New Online Proctoring Rules for the ARE: What Changed June 1, and What to Do About It

NCARB updated its online proctoring requirements on June 1, 2026 — here's what changed and what to do about it. There are two new requirements and one new allowance, and while none of them touch the content, format, or fees of the exam, they can change how you sit for your next division if you test from home.

These updates are about exam security — not difficulty, not content, not your study plan. And if these changes affect an exam you've already scheduled, keep in mind you can reschedule for a later date or switch to the other delivery modality (in-person at a PSI test center). It's worth checking whether any fees apply before you make that change. A smooth exam day starts with your setup handled before you sit down — so let's get into the changes.

What's changing for online-proctored exams

1. A smartphone secondary camera is now required

Alongside your computer's webcam, you'll set up a fully charged smartphone as a second camera. A few specifics worth knowing in advance:

• The phone: a fully charged smartphone running iOS 12 or Android 8 (or later), with working front- and back-facing cameras. It needs to be plugged into power and connected to WiFi. NCARB also recommends keeping it on a cellular network as a backup in case your WiFi drops.

• The setup: during check-in, you'll scan a QR code on your screen to connect the phone, then use it to verify your ID and complete a room scan. PSI's check-in specialist will help you position the device to your right or left, roughly two to four feet from your keyboard.

• The angle: the phone sits horizontally, in landscape mode, propped on a sturdy stand or a heavy object. It needs to capture your full screen, your keyboard and mouse or trackpad, both hands while you type, and your side profile. You'll need to stay within the camera's frame for the whole exam — no leaning out of view.

• During breaks: leave the phone where it is. If you move it or change its setup on a break, a QR code covers your screen (including the break timer) and you'll have to redo the connection and placement before resuming.

2. You'll need a native Windows operating system

Online-proctored exams now run only on a device with a genuine (OEM) Windows OS. Mac and Linux devices are no longer accepted — and that includes a Mac running Windows through Boot Camp or a virtual machine. If your only computer is a Mac, this is the change most likely to affect you, and it's the one we'd encourage you to sort out sooner rather than later.

3. Integrated webcams are now allowed

Here's the good news. Because every appointment now includes the secondary camera, you no longer need a separate external webcam as your primary. Your laptop or monitor's built-in camera is fine, as long as it gives a front-facing view. (No built-in camera at all? You'll still need an external one.) If your computer has more than one webcam, disable or disconnect the ones you're not using before you launch. NCARB still recommends a monitor of at least 19 inches — smaller screens or lower resolutions can blur the image and force extra scrolling.

One technical note to handle first

Before anything else, check the basics that trip up the most candidates at check-in. The PSI platform runs on the latest version of Google Chrome, and you'll need administrative permission on your computer to adjust network and security settings. Plan to disconnect any VPN and temporarily disable corporate or home firewalls before launch — these are the quiet culprits behind a lot of check-in headaches, and they're the easiest to overlook. (You'll find the full technical requirements detailed on page 13 of NCARB's ARE 5.0 Guidelines.)

How to fold this into your prep

A few practical steps, in the order we'd tackle them:

Do a free PSI test run — on your real setup. NCARB now expects a test run before each online division, and it's genuinely the best way to catch problems while you still have time to fix them. The key is to run it on the exact computer, in the exact spot, with the exact phone you'll use on exam day. Borrowing a Windows machine? Do the test run on that machine, not your own.

If you're a Mac user, decide your Windows path now. Whether that means borrowing a Windows laptop or booking a PSI test center instead, give yourself room to choose calmly rather than scrambling the week of.

Make the phone setup a habit, not a hurdle. Pick your stand, find the landscape angle that satisfies the room scan, and get used to plugging the phone in before you start. The more automatic it feels, the less it takes from you on the day.

Treat your last practice session as a dress rehearsal. A week or two out, run a full-length practice block in your real testing space, with the real equipment, start to finish. You want exam day to feel like one more rep — familiar, not foreign.

Keep your space test-ready. The room scan looks for a clear, distraction-free area. A tidy desk with only what you're permitted to have on it means one less thing for the proctor to flag and one less interruption for you.

The bottom line

If your next division is online and on or after June 1, give it twenty minutes this week: download the updated ARE 5.0 Guidelines from NCARB, confirm your computer and phone meet the requirements, and book your test run. The version of you sitting down on exam day will be grateful. You've got this — and we're in your corner.

Ready to spend less energy on logistics and more on passing?

Once your setup is squared away, the real work is the content — and that's where we come in. Amber Book is a single monthly subscription that covers all six divisions of the ARE 5.0, built for visual learners and working schedules. Instead of dense study guides, you get:

• 50+ hours of beautifully animated video lessons

• 600+ practice problems with detailed, animated explanations

• 1,100+ digital flashcards plus division-specific study resources and practice exams based on real ARE questions

• Unlimited 20-minute one-on-ones with course creator Michael Ermann, and weekly Amber Hive live study sessions

• Downloadable “panic notes” to skim the night before — and remind yourself that you've got this

Amber Book learners pass the ARE at an 81% rate, well above the national average of 58%. The subscription is risk-free and self-paced, so you can move as fast or as steadily as your schedule allows. Try Amber Book free today and take the next step toward licensure — with the content handled, and the confidence to match.