Scheduling
BPS examinations are administered primarily at Pearson VUE test centers. Online/remote testing is not a standard delivery option and may be approved only in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis for eligible candidates in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Online/remote testing requires advance approval by BPS and is not available as a standard option. Candidates should not schedule an online/remote examination without approval.
Once an application is approved, the candidate will receive the authorization to test (ATT) email which is required to schedule an appointment with Pearson.
Pearson will employ reasonable efforts to provide adequate remote proctors to meet demand for the BPS examinations; however, BPS cannot guarantee availability of an examination session at a specific date or time.
While online testing generally mirrors traditional in-center test processes, there are important disclosures for candidates approved for online/remote testing to consider before deciding to schedule an online testing examination:
- Review the OnVUE online testing information in preparation for the examination.
- Ensure a testing location that is indoors (walled), well-lit, with a closed door, and free from background noise and disruptions. The workstation and surrounding area must be free of pens, paper, electronic devices, etc. No content that could potentially provide an unfair advantage during the examination, including anything posted on walls or within the immediate area, is allowed during the session.
- Ensure that no third party (i.e., person or pet) is present in the room or enters the room for the duration of the examination. If this occurs, the examination will be terminated and/or the results invalidated.
- Computer view: Candidate’s computer must clearly be shown and fully inspected during the check-in process. If this cannot be accomplished with an external web camera for desktops or a mirror for laptops, file a Center Procedural Report (CPR).
Online/remote testing is not available as a standard option. Requests must be submitted in advance and require approval by BPS. Candidates who schedule or attempt to test using online/remote testing without approval may be subject to applicable cancellation/rescheduling fees, examination termination, test result invalidation, or other appropriate action.
Personal Data Collection & Processing for Online Testing
Candidates approved for online/remote testing must consent to the collection and processing of personal data (including valid photo ID, video images of the candidate, workspace, and/or room in the home or office), and biometrics (i.e., facial recognition technology) as required by BPS.
Candidates must remove eyeglasses for close visual inspection (i.e., rotating 360 degrees). These inspections will take a few seconds and will be done at check-in (and again upon return from breaks) before beginning or resuming testing to ensure adherence to security protocol.
Jewelry outside of wedding and engagement rings is prohibited. Do not wear other jewelry during testing. Hair accessories, ties, and bowties are subject to video inspection. Use of ornate clips, combs, barrettes, headbands, tie clips, cuff links, and other accessories is prohibited during testing, and candidates will be asked to remove these items. Violation(s) of this protocol may result in the termination of examination and notification to BPS.
Checking-In on Examination Day: Online Testing
Candidates approved for online/remote testing must comply with the following check-in and identity verification requirements:
- Prior to launching the examination, download and install the OnVue application and perform a computer system check. It is highly recommended to use a personal computer for online testing.
- An original, valid (i.e., unexpired), government-issued photo and signature-bearing ID is required to take an examination. Candidates are required to show their workspace and surrounding area using the webcam.
- Candidates are required to raise pant legs above the ankles, empty and turn all pockets inside-out, and raise shirt sleeves above wrists prior to every entry into the virtual test center.
- If wearing eyeglasses, candidates are required to remove them for 360-degree visual inspection to ensure they do not contain any recording device(s). Large jewelry items must be removed prior to and throughout the duration of the examination.
- If the candidate has long hair covering the ears, the candidate will be asked to pull hair back to ensure nothing is affixed or embedded in the ear(s).
Additional Proctored Online Testing Policies
The following policies apply only to candidates approved for online/remote testing.
Candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner in all interactions with BPS personnel, volunteers, examination vendors, proctors, and other candidates. Candidates who violate test center or approved remote proctored exam regulations or rules, engage in irregular behavior, misconduct, disruptive, threatening, abusive, or inappropriate conduct, or fail to comply with a test administrator’s instruction to discontinue such behavior may be dismissed from the test center. Such conduct, whether occurring in person, by telephone, electronically, or in writing, may result in disciplinary action. Examination fees will not be refunded, examination results may be withheld or canceled, and additional disciplinary action may be imposed, including disqualification from future BPS specialty examinations.
BPS specialty certification examinations are delivered via computer. While it is not the norm, technology issues can occasionally occur, as there could be software loading, keyboard, or other workstation issues. These types of issues may require the proctor to log the candidate back into their examination. If this happens, the candidate should notify the proctor immediately and await further instruction. Most technical issues are resolved quickly with a simple refresh of the screen or by the proctor logging back into the examination. If a problem is not resolved to the test takers satisfaction, contact BPS as soon as possible upon completion of the exam.
If a technical issue lasts longer than 30 minutes and prevents the candidate from continuing with the examination, the candidate may choose to stop and reschedule to another day or continue to wait for the resolution.
If a candidate leaves the view of the camera at any time during an online testing examination without first receiving the proctor’s permission, the proctor will note the time of departure and terminate the exam immediately and the candidate will not be refunded.
Unauthorized personal items must not be accessible while testing. Such items include, but are not limited to the following: outerwear, hats, food, drinks, purses, bags or briefcases, notebooks, watches, cell phones, wearable technology, electronic devices, calculators, or mechanical pens and pencils.
Candidates are not permitted to access any personal items or electronic devices at any time during the examination, even while on break. If the candidate is observed with these items, the exam will be terminated, and the candidate will not be allowed to reschedule in the current examination window for windowed examinations, or within 90 days for continuous testing.
Eating, drinking, smoking, and chewing gum are prohibited during the examination.
Written notes, published materials, or other testing aids are prohibited.
Light clothing items removed for comfort such as sweaters, suit jackets, scarves, etc., must be hung on the examinee’s chair, not placed in laps or on the workstation desktop. Outerwear such as heavy coats, parkas, raincoats, etc., is not permitted in the testing area.
Candidates should note that leaving the camera view while the examination is in progress (see policy on unscheduled breaks), is strictly prohibited. Changing locations while testing, turning off lighting or audio, or speaking to or receiving aid from other individuals is also strictly prohibited and will result in the testing session being terminated and all fees will be forfeited.
Requests for special accommodations will be reviewed by BPS staff on a case-by-case basis and addressed as per existing BPS policy.
Candidates testing through online testing will have access to virtual scratch paper. Any answers or work recorded on the virtual paper will not be scored.
For candidates testing via OnVUE online testing with Pearson VUE, water is not permitted in the testing room.
The remote proctoring application, computer-based test delivery system, tutorial, examination content, and surveys are the published, confidential, proprietary materials, and intellectual property of Pearson and/or BPS.
Communicating, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any part of an examination in any form or by any means (e.g., verbal, electronic, written) for any purpose is strictly prohibited. ANY reproduction or disclosure will result in immediate notification to BPS and the potential filing of administrative, civil, and/or criminal charges against the candidate and anyone directing or conspiring with the candidate.