Chronicles for Test Sites, Training Programs, and Proctors - September

Welcome to September's edition of the Credentia Chronicles! This issue focuses on practical ways to strengthen day-to-day operations, improve candidate preparedness, and support a consistent testing experience. Whether you support a Test Site, manage a Training Program, or serve as a Proctor, you'll find helpful reminders, best practices, and resources to help you stay informed and prepared.

Also included are the Training Department's scheduled training dates for September. Be sure to review the upcoming sessions and take advantage of available training opportunities to refresh your knowledge, strengthen your understanding of the Credentia systems and processes, and get answers to your questions.

Important Reminder

Evaluator Assignment Reminder

Test Sites and Training Programs may request a specific evaluator for a testing date; however, Credentia cannot guarantee that the requested evaluator will be assigned. Evaluator assignments are based on individual availability, scheduling needs, and the ability to appropriately staff each testing event.

Once an evaluator has been assigned to an event, Test Sites and Training Programs may not refuse or decline the assigned evaluator. This process helps maintain consistency, fairness, and impartiality for all candidates throughout the testing process.

Credentia will make every effort to accommodate evaluator requests when possible while ensuring that testing events remain appropriately staffed and scheduled.

Key Reminder: An evaluator request is a preference and does not guarantee assignment. Once an evaluator is assigned, the assignment must be accepted.

Training Programs Corner

Using Candidate Performance to Strengthen Your Training Program

Candidate results can provide more than a pass or fail outcome—they can also provide valuable insight into areas where your students are succeeding and where additional instruction may be beneficial.

Training Programs should periodically review candidate performance and look for recurring trends. When multiple candidates experience difficulty in the same area, it may indicate an opportunity to reinforce that topic during instruction, practice, or remediation.

For Skills examinations, reviewing performance at the individual skill-step level can provide additional insight into specific areas that may require attention.

Consider asking:

• Are candidates consistently struggling with a particular area?
• Are there skills or steps that may need additional classroom emphasis?
• Have candidate performance trends changed over time?
• Could additional practice or review improve candidate preparedness?

Chronicle Tip: Use performance information as a training tool. Identifying trends early can help you make targeted instructional improvements for future candidates.

Candidate Registration: Preventing Common Delays

Helping candidates get through the registration and certification process smoothly begins with accurate information.

Incomplete or incorrect candidate information can create unnecessary delays and may require additional assistance before a candidate can continue through the process. Training Programs can help by encouraging candidates to carefully review their information and complete all required steps.

Before candidates move forward, remind them to verify that their information is complete and accurate.

Encourage candidates to check:

• Their personal information for accuracy.
• That all required information has been entered.
• Their application or registration status.
• Any outstanding actions that may still be required.
• Their account for important notifications or updates.

If an issue cannot be resolved through the available self-help resources, candidates should follow the appropriate support process for additional assistance.

Chronicle Tip: Catching an error early is much easier than correcting it when a candidate is ready to schedule an examination.

Test Site Corner

Is Your Test Site Ready for Exam Day?

A successful testing event starts well before the first candidate arrives. Taking a few minutes to confirm that your test site, staff, and scheduled events are ready can help prevent delays and create a smoother testing experience for everyone.

Before exam day, Test Site Managers should review upcoming events in the console, confirm that the appropriate personnel are available, and review the event roster for scheduled candidates. The testing area should also be prepared and meet all requirements for a secure and professional testing environment.

Before your next event, remember to:

• Review scheduled events and event details.
• Confirm appropriate testing personnel are available.
• Review the candidate roster.
• Ensure the testing environment is ready.
• Verify required equipment and materials are available.
• Address potential scheduling or staffing concerns before exam day.

Chronicle Tip: A few minutes of preparation before an event can prevent unnecessary delays once candidates begin arriving.

Keeping Your Test Site Availability Up to Date

Accurate availability helps ensure candidates have access to testing opportunities and allows scheduled events to reflect your site's actual testing capacity.

Test Site Managers should routinely review their upcoming availability and add testing dates as needed. If availability changes, keeping the information current helps prevent confusion and supports more effective scheduling.

Consider reviewing your availability as part of your regular Test Site management routine rather than waiting until testing dates begin to run low.

Take a moment to check:

• Are future testing dates available?
• Does your availability reflect your current operating schedule?
• Do you have adequate personnel for upcoming events?
• Are there periods where additional testing dates could be offered?

Chronicle Tip: Don't wait until your calendar is empty. Regularly reviewing future availability helps keep testing opportunities accessible to candidates.

Proctor Corner:

Consistency Matters: Delivering a Standardized Exam Experience

Every candidate deserves the same professional and standardized testing experience. Proctors play an essential role in making that happen.

Following established examination procedures helps protect exam integrity while ensuring that candidates are treated consistently. Even small changes to required procedures or instructions can result in candidates receiving different testing experiences.

Proctors should follow established procedures, provide required instructions as written, maintain a secure testing environment, and avoid providing assistance that could influence a candidate's examination.

Remember:

• Follow established examination procedures.
• Read required instructions exactly as provided.
• Maintain exam security at all times.
• Apply procedures consistently to every candidate.
• Document and report issues according to established procedures.
• Ask for assistance when a situation requires additional guidance.

Chronicle Tip: Consistency protects the candidate, the Proctor, and the integrity of the examination.

What Would You Do? — Exam-Day Scenario

The Scenario

A candidate arrives after the established reporting time and asks to enter the testing area. The candidate explains that unexpected circumstances caused the delay and asks the Proctor to make an exception.

What would you do?

Situations like this can place Proctors in a difficult position, particularly when a candidate has a reasonable explanation. However, exam-day decisions should be based on established testing procedures rather than individual exceptions.

The Proctor should follow the applicable late-arrival procedure and avoid making an independent exception outside established requirements. If the situation requires clarification, follow the appropriate escalation process before taking action.

The interaction should remain professional and respectful, even when the outcome is not what the candidate hoped for.

The Takeaway

Standardized procedures exist to ensure that all candidates are treated consistently. When an unusual situation occurs, follow the established process and escalate when necessary rather than creating an exception.

Chronicle Challenge: Discuss this scenario with your testing team before your next event. Does everyone know what to do when an unexpected candidate situation occurs?

Training Department – September Training Schedule

As we move into September, the Training Department is pleased to provide the upcoming training schedule for Training Programs, Test Sites, and Proctors. These sessions are designed to support new users, reinforce essential processes and procedures, provide refresher opportunities, and share important information to help promote consistent and successful operations across all programs and testing locations.

We encourage everyone to review the September schedule and attend the sessions relevant to their role. Whether you are new to the Credentia system or looking for a refresher, these sessions provide an opportunity to strengthen your knowledge, ask questions, and stay current on processes and best practices.

Can't Attend Scheduled Training?

If you are unable to attend a scheduled training session, there are several additional resources available to help answer everyday questions and provide support when you need it:

• Credentia Help Center – Visit Help Center+ on Credentia's main website for self-help guides and additional resources.
• Console Help – Select the Help icon within your Credentia console to access information related to system features, processes, and common questions.
• Webinar Training Videos – Previous training sessions are available through the Webinar portal and can be viewed at your convenience. These recordings are an excellent resource for refresher training or reviewing a specific process.

How to Access Webinar Training Recordings

To access previous training recordings:

1. Navigate to Credentia.com.
2. Select Help Center+ from the main menu.
3. Click System Status.
4. Click the Webinar tab.
5. Enter your credentials that you use to log into your console.
6. Once logged in, locate the training session you would like to review and select the available recording.

We encourage you to take advantage of these resources throughout the month. Training does not end when a scheduled session is over. The Help Center, in-console Help resources, and Webinar training recordings are available to help you find answers, refresh your knowledge, and stay confident in using Credentia's systems and processes.

Training Programs

Onboarding Training

Alaska Training Programs

September 7th @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Tennessee Training Programs

September 14th @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Washington Training Programs

September 4th @ 2:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

All Remaining States – Training Programs

September 11th & 25th @ 3:30 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Refresher Training

September 3rd @ 2:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Test Sites

Onboarding Training

California Test Site Coordinator Console Training

September 21st @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

All States Test Site Manager (TSM) Console Training

September 9th & 23rd @ 2:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Test Site Manager Console Refresher Training

Test Site Refresher Training

September 1st @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Proctors

California Proctor Console Training (Written/Skills Exams)

September 22nd @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

All States Proctor Console Training (Written – Paper and Pencil)

September 9th @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

Group Computer Based Test (GCBT) Written Exam

The following training sessions are scheduled for all Test Sites that administer, or will administer, the GCBT Written Examination.

September 8th & 22nd @ 4:00 PM EST
Training Link: Join Here!!!

As we move through September, we encourage you to stay engaged, take advantage of the available training opportunities, and utilize the resources provided whenever questions arise. Your continued participation and feedback help us strengthen our training and support resources for everyone. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing a consistent, professional, and successful experience for every candidate.