Section 7-323l-19a - Written examination administration(a) All written examinations shall be provided and administered by the certification unit. Periodically, the certification unit may offer statewide open written examinations. These written examinations may be given in conjunction with practical examinations. Generally, for levels that so require, the candidate shall successfully complete the practical examination for certification prior to applying for and participating in the written examination for that level. The requirement to complete the practical examination successfully prior to participating in the written examination may be waived to improve practical examination delivery efficiency or in cases in which a formal appeal of a practical examination grade is pending. Dates of upcoming written examinations and written examination application forms may be obtained from the certification unit. Candidates applying for written examinations shall file a written examination application form with the certification unit at least 10 business days before the scheduled date of the written examination.(b)Local administration or regional school administration of state written examinations(1) At least 28 calendar days prior to the anticipated test date for a fire department, regional fire school or commercial entity written examination, the chief of the fire department, lead certified fire service instructor of the fire department, director of the regional fire school or the lead certified fire service instructor of the commercial entity shall submit to the certification unit a completed Request for Examination form.(2) Local written examinations shall be administered by certification unit personnel for a reasonable number of candidates based upon a given room capacity.(c)Written examination structure(1) Written examinations shall consist of questions covering one or more objectives required for certification to the levels in sections 7-323l-5a to 7-323l-17a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(2) Written examinations shall consist of a number of questions deemed appropriate by the commission to adequately measure the cognitive knowledge of the objectives required for certification of the levels specified in sections 7-323l-5a to 7-323l-17a, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.(d)Scoring(1) An overall grade of 70 percent or greater is required on each certification level tested for successful completion of a written examination.(2) All written examinations shall be scored by the certification unit and recorded permanently in commission files.(3) Official written examination scores shall be sent to each candidate by first class mail 6 to 8 calendar weeks after the date of the written examination.(e)Examination administration and delivery system(1) All written examinations shall be administered under direct control of the certification unit.(2) Examination booklets and answer sheets shall be delivered by a representative of the certification unit to the written examination site. The package containing the examination booklets shall not be opened except in the presence of the candidates at the time and place the written examination is administered. If such package is opened prior to such time, the written examination shall be void.(3) Upon completion of the examination, the proctor shall place all examination booklets along with all scratch paper used by the candidates, in the return package provided. The proctor shall place the answer sheets in the package provided in the same manner.(f)Administration procedures(1) The written examination shall be closed when the proctor begins to read the instructions for the written examination. At that time, all discussion shall cease. The time allowed to complete each written examination shall begin after the proctor has read the instructions for that written examination. From that time to the time the candidate completes the written examination and remits the written examination materials to the proctor, candidates shall not be permitted to speak to each other or to the proctor and all "Instructions to the Candidates" contained in the proctor's instructions shall be followed.(2) The commission shall determine the amount of time permitted for each written examination. The commission shall inform the candidates of the time allowed prior to the day of the written examination and as part of the "Instructions to the Candidates" on the day of the written examination.(g)Reexamination(1) Any candidate receiving a written examination score below 70 percent shall have the opportunity to be reexamined. Candidates who are reexamined shall retake the entire written examination.(2)Procedures(A) Not more than 180 calendar days after completion of the original written examination, individuals who score between 60 percent and 69 percent may retake the entire written examination without retraining or counseling.(B) Individuals scoring less than 60 percent on a written examination or who will be reexamined 180 or more calendar days after the date of the original written examination, shall be retrained or counseled prior to any reexamination.(C) Upon a successful completion of a written examination, the final grade of record shall be the percentage received on the successfully completed written examination.(D) To be reexamined in a state certification examination at any level within 12 months of the date of initiation of the certification examination process, does not require reexamination of the practical skills portion.(E) A candidate may retake the written examination an unlimited number of times during the 12-month period, provided any applicable retraining or counseling requirements are met for each written examination.(F) Any candidate who has not successfully completed all certification examination components for a particular level by the end of the 12-month period shall lose all satisfactory scores.(G) Any candidate failing to successfully complete all certification examination components by the end of the 12-month period must retake the appropriate training program before retesting at the appropriate level.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 7-323l-19a