(Fairfax, Virginia) In compliance with ISO/IEC 17024 and ANSI accreditation requirements, the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) routinely audits the examination process to make sure it remains fair and unbiased toward all candidates while maintaining the integrity and reliability of its exams. To help candidates and employers have the best user experience possible, NWSA offers the following feedback:
Since implementing live Online Remote Proctoring (ORP) of exams, NWSA has seen an increase in the number of exam administrations where exam environment/location requirements are not being followed. Under the accreditation standards, not following these requirements may lead to serious consequences, up to and including termination of an exam administration, invalidation of exam results, being barred from retaking the exam, or even revocation of certifications.
To help address the most common issues found and avoid unanticipated consequences, the following key exam environment requirements list has been compiled as a reminder to candidates preparing to take NWSA online exams.
Key Exam Environment Requirements:
1. Quiet and Private Location: All NWSA ORP exams must be taken in a private, well-lit room without interruptions. Public spaces, shared rooms, or any location where other individuals are present are not permitted.
2. Equipment Requirements: Remotely controlled software running on the computer is not permitted during testing and must be disabled or uninstalled prior to the exam being made accessible. Examples of these applications are TeamViewer, GoToMyPC, AnyDesk, etc. If a remote control software is identified after an exam administration has begun, the exam will be terminated immediately, and a new application and payment will need to be submitted in order to re-test (if circumstance permits).
3. No Unauthorized Materials: NWSA does not permit any additional material to be present during an exam administration. Any required resources (calculator, whiteboard, etc.) are provided within the exam itself. All other material including notes, books, electronic devices (other than the computer used for the exam), or any other materials that could provide an unfair advantage must be put away prior to the exam.
4. Valid Identification: Candidates must present a valid, government-issued ID to verify their identity before beginning the exam.
5. No Breaks: Once the exam has started, candidates are not allowed to leave their workstations. All personal needs must be addressed beforehand.
6. Camera and Microphone Requirements: Candidates must remain entirely within view of the webcam throughout the entire exam to ensure a secure testing environment. Additionally, the microphone must be enabled and unblocked. Ensure that these devices are functioning properly before your scheduled exam time.
The industry takes the integrity of NWSA’s certification process seriously and expects all candidates to do the same. The above measures are essential to allow for exams to be administered via ORP while maintaining the high standards of safety and professionalism that the NWSA certification represents.
For further information regarding the online proctoring process, please visit our website www.nws-a.org.