ARRT shuts down prep course; launches campaign on exam security
The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) has won a federal court lawsuit and shut down a preparation course that offered its clients questions copied from the organization's radiation therapy certification exam. In addition, the compromised questions have been retired and educational program directors and bookstores notified.
Last year, ARRT discovered that a preparation course had copied some questions from ARRT's radiation therapy exam and included them in its review materials. The course provider offered monetary compensation to the candidates who sat for the exam in exchange for disclosing questions.
The copied questions appeared in the "Radiation Therapy Registry Review" course materials under the heading, "Listed Below Are Questions from Students Who Have Taken Their ARRT Board Exam," according to ARRT.
The RTR Review case revealed that some educational programs had included the infringing materials on their syllabi as "recommended reading."
Apart from the items copied from ARRT's exam, the materials from this course contained a number of factual inaccuracies that would actually impede a candidate's ability to pass the exam.
On December 2, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered a final judgment and permanent injunction in favor of ARRT and against the course provider, RTR Review, authorizing ARRT to seize the assets of the company in satisfaction of the $250,000 judgement.
The settlement also calls for RTR Review to identify to ARRT anyone who provided exam information for materials. The registry said it plans to perform follow-up investigations on these individuals.
ARRT is encouraging educators to review any unfamiliar materials prior to classroom use to assure that the materials do not appear to subvert the integrity of ARRT's exam process. Individuals, too, are encouraged to report instances of possible exam subversion.
Last year, ARRT discovered that a preparation course had copied some questions from ARRT's radiation therapy exam and included them in its review materials. The course provider offered monetary compensation to the candidates who sat for the exam in exchange for disclosing questions.
The copied questions appeared in the "Radiation Therapy Registry Review" course materials under the heading, "Listed Below Are Questions from Students Who Have Taken Their ARRT Board Exam," according to ARRT.
The RTR Review case revealed that some educational programs had included the infringing materials on their syllabi as "recommended reading."
Apart from the items copied from ARRT's exam, the materials from this course contained a number of factual inaccuracies that would actually impede a candidate's ability to pass the exam.
On December 2, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California entered a final judgment and permanent injunction in favor of ARRT and against the course provider, RTR Review, authorizing ARRT to seize the assets of the company in satisfaction of the $250,000 judgement.
The settlement also calls for RTR Review to identify to ARRT anyone who provided exam information for materials. The registry said it plans to perform follow-up investigations on these individuals.
ARRT is encouraging educators to review any unfamiliar materials prior to classroom use to assure that the materials do not appear to subvert the integrity of ARRT's exam process. Individuals, too, are encouraged to report instances of possible exam subversion.