Certification Testing Policies and Procedures

In order to earn a certification, you will need to pass an exam(s). If you do not pass the exam, you may re-take it. However, you will incur the testing fee each time you take an exam.

Testing Policies & Procedures Summary

• Certification exams are administered by an SCTE proctor.
• SCTE certifications require you to pass a single exam consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions.
• Time limit is 2 hours (3 hours for DVEP and IPEP).
• All exams are open book. You provide your own resources. You can use the Internet.

Detailed Testing Policies

A proctor must be present throughout the exam.

All certification candidates agree to uphold the Code of Ethics.

All examinations are open book. You are responsible for providing your own reference materials and scratch paper. Any reference materials may be used, including the Internet, texts, tables, papers and calculators. Reference materials may not be shared. All scratch paper will be collected at the end of the exam. You will not be allowed to retain notes or information concerning examinations.

Any calculator may be used provided that it does not cause a distraction to other examinees or require special facilities or physical arrangement of the examination site (i.e., external power). All calculator tapes must be surrendered upon completion of the exam.

Bring a company or government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, with you to the exam. The exam proctor will need to verify your identity.

Content: Exams will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions that are carefully designed and analyzed to properly determine the degree of comprehension of the prescribed curriculum for the respective field.

Time Limit: Two hours per exam (three hours for DVEP and IPEP). Once the time limit expires, the exam will be considered complete and will be processed and graded regardless of the number of questions answered.

Challenge a Question: Exam candidates can challenge a question they think is outdated, doesn’t fit the certification’s scope or contains incorrect information. A question can be challenged by writing the concerns in the exam’s challenge box for that question. Entering comments here will generate an e-mail to SCTE. All challenges must be made while the candidate is still logged on to the exam.

Grading: All exams are graded pass or fail. Criteria for passing exams are established by the Certification Subcommittee and require a minimum score of 76 percent correct.

Results: Exam results will only be released to the candidate, unless the candidate provides specific written permission for a wider distribution.

If You Fail an Exam: You will be informed of the specific categories where you performed inadequately on the exam via e-mail within 1 business day. You can re-take the exam at any time beginning the following day after failing an exam. A testing fee is assessed each time you take an exam.

SCTE Certification Code of Ethics

All SCTE certification candidates agree to abide by the following code of ethics:

To uphold and advance the honor and dignity of the profession, and in keeping with high standards of ethical conduct, I acknowledge that:

• I will be honest and impartial and will serve with devotion and integrity my employer, my clients and the public.
• I will strive to increase the competence and prestige of the profession.
• I will endeavor to aid the professional development of those in my employ or under my supervision.
• I will be dignified and honest when presenting my work and will take care to credit others for their work.
• I will act as a faithful agent for my employer or client and will disclose affiliations that influence my judgment.
• I will earnestly endeavor to aid the work of the Society.
• I will uphold and abide by the rules of the SCTE certification program.

Complaints: SCTE Certificants are granted certification by the SCTE and may hold themselves out to the public as such. In order to maintain and enhance the credibility of SCTE certifications, SCTE has adopted Administrative Procedures to allow SCTE members and others to bring complaints to the SCTE concerning the conduct of certification candidates, certificants and proctors. In the event of a violation of the Code of Ethics or of other substantive requirements of the certification process by an SCTE certification candidate, certificant or Proctor, the SCTE may take appropriate disciplinary action.

Complaints can be submitted to SCTE at certification@scte.org or faxed to the SCTE Certification Department at 610-363-5898.