​​​​What to expect — Computer-based Assessment 

You must bring:

  • email confirmation of your sche-​duled appointment​​

  • one form of non-expired, government-issued, photo- and signature-bearing ID 

Note: If one piece of ID does not have your name, photo and signature, you may present two pieces of non-expired, government-issued ID that together demonstrate all three requirements.

​Acceptable forms of primary ID include:

  • driver's license
  • foreign government-issued ID
  • government-issued ID
  • government-issued work ID
  • military ID
  • NEXUS card
  • Passport
  • permanent​ resident visa or green card
  • provincial health card (if photo is included)

Acceptable forms of secondary ID include:

  • provincial or state health card
  • social insurance number card (Canada)
  • social security card (US)
  • study permit (must be original and non-expired)

​​Candidates are encouraged to bring as few personal belongings as possible.​

Item​​​s that will be put in a locker: ​

  • Purses, wallets, food, drink
  • Any electronic devices: phones, tablets, laptop or notebook computers, watches, fitness trackers, calculator
  • Pens, pencils, pen lights 
  • Paper, books, notebooks 
  • Bags, briefcases
  • Any other personal items deemed by NCAS or the test administrator to be not appropriate for a testing environment​

For​​mat

The CBA is made up of unfolding cases that take you through the step-by-step process of clinical thinking and decision making. The cases are developed to unfold over a single work shift, a couple of days or several weeks. There is a mix of multiple-choice and multiple-select questions on CBA.

Multiple-choice questions have four options, only one of which is correct.

Multiple-select questions have six answer options, three of which are correct. The multiple-select questions will always prompt you to select the three best actions for a health care professional to take in the situation that the scenario describes.

Please read the questions carefully because once you have moved to the next question you will not be able to return and change your answer.  

Duration

Computer-Based AssessmentLength​​
HCA CBA3 hours
LPN CBA3 hours​​​
RN CBA3 hours
Dual-track RN/LPN CBA3 hours
Triple-track RN/LPN/HCA CBA5 hours
RPN CBA3 hours

​

​You are given 15 minutes to complete a brief tutorial prior to starting the Computer Based Assessment (CBA). This time is NOT included in the actual assessment time and is meant to orient you to Prometric's computer testing environment. ​​

Location​

The CBA is administered by Prometric at their testing centres across C​anada and in many locations around the world. You can choose a testing centre nearest you when scheduling your CBA. ​

Note: only the Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) CBA is available virtually via remote proctoring. This option will be available to you when self-scheduling your CBA through the Prometric website.

What to expect​

You must show up 30 minutes in advance of your scheduled appointment at a Prometric Testing Centre. Please click here for information on Prometric's Test Centre policies during COVID-19.​

​​​When you arrive at the Testing Centre

  • The proctor will greet you, review both pieces of valid, government-issued ID that you present, review the email confirmation of your scheduled appointment, and sign the assessment day roster to confirm that you have been assigned a seat.
  • You will put your personal belongings in a secure area to which you will have no access until you have finished the CBA.
  • You will be seated at your assigned desk and wait for the proctor to complete the verbal instructions.
  • You will be given a whiteboard or pad of paper on which to take notes should you require during the assessment. The whiteboard and/or all paper must be submitted to the proctor at the end of the assessment.
  • Once the verbal instructions are read, the proctor will unlock the assessment site and you will then log in.
  • Once logged in, you can take the tutorial.
  • When you click to begin the assessment, you will be asked to acknowledge (electronically) a non-disclosure agreement.  Please read it before signing.
  • Begin the assessment.​

Breaks

  • During the assessment, you will be allowed brief washroom breaks, but must notify the proctor of this before leaving the assessment room.
  • The proctor will mark down the time you leave, and the time you return, and you will be asked to acknowledge your bathroom break by initialling the in/out report.  

When you Finish

  • Upon c​ompletion, you will get access to the secured area to collect your belongings.
  • Please leave t​he testing centre quietly. ​