Test Center Certification: Recertification

Congratulations on your decision to recertify your test center!  Maintaining NCTA Test Center Certification shows your continued commitment to testing integrity and the highest standards of quality and performance in the field of collegiate test administration. Embarking on this process involves a commitment on your part, as well as from your staff and supervisor. In addition to completing the recertification application you will also need to provide evidence, in the form of Appendices, which document your test center’s policies and processes. Crafting, reviewing, editing and finalizing these Appendices takes time, which is why it is important for you to have the support of your staff and supervisor before taking on this project.

The Recertification Process

NCTA Test Center Certification expires after five years. The Test Center Certification Committee’s Vice-Chair for Recertification will contact your site six months prior to your site’s certification expiration date to begin the Recertification process. The TCC committee examines and requires continuous enhancement to your center’s materials, services, and procedures through observing testing trends since your last certification. This process requires you to perform another self-evaluation of your current processes and update required areas to meet the NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines and the specific appendices as presented on the Recertification Checklist and Selected Standards for Certification.

Recertification Steps

  1. Read the Selected Standards for Recertification and Recertification Checklist (see Resources page).
  2. Each contact person listed on the application must be a member of NCTA.
  3. Each contact person listed on the application must subscribe to the NCTA Professional Standards and Guidelines.
  4. Review and complete the Recertification Application and all appendices.
  5. When ready to submit your file, send an email to [email protected].
  6. The Test Center Certification Committee’s Communications Coordinator will contact you with instructions on uploading your completed file/documents.
  7. If paperwork is complete, the Test Center Certification Committee’s Vice Chair for Recertification will assign an Advisor. If your materials are not complete, they will be returned to you for revision and resubmission.
  8. Work with your Advisor to review and edit the Recertification Application and appendices as needed.
  9. Your Advisor will send your completed Recertification Application and appendices to the appropriate Vice Chair, who then sends your materials to two Evaluators.
  10. Two Evaluators will review and send feedback.
  11. If revisions are needed, you will work on improvements and send the documents back to your Advisor. If revisions are not needed, you will move onto the next step.
  12. Submit your test center certification fee to NCTA.
    1. $200 for initial certification
    2. $100 for recertification
  13. You will select two (2) colleagues from your school for a Site Visit. They will submit their report and findings to the Site Visit & Certification Coordinator.
  14. Once the site visit is successfully completed and your fee is processed, your site will be recommended to the NCTA Governing Council for recertification.
  15. An announcement will be made via the NCTA Listserv and on the NCTA website.

IMPORTANT:
The time it takes to become recertified varies from school to school. However, the application and appendices must ALL be submitted at once. Failure to do so will result in the withdrawal of your application. The whole recertification process should not take longer than six months.

Reasons Why Applications/Materials May Be Rejected

  1. The application was not complete
  2. All appendices were not submitted

Sample Appendices are available for your review on the Resources Page

NCTA Test Center Recertification is valid for five (5) years.

Recertified test centers are announced on the NCTA listserv. In addition, recertifying test centers receive a date plaque indicating the recertification date to affix to their original large wall plaque, the right to continue use of the NCTA-certified center logo on your website and other promotional materials, and a sample press release to announce this accomplishment. The Test Center Certification Committee’s Recertification Vice-Chair will initiate the Recertification process six months prior to the expiration of your certification period.

When Test Center Certification Expires

If your test center does not complete the recertification process before your current certification expires your test center will be removed from NCTA’s List of Certified Test Centers. And you will be required to:

  • Discontinue use of NCTA’s Certified Center logo in all publications and official communications
  • Remove language that denotes/implies being a certified test center from all publications and official communications
  • Reapply as a new certification and pay required fees

If you have any questions about certification, please contact [email protected]  

Join our Certification Team

Our dynamic, engaging, and innovative committee is always seeking new perspectives and ideas to redefine test center certification standards and keeping up with new testing center trends and best practices. We welcome dedicated and professional colleagues to assist in our mission. 

We need volunteers to work on processing applications, to serve on the committee, to discuss test center methodologies, and serve on key projects within the Test Center Certification Committee. Contact [email protected].