Examination Security
ASMC firmly believes that each candidate deserves a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate his or her competency in the examination process. Examination security measures are intended to prevent any unfair advantage of one candidate over another.
All exam materials are the property of ASMC. Removal of any material from the exam room by unauthorized persons is prohibited. Copyrights for the CDFM exams are owned by ASMC. Any attempt to reproduce or memorize all or part of the exam is prohibited. Any unauthorized disclosure, publication, copying, reproduction, transmission, distribution, or possession of CDFM exam content or materials in any form may subject the individual to civil liability and/or criminal prosecution, removal of certification, and/or restrictions on future access to CDFM certification examinations. The prohibition of “unauthorized disclosure” means that you may not discuss the contents of the examination with anyone except ASMC.
A proctor may dismiss a candidate from the exam, halt an examination in progress, or report a candidate to ASMC for any unauthorized behavior, such as any of the following:
- attempting to gain unauthorized admission to take an exam
- attempting to use resource materials during the exam
- attempting to take the examination for someone else
- creating a disturbance
- giving, receiving, or attempting to give or receive help from unauthorized sources
- removing, or attempting to remove, exam materials or notes from the testing room or testing platform
- having in his or her possession any item prohibited from the exam area
- exhibiting behavior consistent with memorization or copying of exam items
Restroom breaks are not permitted. Testers who leave the testing room will not be permitted to continue testing.
On the Day of Examination for At-Home Online Proctored Testing (OnVUE)
Important: Read the policies and procedures at the bottom of the Pearson VUE OnVUE page here before scheduling an OnVUE exam.
Before the exam:
- Every candidate needs to thoroughly read the “Pearson VUE policies and procedures” on the ASMC OnVUE online proctored web page at pearsonvue.com/asmc/onvue and review information on exam policies and procedures, system requirements, and the System Test.
- It is very important to complete the required System Test on the same computer, in the same location, and at the same time as your exam appointment so the System Test can accurately read the computer’s connectivity in that location and timeframe.
- Corporate, university, and military firewalls often cause issues while trying to take your exam. We strongly recommend taking your exam in a setting without an institutional firewall.
- Review the identification requirements below
On exam day:
Showing Up: We ask that you log into your Pearson VUE account 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to start the check-in process and to allow for any troubleshooting. If you click on the “Begin Exam” button more than 15 minutes after your scheduled exam time, you will be considered a No Show and are unlikely to receive a refund.
Identification: Please be prepared to show one (1) valid form of unexpired, Government-issued personal ID. The Government-issued ID must have your signature and must have your photo.
The name on the exam registration in the Pearson VUE system must match the name on the Government issued ID exactly. Please verify that your name listed on your confirmation email matches your identification. If your identification is not considered valid, you will not be permitted to complete your exam and are unlikely to receive a refund.
Examples of acceptable identification:
- Passport
- Driver’s license
- Identification card (national or local)
- Registration card (such as green card, permanent resident, visa)
Please note that we are unable to accept the following ID’s for an online proctored exam:
- Military ID (including spouse and dependent)
- Renewal forms with expired IDs
- Government-issued name change documents with Government ID
Personal Belongings: CDFM exams are closed-book exams. No personal items should be in the testing room. This includes all bags, purses, wallets, reference materials of any kind (books, notes or papers, etc.), electronic devices except for your cell phone (no tablets, PDAs, watches, calculators, etc.), writing instruments, food, beverages, etc.
Please note that you are required to have a clean and clutter free workstation. During check in, the proctor will ask you to perform a room and desk scan using your phone or webcam and will inspect any materials near your workstation.
Logging into your Pearson VUE account:
- Click on the Login button – pearsonvue.com/asmc/onvue
- Click on your scheduled exam under “Purchased Online Exams”
- Click “Begin Exam” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the check-in process
- Important: the “Begin Exam” button will show up 30 minutes before your exam appointment and will remain available until 15 minutes after your exam appointment. If the “Begin Exam” button is not visible, you are either too early or too late for your exam. Please check your appointment details to make sure you’re trying to start at the proper time
- During the check-in process, you will be asked for your phone number so Pearson VUE staff can communicate with you while you are checking in for your exam. You will be asked to take a photo on your phone of yourself, your ID and 4 photos of your room. The check-in process takes approximately 15 minutes for candidates who have previously completed a system test. After you have completed the check-in process, you will be asked to place your phone out of reach, but close enough to be heard.
- Once you have completed the check-in process you will be contacted by a Proctor to begin your exam at your appointment time. You may not be contacted by the proctor before your appointment time to start the exam.
Facial Comparison Policy
You understand and agree that Pearson VUE may use facial comparison technology for the purpose of verifying your identity during the testing process. It will compare your facial image to the one on your identification and to facial images captured during the testing process and help us further develop, upgrade, and improve this application. If you do not agree to the use of facial comparison technology during your testing session, do not accept this term. You will not be able to complete your registration online. Instead, please call the Pearson VUE call center to complete your registration.
Reporting Unusual Circumstances: Significant and unusual circumstances that occur during the testing process should be reported immediately to the Pearson VUE exam proctor so an incident report can be filed.
What to Expect During Testing
If you are taking an OnVUE remotely-proctored exam, it is important to carefully review all of the OnVUE Exam Policies and Procedures. Especially important points are:
• No Study Materials Allowed: No books, notes, or other study materials are allowed during testing.
• No Communicating with Anyone Other than Your Proctor: Once you have started your exam, you may not communicate with others, including any third-parties or others within your home, such as children.
• No Breaks: There are no breaks allowed during a CDFM exam unless ASMC has approved ADA Accommodations in advance.
• No Reading Aloud or Covering Face: Do not read the questions aloud and do not cover your mouth or attempt to hide your face or move it out of view of the webcam.
• Report Unusual Circumstances Immediately to Proctor: Significant and unusual circumstances that occur during the testing process should be reported immediately to the Pearson VUE exam proctor, by clicking on the chat icon, so an incident report can be filed.
Reschedule Policy
Rescheduling an exam appointment can be done in your Pearson VUE account 24/7 at pearsonvue.com/asmc or by calling Pearson VUE at (888) 572-2276 Mon-Fri, 7-7 Central. You can reschedule your exam right up to the scheduled appointment time at no cost. If you do not reschedule your appointment before the scheduled appointment time and do not take the exam, it will be considered a No Show and you will forfeit your entire exam fee. This would require you to purchase another exam on the ASMC website at asmconline.org/cdfm exams in order to proceed with sitting for the exam.
Cancellation Policy
Canceling an exam appointment can be done in your Pearson VUE account 24/7 at pearsonvue.com/asmc or by calling Pearson VUE at (888) 572-2276 Mon-Fri, 7-7 Central. You can cancel your exam right up to the scheduled appointment time at no cost. If you do not cancel your appointment before the scheduled appointment time and do not take the exam, it will be considered a No Show and you will forfeit your entire exam fee. This would require you to purchase another exam on the ASMC website at asmconline.org/cdfm exams in order to proceed with sitting for the exam.
No Shows: Failure to appear for an exam forfeits the entire exam fee, unless documentation of extenuating circumstances is provided within 30 days, such as: death in the family, serious illness, or military duty. In such circumstances, the candidate should email the ASMC Certification Department at certification@asmconline.org as soon as possible, providing documentation and a full description of the situation.
Exam Canceled by Pearson VUE: In the event of an unforeseen circumstance occurring on the day of a scheduled exam, candidates will be given as much advance notice as possible and will not be penalized if Pearson VUE cancels their exam appointment.
Additional Information
Retake Policy
Retake Waiting Period: There is no limit on the number of times a candidate may take an exam module they have not passed. However, there is a mandatory waiting time before retaking that same module (applies to all platforms: paper-and-pencil, in-person and online-proctored). The first retake requires a 14-day wait and additional retakes of that module require a 28-day wait. Additional fee to retake an exam applies. Please visit the CDFM Candidate Handbook for more information.
Retake Fee Waiver Requests: Requests for waiving an exam retake fee due to unusual testing circumstances must be submitted to the ASMC Certification Department via email at certification@asmconline.org within 30 days of the exam administration. The request must include a full description of the circumstance and the reasons for requesting the waiver. An incident report must have been filed with Pearson VUE exam proctor during the testing process. The circumstances must have been outside the tester’s control, must have made the tester’s experience different from other testers, and must have been severe enough to account for exam failure or ability to test. ADA Special Testing
Accommodations
ASMC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and wants to ensure that no eligible individual is deprived of the opportunity to take the exam solely by reason of a disability as defined under the ADA (or equivalent), as long as the disability is not one which would render the individual incapable of performing the duties of a certified position.
Candidates must identify their need for special accommodations at least 5 weeks before the desired testing date by making a request in writing to certification@asmconline.org, to include a letter reporting a formally-diagnosed, ADA-recognized disability from a qualified professional who has provided evaluation or treatment to the applicant.
Tester Misconduct
ASMC reserves the right to take any and all remedial and disciplinary action that ASMC deems appropriate in the event of misconduct or suspected misconduct by a tester. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, seeking an unfair advantage in connection with any CDFM exam, providing assistance to another candidate during an exam, using unauthorized materials during an exam, copying or removal of CDFM exam materials, as well as the disclosure—in writing or orally—of the contents of any individual exam questions and, upon becoming aware of misconduct by others, failing to report it to the Pearson VUE staff and ASMC.
Possible responses of ASMC to misconduct or suspected misconduct include, but are not limited to, cancellation of exam scores, revocation of certified status, disqualification from future examinations, and reporting of misconduct to third parties, including employers and other certifying bodies. If misconduct is discovered after certified status has been achieved, it may be treated as a violation of the ASMC Pledge of Professionalism.
On the Day of Examination at a Test Center
Admission Policy
Showing Up: We ask that you arrive at the test center 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. This will give you adequate time to complete the necessary sign-in procedures. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment, you may be refused admission and exam fees may be forfeited.
Identification: Please be prepared to sign in, show a Primary and Secondary ID, and have your photo taken. The first and last name on your exam registration must match exactly the name on both IDs. Any candidate exceptions to the ID policy must be pre-approved by the Pearson VUE customer service center at least three (3) business days before the scheduled exam appointment.
Primary ID (name, photo, and signature, original-no copies, not expired)
• Passport
• Driver’s License
• Military ID cards (including spouse and dependent)
• Identification card (national/state/province identity card)
• Alien registration card (green card, permanent resident, visa)
• School ID
• Employer ID
• Professional License
• Bank
• Insurance Company
• Local language ID (not in Roman characters) – accepted only if issued from the country the
candidate is testing in
Secondary ID (name and signature, original-no copies, not expired)
• Any form of ID that displays legal name and signature that matches the Primary ID, including any
qualifying Primary ID, credit card, debit card, etc.
Personal Belongings: CDFM exams are closed-book exams. No personal items may be taken into the testing room. This includes all bags, purses, wallets, reference materials of any kind (books, notes or papers, etc.), electronic devices of any kind (phones, tablets, PDAs, watches, calculators, etc.), writing instruments, food, beverages, etc. Secure storage will be provided for personal items during the exam administration.
Reporting Unusual Circumstances: Significant and unusual circumstances that occur during the testing process should be reported onsite to the Pearson VUE exam proctor so an incident report can be filed.
Reschedule Policy
Rescheduling an exam appointment can be done in your Pearson VUE account 24/7 at pearsonvue.com/asmc or by calling Pearson VUE at (888) 572-2276 Mon-Fri, 7-7 Central. You can reschedule your exam at least four (4) business days prior to the scheduled appointment at no cost. Rescheduling 1-3 business days prior to your appointment will require a $50 rescheduling fee. Rescheduling less than 24 hours prior to your appointment forfeits the entire exam fee and requires you to purchase another exam on the ASMC website at asmconline.org/cdfm exams in order to proceed with sitting for the exam.
Cancellation Policy
Candidate Exam Cancellation: Canceling an exam appointment within 24 hours of the exam appointment forfeits the entire exam fee and requires you to purchase another exam on the ASMC website at asmconline.org/cdfm exams in order to proceed with sitting for the exam. Exam appointments canceled four (4) or more business days before the exam appointment can be rescheduled at a later time.
No Shows: Failure to appear for an exam forfeits the entire exam fee, unless documentation of extenuating circumstances is provided within 30 days, such as: death in the family, serious illness, or military duty. In such circumstances, the candidate should email the ASMC Certification Department at
certification@asmconline.org as soon as possible, providing documentation and a full description of the situation.
Inclement Weather and Exam Canceled by Pearson VUE: In the event of hazardous weather or any other unforeseen onsite emergencies occurring on the day of a scheduled exam, Pearson VUE will determine whether circumstances require the cancellation of the exam at a particular location. Every
attempt will be made to administer all exams as scheduled. Candidates will be given as much advance notice as possible and will not be penalized if Pearson VUE cancels their exam appointment.
Candidate Emergencies: If you need to reschedule or cancel an exam less than three (3) business days prior to your exam appointment (not including the testing day) due to an emergency (death in the family, serious illness, short-notice military duty, etc.), contact the ASMC Certification Department as soon as possible at certification@asmconline.org or (703) 549-0360 and be prepared to provide supporting documentation.
Tester Misconduct
ASMC reserves the right to take any and all remedial and disciplinary action that ASMC deems appropriate in the event of misconduct or suspected misconduct by a tester. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, seeking an unfair advantage in connection with any CDFM exam, providing assistance
to another candidate during an exam, using unauthorized materials during an exam, copying or removal of CDFM exam materials, as well as the disclosure—in writing or orally—of the contents of any individual exam questions and, upon becoming aware of misconduct by others, failing to report it to the Pearson VUE staff and ASMC.
Possible responses of ASMC to misconduct or suspected misconduct include, but are not limited to, cancellation of exam scores, revocation of certified status, disqualification from future examinations, and reporting of misconduct to third parties, including employers and other certifying bodies. If
misconduct is discovered after certified status has been achieved, it may be treated as a violation of the ASMC Pledge of Professionalism.
Results
Candidates receive immediate score results when taking computerized exams. Please note that proctors and test center staff are not permitted to discuss the exam items or your exam results.
Scoring
The CDFM examination is a criterion-referenced test. This means that candidates are scored against a fixed standard (the passing score). The final passing score for each individual CDFM examination has been established by a panel of subject matter experts who have determined the minimally-acceptable level of competence for awarding the certification, utilizing acceptable psychometric procedures. The passing score is applied consistently to all test takers. Candidates are not competing against one another, and grades are not curved. You must achieve the passing score to pass the examination. There are no exceptions.
ASMC reserves the right to annul any examination scores if, in ASMC’s judgment, there is any reason to question the score’s validity. Conduct that warrants score cancellation may include, but is not limited to: consulting study aids of any type during a testing session; copying from notes or from another candidate’s answers during a testing session; unauthorized communication with others during a testing session; copying, photographing, transcribing, or otherwise reproducing or transmitting exam materials; removing exam materials from the testing site; aiding other examinees or receiving aid from anyone else; or having improper access to CDFM content prior to the examination administration. Engaging in such misconduct may disqualify the individual from future CDFM tests and possibly from ever being certified by ASMC.
Exam Score Reports
Per the testing policies set by the Certification Commission and testing experts consulted in the development of the CDFM exams, ASMC cannot release information on the exam passing scores or individual exam scores. However, ASMC offers details on the Exam Score Report to candidates who fail an exam, providing performance feedback on each domain/competency area on the exam.
The detailed performance feedback is automatically provided on failed Pearson VUE exam results. If a paper-and-pencil exam was taken, detailed feedback can be requested by emailing the Certification Department at certification@asmconline.org and including your ASMC ID number, the Module (1, 2, 3, or 4), and the date you took the exam. Detailed feedback is not provided for passed exams.
CDFM Testing Policies
See information about CDFM Testing Policies here.
CDFM Testing Appeals
See information about CDFM Testing Appeals here.