June 4, 2021—CCO is changing the practical exam application process to a new online system starting on July 1, 2021. Candidates will complete an online application via the CCO website at www.nccco.org/applypractical and pay for their exams in advance of their exam administration. In minutes after their application and payment are processed, candidates will receive an authorization code via email to give to the practical examiner.
This new automated process can be completed anywhere with an internet connection—even on the same day as the exam—so, if necessary, candidates can reapply and retest on the same day. Candidates may take their practical exam(s) anywhere they are being offered; they have up to 180 days after submitting their application and payment to complete practical exam. No extensions will be granted after 180 days.
The new online application will be available on July 1, 2021, and there will be a one-month phase-in period where candidates may use either the new system or the legacy paper applications; as of August 1, 2021, all practical exam applications must use new system.
The new system will also permit a test site coordinator, practical examiner, employer, training provider, or another designated person to submit a batch of applications, entering each candidate’s information and selecting whichever exams they will be taking. The designated person can then submit all the applications at one time, providing payment for all the candidates in the batch. This feature will initially only be available for practical exam applications but will also be available for paper/pencil exams in the future.