Case Study: U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) reduces costs and speeds certification with Questionmark

Forest Service engineers web-based certification exams by Questionmark

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service needed to modernize certification testing for its engineers across the 48 continental states, Alaska and Puerto Rico. After successful pilots in Oregon, Washington and Alaska, the agency moved from paper tests to web-based certification exams delivered by Questionmark to reduce printing, mailing and scheduling burdens while maintaining secure, reliable delivery.

Questionmark implemented intranet-delivered exams using a secure browser that hides IP addresses, connects directly to the exam server, blocks menu bars and function keys, and clears caches on exit. Candidates take tests in labs or at their desks, and linking an Access records database to Questionmark’s answers database produced dramatic time and cost savings—significantly lowering printing, mailing and scheduling expenses and enabling a nationwide rollout.

U.S. Department of Agriculture