Test Center

The Test Center is located in RCF-359 and provides the college community and members of the larger community with secure, accessible, and professional testing services and resources. The Test Center enables students and other test takers to demonstrate knowledge, achieve certification, engage in professional development, enhance competencies, and validate skills developed through lifelong learning.

Among the exams administered by the Test Center are academic, placement, and professional certification exams, including the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST). The Test Center is an authorized testing site for Pearson VUE (which includes the computer-based version of the GED Test), Castle, Iso-Quality Testing, and Certiport.

The Test Center also administers the college’s clinical nursing admissions assessments. These exams must be taken to complete application requirements for the nursing program’s clinical segment. Assessment fees for the exam must be paid to the Cashier’s Office in order to sit for any nursing assessment. See Payment for more information.

All examinees must present a current HCC student identification card, a photo identification card from another academic institution, or an unexpired government-issued photo identification document (e.g. driver’s license, passport) with a current photo. No exceptions to this policy will be made.

Food and drink are not permitted at the Test Center, including bottled water. No hats or head coverings of any kind will be permitted in testing areas unless worn for religious or medical reasons. Regardless of the reason for allowed headwear, the tester’s ears must be shown to a testing administrator in a private setting to ensure that no recording or listening devices are present. The Test Center will provide any calculators, writing utensils, or scrap paper required for testing. Under no circumstances are children or additional individuals besides the examinee allowed in the Test Center. All personal items must be placed in lockers, including books, notes, pens, pencils, calculators, cellular telephones, listening and recording devices, electronic devices, purses, watches, wallets, and keys. Lockers are available inside the center.

Proctoring fees are not charged for HCC academic or placement exams. Proctoring fees are charged over and above the cost of the exams for CLEP, DSST, Certiport nursing assessments, and other non-HCC exams in order to cover administrative expenses. Proctoring fees are paid at the Cashier’s Office (RCF-213). Fees are subject to change. Different charges and payment procedures apply depending on the type of examination. Further information is available on the Test Center website (howardcc.edu/testcenter).

Registered HCC students who are taking HCC distance or hybrid courses and would like to test at other institutions must obtain approval from the course instructor, complete the off-site testing application, identify a National College Testing Association (NCTA) partner institution, and obtain permission from a Test Center supervisor at HCC for testing arrangements. Students are responsible for any fees charged by other institutions for proctoring services.

The Test Center’s schedule is published each semester and is subject to change. All tests must be turned in by the posted closing time regardless of the time allocated for the exam. The Test Center works closely with HCC’s Disability Support Services office to provide accommodations for all examinees with disabilities. Further information is available on the Test Center website at howardcc.edu/testcenter or by contacting the center directly at testcenter@howardcc.edu or 443-518-1280.