Trust but verify: How online proctoring enhances credentialing programs

Certifications and other credentialing programs quantify skills in a tangible format. As a result, they have grown as a crucial reference for job candidates and potential employers. But credentialing programs have to do more than fill space on a resume to hold value. Maintaining rigorous exams is vital to their credibility, and online proctoring offers several distinct advantages. 

Identification (from a distance)

In the same way showing up is the most important part of any job, identification is the first step in ensuring the legitimacy of an exam, and the authentication process does not have to be neglected in the age of social distancing. 

Using many of the built-in features of modern computers and laptops, online proctoring technology allows instructors and administrators to maintain visibility throughout the exam and still detect anomalies with less overall limitations than an in-person supervisor. At ProctorFree, for example, each test-taker is required to use a standard computer with Internet connectivity, a microphone and a camera. Together, this integration creates a more passive form of verification that mitigates the health risks of in-person gathering. 

Freedom from time constraints

After someone decides to further their career with a course or certification, then comes the matter of squeezing it into what could be a busy schedule. This is part of why many organizations historically have opted for in-person conferences. Participants can block off the time and be on site and engaged.

At the same time, availability was an ongoing issue. Add in the current pandemic and restrictions on in-person gatherings, and suddenly, the status quo no longer works. Instead, online proctoring offers a simple solution. Test-takers can log on and complete the exam on their own time with undivided attention. Plus, the convenience of asynchronous exams allows certification bodies to extend their reach to different courses and other markets in one fell swoop.

Cost savings

Certification bodies don’t always generate enough testing volume to justify a dedicated exam space, and there are substantial costs associated with maintaining a computer lab. The required investment for online proctoring pales in comparison. After all, most people already have access to a computer.

Online proctored exams are often priced per user, making for a reliable expense certification organizations can include in user registration costs. 

Streamlined hiring

Good help is hard to find, and in America, it’s expensive, too. Voluntary turnover costs U.S. businesses $1 trillion every year, according to Gallup. The more an organization can get a hire right the first time, the more economically viable it becomes.

With proprietary reports and analysis, online proctored exams can verify a candidate’s skills with straight-forward metrics, a rare source of clarity in the hiring process. With consistent adoption, a developed credential program can be a helpful way to reduce orientation and placement costs. 

Together, the ease, convenience and versatility make online proctoring a compelling companion to credentialing programs. Consider it more than just a necessary response to a global pandemic. It is truly the way of the future.