Hosting & Offering Certification Examinations

COST OF HOSTING AN ABC OFFERING

The ABC will provide a Test Site Manager to any agency requesting an offering. The agency will be required to provide a suitable site for the offering and pay 50% of the travel expenses for the Test Site Manager if there are 4 or less candidates sitting at your site in the continental United States. Other arrangements to cover expenses will be necessary for travel outside the continental United States.

FACILITIES ARRANGEMENTS

The facilities arrangements are generally made by the hosting organization and should be reviewed by the ABC Test Site Manager (TSM). The arrangements for proctors and the other procedures for actually giving the examination are made by the ABC Test Site Manager. The ABC Test Site Manager must be a current or former member of the ABC Board of Directors or Examinations Committee. Proctors should be Diplomates or Fellows who have been appropriately trained.

Room Arrangements

• The room reserved for the examinations should be held for a minimum of four hours.
• The room should be large enough to accommodate the anticipated candidates in classroom style seating with at least two feet of space between chairs. The room should be set up in that manner with a head table and extra chairs at the front.
• The room must NOT be next to, or in the vicinity of, another meeting, function, or facility service corridor/area which might create disruptive noise. A room at the end of a corridor, where outside traffic will be limited, is ideal.
• The facility staff should be informed that quiet will be required for the testing period.
• The lighting and room temperature should be checked for comfort and the procedures for adjusting them should be identified.
• Coverings for the tabletops should be arranged so that they do not interfere with marking the answer sheet. (It may be necessary to ask the facility to not put tablecloths on the tables.)

Materials Required In Room – place the following materials at each seat before the examination begins:

• Scratch paper
• Drinking water, glasses, and tissues (for each two seats).
• NO CANDY OR ANY OTHER FOOD IS PERMITTED IN THE ROOM.
• Preferably, a clock or countdown timer should be visible from every seat in the room.
• If a visible clock is not available, a less satisfactory but allowable substitute is a board or easel (visible from every seat in the room) on which the time remaining is posted.

Materials Required Outside of Room

• A check-in table (with chairs) large enough to accommodate at least three people along one side should be set up outside the entrance door.
• The check-in table should have a sign that indicates it is for examination check in.

Procedures for Giving the Examination

Proctors

Proctors are necessary for the administration of the examination. The following guidelines should be followed:

• Arrangements for proctors should be made ahead of time.
• Proctors should be limited to ABC Diplomates and Fellows or persons ineligible for certification.
• At least one proctor must be a member or former member of the ABC Board of Directors or Examinations Committee (normally, the Test Site Manager). If a former member, the Test Site Manager should not be eligible for the examination being given.
• Two proctors are normally required, preferably one of each gender.
• The total ratio of proctors to candidates should be at least 1:10.

Role of the Proctors

• Proctors should be instructed to keep noise and movement to a minimum.
• If available, a proctor should be present outside the examination room to insure that noise and other disturbances are kept away from the location.
• If a candidate must use the restroom during the examination, he/she will be escorted to the facility by a proctor. It is not necessary to accompany the candidate into the facility, but it is good practice to inspect each facility for secreted references after the examination has begun and prior to use by any candidate. If more than one candidate is using the facility, the proctor should caution them not to discuss the examination, and then monitor to ensure they comply.
• Proctors in the examination room should be alert to any obvious signs of inappropriate behavior by a candidate. Any candidate caught cheating will be dismissed from the examination process.