What is a CTAS?
A Certified Test Administration Site (CTAS) is a facility approved by ETS to provide ETS-sponsored tests. The CTAS facility provides a personal computer with Internet access for each test taker.
Who Becomes a CTAS Center and Why?
Academic institutions, such as colleges, universities and businesses with large computer/language labs or libraries, can apply. CTAS certification helps:
- attract new students
- lead the way in Internet-delivered testing
- promote international education
- provide a valuable student service
- gain access to ETS products
How Does CTAS Benefit Test Takers and Academic Institutions?
The increasing number of CTAS facilities provides test takers with more opportunities and locations for taking the TOEFL iBT® test, the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards™ (TExES™) computer-administered tests, the Texas Examinations for Master Teachers™ (TExMaT™) Master Technology Teacher (MTT) test, the Praxis® tests and the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators® (GACE®). Because CTAS supports Internet-delivered testing, it enables institutions to assess a greater number of students more efficiently than traditional test methods.
How Does an Organization Begin the CTAS Certification Process?
Complete the online application form. A representative will guide you through the certification process.
Available Tests
Currently, Certified Test Administration Sites can provide:
- the TOEFL iBT test
- the TExES computer-administered tests
- the TExMaT Master Technology Teacher (MTT) test
- the Praxis tests
- the GACE assessments
ETS Preferred Network
If you are interested in selling ETS products and services, please visit www.ets.org/epn.
Establishing Secure Test Centers
The ETS Office of Testing Integrity constantly monitors testing, investigates security issues, and conducts unannounced audits. Annually ETS spends over $25 million on security for test center operations, test-taker identification and monitoring, Internet security, proctor and supervisor training, final score reporting, and post-testing analytics.
Test administrations occur at Certified Test Administration Sites (CTAS). Each CTAS undergoes a screening process through ETS designed to ensure secure testing.
- Test center applicants receive an initial pre-qualification review to determine if the facilities meet security and CTAS technical requirements, and to obtain verifiable references.
- ETS uses the same Internet security protocols as those used by major financial institutions for their secure transmissions. The communication channel uses state-of-the-art encryption, and our software is able to detect whether a transmission was altered or disrupted.
- Test content that is downloaded to a test center computer is encrypted and cannot be accessed until the actual test administration begins.
ETS provides a Policies, Practices and Procedures Manual to test center supervisors. All policies and procedures in the Manual must be followed.
ETS conducts announced and unannounced audits of test sites, as well as visits by mystery shoppers, to observe and confirm that ETS standards are being applied properly at test centers around the world.
For additional security questions or concerns, please contact us at TSReturns@ets.org or call the Security Hotline at 1-800-750-6991 (United States) or +1-609-406-5430 (all other locations).