Scheduling, Taking, and Passing the Exam

Once you’ve met eligibility requirements  for the Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations® (SFO®), you’re ready to move forward to exam preparation and testing.

Exam Format

  • 150 multiple-choice questions
  • 3 ½ hours
  • Computer-based exam in English only*

Exam Content

  • Management of Accounting Systems (14%)
  • Management Accounting Functions (29%)
  • Financial Planning, Budget Planning, and Analysis (23%)
  • Risk Management Activities (7%)
  • Management of School Facilities (7%)
  • Management of Information Systems (5%)
  • Management of Human Resource Functions (11%)
  • Management of Ancillary Services (4%)

Scheduling the SFO Remote Proctored Exam

Important Notification

On May 30, 2023, Prolydian will switch from the Examity Classic platform to an updated remote proctoring system, “Examity v5.” Platform access to schedule an exam will be unavailable from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm EST to allow for this transition. Prolydian’s development team will automatically transfer candidates currently scheduled to the updated platform during the transition. Please note the current scheduling process is in effect until May 30. Click on the links below for more helpful details about the process and operating system requirements:

  • Examity’s Test Taker Guide https://www.examity.com/
    wp-content/uploads/2023/04/examity_live_proctoring_test_taker_guide_04.12.2023.pdf
  • Candidate Exam Scheduling (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLMdb58HV5M
  • Important Systems Technical Requirements

To apply to take the exam, log into SFO Access (Prolydian) and:

  • Create your profile.
  • Go to the Applications section to apply, submit payment, and track your activities.
  • Look for an authorization email to arrive within 3 business days of submitting your SFO application.
  • Review your follow-up email with instructions to schedule the SFO exam through Examity.

*Exam eligibility is valid for one year from the date of application approval. Allow sufficient time to retest within exam eligibility year if necessary.

Before Your Exam!

Prior to beginning your exam, you must complete your Examity profile setup, including the upload of a government-issued photo ID. You MUST complete the profile setup and computer requirements check prior to beginning your exam. Follow the steps below to complete your profile setup:

  1. Log into your Prolydian account at https://app.prolydian.com.
  2. Click the "Access my Examity account" button from your Prolydian exams dashboard.
  3. Click the "My profile" button.
  4. Click the "Edit" button in the Account Information section, add your phone number, and then click “Save.”
  5. Upload a photo of your government-issued ID in the examiSHOW section and then click the Upload button.
  6. Click the "Edit" button in the examiKNOW section. Select your security questions, provide your responses, and then click Save.
  7. Click the "Edit" button in the examiKEY section. Provide the required typed input and then click “Save.”

On the Day of Your Exam

It is important that you access your exam at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to rectify any unforeseen event that may cause a delay, such as connection problems or missing identification. To access your exam:

  1. Log into your Prolydian account at https://app.prolydian.com
  2. Click the "Access my Examity account" button from your Prolydian exams dashboard.
  3. Click the "Start exam" button.
  4. Click the "Connect to proctor" button.

Passing the SFO Exam

  • Candidates who pass the exam receive a grade of “Pass” only. No numeric score is provided.
  • Candidates who do not pass receive a grade of “Fail” and a scaled numeric score, ranging from 250 to 599. (Scores of 600 or more are passing scores.)
  • You will be notified of your results via email 24-72 hours after completing the exam.

Refer to the SFO Candidate Handbook   for important details on test procedures, special accommodations, and retesting.

Using Your Credential

Once you’ve passed the exam, congratulations—you’ve earned your SFO designation! Now, make the most of your prestigious credential with these essential tips for SFO certificants .

Contact ASBO International's certification department