61-11.010. Grading of Examinations and Grade Notification

(1) Pursuant to Section 455.217, F.S., grading of all examinations shall be processed only as follows:

(a) National Examinations shall be graded solely and exclusively by the national examination provider or its designee. National examinations shall include those developed by or for national boards, councils, associations or societies.

(b) Departmentally developed objective, multiple choice examinations shall be graded by the Department or its designee. The Department shall review the item analysis and any statistically questionable items after the examination has been administered. Based upon this review, the Department shall adjust the scoring key by totally disregarding the questionable items for grading purposes or by multi-keying, giving credit for more than one correct answer per item. All items which do not adequately and reliably measure the applicant’s ability to practice the profession shall be rejected. The Department or its designee shall calculate each candidate’s grade utilizing the scoring key or adjusted scoring key, if applicable, and shall provide each candidate with a grade report. The only paper that shall be graded is the official answer sheet. No credit shall be given for answers written in a candidate’s examination booklet.

(c) Departmentally developed practical examinations shall be graded by the Department or its designee. The Department shall review the item analysis, if applicable, examiner agreement report, and any procedure judged to be statistically questionable after the examination has been administered. Based upon this review, the Department shall adjust the scoring criteria by rejecting, crediting, or giving partial credit for any procedure or question which does not adequately and reliably measure the applicant’s ability to practice the profession. The Department or its designee shall calculate each candidate’s grade using the scoring criteria or adjusted scoring criteria, if applicable, and shall provide each candidate with a grade report.

(d) If after the distribution of grades for a particular administration there are adjustments to the scoring, amended grade reports shall be mailed to all failing candidates whose scores are increased and to all candidates whose pass/fail status changes due to the adjustment unless the candidate has taken and passed a subsequent administration of the examination.

(e) Examinations developed or administered for the Department by contracted vendors other than national examination providers shall be graded by the contracted vendor or by its designee. Grading procedures shall be in compliance with the provisions of this rule.

(2) The Department shall notify the candidate of the results of the candidate’s examination no later than sixty (60) days after the examination date, except when the grades, or portions thereof, are computed by the national board, council, association, or society responsible for a national examination in Florida. The grades for an examination containing a national portion shall be sent to the candidate no later than thirty (30) days after the receipt of the grades by the Department from the national board, council, association, or society responsible for the national examination in Florida. For Harbor Pilots, final results of the examination will be released sixty (60) days after the reviews are completed.

(3) The Department or its designee shall inform each passing candidate of the candidate’s status and provide necessary instructions for obtaining a license.

(4) Any candidate who does not receive a passing score on a licensure or certification examination will be notified of the examination results, the requirements for re-examination, review and formal administrative hearing rights and procedures.

Rulemaking Authority 455.203(5), 455.217(1) FS. Law Implemented 455.217(1) FS. History–New 9-25-80, Formerly 21-11.10, Amended 10-27-92, 5-27-93, Formerly 21-11.010, Amended 9-18-96, 2-25-01, 8-6-12.