EXAMINATION Conference Office SERVICES FORUM Dalene Paull, - PDF document

2/22/2019 INTRODUCTIONS EXAMINATION Conference Office SERVICES FORUM Dalene Paull, Executive Director Lauren Thomas, Member Services Manager Dustin Wardlow, Information & Technology Manager Examination Program Attendee Introductions Sarah Gill, Examination Services Manager Name, organization, & title Allie Sparkman, Candidate Services Manager Emily Hesslen, Administrative Assistant Looking Back Currently Upcoming OVERVIEW OF EXAMS Overview of Exams Exam Security ABFSE Textbook Survey • National Board Examination (NBE) Exam Statistics Program Updates Examination Committee • State Board Examination (SBE) Study Material NBE Scholarships Item Writing Workshop • Laws, Rules & Regulations Examination (LRR) Updates • Other licensure examinations Exam Services Forum NBE PURPOSE NBE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS • Determine qualifications and knowledge to function as an entry level funeral director 1. Task Analysis 7. Examination Review and/or embalmer. Passing the NBE requires 2. Content Outline 8. Administration passing both sections. 3. Standard Setting 9. Scoring • Provide state licensing & regulatory boards & bureaus with a content-valid evaluation of 4. Item Writing 10. Statistical Analysis applicants for licensure. 5. Expert Review 11. Reporting • The accepted standard by 49 states & D.C. 6. Examination Development 1

2/22/2019 NBE SUBSECTIONS EXAM COMMITTEE • Appointed annually by Board ARTS SCIENCES • Application process Funeral Arranging and Directing (51 items) Embalming (58 items) 2018-2019 NBE Sciences 2018-2019 NBE Arts Funeral Service Marketing/Merchandising (21 items) Restorative Art (34 items) - Don O’Guinn, Chair (MI) - Keri Haines, Chair (OK) Funeral Service Counseling (22 items) Preparation for Disposition (31 items) - Jenni Bryant (TN) - Barbara Kazmierczak (MA) Legal and Regulatory Compliance (36 items) Funeral Service Sciences (27 items) - Brevin Clifford (OR) - Harvey Leavitt (NC) Cemetery and Crematory Operations (20 items) Pretest (20 items) - Mark Fisher (VA) - John Rice (NE) Pretest (20 items) - Patricia Traffas (MO) - Michael Shorter (FL) - Rudee Slavik (CA) - Craig Stires (OH) - Laura Zabel (CO) NATIONAL BOARD EXAM (NBE) NATIONAL BOARD EXAM (NBE) • Arts and Sciences sections • Pass/Fail results since 2012 • 150 scored items per section, with 20 unscored pretest items • Scaled score of 75 or higher to pass each section. • Passing the NBE requires passing both sections. • To be eligible, candidates must complete requirements for graduation from an ABFSE accredited program. 2018 NBE PASS RATE NBE ADMINISTRATIONS Total Exams Per Year Arts & Sciences | First-Time & Retake Approximately 3,500 exams administered 5000 4500 Over 1,300 unique, first-time candidates 4000 3500 3000 2500 NBE 2017 Pass Rates 2018 Exams First Time Retake NBE 2000 Arts 77% 51% 1500 1000 Sciences 71% 36% 500 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2

2/22/2019 STATE BOARD EXAM (SBE) SBE ADMINISTRATIONS • Administer State Board Exams for 19 states: • 546 Exams Administered in 2018 • 300 First-Time Candidates Administered State Board Exams Per Year 700 600 500 400 SBE 300 200 • Arts and Sciences Exams Available 100 0 - Member board typically establishes eligibility 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 - No cost to State Board LAWS, RULES, & REGULATIONS (LRR) LRR & OTHER EXAM ADMINISTRATIONS & OTHER EXAMS • 831Exams Administered in 2018 • Administer LRR Exams for 12 states; North Carolina Pathology • 564 First-Time Candidates Administered LRR Exams Per Year 1000 800 600 LRR 400 200 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 STUDY MATERIAL UPDATES LRR EXAM INFO • Range of services based on state-specific needs: NBE & SBE Study Guides • Conversion of current exam  Current content outlines • Item Writing  Structure of an exam question • Test Development  Types of questions found on the exam  Test taking principles • Benefits:  Professional expectations • Secure testing centers  Sample questions • Administrative support from Conference staff  Answer explanations on select questions • Same process as the NBE 3

2/22/2019 STUDY MATERIAL UPDATES, CONT. EXAM SECURITY NBE & SBE - Practice Examinations Always a top priority of The Conference.  Arts & Sciences sections  Two forms per section Exam Purpose:  Mapped to the content outline  Statistically representative of the NBE • Determine qualifications and knowledge to function as an entry level funeral  75 questions per form director and/or embalmer.  Feedback provided for incorrect items • Provide state licensing & regulatory boards & bureaus with a content-valid evaluation of applicants for licensure. • Must be able to stand behind the results. Future Updates  Electronic study materials EXAM SECURITY, CONT. EXAM SECURITY, CONT. Candidates Notified  Candidate Handbook  At time of application (Security Agreement video)  Email correspondence  Candidate Rules Agreement (testing center sign-in)  NDA prior to start of exam  Pass/Fail report at completion of exam EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES Pearson VUE – Contract Extension  275 Pearson Professional Centers  Secure / uniform exam experience  Designated call center / online scheduling 4

2/22/2019 EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES Candidate Handbook  Candidates agree to terms at time of application  Revised with candidate in mind  Best viewed online  Reviewed & updated annually  Summary of Policies & Procedures EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES DATABASE UPGRADES & DATABASE UPGRADES & CANDIDATE COMMUNICATION CANDIDATE COMMUNICATION Database Upgrade Electronic Score Transfer  Enhanced reporting  As of October 1, 2017, all exam results are  Courtesy email to candidates regarding transferred to licensing boards via a secure file application expiration transfer program  Verifications of Results are now automated through our database, removing the risk of human error  Faster, more efficient processing and decreasing processing time  Candidates are notified via email once their  Weekly confirmation emails of first-time exam takers to each program results have been sent to the licensing board  ATT (Authorization to Test) emails sent from Pearson VUE when candidates are able to schedule their exam 5

2/22/2019 EXAM PROGRAM UPDATES DATABASE UPGRADES & 2019 SPRING NBE SCHOLARSHIPS CANDIDATE COMMUNICATION Topic Candidate Experience Survey Thoroughly read the new edition of the NBE Candidate Handbook. In 75 – 100 words tell us your biggest takeaways.  As of December 2018, candidates are now asked to complete a short candidate experience survey Award following the release of their results to the licensing 5 names drawn at Board of Directors meeting board Candidates receive one full NBE exam  We want candidates to fill out this survey so that ($570 value) they can tell us how their entire exam process went - Candidates will be notified directly - Candidates must submit application from start to finish - Must be a first-time candidate, eligible one year from selection date  This will help us know what steps of the process And the winners are…. can be improved for future candidates UPCOMING THANK YOU! - ABFSE Textbook Survey - Examination Committee  Members must be practicing, dually licensed (in good-standing), & have passed the NBE.  Cannot work directly with ABFSE programs.  Deadline to apply is March 13. - Item Writing Workshop  Participants must be dually licensed (in good-standing) & have passed the NBE.  Educators welcome to apply.  Application will open in Spring 2019 Sarah Gill Examination Services Manager exams@theconferenceonline.org Apply online - www.theconferenceonline.org 479-442-7076, Ext. 8 6