Test Day

What happens when I arrive at my testing center on my exam day?

Arrive at your testing center at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time to allow for an efficient check-in process. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a Test Center Administrator (TCA) and asked to store any personal belongings in an assigned locker. You will take your ID documents and locker key to the check-in station. Turn off all electronic devices when storing them in your locker.

During the check-in process, the TCA will do the following:

• Ask you to present qualifying identification (see next section for more information).
• Scan your primary ID document.
• Take a digital photograph.
• Ask you to sign the exam logbook and verify your signature.
• Take your fingerprint digitally.
• Scan you with a metal-detecting wand.

What types of identification should I bring?

All candidates are required to present two forms of qualifying identification to be granted admission to the testing room. The documents must both exactly match the first and last name(s) in your ATT letter. If the names on your ID do not exactly match your registration, you will not be permitted to test, and you will be considered a no-show.

You must present one primary ID, such as a driver’s license or a passport, and one secondary ID that includes your name and signature, such as a credit card.

Your primary ID must meet the following criteria:

• Be government issued,
• Include a photo that can be used to positively identify you,
• Be pre-printed with your name and include your signature, and
• Be unexpired and not clipped, stamped “void,” or otherwise marked as an invalid ID.

Your secondary ID must meet the following criteria:

• Be current (if there is an expiration date, it must be unexpired), and
• Include your pre-printed name and your signature.

If you have any questions about your IDs or the name on your registration, contact FSBPT Exam Services well in advance of your scheduled test date.

What can I bring into the test room?

Ear plugs - You may bring soft ear plugs to use at the test site. The ear plugs will be inspected by Prometric staff prior to entering the testing room. The Prometric testing center will also supply headphones to help dampen noise. Candidates should expect that there will be some background noise during their examination. There may be candidates in surrounding cubicles taking typing-intensive examinations. There may be other candidates entering and leaving the testing room during the course of your examination. The headphones will help to dampen noise that you may find distracting.

Water - You may bring water into the test room with the following conditions:

• Water must be in a clear or transparent container with a lid or cap.
• All labels must be removed.
• You will need to remove the lid/cap for visual inspection by the test center staff.

Should the container not meet the requirements outlined above, you will be required to put it in your locker and will not be allowed to take it into the test room.

What are the testing rooms like?

Testing rooms at Prometric testing centers are carefully controlled to allow for a testing experience that is comfortable, secure, and has minimal distraction. All candidates are provided with an individual computer workstation that includes dividers to minimize visual distraction.

Temperature is controlled in Prometric testing centers at a level that is intended to be comfortable for all candidates; however, this temperature can vary between testing centers, and individuals often have different temperature preferences. It is a good idea to dress in layers, so you are prepared for varying temperatures. Security policies prohibit wearing heavy jackets in the testing room.

How do I navigate the exam?

All candidates are presented with an exam tutorial prior to beginning the exam. This timed tutorial will explain the functionality of the exam and allow you to practice with the exam features for a few minutes before the start of the actual exam. Time spent in the tutorial does not count against the overall exam time.

You can navigate freely through the questions in a particular section of the exam and return to any you wish to review further. You may also mark questions to help you remember which questions to return to later. However, once you end a section you will not be able to return to any questions in that section.

It is important that you read the instructions and alerts presented during the exam. If you inadvertently skip a section of the exam and do no not achieve a passing score, your score will not count towards the lifetime limit. You will have to register and pay again to retake the exam during a future scheduled administration. We strongly recommend practicing exam navigation using the demonstration examination.

Can I take notes during the exam?

All candidates are provided with an erasable note board and markers for notetaking. You may only take notes during the timed sections of the exam. The note board must remain at your desk during testing and must be returned to the testing center staff at the conclusion of the exam.

Can I take breaks during the exam?

All candidates are offered a break after each section of the exam. The fifteen-minute break after the second section is considered a “scheduled” break, as the break time is not subtracted from the overall exam timer. The other breaks are “unscheduled,” and any time spent on these optional breaks will be deducted from the overall exam time. You are only permitted to take a break when your exam is on the break screen.

When taking a break, you will be asked to sign out of the testing room and provide a digital fingerprint.
You may open your assigned locker only to access food, drink, or medication. Accessing study materials or electronic devices, including cell phones, is strictly prohibited and will be investigated as a violation of FSBPT’s security policies.

Make sure to account for any check-in and check-out time when taking a break. If your scheduled break exceeds the allotted 15 minutes, your exam timer will begin to run again.

What if there is a disruption to testing?

Prometric takes great care to provide an environment conducive to test-taking. However, on rare occasions, unexpected events can occur that may impact the testing environment. If you experience any issues while you test, your first step should be to notify a Prometric staff member who can provide guidance and make every effort to address the problem.

If the disruption you experience is resolved within one hour, you will be expected to resume and complete your exam. If the resolution of the issue takes longer than an hour, you have the option of rescheduling your examination for another test date as soon as possible. A Prometric agent will contact you to schedule a new exam appointment.

If you feel that your testing environment impacted your ability to complete the exam, notify FSBPT immediately. FSBPT staff will review your concern and respond with the results of their investigation.