Over the last few weeks, The Center for the Assessment of Sign Language Interpretation (CASLI) Board of Managers came together and began becoming acclimated to their newly appointed roles and the current state of CASLI. For more information please visit the CASLI website for a full biography of each of the Board of Managers.
As CASLI’s Director, Michele Martinez-Saeva, announced, scheduling for the NIC Interview and Performance Exam resumed on October 1, 2016. CASLI is working with a test delivery vendor, Comira, to assist in expanding test sites across the United States. Originally, the goal was to have 63 test sites available on October 1, 2016 and 75 test sites ready by November 1, 2016. Comira has worked tirelessly to continue expanding test site availability across the United States, and we are thrilled to announce that we exceeded the goal and currently have 95 test sites available for scheduling the NIC Interview and Performance Exam. We are continuing to work with Comira to increase the number of test sites in each state. In addition, as of November 1, 2016, NIC Interview and Performance Exam test taking has begun.
As NIC testing begins, there have been many questions from candidates about their expiration date as it relates to the five (5) year testing cycle. This memo is intended to help NIC candidates understand how dates of the moratorium will impact their expiration date. It is our goal to be fair and honor RID’s commitment to its members.
SCENARIO 1:
Persons who have passed the NIC Knowledge Exam (written) and have not yet taken the NIC Performance Exam OR their most recent NIC Performance Exam was taken on or before June 30, 2015 – more than six (6) months from the start of the moratorium.
Calculation Guideline:
Every day of the test cycle availability that fell within the moratorium (January 1, 2016 – November 1, 2016 = 10 months) will be added to the end of their current cycle.
Example:
Bill passed his NIC Knowledge Exam on March 15, 2014, which means his test cycle expiration date was set for March 15, 2019. Now, Bill practiced for months to prepare for the NIC Interview and Performance Exam and ended up taking the exam exactly 1 year after his written test, March 15, 2015. Unfortunately, he did not pass but fully intends to take the NIC Interview and Performance again at some point after the end of the mandatory 6 month waiting period. His 6 month waiting period ended on September 15, 2015. Bill learned of the moratorium and decided to wait to take his test after the moratorium is lifted. As a result, he will get 10 months added to his Test Cycle making his new expiration date January 15, 2020.
SCENARIO 2:
Persons who have passed the NIC Knowledge Exam (written) and their most recent NIC Performance Exam was taken on or after July 1, 2015 – less than six (6) months from the start of the moratorium.
Calculation Guideline:
The mandatory wait period counted during the moratorium. Those who were in their six-month waiting period on January 1, 2016, have now waited more than six months, so are eligible to test without any further waiting.
Once their six-month waiting period ended, the number of days of the test cycle availability that fell within the moratorium (the person’s eligibility to re-test date – November 1, 2016) will be added to the end of their current cycle.
Example:
Patricia passed her NIC Knowledge Exam on September 1, 2012, therefore her original expiration date was September 1, 2017. Patricia took the NIC Interview and Performance Exam on November 1, 2015. Unfortunately she did not pass, but fully intends to take the NIC Interview and Performance again at some point after the end of the mandatory six-month waiting period. Patricia’s six-month waiting period before she could attempt a retake was from November 1, 2015 until May 1, 2016. However, even though Patricia was eligible to test starting May 1st, she could not test between May 1, 2016 – November 1, 2016 (6 months) due to the moratorium. Since Patricia’s original expiration date was September 1, 2017, the six months she was eligible to test but blocked by the moratorium will be added to her testing cycle, will be added to her test cycle making her new expiration date March 1, 2018.
Each candidate’s expiration date is unique to their testing cycle. This requires the CASLI staff to manually adjust the testing cycle expiration date in each candidate’s member portal. It is CASLI’s goal to honor each candidate’s full test cycle recognizing testing standard practice and RID’s commitment to its membership. We understand how important each and every day is for candidates. Our goal is to be fair and consistent for each candidate. For assistance calculating your expiration date, please contact the CASLI office at testing@casli.org.
Thank you
CASLI Managing Board