VEC-02 — Lesson 6 of 6

Session Leadership: Examinee Instructions, Non-Compliance & Cheating

What TLs must tell applicants before every exam, how to handle non-compliance, and the full cheating protocol from suspected to confirmed.

Lesson Objectives


Part A — Examinee Instructions (App. 4 Sec. 2.19)

What applicants must be told before every exam

The TL is responsible for creating the pre-exam instructions delivered at the start of every session. These may be given verbally and/or included in written form with the exam booklet. The following are mandatory minimums. App. 4 Sec. 2.19.

InstructionRule basis
Examinees must follow VE instructions at all times§97.511
Failure to comply terminates participation without further action§97.509(c)
Prohibited electronic devices: cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds/headphones, smart glassesApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.3
Calculators permitted but must be checked by a VE for stored formulas/memory before the exam beginsApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.4
Cell phones and tablets may NOT be used as calculators — they must be turned offApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.4.1
Scratch paper: use the back of the answer sheet; additional paper available on requestApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.5
How to mark the answer sheet correctlyApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.6
Leaving the exam area for any reason = exam immediately graded as submittedApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.7
Observed cheating = exam not graded, applicant must leave the facilityApp. 4 Sec. 2.19.8
Knowledge Check
An applicant arrives wearing wireless earbuds and a smartwatch and wants to use their phone as a calculator. Before the exam begins, which of these must a VE address?
Knowledge Check
An applicant wants to use their standalone scientific calculator during the exam. What must a VE do before allowing this?
Knowledge Check
During a paper exam, an applicant states they need to use the restroom and walks out of the exam room. What happens to their exam?

Part B — Non-Compliance During the Session (App. 5 Sec. 3.1–3.2)

When VEs or applicants do not follow the rules

The Session Leader has authority and discretion to address non-compliance by both VEs and applicants during the session. App. 5 Sec. 3.1–3.2.

SituationSession Leader action
VE not following FCC rules or LARC VEC policiesMake required corrections or explain why corrections are not required. App. 5 Sec. 3.1.1.
Applicant not following VE instructionsEvaluate severity. Options: warn the applicant, or terminate their participation in the session. App. 5 Sec. 3.2.1.
VE believes the Session Leader did not properly address a compliance issueThe VE should notify the Session Leader, then leave the session and report to the TL or RC if unresolved. App. 6 Sec. 1.7.5.
Knowledge Check
A VE tells you (the Session Leader) that a VE is reading text messages on their phone while monitoring applicants. What is your obligation?

Part C — The Cheating Protocol (App. 5 Sec. 3.3–3.4)

Suspected vs. confirmed cheating

StageRequired actions
Suspected cheating (Sec. 3.3)Continue monitoring. If possible, add additional VEs to observe. Do NOT confront the applicant until cheating is confirmed. Treat them like any other applicant until then.
Confirmed cheating — enough VEs remain (Sec. 3.4.1)Continue the session (reassign VE duties as needed). Discreetly ask the cheating examinee to step away. Describe the observed cheating act. Inform them they may not continue and must leave the facility.
Confirmed cheating — NOT enough VEs to continue (Sec. 3.4.2)Halt the session. Announce the halt. Instruct all examinees to remain seated and close their booklets. Two remaining VEs monitor. Then address the cheating examinee using the same steps as above.
Paperwork and SessionManager (Sec. 3.4.3)Mark all cheating examinee answer sheets with the word “CHEATED”. Enter ALL their exam results in SessionManager as “Failed”.
Notify RC (Sec. 3.4.4)Notify the RC and TL (if applicable) of all cheating incidents.
Knowledge Check
A VE thinks they see an applicant glancing at a phone under the table but is not certain. What is the correct immediate action?
Knowledge Check
Cheating is confirmed during a session that has only three VEs. After the cheating examinee leaves, only two VEs remain. What must the Session Leader do?
Knowledge Check
After a cheating incident is resolved, how must the cheating examinee’s answer sheets be processed?
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