BEST Plus 3.0 Transition

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The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) has recently released the BEST Plus 3.0 transition training.

Who Is This Training For?

This training is available to all currently certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators and required for continued BEST Plus 3.0 certification. This training is free, online, self-accessed, and self-paced and takes an estimated 6–10 hours to complete.

Educators in MA who have never certified to administer BEST Plus 2.0 cannot take the BEST Plus 3.0 transition training and must wait to take the UMass CEA BEST Plus 3.0 full training when it becomes available (anticipated release date summer 2025). As soon UMass CEA trainers are trained by CAL, UMass CEA will offer BEST Plus 3.0 trainings.

When Does the Training Need to be Completed by?

The deadline to complete the BEST Plus 3.0 transition training is April 14, 2025.

Why Do BEST Plus 2.0 Certified Test Administrators Need to Complete This Training?

Failure of any certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators to complete the BEST Plus 3.0 transition training by April 14, 2025 will result in removal from the MA test administrator database and you will no longer be able to administer BEST Plus assessments in ACLS-funded adult education programs after June 30th, 2025.

What Do BEST Plus 2.0 Certified Test Administrators Need to Complete This Training?

Practitioners need to have the BEST Plus 3.0 Test Administrator Guide (TAG).
UMass CEA will purchase one new BEST Plus 3.0 TAG for each program and mail it as soon as CAL makes it available. Programs can purchase additional BEST Plus 3.0 Test Administrator Guides in the CAL Store.

If you have questions about how many TAGs you need to purchase for your staff, please reach out to aclstesthelp@umass.edu . UMass CEA will be emailing lists of currently certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators to each program in the next two weeks, but if you are eager to get your TAGs sooner, UMass CEA can provide you with your list of certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators upon request.

How Do BEST Plus 2.0 Certified Test Administrators Complete This Training?

Steps for Completing the BEST Plus 3.0 Online Self-Paced Transition Training by April 14, 2025:

1. Prior to accessing this training, you will need to first obtain and read through the BEST Plus 3.0 Test Administrator Guide.
2. Visit this link to register and complete the CAL online self-paced transition training. Read the information provided carefully before registering for the training.
3. After completing the training, you will receive a confirmation email from CAL at the email address you provided when you registered for the training (step 2 above).
4. Upload your certification email from CAL to the UMass CEA at this link. This step is very important as ACLS and UMass CEA need to be able to track the status of your certification.
5. After submitting proof of completion to UMass CEA at the link above, you will receive an automated email confirmation at the email address you provided. Please save that confirmation email (as well as the one from CAL) for your records.

See this graphic for a visual representation of the steps above.

Useful Links:

• Additional questions: aclstesthelp@educ.umass.edu
• BEST Plus 3.0 (and other NRS assessment support): ACLS Test Help Blog
• ACLS Assessment Policies
• CAL's BEST Plus 3.0 FAQ: CAL's FAQ Page
• BEST Plus 3.0 pricing
• Purchase:
  • BEST Plus 3.0 TAGs
  • BEST Plus 3.0 test administrations
• BEST Plus 3.0 software download
• BEST Plus 3.0 transition training information
• BEST Plus 3.0 transition training registration

Assessment Policy Reminders

BEST Plus 2.0 and BEST Plus 3.0

• BEST Plus 3.0 cannot be used for NRS pre- and post-testing in FY25. Continue to use BEST Plus 2.0 through June 30, 2025.
• All currently certified BEST Plus 2.0 test administrators must complete CAL's free online transition training for BEST Plus 3.0 by April 14, 2025.
• BEST Plus 2.0 test scores cannot be moved forward from FY2025 into FY2026.

CLAS E Reading and Writing Forms A and B and Forms C and D

• CLAS E Reading and Writing Forms C and D cannot be used for NRS pre- and post-testing in FY2025. Continue to use CLAS E Reading and Writing Forms A and B through June 30, 2025.
• CLAS E Reading and Writing Forms A and B test scores cannot be moved forward from FY2025 into FY2026.

TABE Forms 11 and 12 and Forms 13 and 14

• TABE Forms 13 and 14 cannot be used for NRS pre- and post-testing in FY2025. Continue to use TABE Forms 11 and 12 through June 30, 2025.
• TABE Forms 11 and 12 test scores cannot be moved forward from FY2025 into FY2026.

Last Updated: October 31, 2024