[RE-wrenches] FW: NABCEP "rant"

[Allan Sindelar]

Additional forward from Rebecca Eaton:

I have met with a number of computer-based testing companies and am
extremely interested in pursuing this path.  However, the upfront cost is
significant and certainly not something we can afford at this time.  NABCEP
is in the midst of fundraising and if some of these grants are approved,
we will revisit the matter of remote testing and see how it fits with our
financial and organizational priorities.  In other words, we are interested
but not in a position to move forward an ambitious change in testing
methodology at this juncture.  

Sincerely, 

Rebecca Eaton
Executive Director
__________________________________
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
(NABCEP)
1110 Bonifant Street, Suite 210
Silver Spring, MD  20910
Tele. (800) 654-0021
Fax: (518) 899-1092

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Yago [mailto:jryago at netscape.com] 

I was recently notified that in order to renew my electricians license, the
state had decided to require an code update course and test on the recent
changes in the NEC. Last year I wanted to become certified in the green
buildings program. Two years ago I wanted to take certification training and
testing for the LEEDS program. 

What did all these have in common? All I had to do was check the web site
for one of the standard testing centers across the US, select the date I
wanted, and paid the fee. When I arrived I had to prove who I was, and a
licensed testing proctor took care of starting and stopping the test, making
sure nobody was cheating, and when the time was up, they placed the tests
into a sealed document that was FEDxd to the organization, or in some cases,
the tests were completed on line and the proctor was just there to make sure
everyone stayed honest and took care of the official start and stop time.
These testing centers are certified and bonded, and can provide both
training and testing for any organization anywhere.

These testing centers are now in every city in the US and in many community
colleges, and they offer everything from a room full of web-based testing
computers, to training rooms that provide large audio/video screens so a
distant presenter can be live in 100 other classrooms in 50 different states
at the same time.  Two years ago I took part in a live web based evening
training session by John Wiles and from my desk computer I could see him
live, see his power-point presentation, talk live back with questions, and
send text messages as he talked. No fuss, no problems, and very convenient.

So what is the problem? If every other association, certification, and
licensing board can utilize these centralized training and testing centers
to make it easy for their members to be tested or trained without driving
400 miles, how come NABCEP can't figure this out?