Contents
During normal (i.e. face-to-face) exam periods, we ask examiners to volunteer for a minimum of one day per year, with each examiner examining a maximum of five candidates in a day. (Many examiners volunteer for one or more days per session, e.g. one day in May and one in November).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LI is currently running Pathway exams online. The number of candidates and timing of the online exams differs from the in-person exams; we recognise online exams can be more intensive, and allow sufficient extra time before and after exams for examiners and monitors to confer.
We ask examiners to confirm their availability ahead of the exam schedule being produced.
Prior to the exam, examiners need to spend time preparing suitable questions for their candidates, based on the candidate, mentor and supervisor submissions. This takes approximately two hours per candidate.
In addition, we ask all examiners to attend one training session per year.
Employment status and payment
All examiner appointments are made on a volunteer basis. The LI reimburses expenses in line with our expenses policy.
Conflicts of interest
Before drawing up a timetable, once an examiner has indicated their availability, we send them a list of all candidates for that exam session. We require all examiners to notify the staff team of any candidates they cannot examine due to a conflict of interest.
If, once the timetables are released and examiners gain access to the candidate’s submissions, they realise a conflict of interest does exist, they should notify the staff team immediately. Should the examiner be unaware of a conflict of interest until they meet the candidate in the exam room, they should then make the Chief Examiner aware of this before discussing whether to continue.
Where an examiner is unsure whether a conflict of interest may have arisen, they should contact the staff team in the first instance.
LI staff team contact: pathway@landscapeinstitute.org.
Confidentiality
The nature of examiners’ work gives them access to candidates’ records, which will in part document their day-to-day work. Candidates will be aware that the information they submit will be seen by others. However, examiners also need to be aware that the information they see as part of their role may sometimes contain privileged or business-sensitive information.
All information submitted by candidates, mentors and supervisors in the Pathway to Chartership system is submitted in confidence, and solely for the purposes of the Pathway to Chartership. Examiners must not disclose any information to a third party, or use if for any purpose – commercial or professional – other than in their capacity as a Chartership examiner.
As corporate members of the Landscape Institute, examiners will have undertaken to abide by the LI’s Code of Conduct.
