Test Day
Arrival and Check-In
Arrive at your testing center thirty 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 may only bring your ID documents, locker key, and a pair of foam earplugs in an unopened container 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.
Qualifying Identification
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 Authorization to Test 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
- Be unexpired and not clipped, stamped “void,” or otherwise marked as an invalid ID
Your Secondary ID must meet the following criteria:
- Be current
- 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.
Testing Center Environment
Testing rooms at Prometric testing centers are carefully controlled to allow for a testing experience that is comfortable and secure and with minimal distraction. All candidates are provided with an individual computer workstation that includes dividers to minimize visual distraction. Candidates are also provided with noise-reducing headsets and are permitted to bring foam earplugs to further reduce any unwanted noise. Earplugs must be in an unopened container and will be inspected by testing center staff.
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 preferences when it comes to temperature. 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.
Exam Navigation
All candidates are presented with an exam tutorial prior to beginning the exam. This 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.
Note-Taking
All candidates are provided with an erasable note board for note-taking. You may take notes during any of 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. Removing or attempting to remove the note board from the testing center is a breach of exam security and may result in an investigation.
Breaks
All candidates are offered a break after each fifty-question section. The fifteen-minute break after the second section is considered a “scheduled” break, as the break time is not counted against 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 displaying 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 a snack, a drink, or medication. Accessing study materials or electronic devices 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 fifteen minutes, your exam timer will begin to run again.
Disruptions to Testing
Prometric takes great care to provide an environment conducive to test-taking. However, on rare occasions unexpected events that impact the testing environment can occur. 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. However, if the resolution of the issue takes longer than an hour, or if the issue cannot be resolved on test day, you have the option to reschedule your exam for another 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.