What security procedures are there during the NC state examination?

PSI has numerous security procedures in place during the examination. All applicants must adhere to these requirements when taking the exam:

• Calculators used during the exam must be silent and battery-operated. Theycannot be programmable and must not have paper-tape printing capabilities. Calculators used cannot have a keyboard containing the alphabet.
• PSI strongly advises against bringing personal belongings into the exam room. Any personal belongings that you bring to the exam location must be put into secure storage provided at each site before you will be allowed access to the exam room. Personal belongings not allowed into the exam room include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Electronic devices of any type, including mobile phones, recording devices, electronic/smart watches, cameras, pagers, laptop computers, tablet computers such as iPads, music players, radios or electronic games.
  • Bulky or loose clothing or outerwear that could be used to hide recording devices or notes. For security purposes, outerwear is not allowed in the exam room, including, but is not limited to, the following: open sweaters, cardigans, shawls, scarves, hoodies, vests, jackets and coats. In the event you are asked to remove the outerwear, you must have appropriate attire underneath.
  • Hats or headgear, unless worn for religious reasons or as religious apparel. Hats, baseball caps and visors are all prohibited.
  • Other personal items are prohibited, including purses, notebooks, reference or reading materials, briefcases, backpacks, wallets, pens, pencils, other writing devices, food, drinks, and good-luck items.
• PSI is not responsible for any loss, damage or theft of personal belongings or prohibited items brought to, stored at, or left behind at the examination site, including items in secure storage. PSI assumes no responsibility in respect to any personal items and makes no representation that the secure storage provided will be effective in protecting such items from theft, loss or damage.
• If you forget any items at the examination site after you have completed your exam and do not claim them within 30 days, PSI will dispose of them or donate them, at its discretion.
• If someone accompanies you to the exam location, they may not wait for you in the exam center, facility or grounds. This includes any guests accompanying a candidate, including drivers, children, friends, family members, colleagues, instructors or any others.
• Candidates may not smoke, eat or drink in the exam center, nor may these items be brought into the facility.
• During the check-in process, all candidates will be asked if they possess any prohibited items. You may also be asked to empty your pockets and turn them out for the proctor to ensure they are empty. The proctor may also ask you to lift up the ends of your sleeves and the bottoms of your pant legs to ensure you are not concealing notes or electronic devices.
• Proctors will also carefully inspect eyeglass frames, tie tacks, or any other accessory that could potentially hide a recording device. Proctors may ask to inspect items in candidates’ pockets.
• If you are found with prohibited items during check-in, you must put them in the provided secure storage or return the items to your vehicle. PSI will not be responsible for the security of any personal belongings or prohibited items brought to the exam scene and does not guarantee the security of the storage offered.
• Any candidate for broker license found to possess prohibited items in the exam room shall immediately have his or her test results invalidated, and PSI will notify the North Carolina Real Estate Commission of the occurrence.
• Any provisional broker candidate found to be providing or receiving assistance on an exam, in possession of unauthorized materials, or who otherwise violates any security regulations, will be asked to surrender all examination materials and leave the examination center. All such instances will be reported to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.
• Copying or communicating examination content violates a candidate’s contract with PSI, as well as federal and state law. This may result in the disqualification of examination results and may also lead to legal action.
• Once the examination is under way, candidates are only permitted to leave the exam room to use the restroom and must obtain permission from the proctor to do so. Candidates will not receive extra time to complete the exam due to restroom breaks.