best on the Prometric exam.

Your exam day preparation starts at night. Here is what you need to do:

The Night Before

Get a night's sleep: do not stay up late studying. Your brain needs rest to work well. Try to sleep for at least 7-8 hours.

• Get your documents ready: make sure you have a government-issued ID with a current photo and signature. The name on your ID must match the name on your Notice to Schedule or exam authorization.
• Pick out clothes: Wear layers that you can add or remove because the testing room temperature can vary. Avoid wearing much jewelry or complicated clothes that might cause problems during security checks.
• Eat a meal: Have a good dinner and plan to have a big breakfast. You want to have energy that lasts, not a sugar crash in the middle of the Prometric exam.

What to Bring to the Prometric Testing Center?

You must bring:

• A government-issued photo ID, like a passport, drivers license or state ID.
• Your exam authorization or Notice to Schedule confirmation.
• Your locker key, which you will get when you check in.
• You can bring these things to store in your locker.
• Your wallet and keys.
• Your mobile phone but it must stay in your locker during the Prometric exam.
• Snacks and water for breaks.
• Medication if you need it.
• Eyeglasses but they will be checked for hidden cameras.
• You cannot bring these things into the testing room:
• Calculators because most exams have an on-screen calculator
• Notes or study materials
• Watches
• Food or drinks
• Hats or headwear except for religious reasons and they will be checked
• Jewelry except for wedding or engagement rings

Getting to the Testing Center: Timing is Important

Get to the testing center 30-45 minutes before your scheduled Prometric exam time. This is not a suggestion, it is necessary. Your appointment time is when your Prometric exam is supposed to start, not when you should arrive. Checking in takes time and if you are late you might not be able to take your Prometric exam.

Finding Your Testing Center

If you have never been to the testing center before, think about driving a few days before your Prometric exam. Try to go at the time of day as your scheduled Prometric exam to see what the traffic is like. Find out where to park and where the entrance's. This will help you feel more prepared and less stressed on the day of your Prometric exam.

Some people even pay for the Prometrics Test Drive program, which's like a practice run. It costs $30 and lets you go through the whole check-in and testing process before your actual Prometric exam day. It is worth it for people who're really nervous.

The Check-In Process: What Happens Step by Step

When you get to the Prometric testing center you will meet a Test Center Administrator. Here is what happens next:

Step 1: Checking Your Identity

The administrator will look at your government-issued ID carefully. They are checking for:

• Expiration date to make sure it is valid.
• Photo match to make sure it is really you.
• Name match to make sure it matches your exam authorization.
• Signs of tampering or alteration.

Tip: if you have changed your name recently make sure your ID matches your exam registration exactly. If it does not match you might not be able to take your Prometric exam.

Step 2: Getting a Locker

You will get a locker and a key. You have to put all your things in this locker including:

• Your mobile phone and smartwatch
• Your wallet and purse
• Your jacket and any other outerwear except for one layer you can wear in the testing room
• Any bags or briefcases
• Study materials and notes
• Food and drinks
• You can only keep your ID and locker key with you.

Step 3: Biometric Registration

Prometric uses technology to prevent cheating on the exam. The time you go they will:

• Take pictures of your fingerprints three from each hand
• Take a digital photo of you
• Scan your ID information
• After that you can just use your fingerprint to prove who you are.

Step 4: Security Check

This is where the security checks get really thorough. You will:

• Empty your pockets. Turn them inside out
• Go through a metal detector
• Have a visual inspection of anything you are wearing including:
  • Eyeglasses to make sure they do not have hidden cameras.
  • Jewelry except for wedding and engagement rings.
  • Hair accessories, like hair ties or clips.
  • Clothing to make sure it does not have any hidden things.

This might feel like a lot but everyone has to go through the same checks.

Step 5: Understanding Break Policies

Before you go into the testing room look at the color-coded tag on your locker key. Prometric uses colors to tell you what you can do during breaks:

Different exams have rules about breaks so pay attention to the colors and the signs in the testing center.

Inside the Testing Room: The Exam Experience

The Testing Environment

You will be taken to a computer workstation in a room. The room is designed to be comfortable and distraction-free:

Each workstation has a divider to block out people

• The chairs are ergonomic
• The computer monitors are adjustable
• The keyboards and mice are cleaned between users

What You Will Get?

At your workstation you will get:

• Erasable noteboards and markers to take notes
• Noise-reduction options, like earplugs or headphones
• An on-screen calculator because most exams do not let you bring your own

During the Exam

You will be watched by video cameras and the Test Center Administrator will check on you sometimes. This is to make sure everything is fair and honest.

Do not bring anything from your locker into the testing room except during breaks and then it depends on the rules for your exam.

If you need help raise your hand to get the administrators attention.

Taking Breaks: What is Allowed?

Most exams that last a long time have scheduled or breaks. Here is what you need to know:

Break Procedures during Prometric Centers:

When you want to take a break:

• Tell the administrator or pause your exam if you can
• Leave the testing room
• Go through security checks again
• Get things from your locker if you are allowed to
• Go to the testing room through security checks again

Break Tips

• Use breaks to stand up stretch and rest your mind
• Do not spend too much time on breaks because it counts against your total exam time
• Use breaks to clear your mind and refocus

After the Exam: What to Do Next

When you finish your exam:

• You will submit it electronically
• Some exams give you results right away but others take longer
• Get your things from your locker
• Check out with the administrator
• Get any papers you need
• Do not talk about the exam with anyone in the testing center or on your way out. You have to keep the exam confidential.

Tips for Success

• Minimize Stress
• Visit the testing center before your exam if you can
• Read the rules for your exam carefully
• Wear clothes and do not wear too much jewelry
• Get plenty of rest and eat well before your exam

What If Something Goes Wrong?

If you have problems, tell the administrator right away. Do not panic, because the administrators are trained to help. If something big goes wrong write it down and tell your exam provider. 

Remember going to a testing center can be scary but everyone who has taken a professional exam has been through the same thing. The security checks are there to protect your exam and your certification.

Thoughts: You Have Got This

The Prometric testing center is a place where they try to make everything fair for you. They want to make sure you can show what you know in a normal environment. The security checks are very thorough. The whole process is very formal.. If you know what is going to happen you can feel confident and focused when you go in.

You have been studying for your exam for a while. Now take some time to think about what it will be like to take the exam. Imagine yourself getting to the testing center early checking in without any problems sitting down at your workstation and showing everything you have learned.

The security checks the scans and the cameras are not things to worry about. They are proof that the certificate you are trying to get's important. It means something when you get it.

So set your alarm clock, get your ID ready, eat a meal and go to the Prometric testing center feeling ready to show what you know. You have been getting ready, for this moment for a time. Now. Do your best.

Luck. You have got this!