COVID-19 - SSH, Prometric Announce Remote Proctoring Option

SSH is pleased to announce some important testing updates.

First, and most importantly, remote proctoring is now available! Second, physical testing sites are opening back up as possible.

What this means is that NOW is the time to get your application in to become a CHSE and/or CHSOS!

Remote Proctoring:

The Certification Council is very excited to add the option of remote proctoring for at least the next few months. We know that many testing sites will remain closed, and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies—that has accredited both the CHSE and CHSOS certifications—has recognized this limitation, and allowed for remote proctoring. We have worked with our vendor, Prometric, to make this option available to you—and that means to all of you—no matter where you are around the globe! 

We are finalizing the details and process and will be posting all of this on our webpage, www.simcertification.com, and by social media, but the basics are as follows: 

1) Submit your application and become approved to take the exam;

2) Make sure your computer meets the specifications (and that you can test on the network you are using);

3) Select remote proctoring as your option, and choose a date and time to test. This is LIVE proctoring that has individuals watching those who test, and you must be able to scan in your identification and pass a check of the room (by camera) as well as meet other requirements or steps.

But again: you can test ANYWHERE in the world as long as the computer meets the requirements and the process is followed. We, of course, encourage you to think about the network you are using—we cannot guarantee the internet will work, so please make sure to use a connection that is typically reliable.

Physical Testing Sites:

Prometric and IQT (our testing vendors) are slowly opening up physical testing sites around the world. There are strict guidelines in place to meet government guidelines and CDC/WHO recommendations. This may suit some of you to go and take your exam—both CHSE and CHSOS have been determined to be “higher priority”. When you go and select a testing site online, or contact the vendors directly, you will see if this is an option for you. Space will remain limited compared to normal (fewer number of slots available due to distancing and maximum number of people allowed).

Need help getting ready?

You have many options to review and prepare to test. With the addition of remote proctoring, the Education Committee is adding more Online Blueprint Review Courses. If you desire to take one of these courses, please go to https://www.ssih.org/Professional-Development/Online-Learning/Certification-Blueprint-Review-Courses to register. Keep checking for more courses to be added!

Test Resumption Updates (From Prometric as May 7th, 2020)

1. We currently have 116 test centers open globally, and expect to reopen an additional 200+ sites across the U.S. and internationally through the end of May. 

Prometric's goal is to continue to open sites when and where it is safe to do so in accordance with all local, state and federal regulations. Through our new site openings list, you and your candidates can see which sites plan to be opened this month and the date a test center is scheduled to re-open. The open status of these sites is contingent on numerous factors or guidelines; should anything arise that forces us to close one of the test centers listed here, impacted candidates will be notified. This list will be updated daily to reflect any changes in status. 

To aid in expanding seat availability for candidates, we will continue to add extended hours and days open where possible. Last week, we added 146,250 testing hours in our global network of test centers. This type of progress translates to more candidates being able to schedule appointments and test faster. As we continue to open more sites, we anticipate this number will increase.

2. We have streamlined our candidate contact channel to ensure test takers requests can more quickly and accurately processed.

Prometric recognizes that our response times for candidate questions and issues have not been up to our normal high standards, and we are continuing to apply resources and new processes to improve this. As you all know well, the number of candidates displaced by COVID-19 closures is unlike anything our business or industry has ever encountered, and we want you to have full transparency and context on this situation. In just two months, we have been forced to displace hundreds of thousands of candidates globally.

Since the inception of this spike, Prometric's Candidate Care has worked around the clock to process this exorbitant number of displacements. In order to achieve the best possible response times, where possible, we have funneled our customer service communications to a singular online form that asks for specific information our team needs to handle candidate requests. We encourage you to direct any candidates who require direct support from Prometric to that form, found here, so we can help them reschedule their appointment in an appropriate seat. Given the volume of requests, our response time may still be delayed, but this is the best avenue to ensure your candidates receive the support they need.

Resource Center

The following are where you and your candidates can find the most up-to-date information that matters to you. We continue to add to these sections as questions arise. We understand that you and your team are likely receiving a large volume of questions from your candidates in this time, and hope you can use these as helpful resources in your communication to them. 

• COVID-19 tab: provides the most current information on Prometric's operation status and safety measures.
• Essential Client Programs List: provides our current list of essential test programs that are currently eligible to test. We will evaluate and update this list on a rolling basis.
• Site Openings List: provides a running list of all of our current open/scheduled-to-open sites and their resumption test date. This list is updated daily to reflect any changes in status, and will be evaluated for further additions on a rolling basis.
• Social Distancing Policies: provides a detailed look at our standard and region-based social distancing policies candidates are expected to follow while at the test center.
• Test-Taker FAQ: provides answers to frequently asked questions candidates might have about impacts to their exam.