From the Accreditation Board
If you’re an Accredited Editor (AE), you probably remember the stress and workload leading up to, and including, the accreditation exam. What you may not remember is how the exam was run and who invigilated it, making it a seamless experience for all.
The exam writers and the Accreditation Board (AB) are like a well-oiled machine, and they put a lot of work into writing, updating and running the exam every two years. The support of invigilators from all branches is an important part of the exam process.
Invigilators are almost always AEs and are trained for the role via Zoom sessions run by members of the AB. Essentially, invigilators supervise candidates and ensure the exam runs smoothly.
Volunteering as an invigilator is a way of giving back to IPEd by supporting other editors to achieve a career milestone. You’ll be a calm presence, particularly for those who are nervous about sitting an exam. For many candidates, it’s the first exam they’ve sat since finishing their education and it can be a nerve-wracking experience.
One of the benefits for you is that you meet and work with editors who you may not already know, so it’s an opportunity to extend your network. A bonus is that volunteering for the exam counts towards your own accreditation renewal.
Most candidates sit the exam in a city in their state or country. Depending on numbers, there may be two or more invigilators at venues. There is also the option of sitting the exam remotely if it’s too difficult or costly for a candidate to travel to an exam venue or if they are in a country other than Australia or New Zealand. Candidates with a physical or other disability may prefer to sit the exam remotely. Remote candidates have one invigilator who supervises them via Zoom, and ideally, both of them should be in the same time zone and using the same operating system (Windows or Apple).
If you’re interested in becoming an invigilator, you’ll need to be computer literate and have some troubleshooting skills. Good timekeeping is also important. Zoom sessions held a month or more before the exam ensure that you’ll be well briefed on the exam structure and process. If you’ll be invigilating remotely, you’ll meet the candidate in advance on Zoom for a practice session. On exam day, behind-the-scenes support is available if needed.
Your time investment will be around 6 hours on exam day (Monday 12 August 2024) and a few hours’ training in advance. If you’re a lead venue invigilator or a remote invigilator, you’ll complete a short report for the AB after the exam. A small honorarium is paid to all volunteers.
We encourage all AEs to volunteer for these rewarding roles. To express your interest, please contact your branch AB delegate.