National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Chooses Pearson VUE for Test Development and Delivery

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson, announced today that NCEES has chosen Pearson VUE for computer-based delivery of its FE and FS exams. The first CBT exams will likely be released in mid-2013 and delivered through Pearson VUE's owned-and-operated network of Pearson Professional Centers and other select locations as determined by NCEES.

The FE and FS exams are the first step in the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer or professional surveyor. More than 50,000 examinees currently take these exams each year.  

The state licensing boards that compose NCEES, the organization that develops and administers the exams used for engineering and surveying licensure throughout the United States, voted in August 2010 to begin converting the two exams to a computer-based format. The decision followed a prolonged study by a special task force convened to research the issue.

"We've been interested in CBT for a long time but knew that to transition such a large program successfully, we had to choose the right partner," said Jerry Carter, executive director of NCEES. "Pearson VUE has taken a very collaborative approach to the process—asking questions to make sure they are addressing our unique needs and guiding us through the process so we can maximize the security, test development, and candidate service benefits that will be possible as a result of this transition," he added. "There is much work to be done, but we're both committed to an end product that will not only add new layers of security to protect the licensure process and the public it serves, but will also offer greater candidate convenience and provide more uniformity in testing conditions."

"In engineering and surveying, precision is key. NCEES exam candidates value accuracy and efficiency, so we're honored that NCEES has placed its trust in Pearson VUE to deliver on that expectation," said Robert Whelan, president and CEO of Pearson VUE. "We're committed to exceeding their requirements and validating that they made the right decision in choosing Pearson VUE for CBT."

About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in computer-based testing for information technology, academic, government and professional testing programs around the world. Pearson VUE provides a full suite of services from test development to data management, and delivers exams through the world's most comprehensive and secure network of test centers in 165 countries. Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international education and information company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education and the Penguin Group.

About NCEES

NCEES is a national nonprofit organization composed of engineering and surveying licensing boards representing all U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia. An accredited standards developer with the American National Standards Institute, NCEES develops, scores, and administers the examinations used for engineering and surveying licensure throughout the United States. NCEES also provides services facilitating professional mobility for licensed engineers and surveyors. Its headquarters is located in Clemson, S.C.

SOURCE Pearson VUE