CAC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling

How CAC Exam Scheduling Actually Works

If you're searching for "CAC exam dates 2026" expecting a printed calendar of quarterly test dates, it helps to understand how the Certified Alzheimer Caregiver (CAC) credential is actually delivered. The National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care (NCBAC) does not run seasonal testing windows the way some paper-and-pencil certification programs do. Instead, current delivery uses NCBAC's browser-based remote-proctoring process, which means candidates schedule their exam session individually once they've been approved and paid the required fee.

In practical terms, this is good news for anyone trying to plan a 2026 study and testing timeline: you are not waiting for a specific "spring window" or "fall window" to open. You control the calendar. That said, "no fixed dates" doesn't mean "no deadlines" - there are still time-sensitive pieces of the process you need to track carefully, which we'll walk through below.

2026 Testing Availability: No Fixed Windows

Because the exam is delivered through remote proctoring rather than in-person test centers with limited seat availability, there isn't a published list of "CAC exam dates" for 2026 the way you might see for some licensure exams. Once your application and eligibility documentation are accepted, you schedule your session directly through NCBAC's remote-testing process at a time that works for you, provided you have the required technology on hand.

This flexibility is one of the most practical advantages of pursuing this credential in 2026. You can build your own preparation calendar - whether that means testing within a few weeks of finishing a caregiving training program or spacing your study over several months - without worrying about missing a registration cutoff for a specific testing cycle. For a deeper look at how demanding the exam actually is once you sit down to take it, see How Hard Is the CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.

Registration Timeline and Fees

Even without fixed testing dates, there's a clear sequence to follow, and each step has its own timing considerations:

• Confirm eligibility first. Standard eligibility requires being at least 18 years old, having paid or unpaid direct dementia-care experience of at least 15 hours weekly for one year (reduced to six months if you're a CNA, LPN, or RN), and at least 25 hours of dementia-care training completed within the previous two years. There's also an alternative pathway for candidates who are 18 or older and enrolled in a Dementia Training/Apprenticeship Program.
• Pay the exam fee. The standalone exam fee is $175. If you want structured content review built into your registration, the optional Caregiver Course adds $500, bringing the total to $675.
• Schedule your remote session. Once approved, you choose your own exam date and time through the remote-proctoring system rather than selecting from a limited list of center-based dates.

Because these fees and the eligibility structure directly affect how you plan your 2026 timeline, it's worth reviewing CAC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown and CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you commit to a testing date.

The 90-Day Caregiver Course Deadline

This is the single most important date-related detail for anyone planning their 2026 CAC timeline. If you opt into the $500 Caregiver Course (bringing your total investment to $675), that course access does not last indefinitely. You have access for 90 days or until you take the exam, whichever occurs first.

This creates a real scheduling constraint: if you purchase the course but don't sit the exam within that 90-day window, your access lapses. That means your personal "exam date" needs to be planned backward from your course enrollment date, not the other way around. A candidate who enrolls in the course on January 5, 2026, for example, effectively has until early April to complete their review and schedule their remote-proctored session.

Eligibility Verification: Plan Ahead

Because eligibility is documentation-based rather than automatic, candidates should budget time before their intended test date to gather proof of caregiving hours and training completion. The two main paths are:

• Experience-based path: 15 hours per week of direct dementia care for one year (six months for licensed CNAs, LPNs, or RNs), plus at least 25 hours of dementia-care training completed in the prior two years.
• Program-based path: Age 18+ and active participation in a Dementia Training/Apprenticeship Program, which can shorten the runway to your exam date if you're enrolled through a qualifying program.

If you're unsure which path applies to you, or how your current job and training hours stack up, CAC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify breaks down both routes in detail. Sorting this out early prevents a last-minute scramble that could delay your scheduled exam session.

Building a Prep Timeline Around the 8 Domains

Once you've picked a target exam date, the real planning question becomes: how do you allocate your remaining weeks across content? The CAC exam covers eight official content areas, each with its own percentage weighting:

The remaining six domains - Knowledge of Disease (12-16%), Activities (10-14%), Health (5-10%), Patient Rights (5-8%), Safety (4-6%), and Caregiver Needs (2-5%) - round out the 100-question, two-hour-thirty-minute exam. For a full breakdown of every domain and what each one tests, see CAC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 8 Content Areas.

If you want a structured, step-by-step approach to this kind of preparation rather than building it from scratch, CAC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through a complete plan, and our practice test platform lets you drill domain-specific questions before you lock in your exam date.

What to Expect on Your Scheduled Exam Day

Once you've chosen your exam date through the remote-proctoring system, a few logistical requirements determine whether your session goes smoothly:

• Equipment: A computer or Chromebook with a working camera and reliable internet connection. Phones and tablets are not supported.
• Identification: Government-issued photo ID must be presented at the start of the session.
• Software: The browser-based process requires no software installation, so there's nothing extra to download or configure ahead of time - just make sure your browser and internet connection are stable.
• Exam format: 100 multiple-choice questions administered over two hours and 30 minutes.
• Passing standard: A scaled score of 664 on a 300-900 scale - not a percentage of questions correct.

Because the passing score is scaled rather than a simple percentage, many candidates misjudge how many questions they can afford to miss. CAC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass explains exactly what that scaled score means for your preparation. If you want a sense of how the overall exam experience feels once you're in the session, CAC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the CAC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 both cover what to expect.

Renewal Deadlines After You Pass

Passing your exam isn't the end of the date-tracking process - it's the start of a new one. Certification renews annually for $35, and maintaining it requires completing six continuing-education hours each renewal cycle. This means your "exam date" effectively becomes an anniversary you need to track every year going forward, alongside your continuing-education completion.

Building a simple reminder system - a calendar alert set roughly two months before your renewal date - gives you enough runway to complete continuing-education requirements without a last-minute scramble. For context on how this recurring cost fits into the overall value of the credential, see Is the CAC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and CAC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.

Employers hiring for memory care units, assisted living facilities, and dementia-specific home care agencies increasingly look for candidates who've kept their credential current, so staying on top of your renewal date matters just as much as your original exam date. If you're weighing whether the credential fits your career plans, CAC Jobs and CAC Training outline where this certification tends to open doors.

Frequently Asked Questions