EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION

 

The ABCP Certifying Examinations are administered during an established four-week testing period on a daily basis, Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays, at computer-based testing facilities managed by PTC. PTC has several hundred testing sites in the United States, as well as Canada.

 

Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. To find a testing center near you visit: http://www.prometric.com/abcp or call Prometic at (800) 741-0934. Please note: Hours and days of availability vary at different centers. You will not be able to schedule your examination appointment until you have received a Scheduling Authorization from PTC.

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SCHEDULING YOUR EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT

 

Follow the steps on your Scheduling Authorization to schedule your examination appointment with Prometric.

• Appointment times are first-come, first-served, so schedule your appointment as soon as you receive your Scheduling Authorization.

• Candidates who wait until the last minute run the risk of missing out on their preferred date, time, and/or testing center. Candidates unable to schedule an appointment will forfeit their fees.
   

After you make your test appointment, Prometric will send you a confirmation email with the date, time, and location of your exam. Check this confirmation carefully and contact Prometric at (800) 741-0934 if you do not receive this email confirmation or if there is a mistake with your appointment.

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CHANGING YOUR EXAMINATION APPOINTMENT
 

Candidates can reschedule their examination appointments within the same testing period as long as the request is submitted within the timeframe described below. Reschedule within the permitted time frame by calling or going to the Prometric website: http://www.prometric.com/ABCP.  

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If your exam strategy is to study longer and test later in the exam period, then plan for regional weather or unforeseen events like sudden need to change venue (power outages, life events, illness, staffing...) or other last minute issues impacting test centers. The ABCP & PTC has one exam period per year that closes with all test centers on Aug. 31.

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PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION

 

• Check your driver’s license, passport, non-driver state issued ID or U.S. Military ID.

  • Is it expired?

  • Does the first and last name on your ID match the first and last name on your Scheduling Authorization email?

  • Proctors at the Prometric testing center will refuse admission to candidates with expired ID, IDs with names that do not match their records, and temporary paper IDs. Candidates will be marked as no-shows and will forfeit their exam fees.

• Check your PTC Scheduling Authorization email and Prometric Appointment Confirmation email to make sure everything is accurate (i.e., your first and last name, exam name, appointment date, time and location).

• Make yourself familiar with the location of your test center and parking options and check the weather and traffic conditions before you leave for the test center. Allow plenty of time as late arrival may prevent you from testing.

• In the event of inclement weather, check the Prometric website for site closures: https://www.prometric.com/closures

• Prometric’s website provides information on what you can expect on your test day, including a walkthrough of check in and security procedures: https://www.prometric.com/test-center-security.

• This Handbook provides the Content Outline for the Examination (see appendix). Use this to help you start studying for the examination.
   

Review What to Expect at the Test Center and Rules for the Examination on the next pages before your appointment.

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WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE TESTING CENTER
 

• Candidate Check-In

  • Candidates will be asked to:

    • present their IDs.

    • empty and turn out their pockets.

    • walk through a metal detector or get “wanded”.

  • Eyeglasses, jewelry, and other accessories will be inspected.

    • Jewelry other than wedding and engagement rings is prohibited.

    • Leave these at home or place them in your locker.

  • Religious headwear may be worn into the testing room; however, it is subject to inspection by test center staff.

  • Prometric provides lockers to store purses, backpacks, mobile phones, jackets, food, drinks and medical supplies.

  • Water in a clear plastic containers (no labels) may be brought into the testing room.

 

• During the Exam

  • No breaks are scheduled during the exam.

  • Candidates are only permitted to leave the testing room to use the restroom or access food, drink, or medicine from their assigned locker. The exam timer will NOT be paused.

  • Smoking is prohibited at the testing center.

  • All examinations are monitored and may be recorded in both audio and video format.
     

• Keep in mind:

  • Other exams will be administered at the same time as your examination.

  • You may hear ambient noises such as typing, coughing, or people entering and exiting the testing room that cannot be avoided.

  • Prometric is unable to provide a completely noise-free environment.

  • Headphones may be requested to minimize the impact of ambient noise.

  • Proctors will periodically walk through the testing room as part of their monitoring process.

  • See Prometric’s website for more information about what to expect on testing day.

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RULES FOR THE EXAMINATION

 

Read the information below carefully. You are responsible for adhering to the examination rules while at the testing center.

 

• DO NOT BRING
  These items are strictly prohibited at the testing center. Leave these items in your car or your assigned locker.

  • Cell phones and all other electronic devices

  • Watches

  • Jackets/coats/bulky clothing such as sweatshirts

  • Hats (except hats worn for religious reasons)

  • Jewelry, including watches and wearable technology.

 

• You may NOT access the following at any time during your exam or breaks: papers, books, any reference materials; electronic devices including your cell phone. Candidates may access the following items from their locker: snacks, drinks, medicine, or other personal healthcare items.

• No questions concerning content of the examination may be asked during the examination session.  Read carefully the directions that are provided on screen at the beginning of the examination session.

• You are prohibited from leaving the testing room while your examination is in session, except for going to the restroom. Candidates who do go to their lockers or the restroom will need to repeat the security screening before being permitted to reenter the testing room. Candidates who leave the center will have their examinations terminated.

• See Prometric’s statement on Test Center Security for more information.

 

Contact PTC at (212) 356-0660 or www.ptcny.com/contact with any questions about the Examination Rules.

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Irregular or improper behavior that is observed, made apparent by statistical analysis, or uncovered by other means before, during or after the examination will be considered a violation of these rules and may constitute grounds for invalidation of a candidate’s examination. AHSCP will initiate an investigation and request suitable analyses and appropriate documentation.

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Exam Scoring: Only correct answers are scored and there are no deductions from total score for wrong answers.

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Admission of Candidates to the Examination: Upon receipt of an applicant's completed application and fee, the credentials will be evaluated. At its discretion the Board will admit the applicant to the examination; or, if the applicant's background is found to be deficient, the Board will suggest training and/or clinical pharmacology experience. An accepted applicant (candidate) will be notified as soon as possible following the application deadline regarding his/her eligibility and assignment to an examination center. Candidates will be admitted to the examination upon presentation of appropriate picture ID.

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Scoring the Examination: In this type of examination no candidate is expected to know the correct answer to every question. Even if the candidate is not familiar with all aspects of a particular question, he/she should answer all questions since there is no additional penalty for a wrong answer. Double answers and blank answers are treated as incorrect answers.

 

Reporting of Scores: Candidates will receive score reports with normative data, by mail, approximately three months after the examination date. The mailing address listed in item #3 of the application will be used. Report any changes to address, immediately.

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Integrity of Scores: If, as evidenced by observation or statistical analysis of answer sheets, giving or obtaining unauthorized information or aid has occurred, a candidate's scores will be invalidated and other appropriate action will be taken.

All candidates for these examinations must acknowledge that they are aware of these regulations for maintaining the integrity of individual scores by signing the statement included in the examination book.

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Next Testing Period: Weekdays between July 1, thru August 31, 2025.
(July 4 or the National Recognized Holiday)

We will be using an online format which may permit you to sit the exam at a site near you. We now have sites throughout the USA and Canada where you can sit the examinations.