By Amy Davidson
Embark on your journey to certification with NCRA’s Online Skills Testing! Following these steps is key to being successful, and it will open doors for you on your journey to certification. With six opportunities a year to register to take any one Skills Test and the flexibility to take your exam when and where you want within the testing period, NCRA puts candidates in the driver’s seat for their journey to testing success.
Follow these simple key steps to prepare, register, and take an NCRA Online Skills Test to ensure your success.
Preparation – Before registering make sure you can do or have done each of the preparation items:
- You have practiced speedbuilding with the same material at or slightly higher than the required test speed; for example, if you are testing for the RPR Literary (180 wpm), practice literary material that is 170-190 wpm.
- You are consistently writing at or above the speed for the test you plan to take; for example, if you are testing for the RPR Literary (180 wpm), you are writing at 180 wpm or higher with accuracy in the 94-96 percent range.
- You have reviewed and understand the “What is an error” for your specific test.
- You know where the three required testing files are saved on your CAT system, how to find them, and how to copy and paste them to upload to the testing platform:
- CAT Notes
- CAT Raw Transcript
- Final Test Transcript
- You have read/reviewed and understand the steps expected of you during the online skills testing process as outlined in the Online Testing Instructions and Technical Requirements.
Registration – Register for one of the six testing periods on the set schedule below at www.ncra.org/skt:
| Registration | Testing Period |
| December 1 – 20 | January 1 – 20 |
| February 1 – 20 | March 1 – 20 |
| April 1 – 20 | May 1 – 20 |
| June 1 – 20 | July 1 – 20 |
| August 1 – 20 | September 1 – 20 |
| October 1 – 20 | November 1 – 20 |
Taking your test – Plan your testing experience:
- Get situated – Choose a testing environment you are comfortable in and that meets the technical requirements for testing.
- Timing is everything – Choose the day and time when you feel your best. Remember, you can launch your test any day or time within the testing period for which you registered.
- Practice, practice, practice – Take an online practice test session to familiarize yourself with the entire testing process if you have never tested online or have new equipment or have not tested recently.
- Dress for success – Whether that is your favorite loungewear or the outfit you wear to a depo, put yourself in the mindset that you are just going to work or writing another speed exercise.
- Physical preparation – Make sure you are well rested and have eaten and hydrated appropriately before sitting down to test.
- Mental preparation – B-R-E-A-T-H-E! Self-talk has a HUGE impact on our success. Remember that you are well-prepared and capable of writing this material. Once you start writing your test, just keep writing and don’t focus on any mistakes or dropped words, as this behavior generally creates more errors. Use whatever methods will personally help to keep your anxiety and nerves at bay. You can do this!
Practice, preparation, and an understanding of the process and requirements will help you achieve your goal of an NCRA certification in your planned timeframe. We look forward to seeing your name on our newly certified lists soon!
Registration for the NCRA Online Skills Tests is open now through Dec. 20 for testing in January. Learn more and register here.
Amy Davidson is NCRA’s Director of Certification and Testing. She can be reached at testing@ncra.org.
