New Phone Camera Requirements

I have taken tests both in-person and with an online proctor. I prefer in-person because the set up is less rigorous. I decided to take an online proctor test this time because in-person tests in my city are now only offered once a week on Tuesdays (I live in a major metropolitan city). It took me 3 HOURS to log into my test.... please learn from my mistakes!!!

I have taken the test online before so I didn't take the 30-minute practice. I wanted to note a few things for those that are preparing to take tests online that were different for me this time. I had to remove many more items from my study area than I was required to last time. This included miniscule things like a pillow off of a chair, framed tiny paintings on the wall, and an exercise bike. When it was time to show what each wire on my computer was for, my computer accidentally came unplugged so I had to start the whole process over.

I started the process over. This time during the environmental check, the proctor had different comments about my space to address. Both my computer and phone cameras were working through the environmental check in, then mysteriously stopped working when the proctor moved on to the next step. It was not an issue on my end. I had to call customer service and they just said start over. I restarted my computer as a precaution.

I started the whole thing over again. Got through environmental. This time my camera worked, but even when my phone was in landscape mode it wasn't displaying correctly to the proctor. I had to call customer service again! I learned from them that switching to landscape mode isn't enough- you must lock the phone in landscape mode otherwise the camera won't display correctly. This was not posted anywhere in the preparation materials and the proctor didn't know about it either.

I logged in again, got through environmental. The display worked this time and I was able to start my exam 3 hours later. After being in the room for three hours already, I wasn't set up to do well on the exam. Tired, hot, thirsty, and hungry is not how I imagined starting the exam. Luckily I received a provisional pass!

Ralph Hale June 15, 2026 18:56

Lfollis,

First, and most importantly, congrats on your pass!!! That'll be one less division to think about!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and letting everyone know about needing to lock your phone in landscape mode to get everything to actually work correctly. We're no longer recommending remote proctoring unless you have a circumstance where it's really justifiable (it sounds like you're in a situation where it might still make sense at least right now). I know that different proctors at least used to interpret the testing environment rules somewhat differently and I get the sense that is still the case - these proctors administer several different tests, and I don't know how much review of specific rules of your test they do before checking you in - but I get the sense some are meaningfully more on top of things than others. The other thing is that as camera and AI tech becomes smaller and more capable, I expect the environment rules to only get stricter. It is always to your benefit to at least skim the rules in the ARE Handbook soon before testing so that you know the rules at least as well as the proctor may.

Do let NCARB know that that the testing center for your city only has slots on Tuesdays if you haven't already - it's slow, but they do follow up with PSI when availability is unusually limited in the way you describe.

Best,
Ralph, the Amber Book Team

New Phone Camera Requirements

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