CDTs

How to Appeal an Examination Grade

Practical and written specialty exams are administered as part of the CDT certification process, along with a comprehensive written exam.  If a candidate taking the practical exam believes they were in an unsatisfactory testing environment or experienced unfair treatment or grading, they should submit a written complaint to the lead examiner at the test site.  The lead examiner is to forward the complaint to the Director of Certification along with their comments.

The Director of Certification shall review the complaint and supporting information to determine if unsatisfactory examination conditions did exist. 

Upon determination by the Director of Certification that a candidate did not have a “fair” opportunity to take the practical exam under acceptable conditions, a similar exam can be offered to them at no cost, at the location and date of their choice (of those locations scheduled with available space).  No fees are to be reimbursed unless approved by the Board of Trustees.  If the Director of Certification determines that the conditions were acceptable, the candidate has the option to appeal to the Board of Trustees. 

Example: A crown & bridge practical exam was given in Mobile, Alabama.  During the exam, a fire alarm went off requiring evacuation of the lab.  A complaint that the disruption caused a problem with a candidate's work was registered at the end of the exam with the lead examiner and submitted to the Director of Certification.  The candidate did not pass the exam.

Option A: If determined by the Director of Certification that the evacuation created a hardship, the candidate can be scheduled to take a replacement exam, of the same type, at no additional fee.

Option B:  Upon conferring with the examiners, the Director of Certification determined that the evacuation had no significant effect on the taking or scoring of the practical exam.  The candidate then has the option to appeal to the Board of Trustees. 

If candidates believe they were given an incorrect score, they may submit a request to the Director of Certification asking for a review of their examination's grading.  The Director of Certification will review the scores and their overall calculation for errors.

Unless shown otherwise, the Board of Trustees and the Director of Certification have full confidence in the examiners' grading abilities in the scoring of practical exams.

When a complaint is issued on the scoring of a practical exam, only the calculations are to be checked by the Director of Certification.  If an error was made in the calculations that results in a candidate's receiving a passing grade, then the Director of Certification has the authority to make such correction.

If candidates do not agree with the determination by the Director of Certification then, upon written request, an appeal can be submitted to the Board of Trustees.

Contact NBC for additional information at phone: (800) 684-5310 toll free or by email at cert@nbccert.org .

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