Coming from someone with four years of Facebook advertising experience, the Facebook Blueprint Certification is not easy. It’s described as “rigorous” on the Blueprint website. But if you can conquer it, you will have a huge leg up on the competition and the ability to leverage the only official Facebook certification as a selling point for new employers or clients.

For anyone who’s become certified for another platform like Bing, AdWords, or Google Analytics, you know the tests can be challenging, but all-in-all very passable. In my opinion, the Facebook exam is the most challenging exam among other networks. Therefore, it’s important to be more prepared than you think you need to be.

Basic requirements for passing the Facebook Blueprint Certification:

In order to become fully certified, you must pass the Core Competencies exam & either the Buying Professional OR Planning Professional. There is a $150 testing fee for each exam (valid for 1 year). Facebook recommends at least 6 months of Facebook Ad experience before attempting to take the exam. The exam will last 75 minutes and has between 50 and 60 questions. You need to receive a score of 700 or more to pass If necessary, you may retake the exam after 30 days.

It can be nerve wracking to prepare for an exam with so many requirements, but there’s no need to be scared. I’m here to help! I’ve laid out some pretty basic tips for nailing your Facebook certification exams.

Take Advantage of Online Study Materials

Study more than you think you need to study, and read through each of the study guides provided for the test you are planning to take.

Facebook has very specific ways they want you to do things, even though these are not necessarily what you would do for a client. When it comes to passing each test, what you would actually do for a client has no merit. What Facebook considers best practices matters more. This is why, even if you’re a social media marketing expert, you need to familiarize yourself with the provided study materials to ensure you understand Facebook’s expectations.

Study Guides for each course can be found here:

You can also take a practice exam here. The practice test is not the best, as it’s only 10-15 questions long and the questions themselves are a bit shorter than they are on the actual test, but still something worth looking at.

Read Each Question Carefully & Pace Yourself

The majority of questions read like bad math stories from elementary school…

“Cindy has four apples, Mike takes two and then eats one. How many apples does Steve have?”

It’s very important to read the questions critically, as there may be a hidden tidbit inside the question that can change your answer. More often than not, a lot of the information in the story part of the question is unnecessary and just there to test your analytical skills.

I recommended reading the end of each question first, and skimming the answer options, then going back to read the rest of the story to ensure you’re looking at the scenario from the correct angle.

Keep in mind it is a timed test. There is also a countdown clock that will always be visible on the screen. It will also tell you the number of questions left. Utilize this to pace yourself and not spend too much or too little time on one question.

I wish I could tell you more about the questions, but the non-disclosure agreement makes it a bit tricky to do so. All-in-all, just keep a cool head and read carefully. Don’t ignore the details, but don’t let them trip you up either.

Be Prepared for the Pearson Testing Experience

Part of the reason the tests are not free is that they are taken in a Pearson testing center. If there is no testing center near you, you can take the test on your own computer. You’ll need access to a webcam and microphone. A proctor will lock down your computer and monitor you via webcam to ensure no funny business.

The tests are scheduled and paid for online. You can change the date, time or location of the test for no additional charge, at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled time.

I’m going to sound like your mom now, but there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before you go in for the exam:

There are no bathroom breaks

No snacks or water bottles

Belonging must be kept in a locker outside the testing room

After putting away your belongings, you might feel like you’re going through airport security. You will present your ID so they can take a passport style picture of your face, and you’ll do a self pat down including turning your pockets inside out. So no sneaking in a granola bar in your pocket.

Overall, if you do enough prep work, read questions carefully, and are prepared for the testing experience, you can conquer the Facebook Blueprint Exam and become Facebook Certified. It may take a little extra work, but in the end, you will have a leg up in the industry that could bring you awesome opportunities.

Good luck!