Online Proctoring begins Monday, 12/14
Starting Monday, 12/14, exam candidates can take the ARE through the new online proctoring process. This format allows candidates to take the exam at locations other than test centers, including home. This is a great option during the pandemic, particularly for our members in the AIA Southern Oregon section as their Prometric test center is closed at least through the end of the year.
NCARB provided a webinar today, December 10, on the online proctored exam process and we expect a recording will be posted HERE in the next few days. Joseph Sis, AIASO EPC chair comments about the webinar, “The NCARB webinar today was really informative as they focused almost entirely on questions from candidates and answered them in a live real-world, common-sense, manner. The questions here really dug into issues that will affect most remote testers, and even a few related to taking the test “old school” at the test center.”
Please be aware that for security reasons, there are restrictions on the space where candidates take the test, and the involvement of a live proctor watching remotely throughout the exam. This includes an enclosed space, clean desk, and empty bookshelves. While it is great that this option is available, the space requirements can’t be met by all candidates. If you operate a firm, please consider how you can set aside space in the office for your staff to take the exam through the online proctoring process.
NCARB has been preparing for the online proctoring process for a while now, and the closure of test centers accelerated things. This new option coincides with other changes to the ARE process regardless of where you take the exam. This includes the restriction on note pads and the replacement of digital whiteboards as the only tool to sketch and scratch out notes. Many candidates have struggled with the digital whiteboard and this has been a source of much angst. NCARB is committed to this requirement, and to providing more resources, including practice tools to help candidates to get comfortable with it. Learn more about the practice tools HERE.
You can learn more about the online proctoring process HERE, and more about the ARE process overall HERE.