Call for IELTS Test Center Applications in the United States
IELTS – the International English Language Testing System – has
increased recognition enormously in the US over the last five years
with now more than 1,200 institutions accepting the test for
undergraduate, graduate and professional school admissions. In
addition IELTS is used for VisaScreen through CGFNS for non-native
speaker nurses and healthcare workers applying to work in the US.
Professional bodies and organizations such as many state boards of
nursing around the country, Association of Schools of Public
Health, Association of Veterinary State Boards, and the Institute
for International Education (IIE) recognize IELTS for applicants in
the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. IELTS is jointly managed by
the three international partners British Council, Cambridge ESOL
and IDP Education Australia.
IELTS International, the organization managing the US test
center network, is very pleased to announce a Call for
IELTS Test Center Applications in the United States with a
view to opening new test centers in the US throughout 2008. IELTS
International is particularly seeking applications from educational
institutions in major metropolitan areas in the US that service
non-native speaker students and alien residents.
The IELTS test is administered at local test center level,
requiring a commitment to the scheduling and administration of the
test in a standardized and secure environment, and the local
marketing of the service. Becoming an IELTS test center provides
excellent opportunities for staff professional development through
training – which is provided by IELTS– as proctors, raters and
examiners; a medium-term opportunity to develop revenues; and the
status of offering the IELTS test service to both internal and
external clients.
To begin the process, please submit by email or regular mail a
brief ‘Expression of Interest’ letter. The letter should include
the following information:
- History of the organization applying to be a test center,
including date of establishment.
- Operational status – a brief overview of programs, staffing and
premises.
- Relationship with educational and professional organizations,
such as NAFSA, TESOL, NAGAP.
- Financial status – brief details of how the organization is
funded.
If your institution produces an annual review, please also
include a copy with your letter.
On receipt and review of the letter, IELTS International will
send an application packet including details of selection criteria,
examiner requirements, an outline of the test administrator’s
duties, computer and other facilities (the test is currently pen
and paper) and action plan. Proposed centers need to have the
capacity to test at minimum 30 candidates once per month. Details
on the attractive remuneration for test administration will also be
included.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information
about the test or becoming a test center in the US – we will be
very happy to hear from you. At this time, we are only accepting
Test Center Applications for locations in the United States, and
not other parts of the world.
Richard Halstead
Regional Manager – US Test Center Network
IELTS International
825 Colorado Boulevard, Suite 112
Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA
Tel: 1-323-255 2771
Fax: 1-323-255 1261
Email: rhalstead@ieltsintl.org
Please also consult www.ielts.org for further
information.
