What to Bring to the NHA CET Exam: ID, Arrival Time, and Check-In Rules

As of November 2026, you need one thing above all to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam: a current government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, showing a current photograph, your signature, and a permanent address. The name on it must match the name you registered under exactly. If the address on your ID differs from your registration, bring proof of address, such as a current utility bill that matches the ID. NHA’s Candidate Handbook (updated October 5, 2026) says proctors, including remote proctors, must verify your identity before you enter the exam, and a proctor who cannot verify you should deny access. NHA’s handbook does not publish an arrival time, but PSI, the testing vendor, recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before a test center appointment. The exam itself is 120 items in 2 hours, 100 scored and 20 unscored pretest items, with a passing scaled score of 390 out of 500. You can test at your school, at a PSI testing center, or through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), and the check-in rules differ for each.

Figures current as of November 2026, from the NHA Candidate Handbook (updated October 5, 2026), the NHA Help Center, and PSI’s published test day guidance.

What to Bring: The Checklist

The Candidate Handbook names only the ID and, where it applies, proof of address. NHA’s Help Center adds that for exams at your institution or at PSI you bring a current government issued photo ID, and that at PSI the name on the ID must match your registration exactly. The handbook does not list a printed confirmation as a requirement; your appointment lives in your NHA account, where you can also schedule and reschedule. PSI adds that military IDs are not accepted and that school IDs are generally not recommended, so carry a driver’s license or passport if you have one.

What to Leave at Home

NHA’s Testing Rules of Conduct bar nearly every personal electronic device from the exam room: phones, computers, tablets, e-readers, cameras, audio players, pagers, radios, watches, AI glasses, earbuds and earphones, translators, and personal calculators. The exam includes a built in calculator you may use, but you may not use your own or your computer’s calculator. Reference books and any papers are also off limits, and so is food or drink unless you received an approved medical accommodation before your exam date. Devices approved under an accommodation are subject to inspection. Anything else a testing site’s security rules restrict is simply left outside, so travel light and plan to store personal items in your vehicle.

If you need an accommodation, submit NHA’s Request for Accommodations Form well ahead of your exam. NHA recommends allowing 30 days for review, and PSI needs time to put an approved accommodation in place, which may mean changing your appointment.

Check-In at a PSI Testing Center

Arrive at least 30 minutes early, per PSI. The proctor verifies your ID, and you initial a roster next to your name; the proctor returns that roster to NHA to show identification was verified. The proctor hands you a whiteboard, marker, and eraser and collects them before you leave. If the proctor cannot verify who you are, the handbook says access should be denied, though under most circumstances you can reschedule without an extra charge once you can present proper identification. A break during the exam is allowed only if the proctor decides it is reasonably necessary, only one candidate may be out of the room at a time, and break time counts as test time.

Check-In for Live Remote Proctoring

LRP lets you test from home or another suitable location, provided your internet service supports Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and your computer meets the remote proctor system’s requirements. NHA may use several LRP providers, and the provider is selected for you at registration. PSI’s remote check-in covers logging in, testing your microphone and webcam, photographing yourself and your ID, and waiting for a Check-In Specialist to verify them; the exam clock does not start until security checks are complete. NHA’s handbook sets no remote arrival time, so log in early, test your equipment in advance, and keep an alternate ID on hand since PSI does not accept military IDs. Once the exam starts, you cannot leave the room, no breaks are allowed, and nobody else may be in the room.

Check-In at Your School

If your program administers the CET, your institution’s proctor handles check-in and provides 2 sheets of scratch paper and a writing instrument, which you return before leaving. If you need to reschedule, you must do so before the exam starts, and approval is at the school’s discretion. Your score report is preliminary and appears immediately; NHA says it is not final and should not be shown to employers as proof you passed.

Late, Missed, or Rescheduled Appointments

The handbook publishes no grace period for late arrival, so treat the recommended early arrival as your real buffer. For PSI and LRP appointments, you can reschedule within 6 months of the original date without repaying the fee, but only if you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours beforehand through your NHA account. After that window, the exam fee is forfeited and you must re-register and pay again. NHA lists the current exam fee on its website store, not in the handbook, so confirm it when you schedule. See also our guides to what happens if you fail the CET exam and how much the CET exam costs.

Logistics are only half of test day. Get full access to CET practice questions so the content feels familiar by the time you check in, or try a free CET practice test to find the domains that need work first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ID do I need for the NHA CET exam?

A current government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, with a current photograph, your signature, and a permanent address. The name must match your registration exactly. If your ID address differs from your registration, bring proof of address such as a current utility bill.

How early should I arrive for the CET exam?

PSI recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before a test center appointment. NHA’s Candidate Handbook does not publish a late arrival grace period or a remote check-in time, so log in or arrive early.

Can I take a break during the CET exam?

At a PSI testing center, only if the proctor decides it is reasonably necessary, and the time still counts against your 2 hours. With Live Remote Proctoring, no breaks are allowed and you may not leave the room.

Can I bring a calculator or my phone?

No. Phones, watches, earbuds, and personal calculators are barred from the exam room. The exam provides a built in calculator you may use.

Sources

• NHA, Candidate Handbook (updated October 5, 2026)
• NHA Help Center, What do I need to bring to the testing site?
• NHA, Certified EKG Technician (CET) certification page
• PSI, exam experience guidance (NHA’s testing vendor)

Med Preps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI), or PSI. NHA, CET, and Certified EKG Technician are trademarks of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.