proctor manual - esco grouptest administrator (proctor) responsibilities • proctors conducting the...

Proctor Manual

ESCO Group | P.O. Box 521 Mount Prospect, IL 60056-0521 | Tel 800 726-9696 | www.escogroup.org

Revised July 2019

Learn more at www.escogroup.org 3

As a registered test administrator (proctor) for ESCO Group and its affiliates you now have access to the larg-est library of HVACR credentials. Please take the time to read through this manual thoroughly, as it contains the rules and responsibilities of registered proctors.

Test Administrator (Proctor) Responsibilities • Proctors conducting the EPA Section 608

Exam, are REQUIRED BY LAW to visibly display the ESCO Institute EPA approval letter. A copy is enclosed (page 2) in this proctor manual.

• Unless otherwise specified, all exams are retained knowledge exams and therefore are conducted Closed Book.

• Paper exams must be securely stored, in a locked cabinet, where only registered proctors can access them.

• Do not share your login information (user id, password) with anyone else. If a registered proctor is not available to conduct the exams, DO NOT allow other people to conduct the exam on your behalf. Contact ESCO Institute to add additional proctors.

• Proctors must verify an exam candidate’s identity by checking their photo identification prior to administering the exam.

• Exams shall be conducted in a quiet, comfortable, and well illuminated area.

• Phones, tablets, smart watches, cameras are forbidden to use during the exam.

• A calculator (four-function preferred) and a pressure/temperature chart may be used during the exam.

• Scratch paper shall be provided to test candidates for use during the exam. Proctors must collect and properly dispose of scratch paper after the exam to ensure candidates have not recorded exam items.

• One (1) proctor can test up to 35 candidates at one time; if testing more than 35 candidates, a second proctor is required.

• Proctors must witness the administration of ALL examinations, online or paper.

• Proctors must adhere to all verbal and written instructions set forth by ESCO Institute and its affiliates pursuant to test administration.

• Proctors must notify ESCO Institute within ten (10) business days with any changes to your contact information or employment.

• Proctors will not assist exam candidates on the meaning of any test questions.

• Proctors cannot copy, distribute, post, publish, etc., copies of exams or exam questions as “study aids.”

Failure to comply with these rules may result in the revocation of proctorship. Proctor Resources We encourage all proctors to visit the Proctor Login section of the ESCO Institute website. To access this area, visit escogroup.org and click Proctor Login, then enter your user id & password, click Proctor Login. Here you will have access to: • Resource Center: Access instructor review

copies, forms, PT charts, marketing materials, recruitment resources, and EPA training resources for those using ESCO's Section 608 Exams.

• Exams: Proctors can purchase exam credits and conduct closed book exams online. Test takers receive instant results.

• Reports: Proctors can access test results, detailed statistical analysis reports, and invoices.

• Shop: Proctors can order: supplies, text books, training manuals, interactive software, instructor resources, and training videos.

• My ESCO: Proctors can purchase digital content that is immediately available for download.

Questions We encourage you to contact us Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. central time if you require assistance logging in or have questions. P.O. Box 521 Mount Prospect, IL 60056-0521 Tel: (800) 726-9696 Int: (847) 253-2220 Fax: (800) 546-3726 Url: escogroup.org

Proctor Responsibilities

4 Questions? Call us at 1-800-726-9696

Additional Information

Special Testing Accommodations Based upon the test candidate’s individual needs, special testing accommodations may be made. Testing accommodations may include the use of extended time, a distraction-reduced testing environment, assistive technology (TTS Software), a translator, or a reader. The translator or reader may only read the questions and answer choices; they may not give answers or influence answer choices. Please contact us at 1-800-726-9696 for questions regarding these options. Combining Test Results (EPA Section 608 Certification) If an exam candidate is re-testing and originally tested through ESCO, the original test results are in our database. Simply have the technician take the section or sections that are necessary, and we will send them a new card based on their combined results. If the exam candidate has passed a section or sections of the exam through an EPA approved organization other than ESCO, we will require proof of which section(s) have been successfully completed. If conducting an online exam, fax a copy of the certification card, or documentation of scores, along with the candidate’s name, address, phone, and social security number to 1-800-546-3726 on the day you are conducting the exam. You may also take a picture or scan the certification/results from the other organization and email to [email protected]. If conducting a paper exam, have the candidate test for only the necessary section(s) and provide a copy of their certification card or scores from the other organization with the answer sheet; please use a paper clip - DO NOT STAPLE! Important note: If a candidate holds a Type I open book certification, they will be required to retest for Core as the EPA does not allow an open book Core exam/certification to be used toward obtaining Universal certification. The candidate does not need to retake Type I.(These certifications typically state Type I Open Book on the card or certificate.)

Proctor Reports Registered proctors can login to review candidate test result reports and access detailed statistical reports for many of the HVAC Excellence exams. Statistical reports help instructors pinpoint areas of strength and weakness that become evident once exams have been graded. If areas of weakness are identified, the instructor can easily see if the deficiency can be attributed to a specific individual, a group of people, the instructor, or the curriculum itself. Additionally, these reports aid the program in documenting required Perkins compliance. Test Candidate Results When administering an online exam, test candidates will see their test scores immediately upon completion of the exam. Test candidates will also be able to login to escogroup.org (by clicking the Test Results and Replacement Cards link in the upper right corner of the website.) Test candidates completing the EPA Section 608 exam online will have immediate access to a ‘Temporary Proof of Certification’ letter. This letter will be available to them for 10 days upon completion of their exam. (They should receive their certification card in the mail within that time.) For test candidates taking paper exams, the same results/‘Temporary Proof of Certification’ will be available to them as soon as their answer sheets are received/scored. Public Directory The EPA now requires approved testing organizations to list all examination participants in an online registry/lookup by name, city, state as well as certification achieved. (No personal information will be included in the public registry.) Technicians will be able to opt out of this registry by logging into the ESCO website at www.escogroup.org or by contacting customer service at 800-726-9696. Test Candidate Information (Use of Social Security Number) Test candidates will be asked to provide their social security number on the exam. This is used for identification purposes only. If a test candidate does not want to provide this data, they should use the first initial of their last name and birthdate instead. (Example A11302018.)


Conducting Online Exams

• Visit escogroup.org and click Proctor Login. • Enter your user id & password, click Proctor

Login. • Click EXAMS in the links at the top. • To purchase exam credits with a purchase order

or credit card, click Purchase Exams. If the test taker will be using their own credit card, click “Student Pay”.

• Select the type of exam you want to purchase in the pull-down menu (Employment Ready, EPA 608, etc.), and the quantity, then click the green plus sign to add the item to your cart. Note: Section 608 has several versions—you may select any version/s to administer. They are all 608 exams, just with varying questions. Exam candidates sitting next to each other MUST have

different versions. (Exam questions are also scrambled in the online tests, so even if candidates near each other get the same version, the questions will appear in a different order.)

• Verify the quantity and exam are correct and click Proceed to Checkout.

• Verify and complete billing information, then select if you are paying by credit card or purchase order, click the green button at the bottom Proceed to Summary.

• Review your order and payment information for correctness and click Complete Order. You will then receive a message that your order has been completed along with an order number. Exam credits are now available to use.

Purchasing Online Exam Credits

Online testing assures that proctors are giving the latest version of the exam and provides test candidates instant test results. Please make certain when conducting online exams, you are following ALL Proctor Responsibilities on page 3.

Online Testing

One proctor may test up to 35 persons in a test session; if you have more than 35 candidates, a second proctor is required. If conducting 608 exams, be sure the ESCO Institute EPA Approval letter is posted in the testing area. • Visit escogroup.org and click Proctor Login. • Enter your user id & password, click Proctor

Login. • Click EXAMS in the links at the top to view your

available exam credits. • To test a single test candidate, scroll to the

Available Exam Credits, click the Select button next to the exam you want to offer. The next page displayed will display the type of exam you have selected. If correct ,click the green “Proceed to Exam” button.

• To test a group of test candidates, scroll to the Available Exam Credits click the View Printable button next to the exam you want to offer. A page will display session and credit numbers that you can print. Cut your session and credit numbers into strips and distribute a strip (that contains a session and credit number) to each test candidate. The strip will instruct all test candidates to visit escogroup.org and click proctor login. On the right side of the page, they will click the button Proceed to your Exam to enter their session and credit number.

• After completing their information (name, address, etc.), the next screen that will appear is the exam. The exam candidate will follow directions and take the exam online. As the proctor, it is your responsibility to stay in the

testing area to monitor the exam candidates as they take the exam.

• Exam candidates should be instructed not to leave the exam browser window while completing their exam; doing so will void their examination.

• If taking EPA Section 608 exams or other exams split in sections (such as Green Awareness or System Performance), candidates should be instructed not to submit their exam for scoring until they have completed ALL sections of the examination. (Candidates can navigate to the various sections by clicking on the section ‘buttons’ located on the left side of the screen.)

• When the exam candidate is done, the candidate should click on, I have completed my exam show me my grade. Their results will appear on screen, and the official documents will be mailed the next business day.

• Test candidates can access and print results by visiting escogroup.org and clicking Test Results and Replacement Cards. Persons taking the EPA Section 608 exam can print a temporary proof of certification letter upon passing the exam, to use until their official card arrives in the mail.

• In the event of a power outage or computer problem, the proctor can log back in, go to Exams then click on Recover Exam. Here you can recover an ungraded examination at the exact point the candidate left off.


If conducting 608 exams, be sure the ESCO Institute EPA Approval letter is posted in the testing area. One proctor may test up to 35 persons in a test session. 1. Provide exam candidates with the following:

• A place free of distractions • Two #2 pencils • An exam booklet. If you are administering the

EPA exam to more than one person, provide people near one another different versions of the exam.

• An answer sheet/scantron form. 2. Instruct exam candidates how to complete answer

sheets. (Name, address, SS#, etc.) 3. Instruct exam candidates to fill in the exam version

number (found on the front cover of their test booklet) on their answer sheet.

4. Instruct exam candidates not to WRITE IN THE TEST BOOKLETS.

5. When an exam candidate completes their exam, collect all testing materials, including the exam book, answer sheet, scratch paper, and PT chart (if applicable.) Place the re-usable exam book back in its secure location for future use.

6. Inform candidates they can go to escogroup.org to find their test results. Please allow 5-7 business days for exams to be received for scoring.

Conducting Paper Exams

Please make certain when conducting paper exams, you are following ALL of the Proctor Responsibilities on page 3.

Paper Exams

Submitting Paper Exams for Grading

1. Verify that the exam candidate completed all of their information correctly; name, address, phone, etc.

2. Make sure the exam code and your ESCO Proctor ID # is on the answer sheet.

3. Place the completed answer sheet/s along with a completed Transmittal Form (indicating how you are paying for the exam; Do Not Send Cash), who conducted it, as well as the number of exams enclosed in one of our postage-paid return envelopes and mail to ESCO within ONE (1) business day of the test.

4. Place your return address on the envelope and put it in the mail.

5. ESCO Group scores examinations within one business day of receipt.

6. Official test results / card are mailed the next business day.

Instruct exam candidates how to complete answer sheets. All information should be printed in the top boxes and the corresponding letters/numbers should be darkened (in pencil) in the column below. Failure to complete answer sheets properly can cause a delay in reporting test results.


Examinations Offered

Examination Materials Allowed

Exam Time

Passing Score

Preparatory Materials

EPA Section 608 Required to work with or purchase regulated refrigerants for stationary equipment.

• Type-I: Required for servicing small appliances.

• Type-II: Required for servicing or disposing of high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs.

• Type-III: Required for servicing or disposing of low-pressure appliances.

• Universal: Earned when a candidate successfully passes all four sections of the exam.

Candidates must pass the Core section along with one or more of the Types to earn a certification. Candidates who are retesting do no need to retake any sections in which they have received a passing score.

Pre-Requisite: None

Calculator, a pressure/temperature chart and scratch paper.

2 Hours

See Page 4 for Special Testing

Needs

70% or better each section

ESCO Institute’s EPA Section 608 Preparatory Manual.

EPA Section 609 Section 609 of the Federal Clean Air Act requires persons who work with or purchase regulated refrigerants for motor vehicle air conditioning to become certified. This 50 -question examination is an open book test.

Pre-Requisite: None

Open book exam.

Not timed

84% ESCO Institute’s EPA Section 609 Preparatory Manual.

Heating, Electrical, Air Conditioning Technology (H.E.A.T.) H.E.A.T. is an end of program, closed book, combined assessment for high school HVACR programs. The proctor/instructor may choose to offer either the gas or oil version as is relevant in their area/training program. Pre-Requisite: None


2 Hours

70% A competency task list is available by visiting escogroup.org and click on the certification link.

Heating, Electrical, Air Conditioning Technology (H.E.A.T.) PLUS This is an end of program, closed book assessment for high school HVACR programs that consists of the H.E.A.T. exam, PLUS a 25-question core exam covering computer literacy, safety, related math, employability skills, work ethics in addition to a hands-on performance test.

Pre-Requisite: None


1 hour 70% A competency task list is available by visiting escogroup.org and click on the certification link.

Unless otherwise specified, all exams are Closed-Book exams.


Examination Materials Allowed

Exam Time

Passing Score

Preparatory Materials

Employment Ready Certifications These discipline specific exams verify whether an individual possesses the retained knowledge necessary for employment in the HVACR industry. To see a list of the various Employment Ready Certifications offered, visit escogroup.org and click the certification link.

Pre-Requisite: None


2 Hours

70% A competency task list is available by visiting escogroup.org and click on the certification link.

Specialty Certifications ESCO Group offers a variety of closed book specialty certifications. For a complete list review the ESCO catalog or visit escogroup.org and click the certification link.

Pre-Requisite: None


2 Hours

Varies by exam

ESCO offers study guides for our specialty exams. Visit escogroup.org and click on the training link.

Professional Level/Technician Certifications This series of closed book, written, challenging exams is for experienced technicians that have documented two or more years of field experience. Each certification measures the level of knowledge possessed by HVACR field personnel in that given category. For a complete list of Professional Level Certifications, visit escogroup.org and click the certification link.

Pre-Requisite: 2 Years of verifiable field experience and a passing score on the Core Exam.


2 Hours

70% ESCO offers study guides for our specialty exams. Visit escogroup.org and click on the training link.

Master Specialist Certifications This series of discipline specific, hands-on exams allow a technician to validate they can apply their retained knowledge through performance.

Pre-Requisite: 3 or more years of documented field experience and the related Professional Level Certification.


6 hours 80% Performance-based examinations require, specific equipment. To learn more, contact us at 1-800-726-9696.

Credentialing Exams This series of closed book, discipline specific exams are designed to validate that an instructor has mastered the subject matter required to teach the competencies of their curriculum. A complete list of educators credentialing exams is available by visiting escogroup.org and clicking on the certification link.

Because categories of testing are intended to assess an instructor’s knowledge of standard curriculum in the HVACR industry, no specific study guides are available for the other exams. Materials utilized within the classroom/training program should be enough in preparing for these examinations.


3 Hours

80% A guide to the Capstone examination is available by visiting escogroup.org and clicking on the credentialing link.

Examinations Offered

proctor manual - esco grouptest administrator (proctor) responsibilities • proctors conducting the...

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