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Exam day guide

NPPE exam day: proctoring setup and what to expect

What candidates who have actually sat the exam say to prepare for: the setup, the room scan, and the workflow that makes flagging questions actually useful.

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You have a 15-minute window from your scheduled start time to log on to the exam program. Log on within that window: missing it cancels the exam for that sitting. Connecting to the remote proctor after that can itself take up to 30 minutes and does not use any of your exam time, as long as you stay connected.

A day or two before

  • Read the scheduling email from Meazure Learning carefully, including your exact start time in your own time zone.
  • Reset your testing-portal password ahead of time so you are not doing it minutes before your start time.
  • Install the required browser/software and run the computer compatibility test.
  • Have valid, government-issued photo ID with a signature ready, for example a driver's licence, passport, or permanent resident card, per the NPPE candidate guide.

Room and desk setup

  • A quiet, lockable room where you will not be interrupted.
  • A clear desk with your back to the door.
  • No external monitor connected: a single screen only.
  • Laptop plugged into power for the full session.
  • Water, juice, or coffee is fine on the desk in a spill-proof container with no labels, per the NPPE candidate guide.

Check-in and room scan

  • You get a 15-minute window from your start time to log in; once connected, stay connected and wait rather than logging out, since connecting to your proctor can itself take up to 30 minutes and does not cost you exam time.
  • Your proctor connects by chat and checks your government-issued photo ID before asking for a scan of your room using your webcam.

During the exam

  • One optional, unpaid "comfort break" is allowed; the timer does not stop.
  • Flag any question you are unsure of and keep moving. You can return to flagged questions at the end.
  • Tell your proctor by chat when you are finished; they will walk you through final submission.

Second camera

New for 2026, effective the June 2026 administration

Per the current NPPE candidate guide, sittings from June 2026 onward add a second camera on top of your webcam. If you are writing the January or March 2026 sitting, this does not apply to you yet.

  • Bring a smartphone or tablet as a second camera; laptops cannot be used for this.
  • Position it 2-3 feet away in landscape mode, showing your hands and face, not your screen.
  • Keep it plugged into power for the full session; a charging bank is fine if there is no outlet in reach.
  • Stabilize it on a stand or a sturdy household item; books are not permitted as a stand.
  • Connect it to the same WiFi as your exam computer, and set it to Do Not Disturb.

Make flagging actually work for you

Flag it, then keep moving

One candidate reported flagging around 20 of the 110 questions and still having about an hour left over to review them at the end. Time is rarely the constraint on the NPPE: momentum is. If a question is confusing, make your best guess, flag it, and keep moving; come back with a clearer head once you've finished the rest.

Try the free sample questions to get a feel for question style before exam day, and check the results timeline so you know what to expect once you submit. For a shorter, first-person take on what the day actually felt like, read one candidate's exam day story on the blog.

Frequently asked questions

What's the remote-proctoring setup like for the NPPE?
You log in from your own computer, and a proctor connects by chat, checks your government-issued photo ID, and asks for a scan of your room using your webcam. For sittings from June 2026 onward, you also connect a second camera device; see below.See the timed simulator.
Do I need a second camera for the NPPE?
Starting with the June 2026 administration, yes: bring a smartphone or tablet, positioned 2-3 feet away in landscape mode, showing your hands and face rather than your screen, per the NPPE candidate guide. Laptops cannot be used for this. Sittings before June 2026 do not require it.
Is there an in-person option for the NPPE?
Test centres exist only as an option for exceptional cases: remote proctoring is the default delivery method. If you need an in-person sitting, request it directly from your regulator, since availability varies by region.
Are breaks allowed during the NPPE?
One optional, unpaid "comfort break" is allowed. The exam clock does not stop during it.
What if my exam is disrupted by a technical issue?
Rare technical hiccups, such as a browser crash or a dropped connection, can happen during remote proctoring. If one happens to you, report it to your proctor right away and follow up with your regulator afterward: build a little slack into your plans on exam day rather than assuming a perfectly smooth connection.