ABA APPLIED Exam Day Logistics: Raleigh, Registration, Breaks, and What to Bring
A practical plan for removing avoidable logistical stress while preserving the Board’s current instructions as the final authority.
Key takeaways
- Registration is held at Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills according to current candidate materials.
- Candidates need valid signed government-issued photo identification and sign a video release.
- Personal items remain in lockers and are not brought into orientation or examination rooms.
- Candidates taking both components should plan for approximately 5.25 hours from registration, subject to assigned instructions.
Verify before purchasing travel
- Assigned exam week, date, registration time, and any supplemental break communication in ABA GO.
- Current hotel block and registration instructions.
- Identification name matches the candidate record.
- Accommodation or nursing-mother request status.
- Medical-license and certificate information in ABA GO when applicable.
- Cancellation and travel-insurance considerations for nonrefundable costs.
Current registration and transportation flow
| Step | Current public instruction | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel and registration | Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills, 160 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh, NC. | Use the current registration link and assigned communication; arrive with time to orient. |
| Identification | Valid government-issued and signed photo identification. | Confirm expiration and matching name before departure. |
| Recording consent | Candidates sign a video release for educational, quality, and scoring purposes. | Expect both exam components to be recorded according to current materials. |
| Transportation | ABA provides transportation from registration to the assessment center. | Follow staff directions rather than arranging a separate last-minute route. |
| After the exam | Candidate materials describe shuttle service to RDU immediately after the exam. | Bring luggage to registration only when using the communicated airport-shuttle plan. |
What to expect during the day
Duration
Current materials list approximately 5.25 hours from registration for candidates taking both SOE and OSCE. Some candidates receive a longer supplemental break and are notified separately.
Attire
Business attire is recommended. Choose clothing and shoes that remain comfortable through standing, sitting, and travel between rooms.
Breaks
Scheduled breaks allow restroom or locker access. The candidate should not assume unscheduled departure from the testing process.
Food and beverages
Light refreshments may be available at registration, but food and beverages are not provided at the AIME Center. Bring permitted refreshments before registration; refrigeration is not available.
Storage
Lockers are provided for mobile devices, keys, coats, wallets, watches, purses, and other personal items. Personal items do not enter orientation or exam rooms.
Protect examination integrity
Do not use a mobile or recording device during the examination. Do not attempt to record, transmit, or transcribe exam content. Follow all current Board instructions on prohibited items and conduct.
SurgiTest preparation should use original educational scenarios and public sample material only. Never enter an exam with a plan to preserve or reproduce secure content.
A simple performance plan for the morning
- 01
Arrive with reserve
Protect sleep, hydration, and time. Avoid building the day around a narrow connection or immediate pre-exam cramming.
- 02
Use a reset cue
Before each component or station: exhale, read the task, identify the patient-safety objective, and begin with your practiced opening.
- 03
Release the last station
Do not perform an autopsy of the previous answer during the four-minute OSCE preview. The next task starts at zero.
- 04
Follow staff instructions exactly
The exam-day process is highly structured; preserve attention for clinical performance rather than improvising logistics.
Put the framework under pressure
Practice the answer out loud—not only on paper.
Voice-first cases, adaptive examiner follow-up, imaging, complications, and structured educational feedback for anesthesiology.
Questions candidates ask
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my phone or watch into the exam rooms?
Current candidate materials state that mobile devices, watches, wallets, purses, and other personal items are stored in lockers and are not brought into orientation or exam rooms.
What is the current ABA APPLIED Exam format?
The APPLIED Exam combines two 35-minute Standardized Oral Examination sessions with seven eight-minute Objective Structured Clinical Examination stations. The OSCE stations have four-minute intervals to review the next scenario.
Does the ABA APPLIED Exam use candidate-submitted personal cases?
No public ABA guidance describes a submitted personal case list or candidate case-defense requirement. SurgiTest therefore emphasizes standardized SOE cases and OSCE stations rather than Personal Case Uploads for this specialty.
Does SurgiTest reproduce ABA questions or calculate an official score?
No. SurgiTest uses original educational cases and public examination information. It does not reproduce secure examination content, convert educational feedback into an ABA result, predict certification, or claim ABA endorsement.
Should I prepare differently for the SOE and OSCE?
Yes. The SOE rewards organized clinical reasoning, rationale, and adaptation as the case changes. The OSCE rewards observable communication, professionalism, and technical performance within tightly bounded tasks.
Where should I confirm current dates and logistics?
Use your ABA GO portal, assigned examination communication, the current APPLIED Exam page, and the current candidate-preparation materials before purchasing nonrefundable travel.
Source transparency
Official references
Board requirements, dates, and candidate instructions can change. Confirm current details directly with ABA and the Board’s candidate portal.
Continue preparing