Who can proctor an exam?

Q: Who can proctor an exam?

A: An exam proctor must be a neutral, responsible adult who can verify the test-taker’s identity, ensure the testing environment meets the test provider’s rules, and monitor for academic integrity. The exact requirements vary significantly between institutional proctoring (for schools/universities) and professional remote proctoring (for standardized tests).

Q: Who qualifies as an institutional or educational proctor?

A: For exams administered by a school, college, or university, approved proctors typically include:

• School Officials: Teachers, professors, librarians, or academic advisors employed by the institution.
• Librarians: Professional librarians at public, university, or corporate libraries.
• Testing Center Staff: Official personnel at accredited university or community college testing centers.
• Military Education Officers: For service members, an Education Services Officer (ESO) or a commissioned officer.
• Notaries Public: Some institutions may allow a notary public, especially for make-up exams, but they often require additional verification of academic credentials.

Q: Who proctors professional standardized tests?

A: For high-stakes exams like the LSAT, GRE, Praxis, or NCLEX, proctoring is tightly controlled:

• Official Testing Center Staff: Employees of authorized centers (e.g., Prometric, Pearson VUE, PSI).
• Live Online Proctors: Certified remote proctors employed by the testing company (e.g., ProctorU, Proctorio). These individuals are trained to verify identity via webcam, perform environment scans, and monitor screen activity in real-time.

Q: Who is generally not allowed to proctor an exam?

A: To prevent conflicts of interest and maintain integrity, the following individuals are almost universally prohibited from proctoring:

• Family Members: Spouses, parents, siblings, or any relatives.
• Friends, Peers, or Coworkers.
• Anyone with a personal or financial interest in the test-taker’s performance.
• Direct Supervisors or employees who report to the test-taker in a workplace.

Q: What are the key responsibilities of a proctor?

A: Regardless of the setting, a proctor’s core duties are to:

1. Verify Identity: Check a government-issued photo ID.
2. Ensure a Secure Environment: Confirm the room is quiet, private, and free of unauthorized materials.
3. Enforce Testing Rules: Monitor for prohibited behavior (e.g., using phones, accessing notes, having other people in the room).
4. Manage Time: Officially start and end the exam per the allotted time.
5. Report Irregularities: Document and report any technical issues or suspected academic misconduct to the testing institution.

For the definitive proctor eligibility rules for your specific exam, you must consult the official guidelines provided by your school or the testing organization (e.g., LSAC, ETS, NCSBN). For more resources on exam proctoring, you can also visit askproctor.com.