Online Proctored Exams: A New World of Opportunity

Mike Griffiths is an experienced project manager, author and consultant who works for PMI as a subject matter expert. Before joining PMI, Mike consulted and managed innovation and technology projects throughout Europe, North and South America for 30+ years. He was co-lead for the PMBOK Guide—Seventh Edition, lead for the Agile Practice Guide, and contributor to the PMI-ACP and PMP exam content outlines. Outside of PMI, Mike maintains the websites www.LeadingAnswers.com about leading teams and www.PMillustrated.com, which teaches project management for visual learners.

  Career Development  

The world is changing faster than ever. Not long ago, reading books on handheld devices and doing our banking or grocery shopping online seemed novel. Now it is the norm, and the Project Management Institute allows people to take the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)^® or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® exam from home, also online.

No more driving to an unfamiliar test center. That’s one less thing to stress about. No more fitting in with test center availability. Instead, take the exam in the comfort of your own home when you want to schedule it. There is no need to take time off work or explain that you need time off to take an exam—which can add further stress and peer pressure to the process. Taking exams online should result in more convenience, less travel and pollution, and—who knows—maybe cheaper exams one day?

If you are new to the world of online proctored exams, this process might seem fraught with security issues and opportunities for cheating. However, these problems have been considered and it is probably more difficult to cheat in an exam with online proctoring than at an in-person test center. Here’s how it works.

Before scheduling an exam, you download a systems’ check program. These tests verify things like your internet connection speed, microphone settings and web cam. You will …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.