LibGuides: Digital Skills Resources for Washingtonians: For Library Staff

For Interested Libraries

Washington State Library offers self-paced certification prep courses and exam vouchers to the public through local libraries.
Any Public, Tribal, Academic or Special Library can provide these prep courses & exam vouchers to their cardholders, even if you do not have the staffing or facilities to proctor the exams.
Your library can offer prep courses (called LearnKey courses) through the GMetrix Platform.
- This option requires at least one staff member to be trained to use the GMetrix platform. (Takes about 20 minutes)
Your library can offer FREE exam vouchers to patrons who have prepared to take an exam.
- WSL requires that libraries screen patrons to ensure:
  - the patron lives, works or attends school in Washington State.
  - the patron has passed a practice test (can be provided by the library) OR can show they earned a passing grade in a formal course on the exam topic.
Libraries can to train staff to proctor certification exams.
- Proctoring exams requires further staff training and an agreement between the Library and Certiport.
- Exams can be delivered in-person at the library or library staff can proctor exams for patrons remotely.
- Both options require some involvement of your IT department.
- Pearson offers three software options for proctoring exams. All three require some level of involvement from your IT Department. (see below)
No staff time to proctor Exams? No Problem!! Libraries can opt to refer patrons to free WSL's FREE remote proctoring service. (see below)

Library staff can proctor exams for the public through Certiport's three proctoring software options:

Washington State Library now offers libraries access to a third party proctoring service, Get Certified America.

HOURS:
- GCA offers proctoring services Monday-Saturday (Limited Saturday availability June-August)
  - Monday: 8am-7pm pst
  - Tuesday: 8am -7pm pst
  - Wednesday: 8am-7pm pst
  - Thursday: 8am-7pm pst
  - Friday: 8am-3pm
  - Saturday: 8am-1pm
LANGUAGES:
- GCA proctors can proctor exams in English and Spanish, and can work with candidates who speak Korean, Chinese and Japanese.
  - Patrons can take the exam in any of the languages for which it is offered.
EXAM DELIVERY:
- GCA proctors can proctor patrons in your library's Certiport testing portal.
  - This allows your library to keep all records of exam delivery and outcomes.
- You can refer patrons directly to GCA to be proctored.
  - There are multiple ways to refer a patron. Please reach out to Joyce.Abbott@sos.wa.gov if your library is interested in referring your patrons to be proctored for free!
TECHNICAL SUPPORT & BACKUP:
- GCA's IT team will proactively contact scheduled testers when there is an outage or technical issue.
- GCA proctors will handle all scheduling and rescheduling per your library's policy.
- GCA proctors can take over a scheduled exam session if you are short staffed, please provide 1 day's notice.
INTERESTED?
- Please reach out to Joyce.Abbott@sos.wa.gov if your library is interested in offering your patrons free proctoring for their certification exams.

Want to Host a Test Fest?

A Test Fest is an all-day or multi-day event where patrons can get their exams proctored, and libraries provide additional support for learners.
This is a great option for partnering with local schools, a great addition to a job fair, or a way of promoting these resources to the public.
Contact Joyce.abbott@sos.wa.gov for assistance setting up a test fest.

Need Swag?

Take your program or event to the next level with incentives and giveaways.
- Contact Joyce.abbott@sos.wa.gov to discuss ideas.

Coming Soon!