Prepare for Your Appointment

Important: Please read the Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines (PDF - 323kb) for information about test day and additional instructions and policies.

What to Bring

• The appropriate ID with your photo bearing your signature - read the Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines (PDF - 323kb) for exact instructions
• One bar code ID label sent with your Authorization to Test if applicable. Specific details on certificates/specialties requiring a bar code label are discussed in the Assessment Center Policy and Guidelines. If you have misplaced or did not receive a label, you can print your 8-digit candidate ID number in the label space.
• Art product in plastic bag (Art candidates only)

On-line Tour of a Pearson Professional Center

This online tour will help acquaint you with the Pearson Professional Centers Testing experience.

Hands-On Testing Experience

The new NBPTS-Pearson VUE assessment center tutorial is now available online. Please follow the instructions outlined below in order to take advantage of the tutorial.

Retake Candidates:  The NBPTS-Pearson VUE assessment center tutorial has been updated for 2009-2010.  Please download the current version in preparation for your appointment.

Mac Users: Download the New! Web Tutorial and Sample Exercise (for Mac users) under Related Links on the Pearson VUE's Web Site
 
PC Users: In order to take advantage of the tutorial, please click here NBPTS-Pearson VUE assessment center tutorial  and follow these steps:

• Go to the Pearson VUE website referenced above.
• Your browser (pop-up blocker) will probably first tell you that it has blocked the site from downloading the file and offer you options. Select "Download File."
• You will next receive a security alert that asks if you wish to Run, Save, or Cancel. If you choose Run - you can download and install the file online. If you choose Save - you can download the file to your computer, then run the installer. This is a 40MB file, so it will take a few minutes.
• Follow the installation prompts to install the Pearson VUE NBPTS tutorial and Demo program on your computer.

Note: The above tutorial is a Window's software application that is a replication of the test center test driver, which is PC-based. If you are using an Intel-equipped Mac with Windows installed, you should experience no problems running the tutorial. If you are using a "Mac-only" operating system, you will need to take the following steps:

• Be sure you have the latest Adobe Flash Player loaded on your computer. If you need to download the Flash Player, you will find it on the Adobe Web Site.
• Be sure you are using the latest version of Mac's operating system 10.5 or higher.
• Go to PearsonVUE's Web Site and download the New! Web Tutorial and Sample Exercise (Mac) under Related Links.
• You will note that this is a "zipped" file. Double-click the file and it should un-zip in your download folder.
• Place a copy of the NBPTS Tutorial and Demo on your desktop or in a conspicuous file for easy access.
• Open and practice the tutorial at your convenience.

Review Scoring Guide

For additional information you should also read the Scoring Guide for your selected certificate. These guides contain the rubrics that are used to score assessment center exercises.

Download Exercise Descriptions and Retired Prompts

The assessment center component provides six exercises, each allowing up to 30 minutes for candidate response.  For a complete description of each assessment center exercise or to view the two retired prompts in your certificate area, select your certificate area from the drop-down menu and view the Assessement at a Glance. All documents are in .pdf format. If you are unable to open them, please download the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site.

NOTE: The pull-down menus below are not functional. Use the link for Assessment at a Glance to access the exercise descriptions and the two exercises with retired prompts for your certificate.