To accurately measure an individual’s proficiency, NOCTI credentials must be administered under well-controlled, proctored, conditions.

As the Site Coordinator, it is your responsibility to ensure all sessions are conducted properly and that each participant has an equal chance of demonstrating skills and occupational knowledge. It is very important that conditions are consistent for all participants. NOCTI credentials are developed to be given in their entirety, under the same conditions, each and every time.

Selecting the appropriate proctors and evaluators for testing is critical for test administration.  Please view the following link for more information.  Select and Train Proctors and Evaluators

Administration Considerations for Multi-year Programs

Schools must have a plan in place for underclassmen on the day of knowledge-based and skill-based testing for multi-year programs.  Specifically, underclassmen must not be able to observe skill-based testing as administration is taking place.  Some examples of underclassmen activities include job shadow activities, a field trip, in-school activity located in an area separate from the program being tested, or a day off school for underclassmen, etc.

Another key factor to be stressed is that NOCTI credentials are created to measure the critical core competencies of the occupation being assessed. NOCTI credentials are based on national and/or industry-based standards and are not developed based on any specific curriculum.

Human Volunteers for Skill-Based Testing

Occasionally NOCTI skill-based assessments require the use of volunteers to serve as human subjects as a part of the assessment (as "patients, "suspects," "customers," etc.). NOCTI strongly recommends that adult volunteers serve as human subjects for these assessments. Students from the same or similar programs (e.g., juniors) can never help with a skill-based test.  Students as a whole should not assist with setup or other support functions during the skill-based test. The only time students may serve as volunteers are when confederates are necessary to a job and it is simply not feasible for an adult to serve as the volunteer, and then only with certain restrictions. 

Tests that allow for this exception state it clearly in the evaluator guide and in the instructor prep pack.  If it is not explicitly stated, then it is not allowed.  Even under these circumstances, NOCTI strongly encourages the use of adults (who are not instructors) whenever possible.  Also, for some assessments, mannequins may be substituted for volunteers, depending on the nature of the job.