IFPS TEST CANDIDATE INFRACTION POLICY

ALL TEST CANDIDATES WILL BE ASKED TO SIGN THIS POLICY BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR TEST.

Cheating and misconduct are not tolerated in the IFPS Certification Program. Candidates are expected to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity during all phases of the certification process - including exam preparation and testing.

The test candidate is to be considered in violation of cheating if any of the following infractions occur:

• If taking the exam online, searching the internet for any reason
• If taking the exam online, once the test begins minimizing the screen for any reason
• Using any reference material that is not a copyrighted textbook during the exam
• Using loose sheets of paper (other than what is provided by the proctor for online only), laminated cards, spiral notebooks or 
          three-ring binders of notes during the exam
• Asking the proctor any questions pertaining to the content of the exam
• Using study guides, answer manual, and pre-tests issued by the IFPS during the exam

• Initiating or trying to initiate a discussion with another test-taker during the exam
• Leaving the exam room more than twice
• Having a cell phone turned on in the testing room

If you are suspected of cheating, the following procedures will take place:

If you are taking a written/paper exam:

• The proctor will pick up your exam and mark it “Do Not Grade”
• Any materials deemed suspicious will be collected and sent to IFPS headquarters
• You will be asked to leave the premises
• The exam will be returned to IFPS headquarters for review, it will not be graded, and the incident will be reported to the certification committee
• Materials other than the test will be returned after review by the Certification committee

If you are taking an online exam:

• You will be told to stop the test process immediately
• No score will be accepted
• Any materials deemed suspicious will be collected and sent to IFPS headquarters.
• You will be asked to leave the premises
• The incident will be reported to the certification committee
• Materials other than the test will be returned after review by the Certification committee

If you feel you are being unfairly accused, they may submit a letter of explanation (within 30 days of the test date) to the Certification Committee for their consideration. If the Certification Committee accepts the written explanation, the candidate may retake the exam according to our scheduling policies and pay the retake fee but will not have to pay the rescheduling fee.

If the Certification Committee does not accept the written explanation, then the candidate will be permitted to retake the test no sooner than six months following the committee’s decision and will have to pay the rescheduling fee along with the retake fee.