This guide covers what Prometric is, which exams it delivers, how check-in works, what the rules are, how it differs from Pearson VUE, and what PMP candidates do instead.
What Is Prometric?
Prometric is a Baltimore-based test administration company. It delivers exams for credentialing bodies, licensing boards, and employers at test centers and online. Prometric runs the testing session. The exam sponsor writes the exam, sets the rules, and issues the results.
| Attribute | Value |
| Founded | 1990, as Drake Prometric |
| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Earlier names | Sylvan Prometric (1995), Thomson Prometric (Thomson Corporation bought it in 2000) |
| Ownership history | Educational Testing Service (2007), Baring Private Equity Asia (2018); Wikipedia lists EQT Private Capital Asia as the parent |
| Scale, per Prometric | 7 million+ test takers a year, 8,000+ testing centers, 180+ countries |
| Online option | ProProctor remote proctoring for select exams |
Prometric does not write exams and does not grade them. A sponsor such as a licensing board hires Prometric to deliver the exam in a controlled setting.
Which Exams Does Prometric Deliver?
Prometric delivers exams for about 500 clients, including medical licensing (USMLE, COMLEX), finance (CFA), law school admission (LSAT), dental licensure (INBDE), and government programs. The exam sponsor decides where the exam is offered and what the rules are.
| Exam | Sponsor type |
| USMLE, COMLEX | Medical licensing |
| CFA exams | Investment credentialing |
| LSAT (since 2023) | Law school admission |
| INBDE | Dental licensure |
| Driver Theory Test (Ireland) | Government licensing |
| CPA exam | Accounting licensure |
The list is a sample, not a catalog. Prometric centers vary in which exams they host, so search the center locator by exam name and read the sponsor’s candidate guide before you book.
Does PMI Use Prometric for the PMP Exam?
No. PMI moved all certification exams from Prometric to Pearson VUE in 2019, except in China. Testing at Prometric for PMI ended on June 30, 2019. PMP candidates now test at a Pearson VUE center or through online proctoring.
| Date | Event |
| April 1, 2019 | Scheduling for PMI exams opens through Pearson VUE |
| June 30, 2019 | Last day of PMI testing at Prometric |
| July 1, 2019 | PMI testing begins at Pearson VUE |
PMI announced the change with the promise of more test locations, more than 5,000 at the time. Guides written before mid-2019 describe a Prometric experience that no longer applies to PMI exams. PMTI’s guide How to Schedule Your PMP Exam walks through booking with Pearson VUE.
How Do You Schedule an Exam at Prometric?
Confirm eligibility with the exam sponsor, register as the sponsor directs, then choose a date, time, and center on Prometric’s scheduling site. The sponsor’s rules control fees, retakes, and changes. Save the confirmation and read the candidate guide.
- Confirm eligibility and get any authorization from the exam sponsor.
- Register with the sponsor, or with Prometric if the sponsor directs you there.
- Search Prometric’s locator by exam name, because not every center delivers every exam.
- Choose the date, time, and delivery mode, test center or online.
- Save the confirmation and read the sponsor’s candidate guide.
Change and cancellation rules differ by sponsor. One Prometric client guide charges $25 for changes with under 30 days’ notice. It charges the full fee for changes inside 2 days, no-shows, and arrivals more than 30 minutes late.
What Do You Bring to a Prometric Test Center?
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a signature, and make sure the name matches your registration exactly. Bring your confirmation if the sponsor asks for it. Leave everything else in your car or locker.
| Item | Requirement |
| Primary ID | Government-issued, unexpired, current photo and signature |
| Name match | Exact match to the registered name |
| Second ID | Required by some sponsors, so check your exam’s ID rules |
| Confirmation | Bring it when the sponsor requires a printout or number |
| Approved items | Calculators or medication only when the sponsor allows them |
A recent name change breaks check-in. Fix the registration before exam day, not at the desk.
What Happens at Prometric Check-In?
Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Staff verify your ID, capture your identity, inspect your eyeglasses, jewelry, and pockets, and assign a locker. A proctor then escorts you to a workstation. Late arrival can forfeit the exam fee.
| Step | What happens |
| Arrival | Get there 30 minutes before the appointment |
| ID check | Staff match the ID to your registration and to you |
| Identity capture | Photo, fingerprint, or palm vein scan, depending on the sponsor and site |
| Inspection | Staff check eyeglasses, jewelry, and other accessories for cameras, and check pockets |
| Locker | You store all belongings and keep only your ID and locker key |
| Escort | A proctor seats you at your assigned workstation |
| Tutorial and exam | You click through the tutorial, then the timer starts |
Identity capture varies. One candidate guide lists photograph, fingerprint, and palm vein scan. One Prometric client guide states that staff will not collect fingerprints or photos. Read your sponsor’s rules.
What Are the Prometric Test Center Rules?
Phones, watches, wallets, food, drink, bags, and notes stay in the locker. Staff inspect eyeglasses and jewelry, and most sponsors allow only wedding and engagement rings. Security violations can end the exam and lead to confiscation of prohibited devices.
| Item | Typical rule |
| Phone | Locker; turn it off |
| Watch and wallet | Locker |
| Food and drink | Locker, used only on breaks |
| Jewelry | Removed, except wedding and engagement rings at many sponsors |
| Eyeglasses | Removed for inspection |
| Notes and paper | Not allowed; the center supplies scratch materials where the exam allows them |
| Calculator | On-screen, or an approved model when the sponsor allows one |
Sponsors set exceptions. Request accommodations through the sponsor well before exam day.
What Is the Prometric Testing Room Like?
Each candidate sits at a workstation with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, separated from neighbors by dividers. A proctor monitors the room. Scratch materials, tutorial length, and break rules follow the exam sponsor’s program.
- Check that your name and exam appear on the screen before you start.
- Use the tutorial to learn the interface, such as flagging and navigation.
- Return all scratch materials to the proctor at the end.
- Raise a hand for a technical problem, and do not leave the seat without permission.
Breaks follow the sponsor’s schedule. One dental licensure guide describes scheduled breaks of 15 and 30 minutes. It allows locker access only during scheduled breaks. Expect a repeat identity check when you re-enter the room.
What Is Prometric ProProctor?
ProProctor is Prometric’s online proctoring platform. It lets candidates take select exams from home or an office instead of a test center. The sponsor decides whether the exam is available online, and candidates run a system check before exam day.
Home testing has its own rules for the room, the camera, and the ID check. Run the system check on the same computer, network, and room you plan to use. Read the sponsor’s online testing requirements before you book.
What Happens After a Prometric Exam?
Prometric delivers the exam. The sponsor scores it and issues official results. Some programs show an unofficial pass or fail on screen, and many do not. Score timing, retake waiting periods, and appeals all follow the sponsor’s policy.
Sign out at the front desk, and return your locker key. Then check the sponsor’s portal for results.
What Mistakes Cost Candidates at Prometric?
Six mistakes cost candidates the most: arriving late, mismatched ID, bringing prohibited items, skipping the sponsor’s rules, expecting every center to offer every exam, and confusing vendors. Each one has a simple fix.
| Mistake | Result | Fix |
| Arriving less than 30 minutes early | Turned away, fee forfeited at many sponsors | Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early |
| Name on ID differs from registration | Denied entry | Match them before exam day |
| Carrying a phone, watch, or notes into the room | Warning or exam termination | Lock everything away |
| Reading only Prometric’s rules | Missed sponsor rules | Read the candidate guide |
| Booking a center that does not host your exam | Wasted booking | Search the locator by exam name |
| Booking with the wrong vendor | Missed exam | Confirm the vendor on your sponsor’s site |
How Does Prometric Compare With Pearson VUE?
Prometric and Pearson VUE are separate test delivery companies with their own centers and software. Each exam sponsor picks its vendor. PMI picked Pearson VUE in 2019. Your registration tells you which vendor to use.
| Attribute | Prometric | Pearson VUE |
| Role | Delivers exams for sponsors | Delivers exams for sponsors |
| Online proctoring | ProProctor | OnVUE |
| Who chooses the vendor | The exam sponsor | The exam sponsor |
| PMI exams (PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP) | Not since June 30, 2019 | Since July 1, 2019 |
| Where to confirm | Sponsor’s candidate guide | Sponsor’s candidate guide |
What Should PMP Candidates Expect on Exam Day?
PMP candidates test at a Pearson VUE center or online, with 180 questions and 2 optional 10-minute breaks. Since July 9, 2026 the exam runs 240 minutes. Read PMI’s exam-day instructions, because Pearson VUE sets its own check-in rules.
PMTI’s guide How Long Is the PMP Exam? Duration, Format, and Time Management covers the format, the timing, and the breaks in detail.
| Exam-day item | PMP at Pearson VUE |
| Vendor | Pearson VUE, not Prometric |
| Delivery | Test center or online proctored |
| Questions | 180 |
| Optional breaks | 2, each 10 minutes |
| Duration | 240 minutes from July 9, 2026 |
Practice under exam conditions before you arrive. Arrive early, bring matching ID, and follow the vendor’s rules, not the rules of a Prometric guide.
PMTI’s PMP Certification Training – 35 Contact Hours prepares candidates for the exam with 40 hours of live class time and 2,000+ practice questions. PMTI is a PMI Premier Authorized Training Partner.
