ABEM Certifying Exam Day Logistics: Raleigh, Registration, Timing, Breaks, and What to Bring
A precise exam-day plan built from ABEM’s current candidate packet and published morning and afternoon schedules.
Key takeaways
- Exam-day registration occurs at the Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills; a proctor walks candidates to the AIME Center.
- Morning registration is published at 7:00 a.m. ET and afternoon registration at 12:00 p.m. ET; both sessions end 4 hours 25 minutes after registration.
- The 30-minute break is fixed, and candidates do not have access to sealed prohibited items during the exam.
- Closed-toe shoes are required, scrubs or comfortable clinical clothing are permitted, and visible institution logos must be covered.
Know the two-location check-in flow
- 01
Register at the Hyatt House
ABEM’s candidate packet identifies the Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills, 160 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609, as the exam-day registration location.
- 02
Meet the proctor
After registration, the assigned proctor walks candidates approximately 0.1 miles—about three minutes—to the AIME Center.
- 03
Do not self-report to the AIME Center
The candidate packet states that candidates cannot access the AIME Center without the proctor.
- 04
Plan travel conservatively
ABEM recommends arriving in Raleigh no later than the day before the examination because schedule changes may not be possible after a travel delay.
Published session times
| Milestone | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival and registration | 7:00 a.m. ET | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Walk to AIME Center | 7:30–7:45 a.m. | 12:30–12:45 p.m. |
| First case begins | 8:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. |
| Fixed break | 9:15–9:45 if CCC first; 9:25–9:55 if CPC first | 2:15–2:45 if CCC first; 2:25–2:55 if CPC first |
| Session ends | 11:25 a.m. | 4:25 p.m. |
What to wear and what happens to personal items
| Category | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Comfortable clothing or scrubs are permitted; closed-toe shoes are required |
| Logos | Institution names or logos must not be visible and may need to be covered |
| Badge | ABEM provides a name badge and lanyard with the individual schedule |
| Small prohibited items | Phones, watches, headphones, wallets, cameras, recorders, notes, pens, and pencils are sealed and stored in an assigned locker |
| Larger luggage | Computer bags, purses, and larger luggage cannot be brought to the testing center and should use the secure hotel storage described by ABEM |
| Break access | Snacks and beverages may be stored in the locker and accessed during the break; sealed prohibited items remain inaccessible |
Accommodations and medical needs
- Submit ADA accommodation requests in advance under current ABEM policy.
- Notify ABEM early about assistive devices, medical equipment, medications, mobility aids, nursing needs, or other exam-day support.
- Do not assume the testing center can arrange an unapproved accommodation on arrival.
- Use the current candidate packet and direct ABEM communication for the final instructions and contact address.
Travel and hotel plan
- Verify the confirmed examination date and morning or afternoon session before booking nonrefundable travel.
- Arrive in Raleigh by the day before the examination.
- Choose lodging that makes on-time arrival at the Hyatt registration room reliable.
- Plan airport, ground transportation, weather, parking, and a backup route.
- Eat and hydrate on a schedule matched to the assigned session.
- Pack logo-free clothing, closed-toe shoes, required identification, medications, and approved devices.
- Keep ABEM’s current emergency contact information available outside the sealed exam belongings.
Cognitive plan for the fixed break and transitions
Do not reconstruct cases
Protect exam confidentiality and avoid carrying one station into the next.
Use the break physically
Hydrate, eat a familiar snack, use the restroom, reset posture and breathing, and review no new content.
Expect the other case block
If you completed Clinical Care Cases first, reset for shorter interactive OSCEs; if CPC came first, reset for four 15-minute structured discussions.
Use one transition cue
At every door: read the task, identify the station type, state the first required behavior, and enter the new case cleanly.
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 emergency medicine.
Questions candidates ask
Frequently asked questions
Where do candidates register?
ABEM’s current candidate packet states that exam-day registration occurs at the Hyatt House Raleigh North Hills and that a proctor then walks candidates to the AIME Center.
What time should morning and afternoon candidates arrive?
The published schedules list 7:00 a.m. ET for morning registration and 12:00 p.m. ET for afternoon registration.
Can I access my phone or watch during the break?
The candidate packet states that sealed prohibited items stored in the locker are not accessible during the exam, including the break. Snacks and beverages may be accessible.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing or scrubs are permitted, closed-toe shoes are required, and institution names or logos must not be visible.
Should I arrive in Raleigh on exam morning?
ABEM recommends arriving no later than the day before the examination because it may not be possible to adjust the schedule for travel delays.
Source transparency
Official references
Board requirements, dates, and candidate instructions can change. Confirm current details directly with ABEM and the Board’s candidate portal.
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