The Learned Leader

Written by Colleen Caulfield

From Sign-Up to Test Day:
Navigating the Exam Process

While numerous unpredictable variables occur between the day you sign up for your exam and test day, approaching the exam process without a structured plan can result in disorganization, delay and, worst-case scenario, exam failure. This issue’s Learned Leader column offers military professionals a recommended sequence of steps to select, prepare for and complete a professional certification exam effectively.

IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE EXAM

Preparing for and taking a certification exam involves both a financial and time commitment that should not be taken lightly. For that reason, military professionals’ first step should be to determine the ultimate goal they hope to achieve. Is it to advance a current career? Start a new one? Or maybe the desire is simply to pick up a couple of professional skills that will better round out existing experience or complement expertise and qualifications. If taking a prior learning assessment exam is a consideration, maybe the ultimate goal is to obtain a degree, or it may just be to earn a few credits while deciding whether to go back to school.

Selecting the appropriate exam may seem like an intimidating prospect, but a little bit of due diligence can go a long way. Such diligence can include talking to industry experts, career counselors at universities and individuals in the private sector who hold certifications and can speak to the practical and financial value of their certifications. Test-takers can also ask friends or family members if they know someone who already holds a certification that is of potential interest.

More to the point—family and friends can be asked if they know of anyone who works in the profession, or at the professional level being examined. For example, if a military professional thinks that holding a project management certification might help with career advancement, he or she should try to talk with a project manager about that particular certification and what practical benefits it provides.

Similarly, test-takers might think that their “mastery” certification will land a higher-paying job. If so, the individual should talk to someone who has actually earned it—or better yet a few people—and see if that is really the case. Talking to people who have knowledge in these areas already can help keep expectations in check, as well as provide a realistic way to benchmark what one is trying to accomplish through the search.

Another valuable resource when trying to determine which program’s exam to take are human resources professionals, who can help identify which credentials are most in-demand in the current job market. HR professionals, especially those involved in recruitment, have their finger on the pulse of real-time market conditions and know where skill shortages and surpluses exist.

Applying this logic to a credit-by-exam program, learners should first put some thought into where they want to end up professionally and then work backward from there. Select a degree program where the end result is the career of choice, and then check to see whether any of the initial credit requirements would be met through credit by exam. If the path to a degree requires an introductory math class, credit by exam might be a perfect way to earn credit in a fraction of the time.

CONDUCT ONLINE RESEARCH

Military professionals can bolster their research by visiting the Websites of organizations that offer certification exams, as well as by checking networking and association Websites. A good example is the ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership, a membership organization for association executives. Websites like this, located at www.asaecenter.org, can provide valuable resources such as articles, directories, career tips and many other items that offer guidance to professionals at associations. Whatever the field of interest, user reviews from various Websites and blog opinions—when properly vetted—can provide information on the relevance of a particular certification exam to a military professional’s career or educational aspirations.

CHOOSE EXAM AND PREPARE

At this point, military professionals should have enough information to select the appropriate exam. Once this is done, the relevant reference guides and materials should be procured, as they will provide useful guidance on the time commitment required to be ready for the exam. Whether certification or academic exam, most test sponsors (the organizations who offer the exams) provide program information on their Websites, including guidance on what topics to study, study guides, subject reference materials, practice tests and other tools. Obtain and review the materials quickly; if too much time elapses, testtakers may end up pressed for time and cramming, and that can lead to a failed or postponed exam.

SCHEDULE EXAM EARLY

Test day is stressful enough, so choose a day and location for the test that is as convenient as possible. Schedule the exam as far in advance as possible to guarantee the best possible date and location. Be sure to get a confirmation number (almost always provided at the end of a Web-based scheduling process), and then print out the sheet with confirmation details about the exam. Also provided is information on what materials to bring to the exam. Test-takers should read this over carefully, as documentation requirements, such as identification and appointment confirmation e-mails, vary per organization. Without the right identification or other documents, test-takers may have to go home.

In the case of scheduling a prior learning assessment exam, such as a DSST exam, Web scheduling usually doesn’t apply; the student typically must schedule a prior learning assessment exam on-site at the institution that will deliver it.

DON’T GO SOLO

Many test-takers instinctively hunker down with books and prepare for the certification exam independently. Everyone has his or her own schedule and preparation strategies, but there can be great value in seeking out cohort or professional groups on sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to complement an independent study regime. These sites could help locate, for example, a group of Microsoft-certified engineers who may be able to provide helpful tips for exam day, or various study groups for tips on specific certification programs or prior learning assessment exams.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Repetition can be time consuming and irksome, but military professionals should take as many practice tests as possible so that the actual process of taking the exam becomes second nature by test day. The routine of practice exams not only strengthens test-takers’ knowledge of exam content, but also ensures comfort with the required time parameters.

TAKE A TEST DRIVE

As military professionals well know, eliminating as many unknown variables as possible from a mission guarantees a better chance of success. Rather than solely relying on a GPS or mapping service, or assuming it will be easy to find the test center location, take a test drive to the test center. By doing a test drive—ideally at the same time of day as will be done on exam day—test-takers also get a feel for how much time traffic will add to the trip. They can also scout out where to park and other key details that may not be top of mind on test day.

MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM

In many cases, knowledge accumulated when preparing for one certification exam can be of value for other exams as well. If test-takers allow too much time to pass between certification exams (assuming they expect to take more than one to complete an exam series), content must sometimes in effect be re-learned. If possible, military professionals should consider taking incremental certifications in a compressed time period so that the content remains fresh in their minds. This holds less true when taking a prior learning assessment exam because exam subjects are often not tied into or related to one another.

While military professionals are ultimately judged by their exam performance, the process leading up to test day is often just as critical and plays a tangible role—both good and bad— on the outcome. A consistent, organized and thorough approach from sign-up to test day should help ensure the test-taking experience is fruitful. ♦

Colleen Caulfield is vice president, federal segment, at Prometric, a provider of testing and assessment services.

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