A proctored exam is one that is overseen by an impartial individual (called a proctor) who monitors or supervises a student while he or she is taking an exam. The proctor ensures the security and integrity of the exam process.

How do I know if I need a proctored exam?

Check your course syllabus as soon as you can access your online course. The need to take proctored exams and your exam dates should be contained there. If the instructor requires no exams, that should be clearly stated. If you cannot make a determination from the syllabus, contact your instructor immediately for an answer.

What must I do to take a proctored exam?

1. Find an appropriate proctor within the first two weeks of the semester. (see below for information on selecting an approved proctor or getting approval for a proctor candidate.)
2. Complete and submit the Proctor Approval Application.
3. Provide your exam schedule to your approved proctor.
4. Comply with any payment schedule that may be required by your approved proctor or testing center.
5. Schedule your exam date and time with the proctor well in advance of the testing window provided by your instructor.
6. Take your exam within the timeframe outlined in your course syllabus.
7. Complete the Examination Certification form, which will be provided with each exam.

Note: Failure on the part of the student to assume these responsibilities will be a matter to resolve with the instructor and could result in a failing grade on the exam in question.

What is the fee for a proctor's services?

Fees vary for the use of a testing facility and the proctor's time to receive, monitor, and return your exam. Please be sure to determine if there is a fee, what it is, and when it must be paid. Testing centers often require prepayment, and your receipt for payment may serve as your ticket to the proctored exam session. These practices vary among libraries, schools, colleges, universities, and private testing centers.

How do I find an approved proctor?

Check the National College Testing Association (NCTA), a national testing information site. If there is no available option near you, please read on for instructions on identifying and getting approval for a proctor. You can start the process by contacting your local public library, community college or university or, if you are in the military, contact your education officer. Many of these facilities have experience in proctoring exams from various institutions. The proctor will fill fill out the bottom half of the UWF Proctor Approval Form.

What are the requirements for proctor approval?

UWF has specific guidelines regarding proctor selection. If you cannot find an appropriate test-proctoring site from the resources on the NCTA website, you must submit a completed UWF Proctor Approval Application (PDF) by the end of the second week of the term or as directed by your instructor with the individual's information willing to act as your proctor. The department will contact then proctor to determine their elligibility as a proctor. See "Who can be approved as a Proctor" below.

Note: Exams will not be distributed to a proctor unless the Proctor Approval Application is on file with the instructor's department.

How do I access, complete, and submit the proctor approval application?

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free version is available.

To complete and submit this application:

1. Print out and complete the Student portion (Section 1) of the application.
2. Have your proposed proctor or testing center director complete the Proctor portion (Section 2) of the application.
3. Send the printed version by regular mail or fax to your instructor's department. The directions and address should be in your syllabus.

Who can be approved to serve as a proctor?

An acceptable proctor is someone with no conflict of interest in upholding UWF's Academic Code of Conduct (pdf). Relatives, friends, spouses, neighbors, and co-workers are not acceptable proctors. A proctor candidate may be from one of the following categories:

• Educational administrator or librarian at a community college, university, or high school
• Librarian at a public library
• Learning Center, ESO or an officer of higher rank than the student, if in the military
• College, university, or private testing center

What technology must the proctor have?

At a minimum, the proctor must have a valid, working e-mail address and telephone number so that the department may communicate with them. Depending on whether the exam is offered via the Internet or paper-based, the proctor should also have:

• Internet access for the proctor and student
• Printer
• And if necessary, a FAX machine

How do I schedule my exam(s)?

1. Check your course website for all exam dates and times. (Do this as soon as you can access your course site and the course syllabus.)
2. Contact your approved proctor with the entire exam schedule as it appears on your course website as soon as possible. Note: Be sure that fees are paid in advance of the actual exam date if required by the proctoring service.
3. Schedule a day and a time within the testing window to take the exam with the proctor. Note: Failure on the part of the student to assume these responsibilities will be a matter to resolve with the instructor and could result in a failing grade on the exam in question.

What are the proctor's responsibilities?

• The proctor must ensure that all necessary technologies are available and working.
• Only the proctor may handle the actual exam prior to and following its completion.
• No copies of the exam other than the copy used for test-taking are to be made at any time.
• No person other than the proctor and student may view the exam. (The student may have access to the exam only during the time period allowed by the instructor.)
• The proctor must follow the instructor's requirements for administering the exam. These may include a time limit, specific allowable equipment, such as a calculator and inclusion or exclusion of books, notes, etc.
• If paper-based, the proctor must prepare the exam (and any relevant materials, e.g., scratch paper) for return by sealing it in an appropriate envelope, provided by the UWF department, immediately after the student completes it.

Note: Full instructions for return and necessary postage will be supplied by UWF to the proctor prior to availability of the exam.