Virtual CEBS Exams

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Virtual Online Exams

Virtual online testing for CEBS exams offers a convenient way to take your exam. All applications that are submitted for exams will be processed as virtual exams. 

Exam Details: Beginning July 15, 2024, each CEBS exam will contain 75 to 85 questions with a 90-minute timer.

Please review the detailed information provided below regarding exam registration, preparation and setting up your technology, accessing and completing your exam, and viewing your educational record. If you have any questions regarding any step in the process, please reach out to the CEBS Customer Service team Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST

 

A Successful CEBS Exam Experience

Accessing, Taking and Submitting Your CEBS Exam

Getting Ready - From the Start of Your Testing Window to A Week Before Taking Your Exam 
Expected Time: 20 minutes

To make sure you are familiar with the virtual exam technology and confirm your exam is ready for you when you are ready to take the test, we suggest the following.

  1. Access your account at www.theinstitutes.org.

    — Confirm your username and password are active and accessible by clicking on the Sign In button in the upper right corner of your screen.

    • If you are signing in for the first time, you will be asked to reset your password.
    • Bookmark the website and store your username and password where you can access it for future use.
    • Update your profile information if you would like to receive communications through a different email address. Your username will remain the same, but you will receive emails through the updated email address.

     

  2. Confirm that your current CEBS exam is available to you to complete on their learning management system.

    —Under your name, click the My Courses and Exams option from the dropdown menu.
    —Under the Courses in Progress section, confirm that your exam is listed.
    — If your exam is in the current testing window, hovering your cursor over the Access Content box will change the box from blue to white. This means that your exam is available.

    • If you are outside of the testing window you registered for, you will not be able to click on the Access Content box.

     

  3. Confirm with your IT team that you can download and utilize the Chrome browser and the Proctorio Chrome extension and that you have access to a desktop or laptop computer with a microphone and camera.

If you have any technical issues related to your username, password or exam availability on The Institutes website, please reach out to the CEBS Customer Service team. For U.S. students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (800) 449-2327, option 3. For Canadian students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (833) 886-3749. Our team can help you Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT, to make sure that when and where you are ready to write your exam, the exam is ready and available.

The Day of Your Exam - Part 1
Expected Time: 20 minutes

There are two steps to this process. Plan to take 15 to 20 minutes to work through accessing the website, downloading the Proctorio software, completing the diagnostic test, etc. 

1. We recommend printing and/or downloading the How-To Guide to have as a quick reference for accessing your exam.
2. Make sure you have your government-issued photo identification (ID) card available.
3. If necessary, a blank piece of paper, pencil and a non-programmable calculator may be used for your exam. Otherwise, your workspace should be clear, and please close any additional browser windows not required as part of the exam-taking process.
4. Make sure you have a strong internet connection, a microphone and a camera.
5. Open your Chrome browser and go to www.theInstitutes.org.
6. Sign in to your profile with your username and password in the upper right corner of the screen.
7. Click the drop down by your name and select the My Courses and Exams section. Under the Courses in Progress section, click on the Access Content box for the exam you are about to complete. You will be taken to the Getting Started page for your exam.

8. Download and install the Proctorio extension using the link provided on the website.

Accessing your exam involves a few steps that include viewing and agreeing to the CEBS Virtual Exam Code of Conduct, enabling Proctorio, completing a diagnostic test to ensure your camera and microphone are working properly, enabling screensharing and taking a picture of your ID card.  Once these steps are completed, you will be able to access your online exam through a link that opens your exam in a new browser window.

Review all the directions at the top of the screen, then scroll down to the boxes at the bottom. 

For complete step by step instructions for accessing your exam - please download/print the "How-To Guide". 

For assistance and technical support, please reach out to the CEBS Customer Service team, available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT. For U.S. students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (800) 449-2327, option 3. For Canadian students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (833) 886-3749. 


The Day of Your Exam—Part 2 
Expected Time: 90 minutes

After successfully installing and enabling the Proctorio Exam monitoring software, and completing the diagnostic check, you will begin your CEBS exam.  For a click by click instructions of next steps, please download and print the "How-To Guide" available here, and in Step 2 on theinstitutes.org website.

The CEBS exam is hosted in the "Surpass" learning management system.  To access the exam, you will follow the steps below.

1. A Question 1 Box will be open on your screen.
2. Click the Click Here link in the first line of the question box. The remainder of this box will be completed after you have successfully clicked the link, completed your exam in the new testing window and received your results. Leave this window open behind the new Surpass exam window.
3. A new window will open. Click the green Open Exam box in the lower left of the screen. You are entering the Surpass system where the exam is hosted.
4. Review your information, then click Yes if the information is correct.
5. Review the information provided regarding the types of questions.
6. Click the blue Start the Test box in the lower right corner after reviewing the question section descriptions.

—  Each question type is in its own question bank/grouping. All functionality for flagging, reviewing and sorting questions corresponds to each question group—not the entire exam.
— You can move freely between question groups by clicking on the vertical toolbar on the left of the screen.
— If there are any reference materials associated with an exam, they will be available now.

Navigation Icons are available in the lower left of the screen.

— Preferences, the gear icon, allows for different font and background colors.
— Section Review, the nine dots, allows for sorting flagged, answered and unanswered questions per question type.
— Question sections are in the vertical, numbered column on the far left of the screen. Clicking on the sections will navigate between section groups
 

For assistance and technical support, please reach out to the CEBS Customer Service team, available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT. For U.S. students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (800) 449-2327, option 3. For Canadian students, they can be reached at [email protected] or (833) 886-3749. 

 

 

Submitting Your Exam
Expected Time: 3 Minutes

After answering all of the exam questions, you are ready to submit your exam.  There is immediate exam scoring and you will receive your pass or non-pass information immediately.  We recommend taking a screenshot for your records.  The following are the steps to take and what to expect when submitting your virtual exam.

1. Once you have answered all exam questions, click the Finish Test box.
2. Confirm that you are ready to submit your exam.—You will receive an error message if there are unanswered questions.3. Click the Finish box to submit your exam.—You will see your test results as a “pass” or “non-pass” notification immediately following your exam submission.4. Click the Exit Test box after reviewing your results.

You will receive confirmation that you have completed your exam and that you can close your browser window.  After you have completed your exam, received your results and closed the Surpass exam window, you can complete the Question 1 box.

1. Type “Complete” in the space provided.
2. Click the green Review Attempt box in the lower right corner of the screen.
3. Click the Submit Attempt box.

—This will close the Proctorio monitoring software and close the exam session with The Institutes.
— If this step is not completed, your exam has still been submitted and your results will be processed. This function is to close the enrollment with The Institutes and does not affect your exam or results. If this is not completed, your enrollment will eventually time out.

 

You have successfully completed your CEBS exam.

 


Exam Results - Accessing your CEBS Transcript
Expected Time: 3 minutes


Exam results will be reported to the Foundation from The Institutes and loaded into your profile the next business day after your exam has been completed. 

You will receive an email confirmation that your exam results have been received by The IFEBP. This email will also include instructions on how to verify your “pass” or “non-pass” notification on your official CEBS transcript.

Please note that numerical scores or percentages are not available.  Also, due to the nature of virtual exams, diagnostic information or an analysis/breakdown on your performance for each module is not available.
 
Your exam results are accessible for viewing on the IFEBP website by logging into your profile.
 
To view or print your CEBS Transcript including your recent exam results, please follow these instructions:
- Log in at www.ifebp.org 
- Go to "My Profile"
- Look under the Red Tab on the right hand side of page that says My Account – Click on “Educational Records”
- Click on “International Foundation Educational Records” and open the PDF file that will appear at the bottom of your screen.

If you have any additional questions, please contact CEBS Customer Service at (800) 449-2327, option 3 or [email protected].
Ordering Your Next Exam and Second Attempt Information

For more information and to order your second attempt, please call or email the Customer Service team for assistance

Exams Purchased in 2024 include two exam attempts.
With the second attempt opportunity there are additional requirements and restrictions that apply.  Please read the information below carefully to ensure that you properly schedule/plan for completing the exam and are able to effectively utilize a second attempt if needed.  A printable PDF of the second attempt details is available to print here.

To schedule a second attempt, the order must be received at least 15 calendar days prior to the close of the testing window.  Please allow up to 3 business days for processing 2nd exam attempt orders. 

 Important details regarding the second attempt are:

1. The two attempts are only valid on the original exam purchased.

2. The second exam attempt must be taken in either the same testing window as the failed exam or in the next approaching window. The second attempt cannot be extended past the next approaching exam window.

3. In order to use the second testing attempt in the same window as the failed exam, you must submit your online order for the second attempt at least 15 calendar days prior to the close of the testing window.

4. If the exam is passed on the first attempt, the second attempt is no longer valid. The second attempt is non-transferable.

5. If the exam is not passed and both attempts are used, an exam retake may be purchased for further attempts.

6. Transferring the exam from the original testing window purchased would incur a transfer fee for the service.

U.S. Students

Canadian Students

Call - (800) 449-2327, option 3
or
Email - [email protected]

 

Call - (833) 886-3749
or 
Email - [email protected]

 

If you require special accommodations, please call CEBS Customer Service for assistance with applying for your exam.