Section 141.210  Invalidation of a Candidate's State Written or Practical Examination Scores

a)         During a State Written Examination, if the vendor finds evidence of a candidate cheating or violating any requirements of this Part, the vendor shall immediately end the candidate's examination and confiscate any unauthorized note or reference materials.  Evidence of cheating may include the following or similar activities:

1)         Looking at unauthorized notes or reference materials;

2)         Obviously looking directly at another candidate's answers;

3)         Talking during the examination;

4)         Suspicious behavior relevant to alcohol or drug abuse; or

5)         Failing to follow the vendor's instructions prior to or during the examination.

b)         The vendor shall submit a written report of the facts involved in the incident and include any confiscated materials to the Office.

c)         Confiscated materials shall be retained by the Division.

d)         When the Division determines that the evidence presented by the vendor is credible, the candidate's State Written Examination score shall be invalidated and a written notification shall be sent to the candidate and employing chief, which shall include:

1)         A description of the incident;

2)         Notification that the State Written Examination score was invalidated; and

3)         A notice that the candidate is not permitted to challenge a State Written Examination for 120 days.

e)         The Division will review training records of training facilities and fire service personnel. In the course of reviewing training records, a candidate’s State Written or Practical Examination scores shall be invalidated for causes including:

1)         A State Practical Examination score was awarded based upon erroneous documentation in training records or erroneous documentation submitted to the Division;

2)         The training facility fails to maintain or produce the required training records;

3)         The instructor was not qualified at the appropriate certification level;

4)         The training facility did not possess valid training facility or course approval; or

5)         Other factors indicating a failure to meet the required examination standards.

f)         When the Division determines that evidence involved requires the invalidation of a candidate’s State Written or Practical Examination score, the candidate's State Written or Practical Examination score shall be invalidated and a written notification shall be sent to the candidate, the candidate’s employing chief and training facility, if applicable, which shall include:

1)         Description of the incident; and

2)         Notification that the State Written or Practical Examination scores were invalidated.

g)         Any candidate whose State Written or Practical Examinations scores are invalidated may request a hearing in accordance with Section 141.50.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 424, effective January 1, 2023)