Exam Day: What to Expect

Examination Format

There are 200 questions on each BPS specialty certification examination. The multiple-choice format is used exclusively. Four possible answers are provided for each question, with only ONE designated as the correct or best choice. It is to the candidate’s advantage to answer every question on the examination, since the final score is based on the total number of questions answered correctly. There is no penalty for selecting an incorrect choice. Each question is carefully written, referenced, and validated to determine its accuracy and applicability.

Administration of the Examination

The examination day schedule is provided below. Candidates may complete and return the examination materials to proctors before the scheduled end of either test session.

Activity Time

Admission Documents

On the day of the examination, all candidates MUST present their Admission Permits AND valid photo identifications with signature (e.g., driver’s license, hospital identification, passport) in order to be admitted to the testing room. Candidates who arrive after the examination has begun and candidates without valid photo identification and an admission permit may not be admitted to the examination. If that occurs, their fees will be forfeited.

Admission Permits will be available online two weeks prior to the examination.

Candidates will not be permitted to enter the exam room unless proper identification as described above is presented.

Permitted Materials

Candidates must provide their own sharpened #2 (or 2B) pencils, good eraser and hand-held, silent, non-printing, battery or solar powered calculator for use during the examination. Candidates will NOT be permitted to have reference books, study notes, or certain personal items in the examination room, including:

• Cell phones
• Cameras
• iPads or other electronic devices
• PDAs (personal digital assistants)
• Pagers
• Radio or headset devices
• Recorders
• Purses
• Briefcases
• Food or drink
• Hats (other than ceremonial or religious headwear)
• Jackets
• Personal papers

All non-test materials listed above must be stored in areas designated for that purpose.

Note: Possession of any non-permitted electronic items during the exam will be grounds for dismissal from the room and forfeiture of all fees paid.

Test instructions will be provided to candidates on the use of the answer sheet. Only answers properly marked on the answer sheet will be scored. Answers written in the test book will not be scored. The test booklet and the answer sheet are the property of BPS. BOTH must be returned to the proctors at the end of EACH session of the examination.

Security

BPS and its testing agency maintain examination administration and security standards that are designed to assure that all candidates are provided the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. The testing sites are monitored by proctors for security purposes. Candidates will be allowed to leave the room during the test administration to use the rest room facilities. Only one person will be excused from the room at a time and a proctor will accompany the individual to and from the rest room. Candidates are encouraged to place their answer sheet inside the examination booklet whenever they leave their seats.

Before beginning the examination, candidates will be asked to read and sign a Statement of Confidentiality. This statement restricts candidates from sharing any information about the examination with other individuals, including discussions with fellow test takers following the examination, and the sharing of information with colleagues who might be planning to take the examination in the near future.

Chief Examiners are authorized by BPS and its testing consultant to maintain a secure and proper test administration environment. This may include the relocation of candidates prior to or during the examination and/or the dismissal of candidates from the examination. Candidates will be inspected for devices such as hand-held scanners, cameras, tape recorders, or other electronic equipment. Areas around the testing room (e.g. hallways, restrooms, telephone stalls) are monitored throughout the examination for security purposes.

Candidates may not communicate with other candidates during the examination. Anyone who provides or receives assistance during the test administration will be dismissed from the testing room. Candidates may not photograph, record, or memorize any examination material. Other causes for dismissal include, but are not limited to: using notes, references, or any test aids; using unauthorized calculators; causing a disruption to the test environment; and removing any examination material from the testing site. Candidates who are dismissed from the testing room forfeit all fees.

Candidates’ calculators and wristwatches will be checked prior to admission to the testing room for word processing capabilities. If either is found to be a word processor, it will be confiscated by a proctor and returned at the end of the test day. Personnel from the BPS, its Specialty Councils, the BPS testing agency, and/or their delegates will proctor the examination. No one is permitted in the testing room during the examination except for the candidates and persons authorized by BPS and/or by the testing agency.

Use of Calculators

In order to provide a realistic environment for performing calculations in the solution of practice problems, hand-held, silent, non-printing, battery or solar powered calculators may be used. Hand-held calculators that contain addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and log functions are appropriate for the examination. Candidates may NOT use calculators or any other devices that have either word processing or word storage capabilities (complete A-Z keypad). All calculators will be examined by a proctor before a candidate is admitted to the examination area. Candidates are responsible for providing their own calculators.