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Proctored Exams


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Carefully review the exam requirements in Angel for each of your courses. Some of your DDP courses may require you to take proctored exams, which are exams taken under the supervision of an acceptable proctor.

Who Can Proctor Exams
How to Nominate a Proctor and Request a Proctored Exam
Student’s Responsibilities
Proctor’s Responsibilities
Can I see my exam after it’s graded?
Exam Proctoring Locations in Washington state

Who can proctor exams

Local proctors must be acting in an official capacity at their place of business in one of the following positions:

  • Staff member of a WSU Learning Center or WSU Extension Office
  • Dean, department chairperson, or registrar of a college or university
  • Certified librarian (city, county, school, etc.)
  • Professional staff member of the adult or continuing education office, counseling center, or testing center at a college or university
  • Public or private school superintendent, principal, or counselor
  • Civil Service examiner
  • Judge of a court of law
  • United States Armed Forces Educational Services Officer (active duty military may substitute their field commander)
  • Human resources director or employee development coordinator

Proctors must be willing to fulfill all Proctors’ Duties

* Please Note:

Teachers and professors may NOT serve as proctors unless they are acting in one of the capacities listed above. Relatives may NOT serve as proctors, no matter what their position.



How to Nominate a Proctor and Request a Proctored Exam

If a proctor agrees to proctor all your exams during a semester and will hold them during the semester, you can request all your exams at the beginning of the semester.

Allow two weeks for proctored exams to be processed and delivered to your proctor.

All assignments preceding an exam should be submitted before taking the exam. (The instructor has the option to refuse to grade the exam if the preceding assignments have not been completed.)

To take a test using a local proctor, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Ask an acceptable proctor if he or she will be willing and able to proctor an exam for you. For online proctored exams, can the proctor provide a Internet access computer for the full exam time? Also find out if there is a testing schedule and fee for proctoring.
  2. Request your exams at least two weeks prior to each proposed exam date. Note: Online exam passwords and instructions are mailed to the proctor.
  3. To request your exams; and to nominate a proctor or request a proctor you have used previously for DDP course exams:
    • Log in to myDDP;
    • select the "My Courses" tab;
    • select "Proctored Exams"
    • select the exam you wish to request under the Request Exam column;
    • complete the Nominate/Request a Proctor form. (any proctor you have had for previous DDP exams should be listed in the drop-down menu at the top of the form on the right)
  4. The exam request will be processed within two business days of receipt and the exam (or the online exam password) mailed directly to your proctor at his or her place of business. Allow at least two weeks for processing and delivery. The date sent will be recorded in myDDP (go to “My Courses” and select “Proctored Exams”).
    • Exams to addresses within the United States will be mailed first class; exams to addresses outside the United States will be sent via air mail.
    • Exams will be faxed at the student’s request (a fee of $15 will be posted to the student’s account).
    • You may request to have your exams sent to the proctor by FedEx. Allow DDP two business days to process your request. The FedEx charges for shipping to your proctor will be added to your student account. This charge covers ONLY shipping exams to a proctor by FedEx; it does NOT cover returning them to DDP by FedEx.
  5. Contact your proctor to arrange a mutually-convenient exam time at the proctor's official place of business. Be sure to understand your responsibilities (Student’s Responsibilities) before taking the exam.
  6. After you take the exam, the proctor will send the exam directly back to DDP in a postage-paid envelope. You will be expected to pay proctors' postage costs when proctors must return exams by foreign or any type of express mail.
    • Delivery to DDP may take up to two weeks; if you need to ensure delivery within a shorter time frame, you should arrange with your proctor shipping via an express delivery service (i.e., FedEx, UPS, USPS). If you choose to utilize express delivery, be sure to use the following address:

      WSU DDP
      Van Doren Hall Rm. 4
      PO Box 645220
      Pullman, WA 99164-5220

      If you are asked to provide a DDP phone number, please use 509-335-3557.
    • Students may not handle the actual return mailing of their exams.


Student’s Responsibilities

Students taking proctored exams are responsible for the following:

  • confirming with the proctor that proctoring services can be provided for the full exam time, and for online exams confirming that a computer with Internet access will be provided (students may not provide the computer for the exam)
  • submitting all assignments preceding an exam before taking the exam, unless otherwise indicated in the course guide or online course information;
  • keeping print and/or file copies of all your assignments/take-home exams until you receive a grade in a course in case originals are lost in transit;
  • paying the postage/phone/fax charges to mail/e-mail/fax course-related assignments to DDP;
  • paying the $15/per exam charge to have exams faxed to proctor, if you choose that option;
  • paying the charges to have exams sent via FedEx, if you choose that option, and allowing DDP two business days to process your request;
  • arranging for a proctor for each proctored exam;
  • paying the proctor for exam proctoring charges, if any;
  • providing personal identification to the proctor before taking an exam;
  • arranging for child care and taking care of bathroom and other personal matters prior to the exam outside the testing area (students may not take children, including babies, into the testing area during an exam);
  • leaving purses, backpacks, hats, cell phones, personal laptop, and other electronic devices and notebooks outside the testing area;
  • taking blank paper and writing tools to the exam in case they are needed (proctors are not expected to provide paper or pens/pencils);
  • following the guidelines provided in the course guide or syllabus or in directions for other special requirements (such as Writing Portfolio);
  • taking the exam without assistance from computers, persons, references, books, or notes unless otherwise specified on the exam;
  • remaining in the testing area until the exam is completed; the exam will be considered complete if you leave the room; and
  • paying any extra charges for expedited return of the exam.


Proctors' Duties

To supervise an exam as a proctor, the individual must be willing to execute the following duties:

  • be available during the whole exam appointment;
  • secure the exam packet until the exam appointment;
  • provide a quiet area and table top for taking the exam—and, in the case of an online proctored exam, a computer (students may not provide the computer for the exam) with Internet access for the full exam time (up to 2.5 hours);
  • identify the student by photo ID if not known personally;
  • be aware of what outside materials the test allows (laptop/computer, calculator, notes, text, disability accommodation);
  • before beginning an exam, check to be sure that the exam given is the correct one;
  • make sure purses, backpacks, hats, cell phones, personal laptops, and notebooks (unless approved) are not taken into the test room; no children are allowed in the testing area (students are responsible for arranging for child care and personal matters prior to the exam);
  • once the exam begins, not allow the student to leave the test room for any reason until it is completed; the exam will be considered complete once the student leaves the room;
  • collect the completed exam material from the student;
  • note the begin and end time; date and sign the included form;
  • handle the return mailing (if an exam must be returned by any type of express mail, students pay the postage/charges but the proctor must handle the actual "mailing" of the exam).

In addition, the proctor should note the following:

  • No assistance from computers, electronic devices, persons, references, books or notes are allowed unless otherwise specified.
  • The exam is not to be passed on to another proctor without permission from DDP.
  • Exam questions are not to be retained by the student.
  • Special arrangements with DDP must be made before the exam can be duplicated or returned by fax.
  • A postage paid return envelope is provided in the exam packet. Students requesting special handling must provide postage but the proctor must handle the actual return mailing.
  • An untaken exam may be held by the proctor for up to 120 days.

Any deviation may invalidate the exam.



Can I see my exam after it’s graded?

Most DDP proctored exams are not returned to students; only the cover sheet with comments is returned. There are two ways in which you can review your exam:

  • On the WSU Pullman campus, review the exam in the DDP office (104 Van Doren Hall).
  • At a distance, you can ask DDP to return your graded exam to your proctor for you to review under proctor supervision. To request that an exam be returned to the proctor for you to review, contact DDP (e-mail: distance@wsu.edu; phone: 800-222-4978) with the following information: your name, your WSU ID number, the exam you wish to review, and your proctor information. DDP will send the exam to your proctor, and after you finish reviewing it the proctor will return the exam to DDP.


Exam Proctoring Locations in Washington State

DDP has identified numerous proctoring locations around Washington state, but our list is not exclusive. If you are not located near an exam proctoring location we have listed, refer to Who Can Proctor Exams above to select a local proctor in your area. Finding a local proctor may be easier than you realize!

Exam proctoring locations.



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