Rules Exam Only Registration

My Workshops & Exams →
during the 2018 Rules Modernization Shoot at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. on Thursday, July 19, 2018. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Overview

  • You will have the choice of taking either the 100-Question Exam or the 80-Question Exam.
  • Both exams may be taken either in-person at one of our PGA/USGA Workshop sites (subject to the COVID-19 Policy), or online through our exam platform on selected dates.
  • The exam is broken into two parts:
    • Part 1 – Closed Book (no reference materials allowed)
    • Part 2 – Open Book (books and printed reference materials allowed)
  • You will have 4 hours to complete the exam.
  • Certification – The 100-Question exam provides you the opportunity to achieve “Expert” Rules certification from the USGA. Both the 100-question and 80-question exams provide you the opportunity to achieve “Advanced” Rules certification from the USGA.

In-Person Exam Option

  • You may choose to take the exam in-person on the 4th day of a PGA/USGA Workshop.
  • If taking an exam in-person, you must agree to and comply with our COVID-19 Policy detailed below.
  • COVID-19 POLICY
    • For all in-person workshops and exams, attendees will be required to wear a mask at all times (except while actively eating or drinking) while in the classroom and in communal areas of the site where you cannot socially distance.
    • For all in-person sites (except Dallas, TX) – All attendees will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to be admitted to the classroom. This means that 14 days must have passed since your final shot (1st dose for J&J and 2nd dose for Moderna or Pfizer). Proof of vaccination must be physically shown prior to entering the classroom on the first day of the workshop. You must show either your vaccine card, passport, certification, or a photo of such proof, which must include your name, date of birth, vaccine type, and vaccine dose(s) and dates administered, along with a current photo ID.
      • For Dallas, TX ONLY (February 11-14th) – All attendees will be required to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the first day of the workshop (i.e., test must be taken on or after February 8, 2022). However, you may show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 which will exempt you from this testing requirement. If you wish to be exempt from the testing requirement and show proof of vaccination, you must show either your vaccine card, passport, certification, or a photo of such proof, which must include your name, date of birth, vaccine type, and vaccine dose(s) and dates administered, along with a current photo ID.
    • Registration will open for all sites at full capacity, but we reserve the right to decrease capacity at any or all workshop sites as needed to ensure the safety of attendees and staff. We reserve the right to reschedule or cancel any in-person workshop or exam for any reason, including but not limited to, health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. If we cancel any session or reduce capacity which requires cancellation of your in-person session, you may either (a) receive a full refund or (b) select a different workshop or exam, depending on availability and subject to any applicable fees, and a credit will be applied to the cost of the substituted session, and any remaining balance will be refunded to you.
    • We reserve the right to make changes to this COVID-19 Policy at any time, including requiring additional protocols in order to attend any in-person session, as necessary to comply with any applicable federal, state or local law, order, regulation or recommendation, or as determined in the sole discretion of the USGA.
    • THIS COVID-19 POLICY APPLIES ONLY TO IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND IN-PERSON EXAMS, AND DOES NOT APPLY TO VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS OR EXAMS.

Online Exam Option

  • You may choose to take a proctored exam through our online exam platform.
  • The exam is available only on certain dates – available dates shown in chart at bottom of this page.
  • Additional Info – Before the Exam
    • System Compatibility Check – Any time before your exam, please run the system compatibility check here – https://tests.mettl.com/authenticateKey/33g1yxpbls
    • Approximately 24 hours in advance of your exam, you will receive an email that will include the link to launch and take your exam.
    • The exam must be taken on a laptop or a desktop – mobile devices and tablets (iPads) can NOT be used.
    • The exam is compatible with both PC and Mac computers.
    • You can only have one computer monitor/screen – if you have a dual monitor set-up, you will need to disconnect the second monitor.
    • Supported browsers – You will need to use either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox only.
    • You will need a webcam – This can either be built into your computer or purchased and plugged into your computer externally.
    • During set-up, the platform will walk you through how to share your screen, and also how to allow access to your webcam and your microphone for proctor monitoring purposes.
    • If you log in early, you will have to wait until the scheduled start time to begin your exam.
    • To access the exam, you will be asked to show your photo ID and to take a photo of your face for ID verification purposes.
  • Additional Info – During the Exam
    • The exam will be administered in two parts (closed book and open book) with a simple transition between the two parts. After the transition to the open book portion, you will not be able to return to the closed book portion.
    • You will have 1.5 hours for part one (closed book) and 2.5 hours for part two (open book), for a total of 4 hours.
    • A clock of your remaining time (specific to when you began your exam) will be visible on the screen.
    • Materials for open book portion of exam – you can use any books, printed materials and handwritten notes, but you may not use any electronic or digital resources.
    • Note that you are not allowed to navigate away from the exam window on your computer – this will be tracked by the AI software described below.
    • Scratch Paper – You are free to use as much scratch paper as needed during both parts of the exam.
    • Food and Drink – Feel free to have food and drink with you during the exam.
    • AI Monitoring – The system uses AI monitoring to provide warnings both to the student and to the proctor when prohibited actions are detected. These include things like navigating away from the testing window, taking a picture of the screen with a mobile device, etc.
    • Warnings will be reviewed by USGA proctors and exams can be ended for inappropriate actions.
    • Text Sizing – The exam is offered through a web browser, meaning that the browser’s view/zoom tool can be used to increase (or decrease) the size of the text in the exam window.
    • Chat – You will be able to send chat messages to your proctor if you need assistance.
    • Bookmarking – The system provides a “Re-Visit” feature to mark questions that you would like to return to. Remember that you are unable to return to the closed book section after moving on to the open book. Note that this feature only pertains to revisiting questions within the part of the exam being taken currently (open book or closed book).
    • Breaks – You can take breaks any time as needed. Please just message your proctor that you are taking a break. You do NOT need to wait for a response from the proctor. The allotted time for your exam will continue to run during breaks.

Transfers

  • Prior to your exam date, you may transfer to any other exam with available seats at no charge. This can be done online prior to the registration deadline. After the registration deadline, this can be done by calling 908-326-1850.
  • On or after your exam date, no refunds are available.

Withdrawals

  • 100-Question Exam
    • $150 refund prior to your exam date. This can be done online prior to the registration deadline. After the registration deadline, this can be done by calling 908-326-1850.
    • On or after your exam date, no refunds are available.
  • 80-Question Exam
    • $100 refund prior to your exam date. This can be done online prior to the registration deadline. After the registration deadline, this can be done by calling 908-326-1850.
    • On or after your exam date, no refunds are available.

Rules Exam Only Schedule

Date/Time Event Available Seats

If you have any questions about the Rules Exam only option, please feel free to reach out to us any time:
Email: rules@usga.org
Phone: (908) 326-1850