The Conference – Exam Policy Overview

For a complete overview of Conference policies and procedures, please review the applicable candidate handbook for your exam. As a reminder, you are agreeing to the terms of the handbook and Exam Security Video located on The Conference website when you submit an exam application.

Top Five Exam Policies to Remember

The following policies are the most commonly asked about by exam candidates:

1. Applications and payments expire after one year.
2. Payments are non-transferable between exam types and cannot be refunded.
3. Identifications presented at the test center must match the name on application (first and last name only, as middle names are not submitted to Pearson VUE) and cannot be expired.
4. Candidates are responsible for confirming their appointment date, time, and location. Late arrivals or missed exams will be treated as “no shows” and payments will be forfeited.
5. Exam content cannot be discussed or shared with any one, in any format (written, verbal, electronic, etc.), in whole or in part.

At a Glance – Conference Exam Policies

Application and Payment

• Your first and last name on your exam application must match the two forms of identification presented at the test center (primary ID and secondary ID, as outlined in the handbook). Middle names are not submitted to Pearson VUE for scheduling.
• It is vital that your Social Security Number is entered correctly on your application. If it is entered incorrectly, you may experience a delay in processing or scheduling.
• All exam fees are non-refundable.
• Applications and payments automatically expire one year from the payment date. If you do not take the exam in that timeframe, your fees will be forfeited.
• Exam fees are non-transferrable to other exam types. You can request to have your application switched from one NBE section to another NBE section for a fee of $25.
• Candidates may only have one Arts or Sciences application open at one time, regardless of NBE or SBE designation.
  
• If you require accommodations, please state that at time of application and follow the steps to request accommodations, which includes reviewing the ADA Testing Accommodations Handbook and submitting the required documents. All approved accommodations must be scheduled over the phone with the Pearson VUE Accommodations Coordinator.
• If you apply to take a Conference exam using a different name than you previously sat for an exam under, you must submit name change documentation, which must show a legal change from your previous name to the current name.
• In any instance where a chargeback is filed for an online payment, your file will be placed on hold with The Conference until full payment is verified, after which only cashier’s checks or money orders may be accepted as payment options. Candidates may be responsible for any fees incurred by The Conference during the dispute process.

Scheduling:

•  It is the candidate’s responsibility to schedule their appointment through Pearson VUE, confirming the time, date, and location.
• Within your authorization window, you may cancel or reschedule your appointment up to 30 days in advance of the scheduled exam free of charge. You may cancel or reschedule less than 30 days prior to your appointment for a $25 fee. In all cases, appointment changes are NOT permitted within 24 hours of a scheduled exam. Appointment changes can be made by contacting Pearson VUE directly at pearsonvue.com/theconference or by phone at 1-800-709-0180. Failure to appear for your scheduled exam will result in forfeiture of your exam authorization and exam fee.
• You will receive a confirmation email for every exam that you schedule/reschedule. It is your responsibility to keep the email you receive from Pearson VUE confirming the canceled/changed appointment. If a change is made via phone, keep a record of the date, time, and the name of the representative you spoke with. If you do not receive an email, it is your responsibility to contact Pearson VUE to confirm your appointment details.
• In rare instances, absences may be excused due to illness (either you or an immediate family member), death in the immediate family, or in certain emergency situations. A request for an excused absence must be submitted in writing, accompanied by supporting documentation, and submitted to The Conference for review within 30 days of the missed appointment. Absences cannot be excused for traffic/transportation issues, late arrivals, or weather (unless the test center is closed). Immediate family members are defined as the candidate’s spouse, domestic partner, parents, siblings, children, stepparents, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law.
• The Conference cannot be held responsible for any travel expenses or lost wages if an exam is missed or canceled for any reason.
• In addition to the application and payment, we will need your eligibility to schedule an exam:
• NBE – Verification of graduation from an ABFSE program is required to sit for the NBE. This can be submitted by the program director or by sending an official, sealed transcript to The Conference directly from your school.
• SBE – Depending on which state you are testing for, your eligibility comes directly from your school or the licensing board.
• LRR – Eligibility varies by state and is submitted directly by the licensing board.

•  Eligibilities are retained for five years.

• An international licensee can follow the International Endorsement procedure to apply for the National Board Exam. If approved, this path would allow the international candidate to sit for the NBE with the endorsement of a recognized member regulatory jurisdiction.

Test Center:

• The Conference uses Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all exams. Exams are administered in English at Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs) within North America.
• It is the candidate’s responsibility to locate the test center and arrive 30 minutes early for the check-in process. Late arrivals are treated as “no shows” and the application/exam fee will be forfeited.
• You must present two forms of identification at the test center (primary ID and secondary ID, as outlined in the candidate handbook). Both IDs must contain your name, signature, and cannot be expired. The primary ID must also include a photo.
• Your first and last names on your IDs must match what was submitted on your application in order to be granted access to test (middle names are not used).
• During the check-in process, each candidate is required to read and sign the Candidate Rules Agreement.
• You will be required to have your photo taken and your palm vein scanned during the check-in process. If you take a break during your exam, your palm vein will be scanned again when exiting and entering the testing room.
• Calculators are not permitted for use during Conference exams.
• If you have any questions during your exam, raise your hand and wait for a proctor to assist you.

Exam Security

•  Once seated at the testing center, candidates must agree to the Non-Disclosure Agreement within the three minute timeframe. Failure to agree to the Non-Disclosure Agreement within this timeframe will result in forfeiture of exam; resulting in a loss of funds. This includes declining the NDA or letting the time expire.
• You are not permitted to begin writing on the provided dry-erase board until you agree to the NDA and your exam begins.
• You are prohibited from leaving the testing room, except to use the closest restroom. The exam timer does not stop for any breaks that you take.
• Accessing personal items, including those in your locker or vehicle, is prohibited. If you are discovered to have left the testing room without authorization for any other reason or to have accessed unapproved items, the administration of your exam will be terminated, an Incident Report will be filed, and your exam fees will be forfeited.
• If any policy is violated, The Conference has the authority to invalidate your test scores, prohibit you from reexamination, notify The Conference membership, including the state in which licensure is sought, as well as any other remedy determined by The Conference necessary to protect the integrity of the exam and licensure processes.
• As stated in the NDA, candidates are prohibited from disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any part of an exam, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the prior express written permission of The Conference. Discussing exam content with others, including study groups, email, internet forums, etc., violates Conference policy.
• Any violations of the policies outlined in the candidate handbook, Candidate Rules Agreement, Exam Security Quiz, or NDA, as well as other irregularities, may be reported to Pearson VUE, The Conference, and Conference membership, including the state in which licensure is sought. Candidates who violate security will have their exam scores invalidated, will be reported to their licensing board, and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Conference Board of Directors reserves the right to require candidates found to have violated policies and/or procedures regarding access and administration of the exam program to seek and receive permission from the relevant member board before further access to such exam program. Candidates found guilty of a violation could face a range of administrative, civil, and criminal charges.

Retake Policies

• NBE/SBE– Candidates must wait 30 days before retaking a failed section of the NBE/SBE-Arts and NBE/SBE-Sciences. If you pass an exam, you may not take that exam again unless The Conference receives written notification from a licensing board that the retake is required for licensure purposes. An application and payment must be submitted each time you retake an exam.
• LRR – Eligible candidates must refer and adhere to their jurisdiction’s policies on retaking the LRR exam, as they vary by exam. If you pass a particular state’s LRR, you may not take that exam again unless The Conference receives written notification from the regulatory board that it is required for licensure. An application and payment must be submitted each time you retake an exam.

Exam Results

• At the completion of your exam, you will receive an unofficial score report. The Conference will transmit your official score report to your state board.
• The NBE and SBE use scaled scoring. Candidates will receive a “Pass” or “Fail” notification at the test center immediately following the completion of their exam. Numerical scores are released to regulatory boards for licensing purposes only. For unsuccessful exam attempts, candidates will also receive a Performance Feedback Chart which shows a visual representation of candidate exam performance within each subsection.
• The LRR exams are scored using a percentage. Candidates will receive a “Pass” or “Fail” along with the percentage score.
• Exam results, including any previous attempts, will be released to the licensing authority indicated on your application. If exam results need to be re-released to a licensing authority more than six months after the original release date, candidates must submit an order form and payment for the service. Candidates can also place an order to release their scores to additional licensing authorities at any time.
• The NBE, SBE, and most LRR Exams cannot be reviewed and no score adjustments can be made.

Study Material

• Returns and/or refunds are not available.

• Practice exams must be utilized during the stated delivery period, otherwise fees will be forfeited. Any technical issues should be reported within the delivery period.
• Study material is copyrighted content and cannot be shared or reproduced.