Any organization which gives a NATE test is called a testing organization. This is sometimes abbreviated as TO. The Forms & Data page has a list of all scheduled tests given by testing organizations which updates daily.

Who Can Be A Testing Organization?:
Any business can sign up to be a testing organization (TO); these include:

• Manufacturers,
• Wholesalers/distributors, HARDI members,
• Educators/trainers, colleges, vocational schools, related junior and community colleges,
• Utilities,
• and Association Partners and trade association chapters including:
  - ACCA,
  - PHCC, and
  - RSES.

How Can I sign my organization up to become a testing organization?:
Manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, colleges, trainers/educators, vocational schools, related junior and community colleges, utilities, and association chapters of ACCA, PHCC, and RSES can become testing organizations by submitting an application for a Testing Organization and an application to become a proctor, and downloading and reading the policies, procedures and guidelines for both from the Information/Forms/Data page.

Once submitted, the form is evaluated and approved at NATE and the TO is notified and assigned its testing organization (or TO) number. Testing organizations are responsible for creating their six-digit or 6-letter TO Passwords.

Testing Organizations must have a proctor to administer and order the NATE test.

Once approved as a testing organization and having someone approved as a proctor, NATE will issue the TO a testing organization 4-digit TO number, and notify them of it. The Testing Organization then orders exams and schedules a test.

Ordering and Scheduling Tests:
Orders for tests should arrive at NATE or be made online no less than two full weeks prior to the test date to allow for processing without additional and incremental charges to the testing organization. Test orders made with less than two weeks notice will be charged additional handling and expedited delivery charges

Testing organizations do not pay for the tests when ordering—they return payment for the tests when the tests are returned for grading.

When ordering tests via fax, through the mail, or online at natetesting.com, you should have your TO number, as well as TO passwords and proctor PIN numbers and Proctor ID number available.

Testing Organizations can administer tests either as written or electronic. Tests given online (proctors set up the session beforehand), must have a proctor. Testing organizations notify the candidate of the test date and time, and then sign the candidate in and are present during the testing session. Written tests should be ordered and scheduled a minimum of two weeks prior to the test date. The tests will arrive a minimum of three days prior to the test date. If they do not arrive, notify NATE immediately so we can find out where the tests are, and get them to you in time.

Setting Up An Electronic Testing Session:
Electronic testing is a boon to testing organizations (TO’s), because instead of having to order tests in advance for walk-ins, the proctor can create an online testing session and administer the test within moments of the candidate requesting the test. This means that TO’s can give tests virtually “on demand” and to as little as one candidate.

Any TO with computer facilities can administer electronic versions of NATE tests. Like the pencil and paper versions, all electronic tests must have a proctor.

The procedure for setting up an electronic testing session is simple.
The proctor needs a:

• Proctor ID
• Proctor Password

• A NATE ID number (if the candidate has ever tested before)
• A Personal NATE PIN
• If candidates have never tested before, they may create the PIN and NATE ID online.
• Candidates who have already tested should not create a new NATE ID because they do not recall the one they were issued—they must call 703 600 0364 and ask for help locating their NATE ID and PIN if they do not recall them--this should be done at least two days before the test.

To set up a testing session, the proctor:

• goes to www.natetesting.com, and
• uses his ID and Password to log in as a proctor
• clicks on “Online Testing” to create a test session and
• clicks on “create a test session”
• creates a test session by entering all required data, creating and entering a test date, test location, cit, state, request for report fax etc…

The candidate:

• goes to www.natetesting.com and
• clicks on the section labeled “Take a NATE test online.”

The candidate enters his NATE ID and PIN number.

In the event of two or more candidates taking an electronic testing session at the same time, the proctor can log in all test takers at the same time.

After the candidate finishes the test, the proctor goes back and closes the electronic testing session. The candidate is given his score, but will not receive his NATE documents until the test session is closed and payment is sent to VGI/NATE testing, unless the testing organization has already been set up on a billing basis.

General Test Session Information:
Tests can be given as either pencil and paper or electronic (computer) tests; both kinds must have a proctor.

A NATE testing session is four hours in length. Most technicians easily finish their tests within three and a half hours.

During this test session, a candidate may take one or two tests or however many the technician feels can reasonably be completed within the four hour window. Scratch paper is provided.

Technicians can bring only a non-programmable calculator with them. Cell phones, blackberries, PDAs, or other electronics etc… are not allowed in the test area.

Candidates with special needs under the Americans With Disabilities Act should notify the proctor when they sign up so accommodations can be made for them.

When filling in information on the test answer sheet, technicians should complete all information including telephone numbers, email addresses and employer contact information. If they do not do so, they may not receive their grades and NATE will not have a way to contact them in order to resend their grades.

Certification commences with the date the required tests are finished grading. This date is on their wallet card, as is their certification expiration date.

If a technician passes one test and fails the other, he is not certified until he passes both a CORE and a SPECIALTY. Technicians must wait 30 days before retesting.

A technician who passed only one test will lose credit for it if he does not complete the remaining certification test within two years from the test date. Technicians allowing two years or more to lapse will have to start from scratch to certify.