- For immediate release -

PERFORMANCE TESTING COUNCIL ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS AND GROWTH

New PTC members strengthen organization and the advancement of performance-based testing

The Performance Testing Council, Inc. (PTC) announces the addition of six new member organizations, including:, Alpine Testing Solutions, ARDMS, KRYTERION, Inc., Navy Advancement Center (NAC) - US NAVY, Network Appliance and VMware. The new memberships underscore the widespread and increasing interest in high fidelity modes of testing.

“The Performance Testing Council, Inc., is the only organization dedicated to advancing science and standards for tests and certifications based on real-world simulations, hands-on exam items, live-system tests and practicums, elements used in performance tests,” said PTC's Executive Director, Julie Timmcke. "We are delighted that performance-based testing is growing across all professions. This is driving strong growth in membership and participation at PTC."

"We are thrilled to see the growth in the discipline of performance testing," said Peter Childers, Chair and President of PTC. "Traditional cognitive tests--multiple choice tests--are coming under fire, under scrutiny on many counts. Industries and the public sector are looking for tests that add a new level of value, fairness and fidelity, meaning a closer relation to real-world job roles and competencies.”

“The PTC is a one-of-kind organization,” commented Quinn Sutton, Vice President of marketing for KRYTERION, Inc. - a new member to the PTC. “We are committed to advancing performance-based testing and testing practices in general. The PTC provides us with an excellent vehicle to accomplish this. We look forward to working with our peers to make a difference.”

Three working PTC summits each year provide significant opportunity for organizations to collaborate on methods and practices, and work together to collectively solve performance based testing issues. PTC Member Brian Adams, CEO and President of Alpine Testing Solutions, Inc. remarked after attending a recent PTC Summit in Banff, Canada, "The PTC is an exciting consortium whose members are working together to make performance testing a norm rather than an anomaly. This is no small task as the testing industry is currently optimized to support multiple-choice tests; but it is an extremely worthwhile and important task."

The Performance Testing Council

The PTC is the leading forum for development of standards and best practices in design, development and delivery of performance tests. Reflecting the consortium's motto of "Testing by Doing™", PTC committees and research cover a range of topics including psychometrics, test design, and interoperability standards for scalable delivery of performance items--areas relevant to organizations in a variety of fields who seek new value in high stakes testing and certification.

For information or to register for September, 2006 Summit: http://www.performancetest.org/

About

ALPINE TESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. www.alpinetesting.com

ALPINE TESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. provides innovative, superior-quality testing solutions with a genuine emphasis on customer needs, service, and satisfaction. Alpine Testing Solutions’ team of psychometricians, test development consultants, and technology experts work closely with each client team to build the most reliable, fair, and defensible test—supported by the strongest possible validity argument—within time and budget parameters.

ARDMS www.ardms.org

The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®), incorporated in June 1975, is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular interpretation and vascular technology.

ARDMS offers these credentials:

RDMS® – Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer®
RDCS® – Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer®
RVT® – Registered Vascular Technologist®
RPVI® – Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation®

KRYTERION www.kryteriononline.com

Kryterion is a privately held corporation with offices throughout North America and internationally. With years of experience in computer-based testing and related services from its founders, KRYTERION provides unequaled secure, online test deployment and certification program management services. The heart of KRYTERION technology is found in its acclaimed Webassessor online test delivery and program management technology supported by a global network of Drake Authorized Testing Centers.

NAVY ADVANCEMENT CENTER (NAC) US NAVY www.netpdtc.cnet.navy.mil

The Navy Advancement Center (NAC) is a major component of the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC). Its products and services include the development and distribution of paper and multimedia rating examinations, the purpose of which is to assist in rank-ordering Navy Sailors who are qualified to be advanced to the next higher paygrade. As an important part of the examination development process, the Center hosts Advancement Examination Development Conferences where Fleet Chief Petty Officers (E7 to E9) provide subject matter expertise in exam development for all enlisted Navy ratings. The NAC, in coordination with Fleet Commands, is actively exploring the implementation of computer-based and hands-on assessment models to measure Sailor performance.

NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC. (NETAPP) www.netapp.com

Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp) is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts that simplify data management. NetApp® storage solutions include specialized hardware, software, and services, providing seamless storage management for open network environments. Major corporations and service providers, including Citicorp Securities, Lockheed, Merrill Lynch, Oracle, Texas Instruments, and Yahoo!, utilize NetApp global data management solutions.

VMware www.vmware.com

VMware was founded in 1998 and is based in Palo Alto, California. VMware brings virtual machine technology to industry-standard computers. Today, the world's largest companies use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. The VMware Certified Professional Program offers technology professionals the knowledge, skills, and credentials to deploy and maintain VMware virtualization technology. This program is designed for any technical individual -- partners, end-users, resellers, and consultants.





		- For immediate release - PERFORMANCE TESTING COUNCIL ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBERS AND GROWTH New PTC members strengthen organization and the advancement of performance-based testing The Performance Testing Council, Inc. (PTC) announces the addition of six new member organizations, including:, Alpine Testing Solutions, ARDMS, KRYTERION, Inc., Navy Advancement Center (NAC) - US NAVY, Network Appliance and VMware. The new memberships underscore the widespread and increasing interest in high fidelity modes of testing. “The Performance Testing Council, Inc., is the only organization dedicated to advancing science and standards for tests and certifications based on real-world simulations, hands-on exam items, live-system tests and practicums, elements used in performance tests,” said PTC's Executive Director, Julie Timmcke. "We are delighted that performance-based testing is growing across all professions. This is driving strong growth in membership and participation at PTC." "We are thrilled to see the growth in the discipline of performance testing," said Peter Childers, Chair and President of PTC. "Traditional cognitive tests--multiple choice tests--are coming under fire, under scrutiny on many counts. Industries and the public sector are looking for tests that add a new level of value, fairness and fidelity, meaning a closer relation to real-world job roles and competencies.” “The PTC is a one-of-kind organization,” commented Quinn Sutton, Vice President of marketing for KRYTERION, Inc. - a new member to the PTC. “We are committed to advancing performance-based testing and testing practices in general. The PTC provides us with an excellent vehicle to accomplish this. We look forward to working with our peers to make a difference.” Three working PTC summits each year provide significant opportunity for organizations to collaborate on methods and practices, and work together to collectively solve performance based testing issues. PTC Member Brian Adams, CEO and President of Alpine Testing Solutions, Inc. remarked after attending a recent PTC Summit in Banff, Canada, "The PTC is an exciting consortium whose members are working together to make performance testing a norm rather than an anomaly. This is no small task as the testing industry is currently optimized to support multiple-choice tests; but it is an extremely worthwhile and important task." The Performance Testing Council The PTC is the leading forum for development of standards and best practices in design, development and delivery of performance tests. Reflecting the consortium's motto of "Testing by Doing™", PTC committees and research cover a range of topics including psychometrics, test design, and interoperability standards for scalable delivery of performance items--areas relevant to organizations in a variety of fields who seek new value in high stakes testing and certification. For information or to register for September, 2006 Summit: http://www.performancetest.org/ ## About ALPINE TESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. www.alpinetesting.com ALPINE TESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. provides innovative, superior-quality testing solutions with a genuine emphasis on customer needs, service, and satisfaction. Alpine Testing Solutions’ team of psychometricians, test development consultants, and technology experts work closely with each client team to build the most reliable, fair, and defensible test—supported by the strongest possible validity argument—within time and budget parameters. ARDMS www.ardms.org The American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®), incorporated in June 1975, is an independent, nonprofit organization that administers examinations and awards credentials in the areas of diagnostic medical sonography, diagnostic cardiac sonography, vascular interpretation and vascular technology. ARDMS offers these credentials: RDMS® – Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer® RDCS® – Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer® RVT® – Registered Vascular Technologist® RPVI® – Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation® KRYTERION www.kryteriononline.com Kryterion is a privately held corporation with offices throughout North America and internationally. With years of experience in computer-based testing and related services from its founders, KRYTERION provides unequaled secure, online test deployment and certification program management services. The heart of KRYTERION technology is found in its acclaimed Webassessor online test delivery and program management technology supported by a global network of Drake Authorized Testing Centers. NAVY ADVANCEMENT CENTER (NAC) US NAVY www.netpdtc.cnet.navy.mil The Navy Advancement Center (NAC) is a major component of the Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center (NETPDTC). Its products and services include the development and distribution of paper and multimedia rating examinations, the purpose of which is to assist in rank-ordering Navy Sailors who are qualified to be advanced to the next higher paygrade. As an important part of the examination development process, the Center hosts Advancement Examination Development Conferences where Fleet Chief Petty Officers (E7 to E9) provide subject matter expertise in exam development for all enlisted Navy ratings. The NAC, in coordination with Fleet Commands, is actively exploring the implementation of computer-based and hands-on assessment models to measure Sailor performance. NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC. (NETAPP) www.netapp.com Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp) is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts that simplify data management. NetApp® storage solutions include specialized hardware, software, and services, providing seamless storage management for open network environments. Major corporations and service providers, including Citicorp Securities, Lockheed, Merrill Lynch, Oracle, Texas Instruments, and Yahoo!, utilize NetApp global data management solutions. VMware www.vmware.com VMware was founded in 1998 and is based in Palo Alto, California. VMware brings virtual machine technology to industry-standard computers. Today, the world's largest companies use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. The VMware Certified Professional Program offers technology professionals the knowledge, skills, and credentials to deploy and maintain VMware virtualization technology. This program is designed for any technical individual -- partners, end-users, resellers, and consultants.