Testing and Assessment Personnel Certification (TAP-C) brings the college test center industry a long overdue benchmark for best practices. It is a professional certification initiative, a community-led effort to assure quality in our industry. Members of FACTA (Florida Association of College Test Administrators), working closely with McCann Associates have introduced a certification for testing and assessment personnel. The exam, named the Testing and Assessment Personnel Certification, is commonly referred to as the TAP-C. The TAP-C Level 1 is the first in a series of five planned assessments and is designed to measure the skills needed by entry-level employees working in testing and assessment. Future levels will address best practice standards for proctors, examiners, and assessment managers/directors. The certification is intended to provide recognition, competency, and a commitment in the testing and assessment profession across institutions.
Best practice standards included in the Level 1 TAP-C include:
- FERPA Compliance
- Assessment Security
- Proctoring
- Technology
- Ethics
- Policies and Procedures
- Customer Service
- Office Skills
The TAP-C is a developing professional standard delivered through Adaptera, McCann Associates’s market-leading assessment platform. TAP-C is delivered online and can be delivered in your testing centers or through secure web browsers.
Benefits of TAP-C for the Individual:
- Differentiates you in the hiring process over others who are not certified
- Establishes you as a continuous, motivated learner
- Provides you with confidence in the testing and assessment profession
- Elevates your reputation in the testing and assessment profession
- Provides you with more opportunities as a certified assessment professional
- Provides you with current and relevant, job-based credentialing options
- Recognizes TAP-C recipients in the TAP-C Registry
- Demonstrates achievement that enhances self-esteem and confidence which confirms professional commitment
Benefits of TAP-C for Institutions:
- Fosters the development of assessment personnel aligned with national testing standards
- Ensures confidence to vendors that personnel remain certified to industry standards
- Attracts highly motivated personnel to apply and work at your institution
- Creates a common body of knowledge among staff and personnel
- Elevates the reputation of your institution in the testing and assessment profession
- Assures greater comparability and consistency among certified testing professionals in the industry
- Raises the professional reputation of your team
- Certifies your employees’ obligation to abide by a code of ethics and national professional standards and guidelines in the testing and assessment profession
The mission of the TAP-C initiative is to advance professional standards in college testing. Designed by a team of Subject Matter Experts, TAP-C endeavors to recognize quality and create a recognized credential for those in the field of testing and assessment.