Vermont Department of Public Safety

Fire Safety Exam RFP Questions

1. Does the Department of Public Safety or the Electrician’s, Plumber’s, and Elevator’s Licensing Boards have job analyses for each of the listed positions?
[Robert Howe]please see license description at

2. What is the current test format for the licensing exams currently being administered? Are they multiple choice exams or some other item format?
[Robert Howe]multiple choice

3. How many questions make up each of the current licensing exam?
[Robert Howe]70 to 100 depending on exam

4. Are there source materials available from which to draw exam items such as code, ordinances, or statutes?
[Robert Howe]reference material is based on Vermont rules and adopted codes and standards from NFPA, ICC & ASME

5. How many applicants, approximately, does the State test in each of the positions per year?[Robert Howe]approximately 400 pass, ? test

6. Is the State working with a vendor to administer the current licensing exams or were the current exams developed in-house?
[Robert Howe]ICC testing service

7. If working with a vendor, is the Sate satisfied with the service being provided by the current vendor?[Robert Howe]always looking for the best service at the least cost

8. What are the pass rates for the current exams?[Robert Howe]most are 70

9. How were the current cut off scores established?[Robert Howe]by licensing boards

10. Has the State had any legal problems with the current exams?[Robert Howe]no

11. What locations are being used to administer the exams?[Robert Howe]barre, south burlington, castleton

See page 2

Questions from October 1, 2008

  1. What was the number of administered tests last year (broken down by test)?[Robert Howe]between 50 & 75 exams combined between paper and electronic for electrical & plumbing testsfor each 2 month cycle
  2. Is this certification/license reciprocal with other states or is it only good in the state of Vermont?[Robert Howe]limited reciprocal agreements with New Hampshire and Maine
  3. Are Plumber and Electrician main heading of each exam (i.e., how much of a difference in each level of the electrician/plumber test is there)?[Robert Howe]we look to the exam provider to develop a pool of test questions that are then reviewed by the licensing boards... there are some questions that would be common for more than one test... for instance a basic question on grounding of an electrical receptacle might be contained in the journeyman testsas well as the specialty licenses but a more difficult grounding question would be used for the master's exam

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  • Please provide a breakdown of annual candidate volumes for the past 3 years. [Robert Howe]Two monthly average for electrical & plumbing for2008is 50 to 75 people taking either the paper or e test.
  • Page 4, Scope of Services, Does "single agency" mean that no subcontracting will be allowed?
  • Page 5, #3, Will the Department allow a vendor to bid Computer Based Testing only (with paper available for ADA when necessary), or will paper exams be necessary for larger sessions?[Robert Howe]Both paper and electronic testing is required.
  • How is the current vendor administering the exams?Both paper and electronic testing
  • Page 7, Evaluation Criteria, Who will the evaluators be?
  • Does the Department own any of the current items? If so, how many, and what format are they available in? [Robert Howe]what current items?