eTesting at Lawson State:
Overview, ProctorU Sign-up, Fees, Equipment and Technology Requirements
Click here to register for a ProctorU exam
The Department of Education states that accrediting organizations require institutions(s) that offer distance education programs(s) to have processes by which it establishes that the student who registers in a distance education course or program is the same person who receives academic credit. Therefore, eCollege has implemented proctored exams in online courses in order to verify that the student who registered for the course is the same student who is completing the work. Information on exam dates and topics will be delivered within each online course by the instructor of record. Lawson State offers two means of test delivery (Proctor U and Blackboard) although ProctorU is the preferred and primary method of delivery.
Equipment Needed Prior to Testing (Additional Fees Related to Online Learning):
Proctor U requires three critical pieces of equipment in order for your test to be proctored: (1) a computer with Internet access and (2) a mountable (not built in) camera as pictured below; and (3) a audio w/microphone headset. All equipment should always be tested prior to your exam. These types of cameras can be purchased in any Lawson State bookstore or within any major chain to include Walmart, Target, etc... The cost is minimal. It is recommend that all online students purchase their camera and audio headset at the same time they secure their textbook.
*All equipment can be purchased in the bookstore. Students MUST have Internet access.
Types of Tests Offered within Online and Virtual Classes (Fees are the Same)
Online Test Proctoring (for Mid-term and Final) Online Blackboard Testing (Regular Exams)
Click here to register for a ProctorU exam
All transferable online courses (including Virtual courses) require proctored exams and regular Blackboard exams. Some classes rely heavily on Blackboard Testing. For proctored exams, Lawson State provides one avenue to proctor one's exam, ProctorU. The fees for either are the same, $50 per online or virtual course. ProctorU provides online proctoring of students (via the Internet) from the privacy of one's home. In otherwords, the student can test right at home while an online proctor looks and monitors the exam visually through the use of a remote camera. When a student takes an exam online, the student registers via Proctor U and schedules the date and time to take their exam, given the testing parameters the online instructor has set for testing.
Lawson State uses Proctor U as it main delivery of test proctoring for its online and virtual courses. The testing fee (which is $50 per online course) covers all testing fees (whether a student uses Proctor U or whether a student uses Blackboard exclusively for testing). Again, there is no difference in the cost to the student; it the same, $50 per online course. Students taking eCollege courses MUST use Proctor U to take their Mid-term and Final exams. Again, the cost to use this service is collected at the time a student registers.
Click here to learn how to register for a ProctorU exam
Testing Fees (Incurred at Registration):
Testing fees (whether the course requires the use of Blackboard, ProctorU or ground proctoring services) are automatically paid at the time of registration for all eCollege online and virtual students. Fees are $50 per online course. Students CANNOT opt out of these fees. If the testing fees are a concern, please register for a ground course instead. Online classes have inherent testing fees. Testing fees are the same whether the online course uses Blackboard or ProctorU. All eCollege online and virtual courses use ProctorU and Blackboard.
Testing fees are non-negotiable and non-refundable. Students wishing not to pay testing fees at the time of registration should opt to take the course on campus.
Additional Testing Fees (Paid by Student if Registering Late for Test).
Plan Ahead to Avoid Additional Testing Fees. Additional Testing Fees are Paid by the Student Directly to ProctorU.
Students should schedule their exam with ProctorU no less than 72 hours before taking the exam online. If not, additional fees (paid directly to ProctorU by the student) will be assessed. See late fee chart below. Please note that the testing fees collected $50 do NOT cover LATE fees. To avoid late fees, register to take your exam at least 72 hours before taking your exam.
Any additional charges due to ProctorU due to a student registering LATE (less than 72 hours) MUST be paid with a credit or debit card. The eCollege student will be required to enter payment information into a secure page connected to a third-party card processing company. The page is encrypted and ProctorU does not see or store credit card/debit card data. eCollege students will have to re-enter payment information each time a new charge or charges are incurred.
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Schedule Exam
Before 72 hrs.
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Scheduling Exam Between
72-24 hrs.
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Testing On Demand Without Any Prior Notice.
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Prior Notice Testing
Scheduling Exam 72 Plus Hours or more BEFORE
the Desired Start
Time
No Additional Fees Apply Beyond What has Already Been Paid at Registration
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Take It Soon LATE Fees-
Scheduling Exam WITHIN 72 Hours of the Desired Start Time
A $5.00 Late Notice Fee Applies.
Students MUST pay this fee out of pocket at the time of scheduling to ProctorU.
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Take it Now LATE Fees!
Testing On Demand
Without Any Prior
Notice
A $8.75 Late Notice Fee Applies
Students MUST pay this fee out of pocket at the time of scheduling to ProctorU.
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Required Equipment:
-Computer
-Internet Access
-Web Cam
-Audio/Microphone Headset
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Required Equipment:
-Computer
-Internet Access
-Web Cam
-Audio/Microphone Headset
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Required Equipment:
-Computer
-Internet Access
-Web Cam
-Audio/Microphone Headset
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Click here for Other Online Fee Disclosures
How to Save on Testing Fees:
1. Register for your exam early, at least 72 hours before the actual test. Registering less than 72 hours before a ProctorU exam will cost an additional fee. Late registrations cost more.
2. Test your equipment two hours before testing.
Proctor U: See How It Works . Test Your System Below.
Proctor U: How To Schedule An Appointment!
Click here for directions for Student Sign-up/Registration.
ProctorU is an online proctoring service that allows students to take exams online while ensuring the integrity of the exam for the institution. The service uses proctors who monitor exam takers in three ways. ProctorU proctors
- Authenticate the test taker’s identity to ensure that the person being monitored is the correct student.
- Observe the test taker via a webcam. The student is connected to a real person who guides him/her through the process.
- Watch the test taker's screen in real time and can see everything the student is doing both at the location and on screen.
Click below and Take Your Exams. Check Your System First
NOTE: All Mid-term and Final Exams MUST be proctored via Proctored U. Whether you take the exam at home or in a testing center, you MUST use Proctor U so your exam is recorded and proctored in accordance with eCollege policies regulating the authenticity of your results.
Check Your System's Compatibility:
Is your system ready? Take the ProctorU System Test
General Information
- A minimum of 72-hour notice is required to schedule an online exam with ProctorU.
- All appointments should be made at least 3 days in advance, since reservations made within 72 hours of your exam are subject to a $5 late reservation fee.
- The exam can be taken online at your convenience, at a specified date and time.
- The exam is a timed, online exam (see the exam description in your course syllabus for course-specific exam time limits).
- Two forms of photo ID, along with a webcam, microphone, and computer with Internet connection are required.
- Exams proctored through ProctorU cost $14.75 (1-hr. exam), $21.50 (90-min. and 2-hour exam), or $30.25 (3-hour exam) billed when you schedule the exam. This fee covers the entire testing experience regardless of how much actual time it takes to complete the exam.
- Refunds are given if the exam is canceled within 48 hours before the scheduled exam time.
Technical Requirements
Operating system
- PC: A reliable computer running Windows XP or higher with 500 MB of RAM or higher
- Mac: A reliable computer running Mac OS 10 or higher
Other technical specifications
- Webcam with 640x480 video pixel resolution
- Headphones or working speakers connected to the computer
- Microphone connected to the computer (we recommend having a webcam that has a built-in microphone)
- Reliable high speed Internet connection (minimum 768 Kbps/128 Kbps)
- Web browser with Adobe Flash Player installed (Flash Player 10 or higher recommended)
- Authority to allow remote access to your computer and screen by one of our proctors
System Test
Is your system ready? Take the ProctorU System Test