U of A Office of Testing Services Earns National Certification

The National College Testing Association has granted certification to the University of Arkansas Office of Testing Services. The national certification is a recognition of the office's adherence to the best practices in the testing industry. The U of A testing center is one of only 129 institutions certified in North America.

"It is a great honor to receive this certification from the National College Testing Association," said Yassaman Mirdamadi, director of the Office of Testing Services. "This distinction is a testament to the excellence and dedication of our staff."

The certification adds additional validity to the practices already in place at the testing center, which focus on promoting test security, maintaining standardization, facilitating accessibility and ensuring the fair and respectful treatment of all test takers. The certification will also help the testing center to improve testing processes and service to test takers.

The award is the most prestigious honor given by the National College Testing Association, and the certification process is long and extensive. However, Mirdamadi credits the successful outcome to the hard work of the center's staff.

"We strive to be among the best in the country and because of our high expectations for ourselves, the process went faster and more smoothly than it does for most institutions," she said. "We take a lot of pride in what we do and how we conduct our business, and I hope it shows."

The certification will be in place for five years and can be renewed by demonstrating continued compliance to national standards.

About the National College Testing Association: The National College Testing Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of professionalism and high quality service in the administration of testing programs, offers certification to college and university test centers that demonstrate exemplary practices. NCTA membership numbers more than 2,200 testing professionals from 650 colleges and universities as well as 50 test companies and organizations offering test-related products and services.