Future Students

Who can proctor exams     << Hide

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 Extension Office, public or private educational learning center
• Dean, department chairperson, or registrar of a public or private college or university
• Certified librarian (city, county, public or private school, etc.)
• Professional staff member of the adult or continuing education office, counseling center, or testing center at a public or private K-12 school, 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
• Field Commander (active duty military) assigned with ESO duties
• If you are unable to find a proctor in your area, you may want to try ProctorU (see the first proctored exam method), or check for a proctor through the National College Testing Association (NCTA).

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.

Exam Proctoring Locations in Washington State

We have identified numerous proctoring locations around Washington state, but our list is not exclusive. See Exam proctoring locations in Washington. If you are not located near an exam proctoring location we have listed, refer to the information listed above to select a local proctor in your area. Finding a local proctor may be easier than you realize!

Proctors' Duties     << Hide

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

• after receiving the exam, check to be sure that the exam is the correct one;
• be aware of what outside materials the test allows (laptop/computer, calculator, notes, text, disability accommodation);
• secure the exam packet until the exam appointment;
• be available during the whole exam appointment;
• provide a quiet area at the proctor’s business and a 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;
• make sure purses, backpacks, hats, cell phones, personal laptops, and notebooks (unless approved) are not taken into the test room;
• enforce that other individuals are not allowed in the testing area, unless they are approved in advance as part of disability accommodation.
• enforce that children are not allowed in the testing area (students are responsible for arranging for child care and personal matters prior to the exam);
• once the exam begins, monitor that the student does not leave the testing area 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, faxing, or emailing of the exam and any additional work (if an exam must be returned by any type of express mail, students must 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 WSU Online.
• Exam questions are not to be retained by the student.
• Special arrangements with WSU Online must be made before the exam can be duplicated or returned by fax or email.
• 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.

How to request an exam:     << Hide

Before submitting your request, keep in mind:

• Arrange the exam appointment with your proctor or confirm your proctor's availability before requesting an exam.
• Request each exam at least two weeks prior to each proposed exam date.
• Always allow WSU Online two business days to process your request (prior to delivery of the exam).
• An exam request must be submitted for every proctored exam, but you can submit multiple requests at the same time if you have arranged multiple exam appointments with your proctor.
• Online exam passwords and paper exams are mailed to the proctor, but if you wish to expedite the delivery, you can request to have the exam or password emailed, sent via FedEx, or faxed to the proctor. Use the Comments box on the form to tell us your proposed exam date and what delivery method you would like us to use. Charges for expedited delivery will be charged to your student account. See Rush Delivery Instructions.
• If your exam is paper-based, or online but you have additional allowable materials that need to be included with the exam (notes, scratch paper, etc.), consider how the completed exam will be returned to WSU Online. We provide a postage-paid envelope for all mailed exams, but if you choose to expedite the exam delivery, you are responsible for providing the proctor with postage and mailer to return the completed paper exam and any exam materials. If you would like the proctor to fax or email your exam to WSU Online, you must confirm this with your proctor in advance, and request approval for the special return method in the Comments box when requesting your exam.

Steps to request an exam and nominate a proctor (a new proctor or someone who has previously proctored your exams):

• View your Proctored Exams info. in either zzusis or your WSU Online My Account page.
• Under Request Exam, select the exam you wish to request.
• Complete the Proctor Nomination/Exam Request form (any proctor you have had for previous exams should be listed in the drop-down menu on the right).
• Include your proposed exam date and any special delivery requests in the Comments box (if you want your exam or exam password emailed, sent via FedEx, or faxed to your proctor).
• Your completed exam request will be processed within two business days of receipt and the paper exam or online exam password will be sent to your proctor’s business address, or emailed to your proctor if you have requested this service.
• If there are no special delivery requests, exams and online exam passwords are mailed first class to addresses within the United States; outside the United States they are sent via air mail.
• If there are no special delivery requests, allow at least two weeks for processing and delivery. The date sent will be listed in the Exam Sent to Proctor column.

Rush Delivery Instructions     << Hide

• First confirm with the proctor that exams or online exam passwords can be accepted by other than regular mail.
• Rush delivery (FedEx, fax, email) may be requested by providing your proposed exam date and requested method of delivery in the Comments box on the exam request form.
• Even though you request an exam or password to be rushed you must still allow time for processing and delivery.
• You are responsible to provide the proctor with postage and mailer to return completed paper exams and any exam materials (including any additional materials used for online exams).

FedEx Exams

• Request FedEx as the method of delivery in the Comments box and provide the proctor's physical address (no PO boxes).
• Allow up to two business days to process your request.
• The additional cost of shipping via FedEx will be charged to your student account. This charge covers only shipping exams to your proctor by FedEx; it does not cover returning them to WSU Online by FedEx.

Fax Exams

• Request Fax as the method of delivery in the Comments box and provide the proctor's fax number.
• Allow up to two business days to process your request.
• A fee of $15 will be charged to your student account.

Email Exams

• Request email as the method of delivery in the Comments box and provide the proctor's business email address.
• Allow up to two business days to process your request.
• A fee of $15 will be charged to your student account.

Student’s Responsibilities:     << Hide

Students taking proctored exams with a local proctor are responsible for the following:

• Confirm with the proctor that proctoring services can be provided for the full exam time (up to 2.5 hours), and for online exams confirming that a computer with Internet access will be provided for the full exam time (public libraries may have limited Web access). Students may not provide the computer for an online exam.
• Always bring personal identification with you when taking an exam.
• Arrange for child care and take care of bathroom and other personal matters prior to the exam outside the testing area. Students may not take children or infants into the testing area during an exam.
• Leave purses, backpacks, hats, cell phones, personal laptop, and other electronic devices and notebooks outside the testing area.
• Take blank paper and writing tools to the exam in case they are needed (proctors are not expected to provide paper or pens/pencils).
• Follow the guidelines provided in the syllabus for other special requirements (such as Writing Portfolio).
• Take the exam without assistance from computers, persons, references, books, or notes unless otherwise specified on the exam.
• Remain in the testing area until the exam is completed; the exam will be considered complete if you leave the room.
• Submit all assignments preceding an exam before taking the exam, unless otherwise indicated in the syllabus (instructors have the option to refuse to grade an exam if preceding assignments have not been completed).
• Keep print and/or file copies of all your assignments/take-home exams until you receive a grade in a course.
• Understand WSU Standards of Conduct.

Return Delivery of Completed Exams:     << Hide

Return completed exams by mail or express delivery (FedEx, UPS, USPS):

• A postage-paid return envelope is included in the exam packet mailed to the proctor for exams, extra credit notes, or other exam materials that must be returned to WSU Online. If you request rush delivery of your exam by fax or email, a return envelope is not provided.
• The proctor must handle the actual return mailing of exams and exam material. Completed exams cannot be handed to the student for return delivery under any circumstances.
• Regular mail delivery to WSU Online may take up to two weeks.
• To ensure return delivery within a shorter time frame, arrange for express delivery service (FedEx, UPS, USPS). You are responsible for postage costs and return-delivery fees for any type of express mail, and from foreign addresses.
  
  Use the following address:
  WSU Online
  Van Doren Hall Room 104
  PO Box 645220
  Pullman, WA 99164-5220
  Phone number: 509-335-3557

Return completed exams by fax (must be approved by your instructor before requesting the exam):

• If your proctor has indicated that he or she can fax your completed exam to WSU Online, you must first obtain permission from your instructor.
• When you request the exam, indicate in the Comments box that you would like your proctor to fax your completed exam to WSU Online.
• The proctor must handle the faxing of exams and exam material. Completed exams cannot be handed to the student for return faxing under any circumstances.
• The exam must be completed using dark ink.
• You must write your full name on every page of the exam.
• You must allow half-inch margins around each page.
• The proctor must note the total number of pages and fax all exam material, including the proctor signature page, exam cover page, notes, and scratch paper.
• The WSU Online fax number is 509-335-4850.

Return completed exams by email (must be approved by WSU Online before the exam date):

• When you request the exam, indicate in the Comments box that you would like your proctor to email your completed exam to WSU Online.
• Each page must be identified with your name and WSU ID number.
• The proctor must email all exam materials.
• The original exam must be returned by the proctor to WSU Online by mail. Original exams cannot be handed to the student under any circumstances.
• The WSU Online email address is online@wsu.edu.