Examination Rules.
Clear, consistent rules so every candidate sits the PCL-AI on equal terms — and the credential stays credible.
Overview
Examination rules exist to make the assessment fair for everyone and to protect the integrity of the credential. They cover what to expect, what is and is not allowed, and what happens if the rules are broken.
The rules exist for one reason: to make every result mean the same thing. A credential is only valuable if everyone who holds it earned it under the same fair, secure conditions — so the requirements around identity, environment and conduct apply equally to every candidate, in a test centre or online.
They are also written to be reasonable. The expectations are clear in advance, accommodations are available where they are needed, and the emphasis is on protecting the integrity of the assessment rather than catching people out. Knowing the rules before the day simply lets you focus on the exam itself.
At a glance
On the day
- Verify your identity with valid government-recognised photo ID
- Sit in a private space with only permitted materials
- Follow proctor and platform instructions throughout
- Complete the assessment within the allotted time
What is not allowed
Impersonation, unauthorised materials or help, and copying or sharing examination content are serious breaches handled under the examination-misconduct policy. Content is protected under examination security, and confirmed breaches can lead to invalidated results and sanctions.
Accommodations and interruptions
Reasonable adjustments are available through the special-accommodations process, and procedures exist for genuine technical interruptions so candidates are not unfairly disadvantaged.
Same rules, same standard, for all.
Fair rules are not red tape — they are what guarantees that everyone's result means the same thing.
Common questions
Can I take the exam at home?
Yes — via remote proctoring, under identity verification and monitoring, or at an approved centre.
What can I have on my desk?
Only expressly permitted materials. Anything else may be treated as misconduct.
What if I have a disability or specific need?
Reasonable accommodations are available on request through the accommodations process.
Founding-stage document · Version 1.0 — effective date to be confirmed · Reviewed under PCI governance. PCI makes no claims of accreditation or recognition beyond what is true today.
A week-before preparation checklist
Most exam-day problems are preventable seven days earlier. Working through these checks in the week before your sitting removes the avoidable causes of stress, delay and logged incidents.
Match your ID to your record
Check that the name on your photo ID matches your enrolment record exactly, including middle names. If it does not, contact us before exam day — a mismatch cannot be resolved at check-in.
Test the real setup
Run the equipment check on the same computer, network and room you will actually use. A successful test on a different machine tells you nothing.
Prepare the room
Clear the desk of everything not expressly permitted, remove or cover notes on the walls, and brief anyone you live with that you must not be interrupted.
Re-read the permitted list
Review the permitted-materials list in the candidate handbook the day before you sit. If an item is not on the list, plan to work without it.
Know the incident route
Learn how to reach the proctor channel before you need it, so a technical failure becomes a documented incident rather than a panic.
How observations and incidents are reviewed
A proctor's job is to observe and record, not to judge. If something unusual happens during your sitting — a glance away from the screen, a background noise, a dropped connection — it is logged as an observation and, in most cases, the sitting simply continues.
Logged observations are reviewed after the examination, under the misconduct policy where relevant. Context matters: reaching for a dropped pen and reading from a second screen are different events, and the review treats them differently. Where a concern is taken forward, you are told what was observed and given the opportunity to respond before any determination is made.
Outcomes are proportionate to the evidence, and many observations are closed with no action at all. If you disagree with a determination, the independent appeals process applies — and raising an appeal is never held against you.
Keep going
The rules that catch people out
Most incidents are avoidable: identity documents must match enrolment names exactly; the permitted-materials list is exhaustive, not indicative — if it is not listed, it is not allowed; unscheduled breaks and out-of-view moments are logged; and discussing content after the sitting is disclosure, which the copyright policy and misconduct rules treat identically to copying.
Technical failures are covered by incident procedure — report immediately through the invigilation channel and continue as directed; documented incidents protect you at results verification.