Electronic Eligibility Database Systems
With the successful development of the national network of AMP Assessment Centers and the transition of over 30 AMP clients to computer-based testing has come the development of other electronic technology to enhance the testing process. Of primary interest to examination candidates, educators and certification boards may be the recently constructed Electronic Eligibility Database (EED). This AMP-developed software allows educators to provide information regarding graduation of students from their programs. When integrated with AMP's online application processing software, the EED allows students to apply for testing, have their eligibility verified, and schedule a testing appointment, all in one online session. With this fully functional software, it is now possible for examination candidates to apply 24 hours a day, have their eligibility confirmed, and obtain a testing date and location - all within a matter of minutes and without submitting any paper to AMP!
Of course, participation in the EED requires a commitment by education programs existing within a profession. Program officials must apply and be approved by the client certification agency to submit graduate information to a computer system accessible by AMP. Security must be assured, and passwords provided to the education programs must be safeguarded. Educators must have an interest in seeing their graduates complete the credentialing process in a short time and provide encouragement for them to do so. These conditions have all been met in the respiratory care profession, and the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC) has become the first to use all of the features of the EED. Other programs, such as the Georgia Real Estate Commission, are also using some of the features to provide online application processing.
Once an education program provides graduate information to a database accessible by AMP, the rest is easy. Online applications can be made available from the website and candidates may complete their applications, pay fees and submit them electronically to AMP for processing. The AMP computerized application processing system checks the information contained in the EED to confirm that the candidate has completed all educational requirements for the examination and advises the candidate that his/her application has been approved. Instructions are then provided on-screen so that the candidate can schedule an actual testing appointment at an AMP Assessment Center. The entire process can be completed in only a few minutes.
Education programs also receive significant benefits by participating in the EED. Once graduate information has been recorded, program directors can be provided a special password to allow them to monitor the progress of graduates taking the credentialing examinations. In addition, once graduates have tested, educators may produce a report of examination results of all their graduates tested, with comparative information to all other national programs. These "school summary reports" may be run by program directors at any time, without waiting for the credentialing agency to compile and distribute a printed report.
AMP is pleased to offer technology-based innovations such as the EED to its credentialing clients. Through advances like the EED, computer-based testing can result in enhanced services to your candidates and the entire profession.