Exam rules and policies

During the exam

• The exam is open book: you may use the course guide and your own notes.
• You must work alone. Another person may not help you or take the exam for you.
• Don't copy, record or share exam questions.
• The timer starts when you begin and keeps running if you leave the page. When it reaches zero your answers are submitted automatically.
• Unanswered questions are marked as incorrect.

Results

Your result is shown as soon as you submit. Individual questions and answers are not released, because they are reused across attempts.

Fees

• Enrollment is $189 USD per certification, the same for every program. It covers your candidate account, up to 3 attempts at the online exam and, when you pass, your certificate and credential number.
• If you use all 3 attempts without passing, you can enroll again at the same fee for 3 more.
• Course guides are free to download, with or without enrolling.
• Payment is taken by Stripe on its secure checkout page. Card details never reach the Institute's website.

Refunds

• You can ask for a full refund within 30 days of enrolling, as long as you have not started an exam attempt under that enrollment.
• Once you start an exam attempt, the fee is not refundable, because the exam and certificate are what the fee pays for. Course guides are free, so you can read the guide for any program before you enroll.
• If a technical problem on our side stops you from completing an attempt, tell us and we will restore the attempt or refund you, whichever you prefer.
• To ask for a refund, contact the Institute from the email address you enrolled with. Refunds go back to the card you paid with, usually within 5 to 10 business days.
• When a refund is made, the enrollment it paid for ends.

Retakes

Each enrollment includes 3 attempts. An attempt counts from the moment you start it, whether or not you submit it. If you don't pass, you can try again after 24 hours. Each attempt draws a different set of questions. After 3 attempts without a pass, you enroll again to continue.

Your certificate

• Your certificate shows your name as it is registered with the Institute, which is shown before you start the exam. To correct a misspelling, contact us with your credential number.
• A certification is valid for 3 years from the date it is awarded.
• Your name, the certification, award date, expiry date and credential number are shown to anyone who enters the credential number on the verification page. Your email address is never shown.

Withdrawal of a credential

The Institute may withdraw a credential if it finds that the exam was not taken in line with these rules. A withdrawn credential no longer appears as valid on the verification page.