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Exam administration policies

Examination security

Certiport is committed to ensuring that its certification exams are respected and valued in the marketplace. Accordingly, Certiport takes appropriate measures to ensure that the integrity of its exams are not compromised and also holds Certiport Authorized Testing Centers (CATCs) accountable for taking appropriate steps to prevent and detect fraud and exam security breaches.

Certiport conducts periodic data forensics to identify patterns of aberrance in exam results that help detect cheating or content piracy. For example, forensic indicators such as types of responses, latency, pass rates, and retakes may reveal patterns of cheating, collusion, or piracy. However, prevention and early detection are critical elements that require the close cooperation of its CATCs.

Therefore, in addition to relying on its CATCs to provide industry standard monitoring during testing, Certiport requires its CATCs to ensure an appropriate physical or virtual testing environment, and that administrators and proctors are sufficiently trained to provide good quality oversight of testing.

Administrators and proctors who observe violations of rules, or suspect a testing security breach, must immediately contact Certiport Customer Service (or Certiport’s Authorized Partner Representative). It is very important to document all relevant facts supporting the alleged breach. Reports should include date, time and location of the incident, name of Test Candidate, and the name and version of the exam taken. See the Cheating section below for more information.

Physical or Virtual testing environments

1. Ensure the testing area is a professional environment where Test Candidates may take the exam without interruptions. Outside of virtual delivery, private dwellings, homes, or other personal facilities are not approved testing environments and should not be used to administer exams.
2. Ensure that each test is actively proctored with an unobstructed view of each Test Candidate in the testing area. Acceptable methods of proctoring include:
   • Camera/video display - The proctor may remotely monitor the Test Candidate via a camera with access to a complete view of the testing environment.
   • Observation window - The proctor may monitor the Test Candidate through an observation window with a complete view of the testing environment.
   • In-Room proctoring - The proctor is located in the same room with the Test Candidate. This is typically the preferred method for larger groups of classroom testing.


3. If partitions are not available for the testing stations, ensure that Test Candidates are seated far enough apart to minimize distractions and prevent cheating. The recommended distance is four feet.
4. While testing is in progress, use of equipment such as printers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, or other electronic devices is not permitted in the testing environment.

Note: See our Exams from Home page for more information about Identity & Environment checks when using virtual exam delivery.

Test Candidate check-in and exam procedures

 

1. The CATC is responsible for verifying the Test Candidate’s identity with at least one form of valid identification (containing both a photograph and the Test Candidate’s signature).
2. The CATC is responsible for collecting and retaining a signed Parental Consent form if the Test Candidate is under the age of 18.
3. The CATC/Proctor must not allow recording or electronic devices in the testing area. Such devices include: paper, pens, pencils, cameras, computers, or cell phones. Additional Test Candidate property, such as books or bags, should be stored outside the testing environment or inaccessible during the exam.
4. The CATC/Proctor may permit a Test Candidate to take a break during testing if requested, but must inform the Test Candidate that the testing clock cannot be stopped during the break. Test Candidates must not be permitted to conduct activities during a break that may compromise exam security - including use of a telephone and/or communicating with other Test Candidates.
5. The Proctor must confirm that the Test Candidate’s ID matches the Certiport account information on the Proctor Validation Screen prior to launching the exam.
6. Proctors may answer questions regarding the functionality of the exam software, but may not answer questions or provide instructions related to exam content.

Seat time

It is important to note that there is more to administering an exam than just letting the Test Candidate go through the timed portion of the certification exam. Additional time will be required to administer an exam from start to finish with input from both the Proctor/Teacher as well as the Test Candidate. This administrative time combined with the allotted exam time is known as the “Seat Time”. These additional actions may include tasks and logistics such as classroom planning, launching the software, signing in, potentially downloading updates to the software and/or exam content, loading times, reading and agreeing to terms/conditions, completing demographics, reviewing the tutorial, sending in comments, and uploading/viewing the exam results.

Video Training

Cheating

If a test candidate is caught cheating at a Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC) during an in-person or Exams from Home session, the exam should be stopped immediately by the proctor/exam administrator. The test candidate should then be notified of the infraction, and informed as to what was observed. A detailed account of what transpired should also be emailed to Certiport at customerservices@pearson.com. In most cases Certiport will defer to the proctor/exam administrator involved in regards to how the situation is handled internally, including if the test candidate will be able to retake the exam. If further information is required by Certiport, the proctor/exam administrator will be notified and next steps will be provided.

Public testing centers

1. Accurate information must be included on the CATC locator, and should be updated as needed.
2. Personnel responding to exam scheduling requests must be thoroughly trained on Certiport product offerings and procedures. 
3. The CATC Logo must be posted in a location that is visible to Test Candidates prior to entering the facility.
4. The CATC should greet the Test Candidates in a professional manner and enforce all testing policies and procedures prior to the beginning of the exam.

Accommodation of disabilities

As a worldwide provider of certification exams, Certiport is committed to ensuring that those persons with the desire to certify their proficiency in the use of computers should have the opportunity to do so. Certiport, accordingly, embraces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as other global accommodations for disabilities designed to advance those goals.

Please join us in offering unique support to candidates who apply for an accommodation. Review the process for individuals to apply for an accommodation.