The World Buddhism Association Headquarters conducts a multi-part exam and offers certificates to those who pass the exam with designations as to your level of accomplishment. You are required to always display your status by wearing the appropriate buttons. A detailed description of the different Master Grade levels is provided below in Public Announcement No. 2016108. Although this announcement provides general categories of grade levels, it is not complete as additional levels have been added since this was published in 2016.

If you are eager to take this exam, you should contact WBAH directly to find the best way to do so. Various announcements by the WBAH (formerly known as the United International World Buddhism Association Headquarters) about the exam including sample questions that were asked when it was originally given are provided below. Also included are reports on certain incidents relating to the exam that may help you understand the process. Abbot Zhaxi Zhuoma has reported on her experiences taking and passing this exam as well as those in the holy realms and on her experiences observing others taking the exam in the holy realms in both Battle Positions. She described the process as an amazing and awesome experience. It is described in the announcements below. It has been an open-book exam, with mostly essay type questions that you have a couple of days to complete. You can also read Chapter 17: “Testing in the Holy Realm” in her book Thus Have I seen: The Marvelous True Buddha Dharma and its Power to Transform, which is available from its publisher Great River Books and Amazon.

WBAH tells us that:  “You all have to make an earnest effort to listen respectfully to the recorded dharma discourses expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, study well Learning from Buddha and Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra, always check oneself using the 128 Evil and Erroneous Views, follow the two great mind essences of the Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation (SAUMOL), cultivate oneself in concrete actions and steps, abstain from everything that is evil and do all that is good, and practice well the Buddha-dharma transmitted from His Holiness the Buddha.”

Unfortunately, we still do not have published translations of most of the recorded dharma discourses or the texts listed above.  Learning From Buddha is available in English, but the other two have not yet been published. You can gain some background by clicking the titles. Since these texts are so important, you should request that you have access to translations so that you can take the exam. Zhaxi Zhuoma may be able to proctor the test at the Holy Vajrasana Temple so that you can have access to the main texts, especially Expounding the Absolute Truth through the Heart Sutra, but you would need to request this for that to be possible. Check out the June 2022 article below for more. You should read this sutra at least once before taking the test as it is an essential document to have. Remember the Buddha Master told a number of the western rinpoches that this was the only text you needed to become liberated and it does contain much of what you need to know for this exam. You may also listen to or read many of the Dharma Discourses by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha at Learning from Buddha College and Seminary as well as take courses on these discourses there.

Zhaxi Zhuoma reported that she found that taking the very comprehensive test was a very useful experience over and above receiving certification. Twenty sample questions taken from the test are listed below for your information. They also include reference to some of the other sources you need to study. she also said that it is not an easy exam, but she urged everyone to try. She personally attested to witnessing most of what is described below. You do only get one chance to take the written exam and the higher forms of testing, which will probably be offered at different times and places. You are required to submit an annual review of your progress or lack thereof that may result in you receiving higher rankings or even demotion. Again you should check with WBAH for current requirements.

Article on taking the exam in 2022, June 15, 2022.

Reply to Inquiries No. 20180108: More on Status of unnamed Master, 2019 WBAH Exam, Establishing a Buddhist Organization, Beseeching an Inner-Tantric Initiation, and level of Henghsing Gyatso Rinpoche, October 25, 2018

Answer No. 33-Examination System of the WBAH, March 20, 2018

Public Announcement No. 20170108-Exam Incidents, March 2017

Public Announcement No. 20170101: Publication of the Results from the Examination in the Holy Realm, January 3, 2017

Public Announcement No. 20160112: Examination in the Holy Realm, October 18, 2016

Public Announcement No. 20160108: Detailed Descriptions of Master Grade Levels, August 25, 2016

Public Announcement No. 20160105: The Exam-20 Sample Questions; Dharma of Vajra Fa Man Zue Jue, April 27, 2016

Public Announcement No. 20160101: Written Exam Plus Exam in the Holy Realm, March 3, 2016

Public Announcement No. 20150118: Examination update, December 21, 2015