PSI Exams - Certified General Exam Schedule

[CGgonnabee]

Hope this works...tried a couple of times and this post disappeared into cyberspace.

I took the Certified General Examination at the Charlottesville, Virginia test center yesterday. It was not a pleasant experience... there was a dog in an adjacent office/retail suite that barked incessantly for an extended period. After the dog started barking, someone began cleaning in the suite upstairs...the vacuum sounded like a jack hammer!

I was short TWO POINTS from passing...spilled milk, can't cry over it.

Icing on the Cake: TODAY I realized that the proctor did not return my driver's license!

I really want to take the test again...like next week, but the test isn't offered in ANY of the Virginia test centers until the middle of February.

Since this is a National/AQB test, why can't I take it in Maryland? or South Carolina? It is offered in Hagerstown on January 27. Does anyone know how I can take in another state?

 

[CGgonnabee]

I guess the lack of responses means NOBODY KNOWS. Since today is a national holiday, I guess no one is working, which explains why the State Board hasn't responded to my inquiry. I haven't heard from PSI about the status of my driver's license (drove ~350 miles today without a license, but carried by exam score report to prove that I took the test and they took my picture and my license). The holiday business caused just another problem as the department of motor vehicles was closed so I couldn't do squat about my missing driver's license.

I feel like Linus

 

[Charles Woods]

Although the AQB appraiser exams are based on a "national" standard, they are still administered by the State. Each State is responsible for their own licensing and testing of appraiser candidates and license upgrade candidates. Most States outsource the testing to a testing company like PSI, Pearson Vue and AMP. These testing companies take your money and report the results back to your State.

The reason you can't take the exam in another State is because a different State is not responsible for your licensing. Therefore, in summation, just because the exam is based on a National standard, this doesn't mean that your appraiser license is a National license.

I hope that helps.

Charles

 

[SMF]

I feel your pain, well at least some of it.... I took the CG test at that same testing center last February and on top of the dog barking, the extremely oversized procter we had fell asleep for like 5 1/2 hours of the test and snored the entire time. Although I didn't leave my license there and I was fortunate enough to pass on the first try.

Don't be in such a rush relax try to study the areas you know were your weakest and give yourself a couple of weeks.

 

[CGgonnabee]

Got this from PSI today....perhaps this will be helpful to someone else down the road:

Thank you for contacting PSI Online Support. You are able to take this
exam in a different state, however you are required to send a written
request, this can be faxed to PSI at 702-932-2666 or sent by mail. It will
need to include all of your information, the exam you will be taking and the
exact location you would like to test and why. Once this has been received
you will schedule your exam with our Special Accomodations department.
Thank you and have a wonderful day.

I would think that this is useful information, particularly for folks in border areas like myself (Maryland is somewhat convenient and Tennessee is almost in my back door and PSI administers their exams).

 

[TexasRed]

what was you opinion of the exam? I have heard that its comparable to the AI classes and exams. I will be taking it in 3-4 months...

 

[Smokey Bear]

I would ask to take the second exam for free, since there were so many distractions that they obviously knew about for the first exam. You would think they'd be obligated to provide a quiet testing place.

 

[wickedness1]

I would ask to take the second exam for free, since there were so many distractions that they obviously knew about for the first exam. You would think they'd be obligated to provide a quiet testing place.

I totally agree! I took that test & it is hard! Let alone all the distractions that you had to deal with!

 

[CGgonnabee]

Sorry to be late to report.

I got a phone call from PSI and they withdrew the offer to let me take the test in Hagerstown (someone really scrooowd up) on 1/27. Therefore, I am poop out of luck. Virginia opted for the segmented approach to the new qualifications and my eligibility expired 1/31. They extended the deadline to June 30, 2009 for experience hours, but not the testing part.

I have a degree, I have my experience hours, but now I am going to have to take 120 hours (minimum) more QE before I can apply to take the test again. I enjoy learning and I always enjoy the classes, it is the expense of the class, travel and NOT working for the weeks I am in class that really messes things up. Virginia has not approved any on-line QE for CG (which I don't understand since you have to take proctored exams). I am sending my QE transcript to DPOR to get a determination of equivalencies (sp?) under the old education requirements.

Now here's a question: I have a license in Tennessee. They also adopted the segmented approach with no drop-dead date (as best I can ascertain). Anyone know if I can go through Tennessee and then do the reciprocal with Virginia? Sounds complicated, but it could save a lot of time and money. Note: I am not trying to get out of taking the classes, I would just like to do it at a leisurely, affordable pace. In light of the current economic situation, I just quake when I think about spending $6,000-8000 in the next 6 months for classes and travel.

BTW...they did send my driver's license to me in the mail