With remote proctoring being conducted by US-based education technology firm ProctorU, the guide warns candidates that if they have concerns about their information being stored outside of Australia, they should not attempt the exam remotely.

The guide also details a seven-step process candidates will need to follow in order to be able to sit the exam via remote proctoring, including registering for the exam via ACER, creating a ProctorU account, scheduling an exam session with ProctorU, completing a technical readiness check and reading ACER’s exam day information guide. 

Candidates will need to receive an admission ticket from ACER before undergoing the exam remotely and have a copy of this handy during their proctoring session, as well as having a private room to take the exam in, a webcam, photo ID, writing materials and a mirror for remote proctors to see what is around a candidate’s computer.

Candidates who have already booked their exam session in person will be able to change to a remote proctoring service via the ACER registration process. However, they will not be able to schedule their exam session with ProctorU until they have paid for their remote exam registration with ACER, the guide says.

The guide states that exam scheduling through ProctorU closes 72 hours before the exam start date, and that candidates will be charged an extra fee if they attempt to schedule at the last minute.

It also recommends candidates sit the exam on a personal computer, as those in public locations such as workplaces “may prevent the installation or running of the software needed for remote proctoring”, but that equipment tests before the exam may not detect these problems.

Candidates who do not pass the equipment checks can either choose another location to sit the exam and try the equipment test again, or postpone their exam until it is offered in a physical location, the guide says.

This is also the case for candidates who are unable to download the ACER online exam application, which is required to complete the test.

During the exam, if candidates experience technical difficulties that last longer than 30 minutes, they are advised to inform their proctor and ask for their session to be rescheduled.

The release of the guide comes following previous reports from sister title ifa around connectivity issues for some advisers in the course of the remote exam as well as concerns from licensees around the ability of third parties to access candidates’ data.