2020 RETA Breeze Jul-Aug

RETA TESTING CORNER NO. 20

RETA’s Testing and ANSI Guru

Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and ANSI Accreditation Manager, has guided development of all RETA credentialing exams since 2002. RETA Testing Corner provides information and answers questions from RETA members, candidates and others to help them earn and benefit from RETA credentials.

R ETA has recently expanded its test delivery options to allow candidates to take CARO, CIRO and CRST online with a personal computer and an external webcam. Online Proctored (OLP) testing will expand access to these RETA exams. Nearly 80% of RETA test centers closed in the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many college and university test centers may remain closed until regular classes and campus activities resume. OLP testing will allow many RETA candidates to earn CARO, CIRO or CRST credentials from home. Access to remote proctoring begins by completing the application process for CARO, CIRO or CRST and paying all required fees. The application for Online Proctored (OLP) testing is available on the RETA website’s Certification screen. No additional

fee is required for a candidate’s first attempt using RETA OLP testing. Most RETA OLP candidates will take their test at home on a personal computer with an external plug-and-play USB webcam. The webcam must be on a tripod to give the proctor a clear view of the candidate’s desktop, mouse, keyboard, computer screen, hands, head and upper body during the OLP exam. RETA has prepared to loan candidates a USB webcam and tripod that meets all OLP testing requirements. OLP exams must meet some test security requirements that are not needed in centers that give RETA’s onsite-proctored tests. RETA OLP exams require these steps. 1. Facial recognition software matches the candidate’s image during registration to another on the day of the test. A government-issued photo ID such as

a driver’s license also is required and is compared to these facial recognition images. 2. Online OLP enrollment must occur at least one day before the date of the test. 3. An OLP proctor requires the candidate to scan the testing area with the webcam before the test to assure that no unauthorized books, electronic devices or other test aids are present. Only a simple nonprinting calculator is permitted. 4. OLP testing does not allow a candidate to review or return to change the answer to a question after moving to the next question. 5. No paper is allowed during the test. Notes and formulas must be entered on-screen. 6. No breaks are permitted. Leaving the test area for any reason ends an OLP exam.

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