Forum - June 2008

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT ON THE COVER OF EXAM BOOKLETS Certification/testing programs should ensure that a confidentiality of exam information statement appears on the front cover of each exam booklet. It must be signed by the examinees prior to starting the exam if it is a paper-and-pencil test or there should be an electronic acceptance by the examinee if it is a computer-based test.

EXAM IRREGULARITIES

Any irregularities (i.e. an examinee caught

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cheating, unusual behavior during an exam) that occur during any exam should always be recorded. They can be reviewed later to determine if a breach occurred.

Post-Test Procedures

POST-TEST ASSESSMENT OF EXAM
IRREGULARITIES
Certification/testing programs should
review any irregularities to determine
whether there was a risk to security.
Additionally, the post-assessment also

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CERTIFICATION EXAMS
ALWAYS WILL BE OF
CRITICAL VALUE TO THOSE
WHO RELY ON THEM TO
OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN
EMPLOYMENT.
helps the organization improve on areas
and situations it may not have encoun-
tered in previous exam administrations.
Based on this assessment, the security
plan could be modified if necessary.

COMMUNICATING EXAM RESULTS TO
UNSUCCESSFUL EXAMINEES
Programs should send failing examinees
a subscale breakdown of their performance
but should not review specific exam con-
tent. Programs can take into consideration
comments about particular questions and
determine whether there is any basis for
concerns the question may be erroneous.

DESTRUCTION OF OBSOLETE TEST MATERIALS

Retired or obsolete question and exam booklet materials should be shredded according to a policy set by the certification/ testing program in conjunction with the program’s attorney. Make sure the record destruction does not violate any record-retention laws and that the materials are not needed for any appeals processes that may arise from an examinee.

Certification exams always will be of critical value to those who rely on them to obtain and maintain employment. The higher the stakes, the higher the possibility that an individual, or individuals, will try to breach exam security for either personal or financial gain. Although no plan is foolproof, having a customized test security plan that is periodically updated is critical for the success of any certification/testing program.

Armando F. Ramirez, CAE, is director, division of certification & trainee services, for the American Osteopathic Association. He may be reached at aramirez@osteopathic.org.