Temple University Ambler has joined a very select group of institutions that provide testing services to a diverse audience, from students taking the Millers Analogy Test (MAT) to individuals seeking licensure and certification to advance their careers.

"The Temple University Ambler Campus testing center has been officially certified by the National College Testing Association (NCTA)," said Rachel Hample, Test Manager for Temple's Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (IRA). "That places the location among a very small group. There are a little over 200 centers that meet the NCTA standards in all of North America."

Ambler Campus is the second Temple location, along with Main Campus, to receive the designation. Main Campus was officially certified in 2015, according to David Griffith, Manager of Exam Services for IRA.

"Temple is among the world's largest providers of professional education (law, medicine, podiatry, pharmacy, dentistry, and architecture). Today we are recognizing the second Temple site to become Test Center certified," said NCTA President Duane Goupell in announcing the designation. "We are happy and delighted that (Temple Ambler) has joined us; they have earned it."

Hample said Temple Ambler's testing center in Learning Center Room 210 was established in 2017. The IRA team, working closely with campus administrators and Information Technology Services, have spent the last year ensuring that the testing location would meet NCTA's exacting standards.

"NCTA's certification process looks at our ability to meet rigorous standards with our facilities and our ability to administer a variety of types of tests," added Griffith. "Temple Ambler's test center is able to offer certification, licensure and credentialing tests in addition to testing such as the MAT, GED, CLEP and HiSET, which we began offering at the Ambler Campus in the past year. The certification ensures that Temple Ambler is automatically considered by major testing agency services, such as Pearson and PAN (Performance Assessment Network), which oversees testing for TSAs and other high level government associations."

According to Griffith, outside organizations, such as ETS (Education Testing Services), which certifies teachers, and the Law School Admissions Council "have been highly impressed with our center."

"Most centers do not have the outside credentials that the Ambler Test Center has achieved," he said. "We feel privileged to be counted among the top tier centers in the country."

On Monday, May 21, the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment will host an Open House at the Ambler Campus Test Center beginning at 3 p.m. The open house will provide Temple administrators and others an opportunity to tour the facility and learn about the testing services available.

The Office of Institutional Research and Assessment collects data and provides accurate and actionable information and analysis to university decision-makers, the Temple community and external stakeholders. This information is used for assessment, planning, policy formulation and mandated reporting. IRA is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement that advances the university's mission.

The office also coordinates and oversees the assessment of institutional effectiveness and collaborates with schools, colleges and programs to ensure the assessment of student learning. Through its exam services, the office provides quality customer service, timely data processing and fair and professional test administration for students, faculty, administrators and the broader non-Temple community.