The Testing Division of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE) maintains a system of competency assessments that bridge the accountability gap between CareerTech programs and employment. It offers more than 100 multiple-choice exams covering a variety of occupational areas.

The ODCTE currently administers 48,000 assessments annually at proctored sites across Oklahoma.

The tests include:

• 7600 high stakes certification examinations (nurse aide, medical micro-pigmentation, and home care administrator)
• 38,644 written assessments for measuring competency mastery in career and technology education programs in Agriculture, Health, Business & Information Technology, Trade & Industrial, Marketing, and Family & Consumer Sciences.
• 1336 tests for HOSA competitive events in Oklahoma and South Carolina
• 350 miscellaneous tests (industry, teacher, etc.)

Before 1999, occupational exams were administered using scan sheets, then mailed to the Testing Division for scanning and scoring. High stakes exams were delivered via a computer-based system that required test proctors to mail diskettes to ODCTE for scoring and processing. Both systems typically required a two-week turnaround time. Instructors and students wanted the option of immediate feedback, and the Testing Division wanted to reduce the number of scan sheets and diskettes processed.

The department administers tests on the Internet using Questionmark Perception with SQL databases. Tests are administered in proctored environments at high schools, technology centers and skills centers across the state. Each test site has a participant account, and the department gathers data on the individual student through registration questions at the beginning of each test.

Perception enables the department to:

• Administer tests in multiple testing environments
• Deliver competitive event testing for CareerTech student organizations, increasing access to these events and reducing travel costs
• Serve government, education, and industry partners in Oklahoma, South Carolina, Idaho, and Texas.

The schools served by the Testing Division have responded very favorably to online testing, particularly with regard to the system's ease of use and appreciate the immediate results feedback. Today, 97% of the tests administered by the ODCTE are delivered online through Questionmark Perception.

Future plans include:

• Expanding high stakes certification testing
• Enhancing ODCTE-developed curriculum materials by offering unit tests online
• Increasing role in CareerTech competitive event testing