NICET online proctored exams are administered via OnVUE, the remote proctoring platform of Pearson VUE. OnVUE allows candidates to conveniently take an exam in the comfort of their home or office while being monitored by an offsite proctor through a webcam. All communications with the proctor are conducted in English. PLEASE NOTE: ADA Accommodation testing IS NOT advised to be done through ONVUE. You must contact test@nicet.org for further information PRIOR to scheduling.
Available Examinations:
Candidates are advised to check the program page on the NICET website for details related to each exam including reference materials allowed (if any).
Before Signing Up for an OnVUE Session
Prior to signing up to take a NICET exam via an OnVUE session, candidates should find out if their computer and internet connection will work. Failure to check your system in advance, will result in rescheduling fees. Click on Test My System and follow the instructions. This step will be mandatory on May 23, 2024 going forward.
Run Test My System using the same computer and internet connection that will be used on the day of the exam to provide confidence in the setup. A preview of the check-in process and the launching of an exam are available for viewing.
Run Test My System at about the same time of day that the exam will take place to provide a better feel for the internet connection that will likely be available. If the system test is run at 10:00 PM and the exam is taken at 2:00 PM, the bandwidth available may be different.
If the computer and internet setup does NOT pass the system test or does not meet minimum requirements, schedule the exam at a testing center instead. Failure to test the intended computer and internet setup could lead to revocation of the exam and fees could be forfeited.
Do not take the exam in a setting with a corporate firewall (including VPN) or alert the Network Administrator to the network configuration requirements. Pearson VUE recommends taking the exam on a personal computer. Work computers have more restrictions that may prevent successful delivery.
All tablets are strictly forbidden, unless they have a physical keyboard and meets the operating system requirements listed above.
Prior to starting the exam, a brief tutorial is offered. The tutorial provides candidates with the opportunity to become familiar with navigating through the computer-based exam.
NOTE: This tutorial will NOT extend the time of the exam.
In addition to the tutorial, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) will be displayed on screen. Failure to respond within the allotted time or accept the terms and conditions will result in a forfeit of fees, a result of a failed score and an end to the exam. Once the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is accepted – your examination has launched, and the exam instructions will be displayed on the computer screen.
For the best results, prepare the exam environment BEFORE the appointment time including a system check. Failure to do so will result in rescheduling fees being required. Every OnVUE session environment MUST meet these criteria:
Candidates can provide comments regarding the exam experience and about the exam itself.
Administrative Comments will be directed to NICET testing staff who will work with the vendor to address any concerns.
Technical Comments regarding exam questions will be accepted and presented to the Technical Committee for consideration. Test questions are based on the standard editions listed on NICET’s website under each program page/level; therefore, candidates are strongly urged to bring these published year editions to the exam. Note: candidates may bring older or newer editions—instead of the editions listed above—at their own risk. Exam comments that are made based on other published edition years, will not be reviewed until the next maintenance cycle. Note: Not all programs allow refences during the time of testing.
The exam administrator has the authority to dismiss any candidate and revoke the examination session due to improprieties such as, but not limited to, impersonating a candidate of record, creating a disturbance, receiving help from another individual, attempting to remove exam materials, making notes about the exam content, use of unauthorized reference materials, leaving/disabling the camera area at any time, accessing one’s cell phone without prior approval from Pearson Vue, cheating of any kind, etc.
NICET’s exam questions are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as copyrighted materials owned by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Unauthorized use of NSPE/NICET copyright protected material by any entity, individual, company, or group other than NSPE or NICET is strictly prohibited under U.S. Federal Law and will be subject to legal prosecution. Removal of any exam materials, duplication in any manner of the contents of the exams or divulging the contents of exams to others in any manner is expressly forbidden. Cheating in any form is a violation of the NICET Code of Ethics and will not be tolerated. Sanctions include, but may not be limited to, invalidation of exam results, forfeiture of all exam fees, loss of exam privileges, suspension, or revocation of NICET certification, and legal prosecution.
Pearson VUE Browser Lock is a secure browser that is integrated with an OnVUE session. The Browser Lock must be downloaded from the exam sponsor home page PRIOR to the exam.
For OnVUE session delivery, Browser Lock is included when the candidate downloads the OnVUE session software. Browser Lock does not require administrative rights.
Candidates should close all open programs prior to running Browser Lock for the session. When it is time to begin the exam, candidates must launch Browser Lock from the downloaded file. Browser Lock will be launched once the check-in process is complete, and the exam is released by the greeter.
Browser Lock prevents candidates from:
Browser Lock will attempt to pause or close running software, such as other internet browsers or chat software. If Browser Lock cannot automatically pause or close other running software, it will display a message to the candidate informing them which software to manually close before starting their exam.
Once Browser Lock is successful, the candidate’s computer will be locked down during the session. If another program loads or automatically starts/restarts after the session has begun, Browser Lock will stop the in-program’s exam.
After the exam ends, Browser Lock will return the candidate to their desktop.
To start the OnVUE session, a candidate will sign in just as they did when scheduling it – on the program’s website.
Then find the OnVUE session exam and click the “BEGIN EXAM” button to start the check-in process.
NOTE: Check-in is available 30 minutes before to 15 minutes after the scheduled appointment time. The Begin Exam button is displayed only during that time.
NOTE: Successfully completing the check-in early will not allow a candidate to start the exam early.
A mobile phone works best for capturing the required headshot, ID, and environment photos. However, a candidate may use a webcam if a mobile phone is unavailable.
Headshot Photos: A candidate’s headshot is compared to the ID photo to make sure the right person takes the exam.
ID Photos: Pearson Vue will use the candidate’s ID to verify their identity. Photos required depend on the type of ID used:
Exam Environment Photos: Candidates are required to take four (4) photos of their exam environment during check-in. Try to get clear shots. Environments that are free of clutter are recommended – a room that does not have bookcases, table areas are free of paper other than approved references, etc.
Environment photos are used for the proctor’s reference during the session and for quality control, security, and auditing purposes.
Pearson VUE deletes check-in photos according to regulations in the country where a candidate sits an exam.
After a candidate submits photos, they are under exam conditions. The photos are reviewed by an OnVUE session greeter. Candidates are being recorded during this time and during the exam session. Candidates should not leave the camera area at this time throughout the remainder of the examination. If you do – your examination will be revoked, and fees will be forfeited. The greeter will either start the exam without contacting the candidate or will chat/call to work through any issues.
Failure to adhere to the following will cause the exam to be revoked and all fees forfeited:
The OnVUE session proctor will attempt to resolve technical issues in real time. If the “issue” cannot be resolved, the proctor will file an incident report on the candidate’s behalf.
This leads to two outcomes that depend on when the issue occurred:
Candidates can contact Pearson VUE Customer Service by chat or phone. Chat is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone support varies by region. To find the correct region, go to Pearson Vue
When a candidate loses connection to their OnVUE session during the exam, the secure browser shuts down the exam.
Common issues that could force a shutdown:
A message will be displayed to the candidate indicating the exam has shut down. After the issue has been resolved, the candidate should click the Relaunch button. The candidate will then be placed back in the proctor queue and the next available proctor pulls the candidate from the queue to relaunch their examination. If the examination cannot relaunch and the exam has must be rescheduled, rescheduling fees may be charged.
Notes for Restart Process
The proctor can implement a maximum of two (2) restarts per exam session. After that, the exam is terminated and marked as delivered. Then the candidate must register for another exam session. EXCEPTION: Candidates are allowed an unlimited number of restarts for poor internet connection and drop out of the exam repeatedly or experience multiple browser violations, and they can restart the exam each time they experience one of these issues.
Detailed screen shots of the entire OnVUE process can be found here.
Rescheduling an exam appointment can be done in the candidate’s account or by calling Pearson VUE at (888) 572-2276 Mon-Fri, 7 AM –7 PM Central Time. An exam can be rescheduled right up to the scheduled appointment time at no cost. When rescheduling, just like the original scheduling process there are several screens, agreements, and confirmations. The process is not complete until you click the “Confirm Reschedule” button, see the notice: “Your Appointment is Rescheduled” and receive a confirmation email from Pearson Vuel. Taking a screen shot of this process is not acceptable. Failure to complete the process and missing your appointment does incur a rescheduling fee. If you need to reschedule under the 24-hour mark, or after your eligibility window expires, email your request to test@nicet.org. We will then respond with the rescheduling process. Please provide your name as it appears in your candidate account and your NICET ID.
If a candidate does not reschedule the appointment before the scheduled appointment time and does not take the exam, it will be considered a No Show, and the candidate will forfeit the entire exam fee. This would require the candidate to purchase another exam on the NICET website.
If the exam is not rescheduled before the exam window expires, a candidate may request another testing window by contacting test@nicet.org.
At the end of the exam session an email will be displayed giving information that a candidate should sign into their Pearson Vue account to download an Unofficial Examination Score Report. The Official Examination Score Report will be released through the candidate’s Clarus account within approximately 14 days. If your examination is revoked, the scores provided will be final at the time of revocation. NOTE: Official Examination Scores will NOT be provided via email or telephone.
Special accommodations are only offered with NICET pre-approval. Please contact NICET directly at test@nicet.org to request special testing accommodations.
To schedule an exam, please go to the candidate portal to find the time and location that will work best. If there are difficulties, call Pearson VUE at 888-572-2276. Please have the candidate’s NICET ID and the exam information available when contacting Pearson VUE or NICET.
Q. Where can I take a remote proctored exam?
You can take the exam at home or in your office. Wherever you decide to take the exam, you should be in a walled room, with a closed door and without distractions. No one else is permitted in the room with you while taking the exam.
Q. How do I know my computer will work with the OnVUE software?
Perform a system test (Test My System) to download the OnVUE online proctoring software in advance to ensure that your system will work with the application. Please check the list of minimum system requirements and shut down all non-essential applications before launching the software.
Q. Can I receive any assistance during the exam?
You may not receive any assistance from other individuals while taking the exam, and you may not allow other individuals to see the computer screen that presents the exam questions.
Q. Is technical software assistance available during the exam?
Most technical issues can be avoided by completing a system test in advance. Common technical issues are lack of a stable internet connection and running illegal applications during the exam, both of which the system test can indicate. Either way, Pearson Vue staff is on hand to support the issue. Please call Pearson Vue directly if you require assistance.
Q. May I schedule a remote proctored examination with ADA accommodations?
ADA accommodations must be pre-approved by NICET PRIOR to scheduling. Please contact test@nicet.org for further information.
Q. My proctor has not started my exam yet. Where is my proctor?
After successfully uploading your photos, you should be on a page that says, “You are almost done with the check-in process.” Please be patient: most candidates will have their exam launched by a proctor within 15 minutes of the exam appointment. If you are experiencing a longer delay, there may be a problem with your photos. The proctor will attempt to reach you over chat or your mobile phone. The incoming phone number may be unfamiliar to you, but please answer so we can help you. If we have not contacted you in 30 minutes, the connection may have been lost. You will need to reschedule your exam through customer service.
Q. Where do I go to schedule my exam?
Sign into your candidate Clarus account to schedule your exam. After you have selected the exam you want to take, choose the “home or office” option. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the scheduling process. Once you have successfully scheduled your exam appointment, you will be sent a confirmation email that will provide you with your appointment details and important things to know for your exam.
Q. Is my workspace okay for testing?
During the check-in process, you will be asked to take photos of your work area, which will be checked by a proctor prior to exam launch. Please ensure that your desktop is clean and that you are not within arm’s reach of notepads, sticky notes, papers, pens, pencils, and other writing instruments/objects. Only those references listed on your program page are allowed (if any). Additional monitors and computers must be unplugged and turned off. Items on the wall with writing on them, such as whiteboards, will be inspected. If your workspace does not pass a room scan, you are not permitted to proceed with taking the exam.
Q. What type of identification will I be required to present?
You are required to present a current government-issued ID with your photograph, your signature, and a valid expiration date. The name on your ID must match the name in your web account profile and in your appointment confirmation email. Digital IDs of any kind are not acceptable. If there are any discrepancies, you should contact NICET immediately. Otherwise, you may not be admitted to your exam session and will be considered a No Show and all fees will be forfeited.
Q. How do I check in for my remote proctored exam-on-exam day?
You will be able to start checking in for your exam 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment time. To start, click the “Sign in” button on this page to sign into your web account.
Q. What is the policy on personal belongings during the exam?
During the exam, you may not access the following types of personal items: mobile phones, headphones, or headsets (wired or wireless), handheld computers or other electronic devices, pagers, watches, wallets, purses, hats (or other head coverings), bags, coats, notes, or any other materials not specifically approved.
Q. Can I eat, drink, or take a break during the exam?
No food or beverages of any kind are permitted unless you have prior approval. If you leave your computer during your exam, the proctor will end your session and you will be unable to continue taking the exam. Smoking and chewing gum are prohibited.