What to Bring to the CBCS Exam: Test Day Rules and What to Expect
As of September 2026, CBCS test day starts before your exam clock does. NHA delivers the exam through its testing vendor PSI, at a PSI testing center or through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP), and PSI recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before your appointment for identity verification and check-in. You need a current, government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, showing a recent photograph, your signature, and a permanent address; if that address does not match your registration, bring proof of address like a current utility bill. Once checked in, the exam itself is 125 total questions, 100 scored plus 25 unscored pretest items mixed in unmarked, with a 3 hour (180 minute) time limit. A passing result is a scaled score of 390 out of a possible 200 to 500 range. Personal items, electronics, and outside reference materials stay out of the room, including code manuals: the CBCS has been closed book since September 24, 2024. Test at a PSI center or through LRP and your score posts to your NHA account within 48 hours. Here is what to expect from check-in to results.
Figures per NHA’s Candidate Handbook (updated June 2026) and PSI’s published exam experience, as of September 2026.
What ID You Need at Check-In
NHA’s Candidate Handbook requires identification verified with a current, government issued photo ID before you enter the exam room, in person or through a remote proctor. Acceptable ID includes a driver’s license or passport showing a current photograph, your signature, and a permanent address; if that address does not match your registration, bring proof of address, such as a current utility bill, matching the ID. After verification, you initial a roster that the proctor returns to NHA. PSI adds one practical detail: your ID should not be expired, and the name on it should match your registration exactly.
PSI Testing Center vs Live Remote Proctoring: What Is Different
NHA offers two main ways to sit for the CBCS exam outside of an authorized school: a PSI testing center in person, or Live Remote Proctoring (LRP); an LRP provider is selected for you when you register. Both share the same 390 passing standard and 125 question exam, but the environment and rules differ.
At a PSI testing center, check-in includes identity verification, a security screening (often a metal detector scan and a check of personal items like glasses or jewelry), and a signed testing agreement. The proctor provides a whiteboard, marker, and eraser, returned before you leave. Breaks require the proctor’s approval; only one candidate may be out at a time, with no talking, materials, or devices, and the clock keeps running.
LRP lets you test remotely from a private location using your own computer, provided your internet supports VoIP and your setup meets the remote proctor system’s requirements. Before you begin, admissions typically includes a room scan: a 360 degree webcam pass around your space, a desk surface scan, and an accessories check, to confirm the space is quiet, private, well lit, and clutter free. LRP is stricter than the in-person format in one key way: no breaks are allowed once your exam starts, you may not leave the room for any reason, and no other person may be present. You do get a digital whiteboard for scratch work instead of a physical one. In both formats, follow the proctor’s instructions, including removing items or adjusting lighting for the camera during LRP.
What to Bring and What to Leave Behind
NHA’s Testing Rules of Conduct prohibit telephones, personal computers, tablets, e-readers, cameras, MP3 players, pagers, radios, watches, AI glasses, earbuds, earphones, electronic translators, and personal calculators in the exam room; the built-in exam calculator may be used as needed during the exam. Reference books and outside written materials are not allowed, and that includes coding manuals for the CBCS: the exam has been closed book since September 24, 2024, with any coding reference information an application-of-coding question requires displayed alongside that question. Eating or drinking is not permitted unless an approved medical accommodation is on file.
| Bring with you | Leave at home or in your car |
|---|---|
| Current, unexpired, government issued photo ID matching your registration name | CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS Level II code manuals (not needed or allowed since September 24, 2024) |
| Proof of address if it differs from your registration (e.g. a current utility bill) | Phones, smartwatches, and any recording or electronic device |
| A time buffer: arrive at least 30 minutes early | Bags, backpacks, purses, briefcases, food, and drinks |
| A quiet, private, well lit space if testing via LRP | Notes or study aids of any kind |
| Patience for the identity check and security screening | Anything you are not prepared to place in secure storage or a vehicle |
What Happens If You Are Late or Miss Your Appointment
NHA’s Candidate Handbook does not publish a specific number of minutes that counts as late on test day itself. What it does state is the cancellation rule: if you registered through PSI or another LRP provider, you may reschedule within 6 months of your original exam without repaying the fee, but only if you cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your scheduled time. Missing that window forfeits the exam fee, and you must re-register and pay again. With no published late arrival grace period, treat PSI’s recommended 30 minute early arrival as your real buffer. Testing through a school instead of PSI directly means rescheduling before the exam starts, at your institution’s discretion.
The CBCS Exam Itself, Once You Are Seated
The CBCS is a 125 question, computer based, multiple choice exam over 3 hours (180 minutes), covering 4 domains: The Revenue Cycle and Regulatory Compliance, Insurance Eligibility and Other Payer Requirements, Coding and Coding Guidelines, and Billing and Reimbursement. Of the 125 questions, 100 are scored and 25 are unscored pretest items mixed in unmarked. All exams run in a single continuous session; you cannot pause and return later. The closed book format is the biggest change from older CBCS advice still online: since September 24, 2024, any coding reference information an application-of-coding question needs is provided alongside that question, so focus preparation on reasoning through scenarios with the information given, not manual lookup speed. NHA’s current Candidate Handbook still carries a vestigial reference to CBCS written materials; NHA’s own CBCS FAQ, reflecting the September 24, 2024 change, supersedes that language. See Is the CBCS Exam Open Book and What Happens If You Fail the CBCS Exam for more.
Getting Your Results After Test Day
NHA posts your final score report to your NHA account rather than by phone. Testing at a PSI center or via LRP gets you a report within 48 hours; testing through an authorized school gives a preliminary report immediately, though NHA treats it as preliminary rather than final. The report shows your pass or fail result, scaled score, and rates each of the exam’s 4 content domains as above, near, or below the passing standard.
Walking in prepared for the closed book format matters as much as knowing the logistics. Start a full CBCS practice test built for the current exam format, or try a free CBCS practice test to see where you stand before you schedule your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ID do I need for the CBCS exam?
A current, government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, showing a recent photograph, your signature, and a permanent address. If the address does not match your registration, bring proof of address, such as a current utility bill, that matches the ID.
Can I bring a coding manual to the CBCS exam?
No. The CBCS has been closed book since September 24, 2024. Coding manuals are not needed or allowed; any reference information an application-of-coding question requires is displayed alongside that question.
How early should I arrive for the CBCS exam?
PSI recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete identity verification and check-in. NHA’s Candidate Handbook does not publish a specific late arrival grace period, so treat that 30 minute window as your real buffer.
How soon will I get my CBCS exam results?
Within 48 hours if you tested at a PSI testing center or through Live Remote Proctoring. If you tested through an authorized school, a preliminary report is available immediately, though NHA treats it as preliminary rather than final.
Sources
- NHA Candidate Handbook, nhanow.com (updated June 2026)
- NHA Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) Test Plan, nhanow.com (pre-dates the September 24, 2024 closed-book change)
- NHA, 2024 CBCS Study Guide, Practice Tests, and Exam: Common FAQ (NHA-published, confirms the September 24, 2024 closed book change)
- PSI, Your Essential Guide for a Smooth Test Day at a PSI Test Center
- PSI, What to Expect on Test Day
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