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You must ensure you have a secure place to take the exam, have installed the secure browser and met all technical requirements before the start of your exam. 

You will be able to launch your exam up to 2 minutes before your scheduled proctored slot i.e. 09:58 for a 10:00 slot. Please note you may need to wait a couple of minutes for the proctor to become available, particularly if you launch the session early. You will then connect to your proctor, for an environment scan and ID check, which usually takes 5-10 minutes.

Once this is completed, the proctor will instruct you to start the exam. The exam page may take a little while to load and appear blank in the meantime. If this happens, do not panic, your time will not start until the exam page has loaded. You MUST NOT refresh the page, click the same button or use the back button.

The exam questions consist of multiple choice questions with four options and one correct answer. Answers are selected by clicking the single best answer. You will be able to navigate forwards and backwards between questions using the navigation pane and highlight questions to which you wish to return. 

Once you are finished, you will click "Finish Exam" followed by "Yes, I am sure" to submit your answers. If you have not submitted your answers by the end of the time allowed, your answers will be submitted automatically.

The proctor will ask you some final questions and ask you to shred any notes you have made in view of the camera. You may then close the session window. 

You must ensure you have completed the 'Getting your computer ready' section, well before your examination to ensure your computer is set up correctly.

1. Login to your ABPI MyLearning account

2. Click ‘schedule your exams’ on your dashboard

3. Scroll down to the relevant Unit and click it

4. Click the link below ‘schedule your exam or view your result’

5. 2 minutes before the start of your exam, a ‘Start’ button will appear – please click this

You MUST ensure that all applications, not required for the examination, must be closed before you click the 'start' button in the ABPI MyLearning portal.

Upon completion of your final unit, all indicative results undergo quality assurance check by the ABPI Examinations Team. After this we contact our accrediting body to generate your certificate. Our accrediting body now use e-certificates, so we send out certificates, via email, as soon as they are available.

This process can take up to 3-4 weeks.

After this, if we are satisfied all units have been passed, we contact our accrediting body to generate your certificate. Our accrediting body now use e-certificates, so we send out certificates, via email, as soon as they are available.

As per the ABPI Exam Regulations: Punctuality is the responsibility of the learner.

If you are approaching the end of the two years that you are allowed in which to pass the exam, you must contact the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority to apply for an extension. The PMCPA will decide whether or not to grant you an extension.

If you are granted an extension by the PMCPA, you must inform ABPI via the ‘Contact Us’ form, so that we can update your profile.

You can contact the PMCPA here.

Yes, once you have purchased your exam seats, you have the freedom to schedule exams at times that suit you (within the limits of the one and two year rule as stated in the current ABPI Code of Practice).

Exam papers are marked electronically. The likelihood of an error in marking is very low and all marginal scores are checked prior to uploading the results to individual profiles. Therefore, we do not routinely remark papers, as there is very little room for error. Where a learner requires a manual remark in spite of the above, there is an administration fee of £30 + VAT per paper, which is refunded if the mark is changed. 

If you want to appeal your score based on any other factors that you feel may be relevant, you have 14 days from the date of the exam to do so in writing to ABPI Examinations Director. Please see the Exam Regulations for more information.

Acceptable photo ID for authentication: a valid Government-issued Passport, Driver’s Licence or National ID card. Any learner who is unable to meet the requirements of the photo ID authentication will NOT be permitted to take the examination. ABPI will NOT refund the examination fees for learners who do not meet the ABPI Exam identity authentication requirement. 

1. Login to your ABPI MyLearning account

2. Click 'schedule your exams' on your dashboard

3. Scroll down to the unit you would like to reschedule and click it

4. Click the link under the title 'Schedule your exam or view your result'

5. Click 'Manage Booking' 

6. Click 'Cancel appointment' (there is no charge for this)

7. Click 'Manage Booking' to select a new date and time

Please note that if you reschedule your appointment, the first slot available to you will be 72 hours ahead at time of scheduling.

Please note that examinations cannot be rescheduled 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

Provided that you are still within your time limit to pass the exam, you can resit the unit(s) you have failed. This is booked in the same way and at the same cost as your original booking. Please visit the Resit Policy, for further information.

Yes, however, please be aware that the principle is you complete your qualification by the end of your attainment date. 

Therefore, the system is set so that the last scheduled appointment, you can select, is 22:30 (proctor availability dependent). This is to ensure you have enough time to complete the exam, including in the unlikely event you experience a technical issue, before 23:59.

To pass the ABPI exam, you must achieve at least 60% in each unit. If you are taking Unit O2, you must achieve at least 60% in both your O2a and O2b exams.

To achieve Distinction, learners must meet all the following criteria:

•an average of 80% or more for the mandatory units and an average of 80% or more for the disease area units

•the minimum mark on each individual unit must be at least 70%, apart from M1 Operating in the Pharmaceutical Industry and M5 Understanding working with the NHS and the provision of prescription medicines, where the minimum mark must be at least 80%

These marks must be achieved at the first attempt.

If you are sitting the accredited Advanced Programme and achieve a Distinction, you will receive a certificate from the ABPI as well as from our external awarding body.

You must ensure you read the ABPI Exam Regulations well in advance of your examinations to ensure you can comply with all regulations.   

Learners can take an exam wherever it is convenient, however, the exam will be proctored and must be kept secure. It is the responsibility of the Learner to ensure the testing environment is suitable, this includes ensuring:

• A well-lit, quiet, private room.  

• All doors to the room are closed.  

• No one else is in the room unless this forms part of a specific Exam Access Arrangement agreed by the Director of the Examination on application, and in advance of the exam appointment – see ABPI Exam Access Arrangements Policy.  

• The table or desk is clear of any material, with the exception of one piece of plain A4 paper (blank on both sides) and a pencil. 

• Mobile phones are turned off and stored away out of sight, after showing them to the proctor. Possession of any other electronic device that allows information to be stored or internet access at an examination desk is also strictly prohibited – this includes Smart watches.  

• Additional monitors are turned off and turned away from sight of the Learner.

• Any desk phone is disconnected or blocked from incoming calls.  

• There is no access to any unauthorised materials such as books.

• No posters, or information leaflets on the walls of the exam room, particularly where a Learner chooses to sit the exam in their place of employment. 

All Learners must have the required photo identification ready when logging onto the exam session to go through the authentication process with the one-to-one online proctor. The name on the exam appointment must match the name on the photo identification. Acceptable photo ID for authentication is: a valid Government-issued Passport, Driver’s Licence or National ID card. 

Any examination Learner found to have either provided false ID or arranged for someone else to sit the exam on their behalf will be subject to disciplinary procedures. Any person who attempts to sit an exam on behalf of another person will be subject to disciplinary procedures. Such behaviour constitutes the crime of attempting to obtain a pecuniary advantage by deception and may be reported to your employer or to appropriate national authorities. 

Any Learner who is unable to meet the requirements of the photo ID authentication will NOT be permitted to take the examination. ABPI will NOT refund the examination fees for Learners who do not meet the ABPI Exam identity authentication requirement.

All ABPI Exams are delivered online.

The ABPI Exam is invigilated by remote proctors. Proctors go through a rigorous selection process, including interviews with the proctoring service leadership team, background checks, and comprehensive training. Proctors must hold college degrees and must demonstrate strong technical and communications skills. 

Online remote invigilation (usually referred to as proctoring) enables organisations to deliver secure assessments remotely. For live online one-to-one proctoring, the proctor will be able to view the learner’s screen, alongside monitoring both the learner’s behaviour and environment for the duration of the examination session through the camera/webcam and microphone.

Any alternative to sitting the exam online would only be offered as a reasonable adjustment if it forms part of a specific Exam Access Arrangement (EAA) which has been sanctioned by the Examinations Director following receipt of an application for EAA made by the learner, in line with the EAA policy.

If it is your first examination, we recommend you set aside at least an hour and a half as you will not be familiar with the pre-examination set up once you have logged in, and what is required of you and how long that might take.

Every exam has a specific standard time allowed to answer questions. There is slight variation between units so you should always check the time allowed for each unit. When the booking the exam sitting, bear in mind you will need to factor in time to log on, go through the authentication process, the 360° room scan and any other requirements before the proctor opens up the exam, as well as checks at the end of the exam, such as overseeing shredding of any note paper used during the exam. We recommend setting aside at least 1 hour per exam booking.

If this is likely to be a significant issue, then you should source an alternative appropriate place to take your exam that meets the ABPI Exam Regulations and which gives you the best set up for sitting an exam.

You need the use of a computer or laptop which meets the requirements for installing the Guardian secure browser (examinations (including scheduling your exams) cannot be taken on tablets, e.g., iPads and Google Chromebooks, and other operating systems, e.g., Linux).  You do not need any other equipment as an on-screen calculator is provided, which is the only calculator you are allowed to use in the exam.  If you wish, you may have a piece of plain A4 paper (blank on both sides) and a pencil.  Please note the proctor will want to check the paper is blank on both sides before unlocking the exam session and will want to see the paper shredded at the end of the exam session.

No, you are not permitted to have notes or textbooks at your desk or within reach during your examination sitting, nor are you allowed to access online sources of information. The lock down browser will prevent other programs from running during the exam session and the proctor will check your surroundings for notes or other items.

Whilst the ABPI Examinations team do not offer a service to borrow a laptop, you are able to borrow from a family member/friend/employer, if it meets the ProctorU requirements, and you can use it somewhere that meets the requirements as specified in the ABPI Exam Regulations.

You may find you do not need to use the full allotted time for an exam – whilst this is perfectly acceptable, you must be aware that once you have clicked on screen to confirm you wish to submit your final exam answers, there is no opportunity to revisit flagged or unanswered questions.

You are encouraged to use the toilet before the examination as toilet breaks during the exam are not allowed unless a scheduled timed break forms part of a specific Exam Access Arrangement (EAA) which has been sanctioned by the Examinations Director following receipt of an application for EAA made by you, in line with the EAA policy.

You are encouraged to eat, drink and use the toilet before the examination as eating, drinking and taking breaks during the exam are not allowed unless these form part of a specific Exam Access Arrangement (EAA) which has been sanctioned by the Examinations Director following receipt of an application for EAA made by you, in line with the EAA policy.

Each question will be provided on a separate page. You will be able to navigate backwards and forwards through the exam, see which questions you have already answered and highlight questions to return to using the navigation pane.

One sheet of A4 plain paper (blank on both sides) and a pencil only is permissible on the examination desk. You must show the proctor that the paper is plain on both sides before the exam is unlocked. The proctor must also witness the shredding of the paper in front of the webcam at the end of the exam.

To submit the exam, you will need to click “Finish Exam” in the navigation pane, and then click “yes” to the “are you sure” prompt to prevent accidental submissions.

Cancellation of an exam only leads to a refund if the exam seat is cancelled within 14 days of purchase.

Please note that the exam seat refers to the store item and not the exam scheduled.

The only calculator which can be used is the on-screen calculator provided - no other calculator is allowed for use. One sheet of A4 plain paper (blank on both sides) and a pencil only is also permissible on the examination desk.