Rules of Test Participation

By registering for the PECT, you are agreeing to abide by these Rules of Test Participation and all rules, requirements, and policies specified or referenced on the current PECT website and communicated to you, orally or in writing, at each test session for which you have registered.

A nondisclosure agreement will be presented to you on the computer after you sign in at the test center. It will ask you to indicate your agreement to the conditions set forth on the current PECT website, including the Rules of Test Participation and the rules communicated to you orally or in writing at the test session. You will have five minutes to read and accept the terms of this nondisclosure agreement. If you do not respond within five minutes, or if you indicate that you do not accept the terms of the agreement, your test session will terminate, you will not be permitted to test, and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.

1. Compliance: I understand that if I fail to comply with the rules, requirements, and policies specified or referenced on the current PECT website, including these Rules of Test Participation, and communicated to me, orally and/or in writing, at the test session, or if I take any prohibited actions, my test results may be voided, no refund will be issued, no portion of the testing fee can be applied toward the cost of any future testing fees, I may not be permitted to register for current or future test sessions, my registration may be canceled, I may not be allowed to test, I may be required to test under controlled conditions, and legal proceedings and actions may be pursued as well as any other remedies that the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, a business of NCS Pearson, Inc. (Pearson), may deem appropriate.
2. Policies: I have read and agree to the information and policies presented on the current program website, including, but not limited to, Payment Policy, Withdrawal/Refund Policy, ID Policy, and Late Arrival Policy.
3. Purpose of Testing: I understand that the tests are administered for the purpose of teacher licensure and are to be taken only by individuals seeking teacher licensure or, for the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment, individuals seeking entry to a Pennsylvania educator preparation program. I certify that I am taking the test(s) for which I have registered for the purpose of teacher licensure or entry to a Pennsylvania educator preparation program.
4. Test Administration: I authorize the test administrators to serve as my agents in maintaining a secure test administration. I agree to follow all reasonable instructions given to me either orally or in writing at or during the test session, including but not limited to instructions to relocate me during the test session. I agree not to communicate with other examinees or any unauthorized persons in any way during the test session nor to engage in any other form of misconduct. I agree not to engage in behavior that would disrupt or unfairly affect the performance of myself or other examinees. I agree to cooperate with testing personnel. If I fail to comply with these provisions, I may be dismissed from the test center, my score may be voided without refund or credit of any kind, and other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.
5. Test Security:
   1. Test Property: I understand that all test materials and any portion thereof or information relating thereto (referred to below as the "Test Materials") are the sole property of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and Pearson. I understand that my responses, without the identification of my name, may be used by Pearson for research, for development and implementation of testing programs, for scorer training or study materials, or for other purposes associated with the program. I understand and acknowledge that the Test Materials were developed at great cost and are required to be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed. I have not received or reviewed any Test Materials prior to taking the test and no Test Materials will be available for me to review after the test. I am not permitted to take (and I will not take) any Test Materials or handwritten or printed notes (referred to below as "Notes") reflecting or recording anything about Test Materials from the testing room or to disassemble, copy, or reproduce the Test Materials in whole or in part, by hand or with the use of any electronic, or other type of, device of any nature.
   2. Test Materials: I understand that I will not be permitted to bring to or use during the test: Notes, cellular phones, electronic communication devices, visual or audio recording or listening devices or any device with an on/off option, scratch paper, or any other unauthorized aid (collectively referred to below as "Unauthorized Aids"). Throughout the test session, I will have nothing at my workstation but authorized materials provided or approved by the test administrator. I may use the materials provided by the test administrator for any intermediate work. However, only responses that I record on the computer will be scored.

      I understand and agree that if, despite my foregoing promises and agreements in Rules 5a and 5b above, test administrators have a reasonable suspicion that I have or may have in my possession any Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids, I will immediately turn over any such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids in my possession to the test administrators at any time upon their request. If I should fail or refuse to do so, or if the test administrators believe in good faith that I have not turned over all such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids in my possession, the test administrators may search my person and my personal possessions for such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids and may remove them. Any such Test Materials, Notes, and/or Unauthorized Aids that I may have may be retained for as long as may be required for the purposes referenced in Rule 1 above. Test administrators and Pearson are not responsible for Unauthorized Aids or other prohibited materials confiscated by test administrators. In the event of a possible breach of test security, I agree to cooperate with the testing personnel and I hereby consent to any such reasonable search and to any incidental contact with my person or my possessions that may occur as a result of such a search before my dismissal from the test center. Moreover, I hereby waive any claim that I might otherwise have based upon any such search or contact. If I fail to comply with these conditions, my name will be reported to Pearson, my score may be voided without refund or credit of any kind, and other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.

6. Nondisclosure of Test Materials: Because of the great cost expended to develop the Test Materials, because of the obvious necessity that they be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed, and because any disclosure of part or all of the contents of the Test Materials to anyone might render them unusable for future test sessions, I promise and agree that I will not disclose the Test Materials or any part of them (including the form, subject matter, substance, and wording of any test question or any answer thereto) to anyone for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the test session to which such Test Materials pertain. I understand and agree that if I should violate this agreement of nondisclosure I may be liable in damages for the costs (including redevelopment costs) incurred as a result of any breach of this agreement and I may also be subject to other legal and equitable remedies (including injunctive relief) for any such breach.
7. Test Score Reporting and Cancellation: I understand that my test score(s) will be reported to me; to the PDE; to the Pennsylvania program provider(s) indicated during registration; and to any institution, entity, or person authorized or required by law to receive this information. My score report will be sent even if I leave the testing room before I finish the test. I understand that any information provided as a part of registration may be used to report scores or to contact me regarding test- or program-related issues. Once I have begun to test, I may not cancel my scores.
8. Voided Score: I understand that my test score may be voided if I fail to comply with the rules and requirements set forth on the current PECT website, including these Rules of Test Participation, and communicated to me, orally and/or in writing, at the test administration, or if doubts are raised about the validity or legitimacy of my registration or my score. Pearson reserves the right to void my test score if, in their sole opinion, there is adequate reason to question its validity or legitimacy due to circumstances within or beyond my control. If my test score is voided, Pearson will notify the PDE and other parties as deemed appropriate by the PDE. Other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.
9. Rights and Obligations Regarding Test Administration: I understand and agree that liability for test administration activities, including but not limited to the adequacy or accuracy of Test Materials and equipment, the adequacy or accuracy of the registration and administration processes or conditions, the adequacy of test center facilities, the adequacy or accuracy of scoring, the adequacy or accuracy of score reports, the adequacy or accuracy of information provided to me in connection with the PECT program, and the adequacy of protection of examinee information, will be limited to score correction, test retake, or a rescheduled test appointment. I waive any and all rights to all other claims, specifically including but not limited to claims for negligence arising out of any acts or omissions of Pearson (including the employees, agents, contractors, or professional advisors of Pearson).
10. Program Changes: I understand that the testing program is subject to change at the sole discretion of the PDE.
11. Objection to Procedures: If, for any reason, I object to the procedures presented in these Rules of Test Participation, I must advise Pearson, in writing, of the basis of my objection at least eight (8) weeks before the test session for which I wish to register for my objection to be taken under consideration. Under no circumstances may I register if I have such an objection. If I nevertheless object, my registration may be canceled, I may not be permitted to take the test(s), or my score(s) may be voided, unless I withdraw my objection in writing.
12. Rules: I understand that should any of these rules or any other requirement or provision contained on the current PECT website be declared or determined by any court to be illegal or invalid, the remaining rules, requirements, and provisions will not be affected and the illegal or invalid rule, requirement, or provision shall not be deemed a part of the current PECT website. The headings of each of the Rules of Test Participation are for convenient reference only. They are not a part of the rules themselves; they do not necessarily reflect the entire subject matter of each rule; and they are not intended to be used for the purpose of modifying, interpreting, or construing any of these Rules of Test Participation. I agree that any legal action arising in connection with my registration for or participation in a test session shall be brought in the state and federal courts governing St. Paul, Minnesota, and I consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Test Center Rules

By registering for the test, you are agreeing to abide by the Test Center Rules . You will be asked to confirm your agreement to these rules at the test center before you begin your test.

Retake Policy

Examinees who do not pass a module may retake it. If you wish to retake a module, you must complete the registration process again. Please note that you must wait 30 days before retaking the module.

It is essential that you report for your test appointment on time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to a test appointment, you may not be admitted. If you arrive late and are not admitted, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.

Absentee Policy

If you are absent, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.

Emergency circumstances. If you are absent from a test administration because of an emergency circumstance (illness, injury, hospitalization, or death in the immediate family), you may be eligible to receive a fee voucher that you may use to register for a future test date.

To request a voucher, you must submit a written request to Evaluation Systems describing the emergency situation. Include written documentation, such as a dated newspaper obituary or a dated letter signed by a professional licensed to diagnose or treat the emergency condition (e.g., physician), on that person's professional letterhead. Documentation from a medical professional must specifically excuse you from testing on the date of the test. Documentation containing electronic signatures will not be accepted.

The request and required documentation must be received at Evaluation Systems within 30 calendar days after the missed test appointment.

A response to your request will be sent to you within two weeks after the missed test date, or two weeks after your request is received, whichever is later. If your request for a fee voucher is granted, the fee voucher you receive will be in the amount of the test fee(s) you paid for the missed test appointment.

Test Cancellation Policy

In the event that it becomes necessary to close a test center due to severe weather conditions or a natural disaster (e.g., flood, fire), Pearson VUE will notify examinees by email and include instructions to reschedule your test appointment.

If you miss a test appointment that has not been officially canceled due to a test center closing, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. Contact Pearson VUE at (800) 989-8532 if you have any concerns or questions on the day of the test.

Rules of Test Participation

By registering for the PECT, you are agreeing to abide by these Rules of Test Participation and all rules, requirements, and policies specified or referenced on the current PECT website and communicated to you, orally or in writing, at each test session for which you have registered.

A nondisclosure agreement will be presented to you on the computer at the beginning of your test session. It will ask you to indicate your agreement to the conditions set forth on the current PECT website, including the Rules of Test Participation and the rules communicated to you orally or in writing at the test session. You will have five minutes to read and accept the terms of this nondisclosure agreement. If you do not respond within five minutes, or if you indicate that you do not accept the terms of the agreement, your test session will terminate, you will not be permitted to test, and you will receive no refund or credit of any kind.

1. Compliance: I understand that if I fail to comply with the rules, requirements, and policies specified or referenced on the current PECT website, including these Rules of Test Participation, and communicated to me, orally and/or in writing, at the test session, or if I take any prohibited actions, my test results may be voided, no refund will be issued, no portion of the testing fee can be applied toward the cost of any future testing fees, I may not be permitted to register for current or future test sessions, my registration may be canceled, I may not be allowed to test, I may be required to test under controlled conditions, and legal proceedings and actions may be pursued as well as any other remedies that the Evaluation Systems group of Pearson, a business of NCS Pearson, Inc. (Pearson), may deem appropriate.
2. Policies: I have read and agree to the information and policies presented on the current program website, including, but not limited to, Payment Policy, Withdrawal/Refund Policy, ID Policy, and Late Arrival Policy.
3. Purpose of Testing: I understand that the tests are administered for the purpose of teacher licensure and are to be taken only by individuals seeking teacher licensure or, for the Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment, individuals seeking entry to a Pennsylvania educator preparation program. I certify that I am taking the test(s) for which I have registered for the purpose of teacher licensure or entry to a Pennsylvania educator preparation program.
4. Test Administration: I authorize the test administrators (including online greeters and proctors) to serve as my agents in maintaining a secure test administration. I agree to follow all reasonable instructions given to me either orally or in writing at or during the test session. I agree not to communicate with any unauthorized persons in any way during the test session nor to engage in any other form of misconduct. I agree not to engage in behavior that would disrupt or unfairly affect the performance of myself. I agree to cooperate with testing personnel. If I fail to comply with these provisions, my test session may be terminated, my scores may be voided without refund or credit of any kind, and other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.
5. Test Security:
   1. Test Property: I understand that all test materials and any portion thereof or information relating thereto (referred to below as the "Test Materials") are the sole of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and Pearson. I understand that my responses, without the identification of my name, may be used for research, development and implementation of testing programs, scorer training or study materials, or other purposes associated with the program. I understand and acknowledge that the Test Materials were developed at great cost and are required to be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed. I have not received or reviewed any Test Materials prior to taking the test and no Test Materials will be available for me to review after the test. I am not permitted to take (and I will not take) any Test Materials or handwritten or printed notes (referred to below as "Notes") reflecting or recording anything about the Test Materials or disassemble, copy, or reproduce the Test Materials in whole or in part, by hand or with the use of any electronic, or other type of, device of any nature including, but not limited to, photographs or screenshots.
   2. Test Materials: I understand that I will not be permitted to have in the testing room or to use during the test: Notes, electronic communication devices, visual or audio recording or listening devices or any device with an on/off option, scratch paper, unauthorized calculators, or any other unauthorized aid (collectively referred to below as "Unauthorized Aids"). Throughout the test session, I will have nothing at my workstation but authorized materials approved by the test administrator.

      I understand and agree that if, despite my foregoing promises and agreements in Rule 5a and 5b above, test administrators have a reasonable suspicion that I may be in possession of Test Materials, my testing session may be immediately terminated. Further, if I fail to comply with these conditions, my name may be reported to Pearson, my scores may be voided without refund or credit of any kind, and other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.

6. Nondisclosure of Test Materials: Because of the great cost expended to develop the Test Materials, because of the obvious necessity that they be kept confidential and secure from disclosure in order to fairly and effectively perform the test functions for which they were designed, and because any disclosure of part or all of the contents of the Test Materials to anyone might render them unusable for future test sessions, I promise and agree that I will not disclose the Test Materials or any part of them (including the form, subject matter, substance, and wording of any test question or any answer thereto) to anyone for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the test session to which such Test Materials pertain. I understand and agree that if I should violate this agreement of nondisclosure I may be liable in damages for the costs (including redevelopment costs) incurred as a result of any breach of this agreement and I may also be subject to other legal and equitable remedies (including injunctive relief) for any such breach.
7. Test Score Reporting: I understand that my test score(s) will be reported to me; to the PDE; to the Pennsylvania program provider(s) indicated during registration; and to any institution, entity, or person authorized or required by law to receive this information. My score report will be sent even if I leave the testing room before I finish the test. I understand that any information provided as a part of registration may be used to report scores or to contact me regarding test- or program-related issues.
8. Voided Score: I understand that my test score may be voided if I fail to comply with the rules and requirements set forth on the current PECT website, including these Rules of Test Participation, and communicated to me, orally and/or in writing, at the test administration, or if doubts are raised about the validity or legitimacy of my registration or my score. Pearson reserves the right to void my test score if, in their sole opinion, there is adequate reason to question its validity or legitimacy due to circumstances within or beyond my control. If my test score is voided, Pearson will notify the PDE and other parties as deemed appropriate by the PDE. Other actions, as described in Rule 1, may be taken as deemed appropriate by Pearson.
9. Rights and Obligations Regarding Test Administration: I understand and agree that liability for test administration activities, including but not limited to the adequacy or accuracy of Test Materials, the adequacy or accuracy of the registration and administration processes or conditions, the adequacy or accuracy of scoring, the adequacy or accuracy of score reports, the adequacy or accuracy of information provided to me in connection with the PECT program, and the adequacy of protection of examinee information, will be limited to score correction, test retake, or a rescheduled test appointment. I waive any and all rights to all other claims, specifically including but not limited to claims for negligence arising out of any acts or omissions of Pearson (including the employees, agents, contractors, or professional advisors of Pearson).
10. Program Changes: I understand that the testing program is subject to change at the sole discretion of the PDE.
11. Objection to Procedures: If, for any reason, I object to the procedures presented in these Rules of Test Participation, I must advise Pearson, in writing, of the basis of my objection at least eight (8) weeks before the test session for which I wish to register for my objection to be taken under consideration. Under no circumstances may I register if I have such an objection. If I nevertheless object, my registration may be canceled, I may not be permitted to take the test(s), or my score(s) may be voided, unless I withdraw my objection in writing.
12. Rules: I understand that should any of these rules or any other requirement or provision contained on the current PECT website be declared or determined by any court to be illegal or invalid, the remaining rules, requirements, and provisions will not be affected and the illegal or invalid rule, requirement, or provision shall not be deemed a part of the current PECT website. The headings of each of the Rules of Test Participation are for convenient reference only. They are not a part of the rules themselves; they do not necessarily reflect the entire subject matter of each rule; and they are not intended to be used for the purpose of modifying, interpreting, or construing any of these Rules of Test Participation. I agree that any legal action arising in connection with my registration for or participation in a test session shall be brought in the state and federal courts governing St. Paul, Minnesota, and I consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Retake Policy

Examinees who do not pass a module may retake it. If you wish to retake a module, you must complete the registration process again. Please note that you must wait 30 days before retaking the module.

It is essential that you report for your test appointment on time. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to a test appointment, you may not be admitted. If you arrive late and are not admitted, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.

Absentee Policy

If you are absent, you will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. You will need to register and pay again to test on a future date.

Emergency circumstances. If you are absent from a test administration because of an emergency circumstance (illness, injury, hospitalization, or death in the immediate family), you may be eligible to receive a fee voucher that you may use to register for a future test date.

To request a voucher, you must submit a written request to Evaluation Systems describing the emergency situation. Include written documentation, such as a dated newspaper obituary or a dated letter signed by a professional licensed to diagnose or treat the emergency condition (e.g., physician), on that person's professional letterhead. Documentation from a medical professional must specifically excuse you from testing on the date of the test. Documentation containing electronic signatures will not be accepted.

The request and required documentation must be received at Evaluation Systems within 30 calendar days after the missed test appointment.

A response to your request will be sent to you within two weeks after the missed test date, or two weeks after your request is received, whichever is later. If your request for a fee voucher is granted, the fee voucher you receive will be in the amount of the test fee(s) you paid for the missed test appointment.

Test Cancellation Policy

In the event that it becomes necessary to cancel an appointment due to a technical issue, Pearson VUE will notify examinees by email and include instructions to reschedule your test appointment.

If you miss a test appointment that has not been officially canceled, you will be considered absent and will not receive a refund or credit of any kind. Contact customer support if you have any concerns or questions on the day of the test.