When examination fees are refundable, how to reschedule, and what happens if you cannot attend a scheduled session.
American Trade Certification ("ATC") charges examination fees to administer competency examinations, score and audit results, maintain the public registry, and operate the standards body. This policy explains when fees are refundable, when they are not, and how rescheduling works.
The current ATC examination fee is $60.00 per examination attempt for any of the five ATC credentials. The fee is the same for first attempts and retakes.
Full refund if requested in writing within seven (7) days of payment and before the examination is scheduled.
To request a full refund, email the registrar with your candidate ID, the credential applied for, and the reason for cancellation. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within ten (10) business days of approval.
Once the examination is scheduled with the training provider, the fee is non-refundable. Candidates who can no longer attend the scheduled session may instead reschedule under the rules below.
Documented emergencies (medical, family bereavement, military activation, natural disaster impacting travel) are eligible for fee-waived rescheduling at the discretion of the registrar. Documentation must be submitted within fourteen (14) days of the missed session.
The examination fee is not refunded for a failed attempt. Candidates who do not pass may retake the examination after the applicable waiting period (30 days for the first retake, 90 days for subsequent retakes), with a new examination fee.
If ATC cancels or postpones an examination (for example, due to a training-provider unavailability or platform outage), the candidate may choose at no charge to either reschedule on the next available date or receive a full refund.
Score appeals are governed by ATC's results-review process. The examination fee is not refundable on the basis of a score dispute, but a successful appeal that converts a failing result to a passing result will not require an additional fee for credential issuance.
Initiating a chargeback or payment dispute without first requesting a refund through the registrar may result in suspension of any ATC credential held by the disputing party until the dispute is resolved.
Where a training provider sponsors a cohort of candidates, the provider's master agreement with ATC governs cohort-level refunds, rescheduling, and substitutions. Individual candidates within a sponsored cohort should direct refund requests to their training provider.
To request a refund, reschedule, or appeal:
registrar@americantradecertification.org
Subject line: Refund / Reschedule / [Candidate ID]