What We Do

Springfield Testing Services offers in-person proctoring for online exams (with a few exceptions) and make-up exams. Our office staff also approves off-campus proctors when students request them, and sends exam information to off-campus proctors and dual credit proctors. We also facilitate Health Sciences admissions exams, and industry certification testing for a multitude of platforms, including HiSET/GED for future students.

Scheduling

All students must schedule. Each campus/center has directions for how to schedule on their webpages. Students schedule for Springfield Campus through RegisterBlast. Here is a guide of what that looks like.

All exams must be submitted at the time Testing closes regardless of what time they check-in.

However, if a student shows up without an appointment and we have an exam, we will do our best to test them.

Heads Up: Testing Services will be transitioning to RegisterBlast Scheduling January 2025.

New Spring 2025!! All Proctored Events/Make-Up Exams utilizing Testing Services must submit the Faculty Exam Request through RegisterBlast.

Click on the links for detailed instructions for each step:

Step 1: Enable RegisterBlast in each course. (You only need to do this once per semester)

Step 2: Add a new Exam Submission (Faculty Request).

Note: all campuses and centers can access the faculty submissions.

If you have any questions please reach out to Testing Services: testingservices@otc.edu or 417-447-8187

Resources

When planning to have an exam given in Testing Services, please be aware of our abilities and limitations regarding exam resources. Online Proctored Events resources are Open or Closed.

Resources include: books, notes, formula cards, internet, AI tools etc.

Your RegisterBlastexam submission will let us know everything we need and allow students to schedule.

Proctored Events resources are Open or Closed:
Open= All outside resources are allowed
- Open Resources include books, notes, free use of internet, Quizlet, AI tools, ChatGPT, etc.
Closed = NO outside resources are allowed
- Note: Clsoed allows for the use of scratch paper, and pencils; however, you can always let us know if your exam instructions specify otherwise

Limitations regarding exam resources:

We encourage instructors to communicate with us regarding what resources are to be allowed during exams. However, we would like you to be aware of our limitations:

If you attempt to limit test takers to class resources only, testing staff has no way to discern if a student's books/notes are from your class, nor can we tell if they have extraneous material in their online notebooks, notes made throughout their textbooks, if only course-related videos or slideshows are being opened, etc.
- We also cannot tell if they take exam material out on their notes brought in.
- Applications allowed will be considered open resources due to the functionality of each program.
- With the scope of the wide variety of test-takers and instructors, we cannot know what is in every Canvas class section or quiz.
We confirm the number of pages submitted to number of pages printed. Please ensure you remove the Answer Keys.
If you allow students to use their own devices such as laptops, cell phones, or iPads. Testing cannot monitor these devices or what the student is searching or writing on them. We try to limit these devices to help protect test integrity.

Consider OTC’s Proctored Event Policy is for ID verification only. However, as members of NCTA, academic integrity is imperative. If the exam is a closed resource exam we will send an email to the instructor detailing any suspicious activity we witness in the center. Our goal is to deter it at the door, detect it if it occurs, and report it to the instructor.

Make-Up Exams

A “make-up exam” is any exam you have given a student permission to take outside of the scheduled exam date(s).

Spring 2025: Utilize the RegisterBlast steps to submit the exam request, you will no longer need 1 form per student.

This form will ask for your name, course info, and contact information.
Use the "Date exam will be available" and "Expiration date" fields, to specify the date range between which your student(s) will be allowed to take the exam.
- If an exam isn't taken by the expiration date, we pull it out of our front desk files, and a few days later, it's shredded.
With the "Exam format" field, you can specify whether the exam is online or paper/pencil; if paper/pencil, you can choose to drop off the paper copy in Testing Services (ICE 123A) or upload a copy for us to print.
- If you choose to upload a copy of your exam, please also upload any tables, charts, etc., that are allowed on the exam.
- Please make sure there are no answer keys attached.
- Unlimited time exams are not permitted. If an unlimited-time exam is necessary, please make prior arrangements with the student. It is important to note that a student checking in at 8 AM will not have the same available time as a student checking in at 3 PM. Our goal is to promote equitable testing conditions for all students.
Please note that the "Resources" options are "None" or Open." See the "Resources" section of this page for more info.
Restrictions Section: If your whole class can take the exam leave this field blank.
Note: Students will you you to submit the exam request in RegisterBlast in order for them to schedule.

For online course make-up exams:

If an online exam's end date has passed, the instructor must adjust the exam date(s) per student on Canvas . Otherwise, the student will not be able to navigate to the exam.
You can Clone the original request in RegisterBlast and edit the Restrictions section to include the students allowed to take the exam at a different time frame.

Online exams

NEW Spring 2025!

All exams must be submitted to RegisterBlast for students to be able to schedule.

Utilize the RegisterBlast Steps 1 & 2 to let Testing Services know the resources and dates of your exam. Please do this as soon as possible to allow students the best opportunity to schedule. You can put in the exam submission dates as soon as your syllabus is ready! If you have an exam to attach you can come back later to add the documents.

**You will receive a reminder 1 business day before your exam opens to double-check your submission for any needed documents.

Our staff has a tool to look up Canvas exam titles and passwords for proctored events. If your exam is set up with a password in Canvas, you do not need to add a password in the Exam Submission Form. If you are using a third-party application we have no way to look up the password please be sure to include it in the exam submission.

Exception for 3rd party and McGraw Hill Proctorio Exams:

We cannot bypass Proctorio to proctor these exams in person, and we do not have access to the password information.

Please work with OTC Online on how to set up your exam so that students have Testing Services as an option.

Online Math Exams

For instructors who teach online math and have exams that require a paper component:

Please Enroll in RegisterBlast and Submit a Request for each exam.
See the Resource information above!
Make sure your name and course information are on the exam file you submit to Testing Services.
- You can attach the file and roster as the exam date gets closer.
If the exam is paper only, please let us know.
Please submit the information at least 2 days before the testing window opens, to allow processing time and for Testing to send any off-campus/dual credit requests. Please note: your students will not be able to schedule until your request is submitted.

Example of the Testing Services Tool:

Off-campus exams

Students can take their off-campus exams at any of the OTC campuses and educational centers for no fee.

If a student is not located near one of our OTC locations, they can take their exams at an approved proctoring location, such as a school, library, or testing center.

The students will be responsible for finding a proctoring location prior to taking their exam.

Once the student has secured a proctor location, they will fill out the “Off Campus/Dual Credit Approval Form. Links to an external site.”:

We ask that students fill this form out at least 2 business days prior to the exam date.

We then contact the requested proctor to make sure they meet all the proctoring requirements.

When approving an off-campus proctor, we need to confirm that they will adhere to the following proctoring expectations:

Verify the student's identity.
Ensure the testing room is quiet and conducive to testing.
Monitor the student for the entire duration of the exam.
Ensure the exam is completed in one sitting.
Do not allow the student to see or enter the password.
Follow all instructions provided by the instructor.
For paper/pencil exams, scan and email the completed exam to the instructor.
Report any incidents of suspicious behavior or blatant cheating to the instructor.
Proctors should not be relatives, friends, clergy, or employers of the student.
If using Proctorio students do not need to fill out this form!

Exam information will be sent to the off-campus proctor, CC'ing you the instructor, by the end of the business day prior to the requsted exam date.

Dual credit exams

Students should review their schedule/syllabus and begin coordinating their exams with their counselor early in the semester. The process is as follows:
1. Student Coordination: The student informs their counselor of the exam availability window.
2. Student Completes Request: The student fills out the OTC Off Campus/Dual Credit Request form.
3. Counselor Notification: Testing Services will check that the proctor can uphold the Proctoring Expectation with the counselor.
4. Testing Information: Testing Services sends the testing information and the Proctor Verification Form to the proctor the day before the requested exam date. Testing will CC the instructor in case there are any updates made, the instructor has the information to reach out to the proctor, as well. The proctor must sign this form to verify they proctored the exam as requested.
5. Returning of the forms/exams:
For paper component-based exams:
- The proctor returns all documents to the instructor.
For online exams:
- The proctor returns the Verification Form to Testing Services, where it is held in case of any questions.

EXAMS FOR STUDENTS WITH DSS ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodated exams are typically given through DSS.

Students are to fill out the “DSS Exam Request Form. Links to an external site.“.

Once the student schedules, you will receive a form to fill out to give DSS the exam and information.

For more information, please contact DSS.