Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Testing Center
Testing Center Help

Proctoring for Online Students

Options for Courses Using the Testing Center

The proctoring options below are provided to instructors teaching online or hybrid courses and are using the Testing Center for proctored exams. If your instructor has registered their course with the Testing Center you will be provided information about the proctoring options available. These options are available to online students who do not live in the City of Ames and are not available to online students who reside on campus or in the Ames community.

Off-campus, In-person Proctoring

Off-campus, in-person proctoring is conducted by an approved proctor and takes place in a public location. Please note that proctors may charge a fee for their service. You are responsible for any fees charged by approved, in-person proctors.

Of note, ad-hoc approved proctors cannot be a relative, friend, friend of the family, neighbor, student (ISU or otherwise) or co-workers. Exams are not allowed to be proctored in a private residence. Please review the information below if the Testing Center facilitates the approval process.

The Testing Center reserves the right to deny your proctoring request for any reason.

Falsification of information on your proctor form could result in a referral to your instructor or the Office of Student Conduct.

Students must submit a proctor request to the Testing Center no later than 5 business days from the date their exam opens.  Proctors are generally approved provided they meet the following requirements:

  1. The proctor is a current employee at one of the following:
    • an accredited university/college testing center
    • a local/regional library system that clearly indicates they proctor exams on their website
    • a K-12 or other university administrator
    • an Iowa State Extension Office (except Story County)
    • a university extension office in any state
    • an adult learning center (e.g. Sylvan, Huntington, etc)
    • a military education/learning center or office
  2. The proctor must have an email address associated with their place of employment.
    • Applications may be rejected with domains ending in @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, etc. unless it can be verified that the domain is used by the employee’s place of employment.
  3. Assessments must be proctored at the address of the business/office of the proctor.
  4. Proctor must be unbiased and able to monitor throughout the proctoring appointment.

Summer Session 2025 courses will be posted beginning May 19, 2025.

Below is a list of approved courses.  Identify your course and exams and select the appropriate link to submit your proctor form.  You MUST submit a form for each exam in an approved course at least 5 calendar days before an exam open date. If you have any questions, please email us at testcenterhelp@iastate.edu.

Virtual Proctoring (Summer 2025 Pilot Courses Only)

Virtual proctoring is only available for specific courses that are part of the Testing Center’s pilot program.  Virtual proctoring is not widely available to all students. Virtual proctoring via SmarterProctoring allows online students, not living in the City of Ames, to take an exam anywhere an internet connection is available. Automated proctoring is the primary type of virtual proctoring used. SmarterProctoring staff will review any potential misconduct from the exam session and forward the information to the Testing Center and your instructor. Virtual proctoring is considered a convenient alternative to requiring students to travel to a specific location on campus at a particular time or to find their own approved in-person proctor, which often costs time and money.

Students can opt out of virtual proctoring to use approved in-person proctors.  Information about this process is in the off-campus, in-person proctoring section above.

  • This software allows online students not living in the City of Ames to take the exam anywhere an internet connection is available.
  • Automated proctoring is the primary type of virtual proctoring used. SmarterProctoring staff will review any potential misconduct from the exam session and forward information for further review.
  • Students have the option to opt-out of using virtual proctoring.
  • Additional restrictions and requirements can be found in our syllabus document.
  • Virtual proctoring is only available for specific courses that are part of the Testing Center’s pilot program.

If you prefer to opt-out of virtual proctoring, you must communicate this to your instructor via email as soon as possible but no less than seven calendar days before an exam opens. Alternative options may include:

  • in-person proctoring at an approved location; or
  • a proctor approved by the instructor; or
  • in-person facilitation by the instructor or their designee.

Additional information will be provided to you by the Testing Center once the opt-out information is received by us from your instructor.

Pre-approved proctors will be provided to you through the SmarterProctoring service. If you cannot find a pre-approved proctor in the system, you can submit a request to have a proctor approved.

Testing Center

0060 Carver Hall, 0250 Carver Hall, 2552 Gilman Hall, 2242 Hixson-Lied
Ames, IA 50011

Support Email, testcenterhelp@iastate.edu

Phone: 515-294-7398

© Iowa State University of Science and Technology 2025