Examination Questions

Although we don’t endorse any specific exam study materials, many program directors and students use our Content Specifications (often called content outlines) as a preparation guide. The content outline for your discipline includes all of the areas your exam will cover. You may also contact relevant professional societies for study resource suggestions.

You’ll receive a Candidate Status Report after we process your application. Applicants using the primary pathway will receive it by mail; applicants using the postprimary pathway will find it online in the postprimary tool (accessible through your online account). Review the Candidate Status Report carefully to be sure your information is accurate. Then, follow the instructions on the document to schedule your exam appointment.  

The name on your Candidate Status Report must be an exact match of the name on the two forms of identification you plan to use at the test center. If it doesn’t and you don’t address the issue before your exam day:

• You won't be allowed into the test center
• You’ll lose your exam fee and your exam window closes
• You’ll need to submit a new application and pay another fee in order to be assigned a new exam window (which you will need to schedule a new exam appointment)

If the names don’t match, call ARRT at 651.687.0048 immediately.

If you’re a state licensing candidate taking an ARRT-administered exam and the names don’t match, contact your state entity directly to update your name. You can find your state entity’s phone number on your Candidate Status Report. (Not sure if you’re a state candidate? Check the ID number on your Candidate Status Report. The number for all state candidates begins with the number 9.)

Note: This rule also applies if your name has a cultural variation (for example, if your culture lists the surname first). Make sure your Candidate Status Report and ID cards both show the same variation.

Learn more about IDs at the test center by reviewing our handbooks. 

You must cancel your appointment at least 24 hours (one business day) before your scheduled appointment. Be sure to cancel Monday appointments no later than the appointment time on Friday.

If fewer than 24 hours remain until your scheduled appointment, you'll need to keep the appointment. If you don't, you’ll lose your exam fee, your exam window closes, and you’ll have to submit a new application before you can schedule a new exam appointment.

For ARRT certification and registration, you’ll have 365 days to schedule and complete your exam after we process your application. If you’re a state licensing candidate and ARRT is administering your exam, you'll have a different exam window, depending on your state. Learn more about state licensing exam windows.

Learn more about what to expect on exam day.

You'll need to bring two forms of acceptable identification. The first must be a valid government-issued photo ID with your signature; the second must be current (not expired) and must include your printed name and signature.

• If your name has a cultural variation (for example, your culture lists surnames first), make sure that your Candidate Status Report and both IDs show the same variation. 
• If you’re using a military ID, make sure your signature appears on it. (Some have a barcode instead.) The test center can’t accept military IDs without a signature. 
  Consult your ARRT handbook for the complete list of ID requirements.

You don't need to bring:

• Your Candidate Status Report
• Your own calculator (the test center will have one for you)

Learn more about what is and isn’t allowed into the testing room.

Although you may take breaks, the exam clock will continue to run. You’ll have to complete your tutorial, the exam itself, and an optional satisfaction survey within established times. Because breaks aren’t built into the appointment, it's best to take care of personal business before the exam and to keep comfort breaks to a minimum.

We’ll provide reasonable testing accommodations in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn more about applying for testing accommodations and what information you'll need to submit.

You may be turned away from the test center for a number of reasons. They include (but aren’t limited to):

• Not having two forms of valid identification
• Not having the name on your IDs match the name the test center retrieved from your Candidate Status Report
• Arriving late (due to bad weather, traffic, getting lost, or other issues)
• Appearing on the wrong date
• Appearing at the wrong test center

It’s your responsibility to ensure that you have proper identification, with matching names, and that you arrive on time and on the correct date. If the test center turns you away, you’ll forfeit your exam fees, and you’ll have to reapply to ARRT.

A missed appointment won’t count as one of your three attempts in three years, but the three year period will not reset.

Right after your computer-based tutorial at the test center, you’ll see a Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) on your computer screen. The NDA informs you that you are expressly prohibited from disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting the exam, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means without the prior expressed written permission of ARRT.

The screen informs you that you have two minutes to respond. If you don't respond within two minutes, or if you click "N" (which means you don’t accept the agreement), the exam will end. It’s impossible to restart the exam. You’ll forfeit your exam fee, and you’ll have to reapply to ARRT before you can schedule another appointment. However, this won’t count as one of your three attempts in three years.

 We make every effort to ensure that examinations are fairly administered in a comfortable and safe environment. If you believe that your exam was administered in a manner that substantially deviated from normal testing procedures, you may request a review of the administration procedures.  Learn more about exam administrative appeals.

Noise in the test center is not a valid reason to request an administrative appeal. It is impossible to provide a completely noise-free test environment. Test center staff will provide noise-reduction headphones or earplugs if you ask for them.

Learn more about exam scoring.

At the end of your exam, you'll receive a preliminary score. The score isn’t final, and it doesn’t confirm whether you’ve passed the exam.

ARRT will review your exam answers and confirm your eligibility before sending you an official score report. The score report will contain your final score.

We usually mail score reports (which contain your final score) within two weeks of the exam date. We don’t provide exam scores over the phone.

ARRT uses several quality-control procedures to ensure that all exams are scored with complete accuracy. It’s extremely unlikely that our scoring calculations will be incorrect. For a fee and within a certain amount of time, however, you may request a review of your score’s accuracy if you think a calculation error has occurred. Check your handbook for instructions and more information.

Not finding the information you need? Call us at 651.687.0048, then choose the option for earning an ARRT credential. Or, if you have an ARRT account, you can send us a message.