Certification and verification of skills matter. They matter to employers, to educators, to job seekers, and to NOCTI. NOCTI also understands that numerous circumstances can arise when an individual may desire the opportunity to retake a particular credentialing assessment. The following guidelines govern the re-administration, or retake, of NOCTI-branded credentials and those of identified NOCTI partners.

Purpose

These Guidelines for Assessment Retakes are intended to allow individuals an additional opportunity to improve their score, while at the same time protecting the integrity of NOCTI credentials and assessment content as well as the credentials we host for our partners. These guidelines will allow adequate remediation time, ensure the most valuable longitudinal growth data, and adhere to psychometrically sound testing practices.

Definitions
Retake - intended to allow a candidate a second attempt within the same program at the same testing site, to pass a previously taken test, with the same test title and version, and with specific parameters built in to allow for time between administration for remediation of content already learned.

Second or Successive Post-Test - intended to be administered when the learner has been taught additional content over a period to time in order to obtain a passing or better score on the test than a previous attempt.

Post-Testing
These guidelines apply to all NOCTI assessments, both knowledge-based (written) and skill-based (performance), and those of identified partners with programs following the same guidelines, administered as a post-test, including:
  • Job Ready and Foundational credentialing assessments
  • State customized assessments, as applicable
  • Identified partner credentials
A.  A maximum of 2 retakes are allowed. The first may be administered after a waiting period of 5 days from the original administration and the second retake may be administered after 60 days from the initial test administration.
B.  The highest score among the initial test and retake administration(s) will be used to determine eligibility for credentials, certifications, badges, etc.
C.  Initial and retake scores will appear on NOCTI standard score reports and will be reflected in group and site averages for the respective reports. For sites that utilize the Grouping tool, refer to the Grouping tool instructions or contact NOCTI for assistance.
D.  Students caught cheating are not eligible to retake the assessment.

Pre-Testing
Pre-tests are used to determine an individual’s baseline technical knowledge in a career and technical education program. Pre-tests are intended to be administered at the time an individual is entering their program or at a specific point in the program when there is still time for remediation prior to completion. Pre-tests are not eligible for credentials, certifications, or badges and are not eligible for retakes.

Ordering
The need for a retake must be determined after the official post-test score has been processed and posted as an official score report. Retakes are priced the same as post-tests and must be ordered through the same process used to order the initial post-test.

State program and partner assessment retake rules, if applicable, will supersede NOCTI’s Guidelines for Assessment Retakes.