AACE International Exam Check-in Guide (Kryterion) 2026

If you are about to take an AACE International certification exam from home, the check-in is not complicated, but it is unforgiving about timing and about what is on your body and your desk. This guide walks through the online proctored (OLP) experience in the order you will meet it. It covers all nine AACE exams, because they share one delivery process, and it points out the few places where the exams differ.

How This Exam Is Delivered

AACE exams are computer-based and delivered through Kryterion. You schedule in Webassessor, and you can sit the exam at a Kryterion test center or online with a live proctor watching through your webcam. Online proctoring uses Kryterion’s Respondus secure testing environment. Older Kryterion guides and a screenshot on AACE’s own page call the same software Sentinel, so do not be thrown if you see either name.

Item	What the official sources say
Exams covered	CCT, CST, CCP, CEP, EVP, PRMP, PSP, CFCC and DRMP
Delivery platform	Kryterion Webassessor, with the Respondus secure browser for online proctoring
Delivery options	Kryterion test center or online proctored (OLP)
Check-in window (OLP)	The Launch Exam button appears about 10 minutes before your start time and stays until about 15 minutes after it
Test center arrival	15 minutes early
Missed appointment	You forfeit the scheduling fee, and it counts as one of your exam attempts
Cancel or reschedule	Notice must arrive 72 hours before the exam to avoid forfeiting the fee
CCT and CST	100 multiple-choice questions; CCT allows 3 hours maximum
CCP, CEP, DRMP, EVP, PRMP, PSP	119 multiple-choice questions plus one written memo
CFCC	100 multiple-choice questions plus 4 written essays
Open-book exams	CCT, CST and CFCC only
Results	Pass or fail only. CCT and CST are immediate; all other exams are delayed for grading of the memo or essays

Pre-Exam Preparation

Hardware and Network Requirements

These come from Kryterion’s current online testing requirements page, plus AACE’s own rules where they differ.

Computer: Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer, running the latest Chrome or Firefox. Kryterion strongly recommends a personal computer, and AACE says the same. Check Kryterion’s page for Chromebook rules if that is your only device (confirm on the official page).
Admin access: installing the secure browser can need an administrator account. Work laptops often block this.
Disk and screen: at least 50 MB free and a resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher.
Keyboard: an English (QWERTY) keyboard.
Internet: 1.0 Mbps or faster in both directions, ping under 200 ms and jitter under 50 ms. These are minimums, so a wired connection is safer.
Virtual machines: strictly prohibited. Kryterion names VMware, VirtualBox and Boot Camp. AACE’s policy adds that malicious software or a virtual machine detected by Kryterion’s proxy tool suspends the exam automatically.
Webcam and microphone: an external webcam must connect by USB. Kryterion’s standard is an external camera “unless otherwise stated by the test sponsor”, and AACE does allow built-in cameras. For AACE exams, the vendor’s rule wins.
Monitors: dual monitors are not allowed. Unplug the second one the night before.
Software: Kryterion recommends disabling anything that can interfere, including pop-up blockers, antivirus, firewalls, Skype and similar tools.
VPN and headphones: Turn off your VPN and do not wear headphones, since the proctor works from your video and audio feed.

Run Kryterion’s system check on the computer and in the room you will use. AACE also tells you to install the Respondus secure browser and complete your biometric profile, which is facial recognition, well before your exam. Both links appear in your Webassessor profile once you have scheduled an OLP exam. Kryterion-hosted guidance suggests doing the readiness steps at least five days ahead (confirm on the official page).

Exam Tip: Do not open the secure browser directly on exam day. Kryterion says the session must be started from the Launch button in your Webassessor account, and that button is only there for a short window. Install the software and finish your biometric profile days earlier, so the only thing left on the day is clicking Launch.

ID Requirements

The AACE page spells out ID rules for test centers, not for online exams. At a test center you must bring two forms of identification: a valid government-issued photo ID, plus another ID such as a credit card, bank debit card or employee ID. A US social security card does not count. You also print your confirmation email, because it carries the Test Taker Authorization Code your proctor uses to launch the exam.

For online exams, Kryterion’s launch process has you photograph a government-issued photo ID during the pre-check, and AACE’s no-show rule says you can lose your appointment if you do not present proper identification.

Exam Tip: If you are taking a CCP, CEP, CFCC, DRMP, EVP, PRMP or PSP exam, look up your AACE ID number before exam day. AACE says you must enter it in your written memo or essays, and you will not want to hunt for it with the clock running.

Testing Environment

Sit in a private room. No other people are permitted in the exam area.
Clear your desk of food, drink (apart from clear liquid in a clear container), phones, wallets, purses and keys.
Take off your watch, bracelets, necklaces and any lanyard, and remove any hat. AACE lists all of these as prohibited on you or on your desk.
Remove heavy coats and hoodies. AACE does not allow bulky clothing.
Keep the allowed items within reach: a stand-alone battery-operated calculator, loose blank scratch paper, a pen or pencil, and a clear container of water or other clear liquid.
If your exam is open-book, set your approved books on the desk (see the rules section for what counts).
Set your camera so the proctor can see your face and hands at all times, and keep the room lit.

Step-by-Step Check-in Walkthrough

Kryterion says the checks you see depend on how the test sponsor has configured the exam, so your screens may differ slightly from the order below (confirm on the official page).

Schedule and install early. What to do: after you schedule in Webassessor, install the Respondus secure browser and complete your biometric profile. Sticking point: the install fails on a locked-down work laptop. Fix: use a personal computer, or ask your IT team for an admin account well before the exam.
Run the system check. What to do: test your camera, microphone and connection in the room you will use. Sticking point: the check passes on Wi-Fi but the connection drops later. Fix: plug in a cable and ask others on the network to stay off it.
Prepare the room 30 minutes early. What to do: remove your watch, jewelry and hat, set out your calculator, paper, pen and water, and close every other program. Sticking point: forgetting a watch or lanyard. Fix: take them all off and leave them in another room.
Log in to Webassessor and click Launch. What to do: the button appears about 10 minutes before your start time and stays until about 15 minutes after it. Sticking point: a missing button. Fix: refresh the page and check your local time against the exam time, and contact Kryterion Live Chat at once if it still does not appear.
Pass biometric authentication. What to do: look at the camera so the system can match you to your profile. Sticking point: poor lighting or glare on glasses. Fix: face your light source and adjust the angle.
Complete the system check. What to do: let Webassessor test your camera, microphone and connection. Sticking point: a blocked camera permission. Fix: on a Mac, allow Kryterion under Privacy settings for Camera and Microphone.
Do the mobile check-in if prompted. What to do: scan the QR code with your phone, or open the URL and type the code. Take a selfie and a photo of your government-issued photo ID, then put the phone away and go back to your computer. Sticking point: glare and blur on the ID photo. Fix: lay the ID flat under even light and retake until every line is sharp.
Scan the room. What to do: the pre-check typically includes a 360-degree scan of your space, and some exams use AI to check ID and room. For AACE exams, the proctor also asks you to show your work surface and any items on it. Sticking point: a short webcam cable. Fix: plan your seat and cable length beforehand.
Wait for the proctor, read the instructions and start. What to do: once you are checked in and settled, you can read the instructions and launch the exam. Sticking point: a long wait. Fix: stay seated and in view, and use chat for questions. If your exam has a memo, have your AACE ID number ready.

What the Proctor Looks for During the Room Scan

AACE tells you the proctor will ask you to scan the room and work surface, and to show anything on your desk. These are the things to have ready:

Your calculator. A stand-alone, battery-operated model is allowed. Phones, watches and tablets are not.
Your scratch paper and pen or pencil. The paper must be loose and blank.
Your clear liquid, in a clear container. No food, and no coloured or opaque drinks.
Your study materials, but only if your exam is open-book and the materials are permitted.
The rest of the desk and room, which should hold no phone, wallet, keys, bag, extra monitor or other person.
Your body: no watch, bracelet, necklace, lanyard, hat or bulky coat.

The proctor then monitors you and your surroundings throughout the exam, so assume the scan is never really over.

Rules During the Exam

AACE does not publish a warning stage for online exams. Its pages describe two outcomes: suspension of the exam, and disqualification of results. The split below follows AACE’s delivery page and its Online Proctored Exam Suspension Policy.

Tier 1: Suspension, With a Possible Retake

AACE says suspicious behavior is cause for your exam to be suspended. Its suspension policy names unusual eye movement, unauthorized devices such as a phone, camera obstructions and interactions with others. AACE then reviews the session with Kryterion to decide whether a retake is allowed, and a resit fee may apply. The behaviors that trigger this include:

Looking around the room, down at your lap, hands or sleeves, or repeatedly away from the screen.
Putting your hands in your pockets or fidgeting with your clothing.
Taking excessive notes.
Having an unauthorized item at your desk.
Blocking or moving your camera.
Interacting with other people.
Malicious software or a virtual machine detected by Kryterion’s tool. On the first detection, Kryterion resets and reschedules the exam, which must then be taken on a different computer. On the second, the attempt counts as completed and failed, you pay the resit fee, and later attempts must be at an on-site test center.

Tier 2: Disqualification and Possible Legal Action

AACE says copying or communicating exam content is a security violation that can lead to disqualified results and legal action. Treat each of these as covered:

Photographing, recording or screen-capturing exam questions.
Copying exam content out of the session in any form.
Sharing or discussing questions with anyone, including after the exam.

Reading the exam aloud or talking is also not permitted, though AACE does not say which outcome it triggers (confirm on the official page).

Breaks, Scratch Paper, Drinks and Calculators

Breaks. There are no scheduled breaks, but short bio breaks are permitted. The exam timer keeps running. Tell your proctor through the chat feature built into the exam, then wait for the proctor to acknowledge your request before you move. You cannot touch your personal belongings during the break.

Scratch paper. You can use loose blank paper and a pen or pencil, and you show them to the proctor in the room scan. At a test center you get paper and a pencil from the administrator instead. AACE’s pages do not mention a digital whiteboard (confirm on the official page).

Calculators. Any stand-alone, battery-operated calculator is allowed, and for the CCT the testing center does not provide one.

Open-book materials. Only the CCT, CST and CFCC are open-book. Your approved books must be printed and bound, and a three-ring binder is acceptable. You may highlight, write in and tab them. Tablets, Kindles and smartphones are not allowed as reference materials. For the CCT, the approved materials are AACE’s CCT Primer and Skills & Knowledge of Cost Engineering, kept in a binder.

Drinks and food. Water or another clear liquid in a clear container is allowed. Any other food or drink is not.

Exam Tip: Do not wait for the exam clock to find out whether a calculator, paper or book is acceptable. Put every allowed item on the desk before you launch, show it to the proctor during the scan, and leave everything else in another room. A bio break means chat first and wait for the reply, because the timer does not stop while you wait.

Online Proctored vs. Test Center

Factor	Online proctored (Kryterion OLP)	Kryterion test center
When to start	Launch button appears about 10 minutes early and lasts about 15 minutes past the start	Arrive 15 minutes early
ID	Photo of a government-issued ID during pre-check; second ID not confirmed	Two IDs: a government photo ID and another, such as a credit card, bank card or employee ID
Paperwork	Biometric profile and secure browser installed in advance	Printed confirmation email with your Test Taker Authorization Code
Equipment	Your own computer and camera	Computer provided
Scratch paper	Your own loose blank paper and pen or pencil	Paper and pencil provided if needed
Calculator	Your own stand-alone battery model	Your own, inspected by the administrator
Drinks	Clear liquid in a clear container	No eating, drinking or smoking at the test site
Personal items	Off your body and desk, but in your own room	Locked in a cabinet or locker
Breaks	Short bio breaks through chat; timer keeps running	Short bio breaks; timer keeps running
Main risk	Technical failure, room problems, a missed launch window	Travel and a fixed location

Who Online Proctoring Suits

Choose it if you own a personal computer you can install software on, have a private room, a stable connection and a quiet hour or two, and have no test center within easy reach.

Who the Test Center Suits

Choose it if your only computer belongs to your employer, your home is noisy or shared, or your connection is unreliable. It also removes the software and room-scan steps, and the administrator provides paper and a pencil.

Exam Day Checklist

The Night Before

Confirm your exam date, time and time zone in Webassessor.
Check that your biometric profile is complete and the Respondus secure browser is installed.
Look up your AACE ID number if your exam has a memo or essays.
Unplug your second monitor and any extra cameras.
Put your passport (or other government photo ID) where you can reach it.
Pack your allowed items: calculator with fresh batteries, blank loose paper, pen or pencil, and, if open-book, your bound books.
Clear the desk and the area around it.

60 Minutes Before

Switch off your VPN and stay off work networks.
Take off your watch, bracelets, necklaces, lanyard and hat.
Put your phone and wallet in another room, keeping only what you need to scan the check-in QR code.
Pour water into a clear container.

30 Minutes Before

Restart the computer and close every program you do not need.
Run the Kryterion system check one more time.
Sign in to Webassessor and wait for the Launch button.
Check that your camera shows your face and hands in good light.

During the Exam

Click Launch as soon as the button appears, before your start time.
Follow each pre-check prompt in order and let the proctor finish the room scan.
Stay in camera view, and keep your hands out of your pockets.
Do not read questions aloud or talk.
If you need a bio break, ask by chat and wait for the proctor to acknowledge.
If something breaks, use Kryterion Live Chat straight away.

FAQ

Technical Problems

What happens if my internet drops during the exam?

AACE’s disruption policy says to report problems straight to Kryterion through its Live Chat feature, and not to wait. It also says AACE prefers that you complete the exam rather than reschedule, since a reschedule may not be approved and could cost you another fee. Responses are saved periodically during the test, which is how a disrupted session, including a memo, can be recreated. The policy does not say whether lost time is restored (confirm on the official page).

Can I use my laptop’s built-in webcam?

Yes. Kryterion’s standard is an external camera unless the test sponsor says otherwise, and AACE does allow built-in cameras. That is the vendor’s rule overriding the platform default. If you use an external camera, it must connect by USB.

Can I use my work laptop, a VPN or a virtual machine?

Do not use a work laptop if you can avoid it, because Kryterion and AACE both recommend a personal computer and the secure browser can need admin rights. Virtual machines are prohibited, and Kryterion’s tool suspends the exam if one is detected.

Timing, ID and Rescheduling

What if the Launch button disappears or check-in times out?

The button stays for about 15 minutes after your start time, and AACE says you must be punctual. AACE treats not showing up on time as a no-show, which forfeits your fee and counts as an attempt.

Can I cancel, reschedule or get a refund?

You can cancel or reschedule without losing your fee if notice is received 72 hours before the exam. AACE has a strict no-refund policy once a transaction is complete, with exceptions only for an AACE system error or staff error.

Rules and Results

What does an exam suspension mean for me?

A suspension stops your session and sends it for review. If it was triggered by suspicious behavior, AACE reviews it with Kryterion and decides whether a retake is allowed, and a resit fee may apply. If it was triggered by malicious software, the first suspension means a reset on a different computer, and a second counts as a failed attempt with future attempts at a test center.

When will I get my result?

AACE releases pass or fail only, with no scores. The CCT and CST give immediate results. Every other exam is delayed, because the memo or essays must be graded. Grading starts on the 15th of each month (or the nearest business day), and you must finish your exam the day before a grading cycle to be included in it. AACE’s FAQ puts results at roughly two to three weeks after grading (confirm on the official page).

References and Sources

Where the Facts in This Guide Come From

Exam-day rules, scheduling, no-show and refund policies come from AACE’s Examination Delivery page and its Online Proctored Exam Suspension and CBT Disruption policies. Question counts and results timing come from AACE’s certification FAQs and CCT page. Hardware, launch and pre-check details come from Kryterion’s support pages. Where Kryterion’s general rules differ from AACE’s, the guide follows AACE and says so. Third-party sources were used only for the CCP and PSP time limits and the global-availability claim.

References

Please follow and like us:

100% FREE Cisco, PMP & other IT Certification Packs