Protecting Integrity & Improving Student Outcomes

Ever look at exam scores and feel like something just isn’t adding up? Do you have hunch that students are cheating, but you can’t prove it?You aren’t the only one. 

That’s what happened to a psychology lecturer, Ryan Mears, PhD.

“After the second quiz,… 80% of my students [were] getting 100% on tests… I knew there was something seriously wrong… That’s when I realized I needed a proctoring solution.”

So, he started proctoring online exams with Honorlock and the change was immediate. Grades normalized and Mears trusted the results because he received detailed exam reports with time-stamped HD video recordings.

“I couldn’t trust my test scores at all before Honorlock… The analytics that come with the flags and real time recording helped me to understand how students were approaching the course and what strategies they were using to pass the test.”

Honorlock’s hybrid proctoring platform uses AI that flags suspicious behavior and alerts a human to review the situation and intervene if misconduct occurred. The platform secures the test environment, detects phones and other devices, blocks different types of AI, finds leaked test content, and gives instructors the data they need to make fair decisions about academic misconduct.

“Honorlock was more than a tool to guard or block students from using inappropriate information. It was also a means to detect many different ways that students approach the exams because of access to the wealth of data/information through Honorlock.”

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This article will show you what a browser lockdown can and cannot do and provide additional proctoring solutions to solve for areas that browser lockdown software may miss.

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Is a Browser Lock Enough to Protect Online Exams?

This article will show you what a browser lockdown can and cannot do and provide additional proctoring solutions to solve for areas that browser lockdown software may miss.

Browser lockdown software can help protect exams to a certain extent, but it isn’t enough to prevent cheating on exams. It can help block basic misconduct like accessing websites and opening new tabs, but it won’t stop test takers from using cell phones and other devices, which is half the battle.

‘If the goal is to check the box that your institution proctors exams, locking the browser works. But if your institution actually wants to prevent cheating and protect academic integrity, you’ll need a real proctoring solution.

This article shows you what browser lockdown software can and cannot do and provides other proctoring solutions to solve for areas that browser lockdown software may miss.

What is browser lockdown software?

Browser lockdown software is an automated proctoring solution that can help prevent cheating on online exams by restricting access to other browser tabs and websites, and blocking keyboard shortcuts such as copy and paste.

Here’s what browser lockdown software can do:

  • Restricts access to other websites, browsers, and applications
  • Disables keyboard shortcuts and functions such as printing, and copy and paste
  • Removes toolbar and menu options such as browser refresh, back, forward, and stop
  • Blocks the ability to resize the browser window
Browser lockdown cost information

Why browser lockdown software isn’t enough to protect online exams

The features of browser lockdown software highlighted above will help prevent cheating, but there are significant things it cannot do.

Browser lockdown software can’t see the student

While a browser lock can “see” if a student attempts to access another browser tab or computer application or if the student attempts to use keyboard shortcuts, it doesn’t offer the benefits of video proctoring, which uses the student’s webcam to view them during the exam.

Video proctoring often involves recording the student’s exam session for later review by the proctor and instructor. Video proctoring is especially useful because it allows ID verification and can tell if a student is using unauthorized resources or if another person is in the room.

Browser lockdown software can’t detect cell phones

A student can simply use their cell phone or another device to look up test questions and answers on the internet. 

Cannot detect voices or audio

Browser lockdown software can’t hear when a student may be talking on the phone or asking a friend for an answer to a test question.

Some online proctoring software monitors the exam session and goes beyond simple audio detection by listening for specific keywords or phrases, such as “Hey Siri” or “OK Google.”

A browser lockdown can’t verify student ID

ID verification is a priority before proctored exams and a basic browser lockdown doesn’t help solve this. Without video proctoring, browser lockdown software can’t verify ID.

Browser lockdown software lacks the human touch of online proctoring that students deserve

Because browser lockdown software is only an automated proctoring solution, there’s no human touch involved to help support students during the exam. We know that exams can cause anxiety and that technical issues can happen during the test and that’s where a human proctor can help students successfully complete their exams. Online proctoring services that combine AI test monitoring with human proctors are the best of both worlds.

Online proctoring options when browser lockdown software isn’t enough

The good news is that Honorlock provides a browser lock as a part of our standard proctoring features, but it also provides many more features and benefits such as:

  • Video proctoring 
  • Detecting cell phone use and voices 
  • Blending AI test monitoring software and live proctors
  • Verifying student ID
  • Reducing unauthorized use of your test questions and content on the Internet 

Honorlock can detect cell phone use during proctored exams

Honorlock proctoring software can detect when students use a cell phone, tablet, or laptop to access test bank content during an online exam.

The proctoring software also captures a screen recording of specific websites that the student visited to provide evidence in the event of a violation. The recording can be reviewed by the instructor to determine if academic dishonesty occurred.

Advanced video proctoring

Early forms of live video proctoring were unsettling for students because many didn’t appreciate having a remote proctor’s face hovering on the screen during the entire exam.

Honorlock’s video proctoring allows:​

  • 60-second ID verification
  • Room scans to make sure that no other people or test resources are present 
  • Second camera and side angle behavior monitoring 

Detects voices with Honorlock proctoring software

Honorlock’s smart Voice Detection feature listens for specific keywords or phrases to identify students who may be talking to another student or using Siri or Alexa to get the answers to test questions. If the proctoring software detects potential academic dishonesty, it alerts a live test proctor to review and intervene if cheating occurred. 

Helps protect your test questions and answers from unauthorized use on the Internet

You’ve probably heard of students finding and sharing test questions and answers on test banks and homework-help sites. Maybe you’ve even seen your own test content on the Internet. It’s frustrating and it’s quick and simple for any test-taker. 

However, Honorlock’s remote proctoring technology searches for leaked test questions, answers, and content and can also request the removal of the material by filing DMCA copyright takedown notices.

Blends AI test monitoring with live test proctors

Live Pop-in™ protects online exams, reduces test anxiety, and provides a less intimidating and noninvasive testing experience. AI alerts a live remote proctor to review and intervene (if necessary) to address the situation.

Choose to proctor online exams a better way

Browser lockdown software checks the box as a first line of defense against academic integrity but with all its shortcomings, choose to proctor online exams a better way with Honorlock. Our approach to online proctoring creates a non-invasive and fair testing environment that benefits the student, instructor, and institution.

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What Google Homework Helper Is and How to Block It

Google Homework Helper: What it is and How to Block it During Exams

Google’s homework help tool can be a useful resource for learning, but it also creates concerns for academic integrity. As more homework help tools like this will inevitably appear, it’s important to understand what they can do and how to prevent them from being used during exams.

What is Google homework helper?

Google’s homework helper is a Chrome browser tool that combines Lens and Gemini to provide immediate answers when exam questions or other content are highlighted. It uses Google Lens to select the elements and Gemini to provide answers, explanations, step-by-step instructions, and additional resources to learn more about the topic.

How does Google homework help work?

With Google’s homework help, learners only need to click a button and highlight a question to get immediate answers.
  • Google homework help tool works on any tests, pages, and content within the LMS, test delivery platform, or other websites accessed in Chrome or Google App.
  • The homework helper is part of Google Lens, and launches when learners click the Google Lens icon, which appears in the Chrome search bar and browser navigation.
  • After it launching it, learners highlight test questions and receive answers, or select other on-screen information they need help with.
  • Google’s homework helper uses Gemini to provide answers, explanations, videos, and other resources in a browser side panel.
  • Learners can also use their phones to access Google’s AI homework helper through the Google app or Lens app. To get help, they can point the camera at a question or upload a photo.
Note: The walkthrough below shows how the Google Lens homework help feature works within an LMS. It works the same way in any LMS, test delivery platform, or page accessed through Chrome.

Please rotate your device to view the interactive walkthrough

How to prevent the use of Google homework helper during exams

Browser lockdown software isn’t enough to prevent the use of homework help features because test takers can still use other devices. Tests need to be remotely proctored to prevent test takers from using Google’s homework helper and other similar tools, such as Microsoft Edge’s Copilot.

The proctoring software should be able to:

  • Detect and flag the attempted use of any homework help features in the browser.
  • Pause the exam to inform the test taker that those features are not permitted.
  • Alert a live proctor to review the behavior and address the situation if necessary.

Additional proctoring tools to block other types of AI

Preventing AI cheating is tricky because so many different tools exist and they can be accessed in different ways across almost any device. For example: 

  • Test takers can open chatbots in any device with a browser or even use voice commands to navigate them. 
  • AI assistants like Cluely, which operate like transparent chatbot teleprompters, can be controlled with simple keyboard shortcuts on the test-taker’s device or run on a second device that stays out of the webcam’s view.

The examples could go on and on, but the point is that you’ll need proctoring software with tools to detect and prevent the use of AI, such as:

  • Cell phone detection: Detects attempts to look up questions on cell phones and other secondary devices like smartwatches and tablets, and the presence of Apple devices in the test environment.
  • Application blocking: Test admins can allow specific applications needed to take the test (e.g., Word, Excel, coding platform) while blocking all other applications, including invisible AI assistants, screen recorders, and remote access applications.
  • Smart speech detection: Listens for test takers to say phrases that activate AI assistants like Siri and Alexa.
  • Recording and monitoring: Desktop activity and behavior are recorded and monitored during exams and a second side camera can be used to provide a full view of the test environment.

While Google’s homework helper was created with good intentions to support learners, it also makes preventing cheating more difficult. Honorlock’s proctoring technology is built to stay ahead of tools (any everything else) like this and keep exams secure and fair.

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The True Cost of Leaked Credentialing Exams

The Real Cost of Leaked Credentialing Exams and How to Prevent It

What if your certification and licensure exam content were leaked online? How much would your program’s credibility and value suffer if candidates and employers knew your exams could be easily found or bought online?

Why would candidates spend time and money on credentials that aren’t taken seriously? And why would companies hire candidates or promote employees if the answers are freely available online?

Answer sharing (and selling) is a real thing that impacts every industry around the world, from healthcare and cybersecurity to teaching and finance.

Content from credentialing exams can be leaked when candidates:

  • Take exams for the sole purpose of memorizing questions, then sharing and selling them online
  • Record their screens or take screenshots
  • Copy and paste text
  • Take photos on their phones

Certification and licensure exam content is typically shared on:

  • Exam prep websites that sell content in “study guides” and “practice tests”
  • Forums and social media groups
  • Texts & email

Industries struggling with leaked exam content

Healthcare

  • Medical licensing exams

    • 139 physicians’ statuses with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) were suspended or revoked after they shared exam questions with the director of an exam prep company. Many of ABIM’s copyrighted questions were posted verbatim on the prep company’s website.
    • And hundreds of U.S. medical licensing exam scores were invalidated after candidates memorized and shared questions. Many candidates were forced to retake the exam after investigators found identical answers and suspicious timing patterns.

  • Nursing certification exams

Medical licensing exams

139 physicians’ statuses with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) were suspended or revoked after they shared exam questions with the director of an exam prep company. Many of ABIM’s copyrighted questions were posted verbatim on the prep company’s website.

And hundreds of U.S. medical licensing exam scores were invalidated after candidates memorized and shared questions. Many candidates were forced to retake the exam after investigators found identical answers and suspicious timing patterns.

Nursing certification exams

The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) found that its Acute Care CPNP-AC exam content had been shared. In response, they immediately suspended testing and had to develop an entirely new certification exam.

Cybersecurity

Employees from NCC Group, a CREST member company, created and shared proprietary cybersecurity certification exam questions and answers. CREST, which accredits cybersecurity firms and certifies professionals, said NCC Group staff compiled the test materials and uploaded them to GitHub and Dropbox, which violates NDAs and CREST’s code of conduct.

Accounting and financial services

Answer sharing has cost the Big Four and their affiliates more than $132.5 million in fines since 2022, including one case with a $100 million fine. Employees, including senior leaders, were caught exchanging answers for licensure exams and tests for employee training and development. Along with the fines, the firms were ordered to update ethics policies and add stricter monitoring of employee testing.

Law enforcement

Even though civil service exams aren’t credentialing exams, answer sharing has the same consequences.

  • Cadets at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy received answers to exam questions and shared them with each other for the traffic law, criminal law, and final cadet exams.
  • Even the in-person 2022 NYPD Sergeant promotion exam was heavily compromised when officers used their phones to take pictures of test questions and share answers with other officers. Ultimately, 35% of exam questions were shared with over 1,200 officers.

Teaching

A test-prep company had staff repeatedly take the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) and the Florida Educational Leadership Exam (FELE) in order to memorize the questions to republish and sell online. The stolen exam content, which was owned by the Florida Department of Education and the State Board of Education, was republished in study guides and training materials and sold to customers.

Plumbing

A two-part plumbing certification exam and its answers were leaked and shared days before 224 apprentices sat for it. The agency overseeing the exams was forced to create new question banks and update program materials to protect certification exam integrity.

Proctoring software to secure credentialing exam content

While you can’t prevent someone from memorizing your exam content, you can use proctoring software to find and remove leaked content, prevent candidates from using their phones and other devices, and block them from recording their screens, taking screenshots, and copying and pasting your content.

  • Search & DestroyTM: Automatically scans the internet for your credentialing exam content, and it only takes a few minutes. If it finds any, you can send takedown requests with a single click.
  • Cell phone detection: Detects when candidates try to use cell phones and other devices (e.g., tablets and smartwatches) to look up questions and identifies nearby devices using AI-enabled Apple Handoff technology. 
  • Secure desktop: Records the candidate’s screen while blocking unauthorized websites, applications, and screen recorders. It also prevents them from copying and pasting your content, screenshotting, and resizing the exam browser window.
  • Video monitoring: Uses the webcam and an optional second camera to monitor for unauthorized resources like phones, which could be used to take photos of exam content, or pen and paper, which could be used to write down questions.

Challenge: Docebo University (DU) needed a reliable, scalable online proctoring solution after its previous provider was ineffective and time-consuming, which forced its team to proctor exams manually.

Solution: DU quickly implemented Honorlock’s hybrid solution to secure exams while simplifying the experience for both learners and administrators.

Results: Scaled certification and credentialing to 45,000+ learners and cut proctoring-related admin hours to save more than $50,000 annually.

“Partnering with Honorlock was a game-changer… We not only freed up our team’s time, but we also elevated the certification experience for the 45,000 learners we serve.” — Melissa Kruminas, Senior Director of Learning at Docebo

Read Their Story

Challenge: Healthcare Services Group (HCSG) struggled to certify its food service workforce because its previous remote exam proctoring solution was difficult to use, lacked accessibility, and did not provide multilingual support.

Solution: HCSG partnered with Honorlock to proctor food service certification exams and launched eLuminate, which assesses and certifies food service and hospitality professionals, to refocus and improve exams.

Results: Honorlock’s proctoring platform, multilingual support, and Chromebook compatibility created an accessible, user-friendly certification process that meets the needs of food service managers nationwide.

“I have been using Honorlock for a while now, and I have to say I love it… The testing process is quick, simple, and less stressful… It’s convenient and easy to fit into their daily schedules. I highly recommend Honorlock.” – Jeanne Hanlon-Martinez, RD & People Development Manager at HCSG

Read Their Story

The value of protecting professional credentialing

Preventing cheating protects the credibility and value of the credentials because employers and candidates know they actually mean something. If they’re proctored effectively—keyword: effectively—they can help verify that candidates have the knowledge and skills. Employers and candidates know the answers can’t just be pulled from the internet, and that ChatGPT and invisible AI assistants can’t help.

What does “proctored effectively” mean?

It means choosing a test proctoring solution that can prevent cheating without ruining the test experience. The recent California Bar Exam showed what happens when an online proctoring service does the exact opposite. It disrupted test takers, technical failures caused chaos, and ineffective features allowed exam content to be shared publicly.

Types of exam proctoring for credentialing programs

There are several different types of proctoring solutions and tons of tools and features beyond the ones we mentioned earlier.

But you have to find the right approach for your organization. Maybe it’s a hybrid solution that combines AI and live proctors. Or it could be using your own proctors but supporting them with AI monitoring software.

Common options to proctor credentialing exams:

  • Hybrid (AI + live): AI monitors exams and flags behaviors for a live proctor to review. Some services interrupt exams immediately, while others only intervene when necessary after reviewing.

  • Bring Your Own Proctor (BYOP): Your staff proctors exams and controls the rules and processes, while the software monitors behavior.

  • Automated: Software (including a browser guard) and/or AI monitors behavior to detect misconduct and prevent and block unauthorized activities.

  • Live: Human proctors watch multiple candidates take exams in real time.

  • Record and review: Exams are recorded for the proctoring company (or your staff) to review later.

If exam content is compromised, the reputation and value of your credentialing program and its exams can decline. 

Why earn a certification that no one takes seriously? Why hire someone who passed a licensure exam that’s available online?

Invest in a remote proctoring service that offers out-of-the-box features your organization needs to secure exams and protect your proprietary content.

More Resources
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Certification Exam Proctoring Tools and Types
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How to proctor essays and written assignments (typed or handwritten)
Proctored written work means no more chatbot cheating
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Certification Exam Proctoring Tools and Types
What's best for your organization?
How to block ChatGPT with proctoring sofware
How to keep ChatGPT & other chatbots out of your exams
How to proctor essays and written assignments (typed or handwritten)
Proctored written work means no more chatbot cheating
HCSG food service proctoring
See how HCSG uses Honorlock to offer fair & accessible food services certification exams
Top questions to consider if you aren't proctoring online exams
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Docebo University Scales Proctored Certification Exams With Honorlock
Docebo University scales certifications & cuts costs with Honorlock proctoring
Is the cost of browser lockdown software worth it?
Is the investment worth it?
5 Benefits of Proctoring Certification Testing
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Certification Proctoring Tools & Types

Certification Exam Proctoring Tools and Types

If a big pay raise or promotion depended on you passing a certification exam, would you look up answers online or ask a chatbot if the exam wasn’t proctored? C’mon, be honest.

Without proctoring software, or with weak software, the reward is high and the risk of being caught is low. There are many different certification proctoring tools and types to choose from, so we’ll review those and point out key considerations to help you find the best solution for your organization.

Proctoring tools to prevent cheating on certification exams

Proctoring services offer organizations many different tools to protect the integrity of certification exams. These tools work whether the exam uses traditional formats like multiple-choice and true-or-false or requires hands-on tasks like coding in a development environment, recording patient information in real charting software, or creating financial reports in Excel.

Although each proctoring company does it a bit differently, here’s how these tools work and how they can help secure certification exams and other assessments in professional education while also protecting your organization’s content and intellectual property.

Protect certification exam content and intellectual property

Proctoring tools can help protect IP by searching the internet for leaked certification exam content, which is big business today. Depending on the certification proctoring software, exam owners can manually select which questions to search for and send individual takedown requests, or they can automatically scan all questions at once and send takedown requests with a single click.

Detect cell phones and secondary devices

Detects when candidates try to use secondary devices such as cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets during professional certification exams. Proctoring services typically rely on live proctors seeing phones in real time, although this can be difficult when they are monitoring multiple candidates at once. Another approach to detecting cell phones is using online proctoring software that identifies their presence in the test environment and when test takers try to use them off camera to search for answers.

Block chatbots and AI assistants

Exam owners can block all applications and software, such as chatbots, AI coding/interview assistants, remote access tools, and screen recorders, while still allowing specific apps required to complete the exam. For example, blocking all applications and software while still allowing access to specific coding environments, accounting software, or software like Excel and Word limits test takers to only using the software needed to complete the proctored certification exam.

Scan the environment and monitor behavior from all angles

Before certification exams, admins can require a room scan to check for notes, devices, or other people. During exams, the remote proctoring system monitors and records participants with their main webcam and an optional second camera for a full view of the test environment.

Detect speech instead of unimportant sounds

Unlike basic sound detection, smart speech detection listens for specific keywords like “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” which activate virtual assistants. If something is flagged, a live proctor reviews the transcript and only intervenes when necessary so test takers can talk through problems without being interrupted.

Verify participants' identities

Proctoring solutions can authenticate the exam taker’s identity to confirm that the person taking the exam is the same as the person earning the degree or certification. Ideally, it’s a quick process (about a minute) where the webcam captures a photo of the participant and their ID. Participants will obviously have privacy concerns, so be sure to ask the proctoring service about their data privacy and security practices.

Types of certification proctoring

Proctoring companies’ software and services are all a bit different, but they can generally be grouped into a few types. Understanding how each type works can help you figure out what’s realistic to manage and best for your organization, your certification programs, and the participants taking the proctored exams.

Hybrid certification proctoring

AI monitors participants during exams and alerts a live proctor if potentially problematic behavior occurs. Services handle this differently. Some have live proctors intervene immediately regardless of the situation, like pausing an exam for a cough or barking dog, which can be distracting. And some take a more non-invasive approach by having the live proctors review the flagged behavior first and only intervene when necessary.

Bring Your Own Proctor (BYOP)

BYOP is a self-managed approach where your staff proctors the certification exams while the software monitors behavior. This approach keeps your organization in control while also giving you the flexibility to adjust processes and requirements.

Automated proctoring solution

Uses AI and/or software to monitor participants and block specific behaviors and access to unauthorized resources. Each online proctoring provider offers different features and functionality, which range from basic browser lockdown software and sound detection to more advanced AI that listens for specific speech and detects secondary devices.

Live proctoring

A human proctor watches participants take their professional certification exams in real-time. It provides human oversight for gray areas, but it’s expensive and makes it difficult to schedule exams, and proctors often miss things because they’re monitoring multiple test takers at once.

Record and review

The certification exam is recorded and then reviewed later by your staff or by the remote proctoring service. It adds human oversight but can’t stop misconduct when it happens and requires lots of time to review (which can be pricey).

Even though your certification programs and exams face more threats than ever, the right proctoring service can help by securing exams and protecting your content and IP. Proctored certification exams protect the value of the credential and the trust that participants and employers place in your certifications, programs, and organization. Learn more about proctoring for professional education.

More Resources
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See how HCSG uses Honorlock to offer fair & accessible food services certification exams
How to Detect AI Assistants in Technical Interviews
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How to keep ChatGPT & other chatbots out of your exams
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Proctored written work means no more chatbot cheating
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Everything you could possibly want to know about proctoring
Is the cost of browser lockdown software worth it?
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See why more organizations are proctoring certification exams
HCSG food service proctoring
See how HCSG uses Honorlock to offer fair & accessible food services certification exams
How to Detect AI Assistants in Technical Interviews
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How to block ChatGPT with proctoring sofware
How to keep ChatGPT & other chatbots out of your exams
Docebo University Scales Proctored Certification Exams With Honorlock
Docebo University scales certifications & cuts costs with Honorlock proctoring
How to proctor essays and written assignments (typed or handwritten)
Proctored written work means no more chatbot cheating
Top questions to consider if you aren't proctoring online exams
You can’t stop what you can’t see
Summary of what online proctoring is and how it works
Everything you could possibly want to know about proctoring
Is the cost of browser lockdown software worth it?
Is the investment worth it?
5 Benefits of Proctoring Certification Testing
See why more organizations are proctoring certification exams

Trust20 Partners with Honorlock to Enhance Online Food Safety Certification

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Aug 18, 2025) – Trust20, a leading provider of online food safety training and certification, has partnered with Honorlock, the premier online proctoring solution, to significantly improve the security and user experience for food service professionals seeking certifications.

Trust20, known for its comprehensive, mobile-friendly courses in food handling, allergy awareness, and food protection management, sought a proctoring partner that could meet its rigorous demands for security, efficiency, and responsiveness for its ANAB-accredited certification programs.

“At Trust20, our commitment is to deliver the most reliable, secure, and user-friendly food safety certifications in the industry,” said Stephanie Russell, CEO of Trust20. “After a thorough evaluation, it became clear that Honorlock’s innovative technology, robust security measures, and dedication to proactive partnership perfectly align with our values. Their ability to provide a seamless experience for all candidates will significantly enhance the integrity and accessibility of our programs.”

A key factor in the decision was Honorlock’s commitment to collaboration. “We are excited to have a partner that will help co-create our solutions as we respond to ever-changing industry needs,” added Russell. “A critical issue for us was the failure to translate pre-test instructions and proctor chat into Spanish, creating significant barriers for our Spanish-speaking test takers, even though our exam content was translated. Honorlock demonstrated a clear understanding of these challenges and a strong commitment to working as a team to overcome them.”

Honorlock’s advanced proctoring technology and dedication to a superior user experience directly address Trust20’s requirements. The platform’s robust security features provide the assurance Trust20 needs to protect the integrity of its certifications. Moreover, Honorlock’s streamlined process and responsive support are designed to minimize technical disruptions, simplify setup (no download required), and provide on-demand exam access (no scheduling required), ensuring a smoother journey for every candidate. Trust20 also noted the clarity and simplicity of Honorlock Hub’s data reporting and HD session viewer, offering new possibilities for continuous improvement and manager visibility with a view of real-time proctoring insights.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Trust20, an organization that shares our dedication to excellence and integrity in certification,” said Michael Hemlepp, CEO of Honorlock. “Our goal is to empower organizations like Trust20 with a proctoring solution that not only ensures exam security but also enhances the overall experience for every individual. We are committed to providing the proactive support and innovative solutions Trust20 needs to continue its vital work in food safety education.”

This partnership marks a significant step forward for Trust20, reinforcing their commitment to delivering secure, accessible, and high-quality food safety certifications nationwide.

About Honorlock

Honorlock protects exam integrity for academic institutions and professional credentialing organizations by combining its live proctors and automated proctoring platform to deliver scalable, on-demand proctoring. With Honorlock, organizations can deliver secure exams from anywhere while empowering test takers to do their best work by allowing them to take their proctored exams without scheduling. 

About Trust20

Trust20 offers training, certifications, and resources for the foodservice industry that have been developed in collaboration with operators, staff, and experts in sectors including food and beverage, healthcare, and education. The company was founded in 2020 to meet the changing needs of the foodservice industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Trust20 has launched multiple ANAB-accredited trainings and an accredited Food Protection Manager Certification exam alongside free resources to support continued education for foodservice workers at all levels. Trust20 is a registered trademark of Relish Works by Gordon Food Service. To learn more, visit www.trust20.com

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Honorlock Helps Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice Renew ANAB Accreditation of Certification Program

Fair and Accessible Certification Exams: How Honorlock & HCSG Unlocked Opportunities in Food Service

Docebo University Scales Proctored Certification Exams With Honorlock

Docebo University Scales Customer Certification and Cuts Costs with Seamless Proctoring from Honorlock

Northern Virginia Community College Elevates Equitable Online Learning with Honorlock

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What is online proctoring?

5 Benefits of Proctoring Certification Testing

5 Ways Proctoring Improves Certification Testing

Certificate vs Certification vs Licenses

Certificate vs. Certification vs. Licensure

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Proctored Essays & Written Assignments

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Industry 4.0 Technologies & Certification Programs

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How to Detect AI Coding Assistants in Technical Interviews

How to Detect AI Assistants in Technical Interviews

Assessing candidates’ skills during technical interviews just got a lot trickier thanks to AI coding assistants and interview copilots. These AI interview tools use chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude to generate code or answers to technical interview questions, then they show them on-screen using a transparent overlay that only candidates can see.

They can see what’s on the candidate’s screen (e.g., coding tasks or exam questions), hear what’s being asked, and provide answers in real-time. In other words, they’re invisible AI for technical interviews that act like chatbot teleprompters.

During technical interviews, candidates can use AI assistants to:

  • Generate code to use within a development environment
  • Display word-for-word responses for the candidate to read aloud based on the interviewer’s question
  • Answer exam questions in formats like multiple-choice and true/false
  • Give step-by-step instructions to complete technical tasks
  • Write long or short-form responses

Even more concerning is that these AI interview tools are virtually undetectable. But how do they work and why are they so hard to detect?

How do AI assistants for technical interviews work?

  • Capture: The AI captures information by “reading” the text on the candidate’s screen and “seeing” the environment (e.g., coding UI and errors), and “hearing” what the interviewer asks.
  • Process: That information is processed by a Large Language Model (LLM) to understand the problem and context.
  • Answer: The AI creates tailored answers based on all of the information it’s been trained on and any other context the candidate provides, like their resume, the job description, and information about the company.
  • Deliver: The answer, whether code or a response to read aloud, is delivered to the candidate within a transparent overlay only the candidate can see.
  • Respond: The candidate uses the AI-generated code or response as if it were their own.

How are AI coding copilots and interview assistants invisible?

  • Transparent overlays: AI-generated responses appear in a transparent window over the interview platform. The candidate can see the prompts, but the overlay can’t be seen during screensharing (see example image below this section)
  • Works on secondary devices: Most of these tools work on cellphones, which can be placed just outside the camera’s view on their main device. It captures audio from the main device, processes the questions in real time, and displays answers without joining the meeting.
  • Hidden keyboard shortcuts: Certain keyboard shortcuts allow candidates to control AI assistants and their placement on the screen. For example:
    • Hide/show AI overlay: Ctrl (or ⌘) + B
    • Move the overlay: Ctrl (or ⌘) + ↑ / ↓ / ← / →
  • Hidden browsers/tabs: The AI opens in a separate, concealed browser window or tab that doesn’t appear in the list of shared screens or tabs.
  • Operates as a background process: Some AI copilots hide by running like a background process with no normal window, so they don’t show in the taskbar or Dock. They also avoid the open apps and screen-share lists by using small utility panels or a translucent overlay that the computer does not treat as a normal window, and by telling the system not to include it in sharing or recordings.
Laptop screen showing an invisible AI interview assistant answering a coding question during a technical interview.
Example of an AI coding/interview assistant's transparent overlay during an exam

How to use proctoring software to block and detect AI coding copilots and interview assistants:

Block all applications or just allow the ones you want

The proctoring software should allow exam admins to block all applications, such as AI coding/interview assistants, screen recording apps, web conferencing apps, or remote access software.

Exam admins can also choose to allow specific apps, such as Excel or any other apps during a technical interview that requires completion of accounting-related tasks. This way, candidates only have access to the apps/software needed for the exam and nothing else.

Detect cell phones and other devices

AI interview assistants can be used on secondary devices, so you need a proctoring solution that can detect and block candidates from using them.

But you can’t just hope that a proctor will see one. You need proctoring software that can detect the presence of cell phones (and other handheld devices), uses AI to identify Apple devices nearby, and flagging when candidates try to search test questions on a secondary device.

Monitor from all angles

You can monitor and record candidates during technical interviews and exams using their main device’s webcam and you can use second camera monitoring for a wider, multi-angle view of their environment.

Scan the room & verify ID

Before technical interviews start, admins can require candidates to complete a room scan to make sure that they don’t have access to unauthorized resources like cell phones, notes, and even other people.

Protect your organization’s IP

In addition to blocking AI assistants during interviews and exams, organizations also need to protect their intellectual property. Look for proctoring solution that automatically scans the internet for all exam content in minutes to identify leaked questions and allows you to send a one-click takedown request.

New AI tools are popping up every day, so it’s important for organizations to stay ahead with exam proctoring software that protects the integrity of interviews, exams, and skills assessments. Being proactive now can prevent bigger problems down the road.

Schedule a Demo

Extra resources
How Proctored exams improves certifications
Proctoring to improve certification testing
Top questions to consider if you aren't proctoring online exams
You can’t stop what you can’t see
How to Prevent Cheating During Online Exams
Practical strategies & technology to prevent cheating
How to find leaked test questions
Protect your intellectual property
How to Block Cluely AI During Exams and Interviews to prevent cheating
What to know about Cluely & how to block it
How to proctor essays and written assignments (typed or handwritten)
Proctored written work means no more chatbot cheating
Summary of what online proctoring is and how it works
Everything you could possibly want to know about proctoring

Proctoring For Large Colleges And Universities

Proctoring for Large Colleges and Universities Comparison Considerations

When it comes to remote testing and academic integrity, large colleges and universities (those with over 5,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) students) have some pretty specific needs. With thousands of students taking exams across different departments and campuses, and sometimes states and continents, scalability is a must.

These schools aren’t just giving multiple-choice exams anymore, especially as they’re figuring out how to keep students from using AI. They assign scaffolded projects that students complete using real software, use hands-on coding assessments, and assess students through virtual presentations and oral exams. That means their remote assessments need a proctoring solution that’s flexible enough to handle all kinds of exam formats and work with learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas, Blackboard and D2L.

Beyond functionality
But it’s not just about the functionality of the technologies used in online learning and testing. Campus leaders and faculty care deeply about protecting student data, making assessments accessible for all students who have disabilities or face obstacles like unstable internet, and creating a fair and supportive assessment experience. Faculty also want the freedom to set their own rules, while administrators need clear reporting tools and real-time insights into academic integrity issues.

Scalable, not scammy
Cost obviously matters too. Large schools need pricing that’s clear and scalable. So why is it so convoluted and scammy? Are hidden fees part of the product or what are we doing here? It shouldn’t be that way, and it doesn’t have to be.

Find what you need
Types
Cost
Support
LMS
Features
Accessibility
See more content to learn about proctoring

Find the right type of proctoring for exams and your students

When higher education institutions deliver proctored exams to thousands of students, every detail matters. It has to work everywhere, for everyone, at any time. But picking the right proctoring method is tricky.

Get it right, students barely notice, faculty actually use it, and exams are secure. Get it wrong, everyone feels it and administrators definitely hear about it.

If you choose the wrong one, your institution is likely to deal with at least two of the following headaches from a solution that:

  • Doesn’t really prevent cheating (a cell phone can beat it)
  • Ruins the test-taking and making experience for students and faculty members
  • Slips in last-second charges for implementation and support, and tacks on extra fees when exams take longer than expected

Remote proctoring options to secure online assessments

AI + Live

A hybrid approach that uses AI exam monitoring to flag suspicious behavior and alert a live test proctor who reviews and intervenes if needed.

Record & Review

Audio and video is captured during exams then reviewed by the institution or proctor service after the exam.

Automated Proctoring

Automated proctoring only uses AI and software to monitor student behavior.

Browser Lockdown Software

Restricts access to websites and applications and blocks keyboard shortcuts like copy and paste.

Live Proctoring

Only relies on human supervision by test proctors who watch multiple students and intervene if they see potential academic misconduct.

“We’re paying for a service that just works. We’re getting a full-time position on the distance education team back. Now that she doesn’t have to spend 100% of her time making proctoring work, she can focus on value-added work for our students. There’s so much more we can do.”  Stephanie Ungerank, Director of Distance Education, Arkansas State University-Beebe

How to control the cost of proctoring at large colleges and universities

Look for online proctoring companies that offer flat-rate pricing per exam or per student. When you pay by the hour, exams that run just a few minutes over will cost you.

Many proctoring providers round up by the hour, so if a student crosses the 60-minute mark, you could be charged for a full second hour. But even if they only add up the extra minutes, those extra minutes can still add up to hundreds of unexpected hours when you’re proctoring exams for thousands of students.

And make sure the cost of proctoring services includes implementation and on-going support for students and faculty. To help determine the value, ask whether support is live or automated, whether it’s available 24/7, response times, etc. and have them list what their implementation and training includes and who’s involved to make sure it meets your institution’s needs.

$1.14
million

See how the University of Florida saved $1.14 million in remote proctoring costs over three semesters and gave faculty 8.5 hours back per course each semester to focus on teaching instead of proctoring.

Read Their Story
8.5
hours

Support that solves, not stalls

Make sure the proctoring service offers 24/7/365 live support for students and faculty. Students have busy lives and need the ability to take online exams anytime, day or night. On-demand support gives them the flexibility they need.

Ask the proctoring company:

  • How long it takes for support agents to respond and how quickly issues are resolved
  • Where the support team is located
  • If support is included or an added cost

These details have a big impact on the testing experience and your budget.

“Having access to customer support 24/7/365 is huge. Especially when students may be taking exams at any time of day. You want them to have access to someone who can troubleshoot with them.”

Daphnee St. Val, Senior Instructional Designer, Broward College

LMS integration

The integration between the proctoring platform and the LMS is the difference between a smooth testing experience and a constant flood of support tickets for large colleges and universities. It makes implementation quick and easy, secures data, and creates a better test experience for students and faculty.

Creates a familiar test environment

Students launch proctored online exams from the LMS just like they already do. There’s no new platform to learn. The only difference is that they show their ID to the webcam to verify who they are and complete a quick room scan. It takes about a minute and they’re good to go. 

Faculty create proctored exams the same way they build any other assessment in the LMS. After that, they pick the exam proctoring features to use and can add notes to provide specific accommodations for students.

No extra passwords or logins

Students and faculty shouldn’t need extra logins and passwords just to make or take a proctored exam. 

Why is this important?  

Imagine you’re about to take a big exam. You log into the LMS and click to start the proctored test, but you’re hit with a prompt to create an account or enter your credentials (but you don’t remember them).

“You want an integrated system. You don’t want faculty and students to have separate sign-on. That was important for us.”

Steven Daniello, Director of Assessment Services at Indian River State College

Read Their Story

So, now you’re annoyed and wasting time. Creating a new account might seem like a small task, but delays and last-minute issues right before an exam can add to or trigger test anxiety, which is already common among college students (Gerwing et al., 2015; Kolski & Weible, 2018).

Test anxiety

While we’re on the subject of test anxiety, you’ll want to make sure the remote proctoring software you choose doesn’t contribute to it.

When students are already anxious, any extra worry can amplify the negative effects of test anxiety, increasing cognitive load, interfering with concentration, and lowering test performance (Pekrun, 2024), especially in online settings where technical issues are common sources of stress (Alibak et al., 2019). 

However, proctoring-related test anxiety often comes from technical concerns, like whether their device will work with the software or internet stability, not from being monitored (Andreou et al., 2021; Woldeab & Brothen, 2019)

How are they helping colleges and universities address test anxiety?

  • Are proctors trained to identify signs of physical stress and reply appropriately?
  • Can students take practice tests to get comfortable with the software? 
  • Does the company offer 24/7/365 live support? If so, how long does it take them to respond?
  • Do they have an easy way to test their system requirements? 
  • Are there other help resources available for students (e.g., articles, FAQ, video tutorials, etc.)?

“It’s the empathy that sets Honorlock apart. Our students are anxious enough; having someone actually respond and care made all the difference.

Caryn Sever, Director of Instructional Design and Development, Northern Virginia Community College

Read Their Story

The answers to these questions can affect student learning and test performance. But they can also affect academic integrity because test anxiety increases academic dishonesty. However, access to practice exams and system checks can help lower students’ anxiety, which can reduce cheating (Gribbins and Bonk, 2023).

“Honorlock was a lot less invasive and less glitchy. It felt way more seamless and creates an easier testing experience. It just lets you take your test without any interruptions.”

Madi Kuokos, Student at the University of Florida graduate

Remote proctoring features for online exams

When you’re evaluating remote proctoring services, it’s not enough to check the box that the software includes certain features. You also need to understand how those features and processes work, because the details behind things like ID verification, phone detection, and support access can impact the entire test experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Detecting cell phones and other secondary devices

Cell phones make it easy to cheat during exams, and nearly every student has one. That’s why some online proctoring companies say they offer “cell phone detection.”

It’s tough to keep a straight face and call it cell phone detection because, in reality, it’s just a live proctor squinting at a dozen video thumbnails of students taking their exams and hoping to spot a phone at some point.

In other words, they’re crossing their fingers and hoping for the best.

71%
of violations during proctored exams involve cell phones or other secondary devices.
The good news is that some proctoring services offer technology that detects cell phones instead of wishful thinking. This technology detects the presence of cell phones and when students try to use them to look up answers.

Preventing students using AI to cheat on exams before it starts

Whether it’s exams or written assignments, faculty obviously want to prevent students from using AI, especially chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude, along with clever desktop assistants like Cluely These tools can write and answer almost anything.

What is Cluely?

Cluely is an AI desktop assistant that helps students cheat by answering questions it sees and hears on-screen. It uses transparent overlays and bypasses keyboard shortcuts, which makes it almost impossible to detect during online assessments.
Example of what Cluely AI looks like during an exam. Shows its transparent interface answer a question on an exam.
Student view of Cluely during an online exam.

With the right solution, you can proctor writing assignments (even handwritten) just like an exam. But you’ll need a combination of virtual proctoring tools to do it. These tools work together to block students from accessing unauthorized AI on computers, smartwatches, and tablets.

Listening for speech that actually matters

Some students talk to themselves while they work through exams. Some live in noisy households. With sound detection, faculty have to review flags for unimportant noises, like a student talking through a problem or coughing. 

Smart Speech Detection listens for certain keywords that may indicate cheating. For example, voice commands that activate virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa on devices that are off-screen.

Finding leaked exam content

There’s a lot of leaked test content available online. Some companies pose as “homework help” sites, but they’re really just big repositories for your content and other resources to cheat on exams.

Search & DestroyTM is a proctoring tool that automatically checks the internet for all of your exam content. If it finds any, you can send takedown requests with one click.

When you compare proctoring platforms, dig into how each one searches for leaked exam content, or you may end up manually selecting each question it searches for instead of the system automatically searching for all of them.

“There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than when you see exam questions have been leaked. Having that quick ability to make sure that when you’ve uploaded an exam, none of those questions have been compromised is important to the teaching and learning process.”

Naz Erenguc, Director of Admissions, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida

Read More

Securing third-party exams

The online test proctoring software should allow faculty to secure exams on third-party platforms like MyMathLab, Knewton Alta, WebAssign, and more. Ideally, instructors should only need to register the exam with a password-protected link before setting up the exam. Then students launch the proctored exam and can exit and remove the Honorlock extension when they finish.

Monitoring and recording behavior during exams

Uses the webcam to monitor and record students’ behavior and desktops during proctored exams. Faculty can also require a second side camera for a wider field of view during exams where test takers show their work or have external resources available.

Verifying identity and scanning the room

Before taking an online proctored exam, faculty can have students confirm their identity and complete a quick room scan. This confirms it’s the right person and that there are no unauthorized resources or people in the room.

Using remote proctoring software can also help institutions meet state, federal, and accreditation requirements for identity and attendance verification.

“Honorlock helps us adhere to state and federal requirements, in addition to accreditation requirements, because it provides the opportunity to capture identity verification and attendance verification at the same time. Through Honorlock and Canvas, we were able to verify identity, the time and date stamp, and provide that documentation to the auditor easily.”

Dr. Lee Conerly, Director of Academic Instruction, Coastal Alabama Community College

Read More

Improving testing with reporting

Exam reports after the test offer a ton of useful information, but they need to be organized and easy to understand to be helpful. Otherwise, it’s just a lot of data that never gets used.

Look for a solution with an analytics dashboard that provides: 

  • Understand the most common exam violations
  • Compare the use of proctored testing from one semester to the next
  • Analyze the impact of specific exam features

 Honorlock Analytics HubTM

Honorlock’s Analytics Hub provides extensive data that institutions and faculty can use through a single, easy-to-use portal that saves time, improves assessments, improves academic integrity, and supports students along the way.

Quick exam reviews

Quick exam reviews

Easy-to-read reports show exams with human-validated violations

Filtered Exam Review

Filterable and focused

Easily filter flags by risk level to focus on the sessions that matter, and spend less time on reviews and more time on teaching.

HD Recording Review

Integrity in HD

​​View proctored exam sessions from start to finish in HD quality with comprehensive recordings and a best-in-class session viewer.

Quick exam reviews

Quick exam reviews

Easy-to-read reports show exams with human-validated violations

Filtered Exam Review

Filterable and focused

Easily filter flags by risk level to focus on the sessions that matter, and spend less time on reviews and more time on teaching.

HD Recording Review

Integrity in HD

​​View proctored exam sessions from start to finish in HD quality with comprehensive recordings and a best-in-class session viewer.

“The Honorlock Analytics Hub™ has helped us tell our story. It truly tells the story of where our students are and what their needs are.”

Stephanie Ungerank, Director of Distance Education, Arkansas State University-Beebe

Read More

“Honorlock was more than a tool to guard or block students from using inappropriate information. It was also a means to detect and determine many different ways that students approach the exams. Because of access to the wealth of data and information, I became better able to utilize it.”

Ryan P. Mears PhD, Lecturer, University of Florida

Read More

Accessibility and accommodations

To be truly accessible, proctoring software should support a range of student needs. It should follow web accessibility standards, work with assistive technologies like screen readers, and allow instructors to set accommodations such as extended time, breaks, multiple attempts, or testing without a webcam. It should also include failsafes that keep the system working even when internet speeds drop below streaming thresholds. And to support students with busy or unpredictable schedules, it should offer 24/7 proctored exams with access to live support whenever they need it.

“Honorlock helps instructors ensure that students’ individual needs are met. An instructor can specify individual student accommodations, and then the live proctor will ensure that those accommodations are afforded.

Dana Einfeld, Ed.D, Division Chairperson, Academic Transfer Mathematics & Engineering, Coastal Alabama Community College

Read More

“Honorlock helps us get to the core of our mission here at Warrington: being able to offer an MBA to just about anybody.”

Naz Erenguc, Director of Admissions
Warrington College of Business, University of Florida

Read More

Online proctoring services can prevent students from gaining an unfair advantage during online testing and written academic work, but it’s not just about catching students who cheat. 

That’s a big part of it, but not the whole point. It’s also about giving students access and flexibility they need and making education possible for more people. And as a result, it helps create a level playing field where online testing feels just as solid and valuable as it would in a classroom or testing center.

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How to Cite AI in APA, MLA, and Chicago

How to cite AI in APA, MLA, and Chicago with examples and templates

Using generative AI tools is pretty cool because they can help improve your writing or you can make images, videos, and audio of basically anything you can think of. But then APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles* showed up with a bunch of rules and policies we have to follow.

*fun-ruiners

The good news? This article has examples and copy/paste templates for citing AI in each style.

We’ll update this page as the citation guidelines change (which is pretty often) so save the link/bookmark it for quick reference. To bookmark, press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (Mac).

Links to share specific sections with learners

Copy the link to a citation style to share with your learners.

  • APA: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#apa
  • MLA: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#mla
  • Chicago: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#chicago

Share links to specific sections with your learners

  • APA: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#apa
  • MLA: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#mla
  • Chicago: honorlock.com/blog/how-to-cite-ai/#chicago

How to cite AI in APA

APA AI citation format examples

Citing AI-generated text in APA

Reference list entry
  • Template: Author. (Date). Title (Month Day version) [Additional Descriptions]. Source
  • Example: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/
In-text citations
  • Parenthetical citation: (Author, Year) (OpenAI, 2025)
  • Narrative citation: Author (Year) OpenAI (2025)
Context for each part of the APA AI citation template​
  • Author: The company that owns the AI tool (e.g., OpenAI owns ChatGPT)
  • Date: The year of the version you used.
  • Title: The name of the model (e.g. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini). The version number is included after the title in parentheses. According to APA, you don’t need to include the specific version, like ChatGPT-3 or ChatGPT-4, in the title because “ChatGPT” is the general name.
  • Bracketed text: Describe the type of AI model. We used "Large language model" in the example above because that's how OpenAI refers to ChatGPT. If it's an AI tool that creates images or videos, use "AI image generator" or "AI video generator"
  • Source: Use a link that takes readers directly to the tool or model, not just the company’s homepage. For example, link them to https://chatgpt.com/ instead of https://openai.com/.

How to cite AI generated images and videos in APA

APA hasn’t published specific guidelines for citing AI-generated images or videos, but you can cite them in a format similar to the examples below.

Example APA citations for AI images:
  • Reference: Krea. (2025). Krea (Idealogram 3.0) [AI image generator]. https://www.krea.ai/image
  • In-text citations: Krea (2025) or (Krea, 2025)
  • Add a note that’s similar to the one under this AI-generated image of a chameleon.
Example APA citations for AI videos
  • Reference: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Sora) [AI video generator]. https://sora.chatgpt.com/
  • In-text citations: Open AI (2025) or (Open AI, 2025)
AI-generated image of a chameleon walking on a green leaf covered in water droplets with a rainforest background.
Note. Image generated using the prompt “Create a photorealistic close-up image of a chameleon walking on a leaf,” by Krea, Idealogram 3.0, 2025 (https://www.krea.ai/image)

Key points to know about APA policies for citing AI

Here are important points to know about APA policy guidelines for citing AI-generated content by ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

How does APAP define AI?

APA defines AI as generative LLM tools, but it doesn’t include other forms of AI tools, such as grammar checkers, citation tools, or plagiarism detectors.

What to do if you cite AI in an APA publication

If you cite AI in an APA publication, you need to: 

  • Cite it using the software citation format
  • Disclose it in the Methods section
  • Upload the full output of the AI in an appendix or as supplemental material, including the prompts you used

You can use AI for editing, but you need to disclose how it was used.

AI can’t be listed as an author on research papers

According to APA guidelines, AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can’t be listed as authors because they don’t meet authorship criteria since they can’t take responsibility for the work or consent to its publication.

Author responsibility

Authors are entirely responsible for verifying the accuracy of all AI-generated content, which includes text and any citations it provides.

NEW ebook: How to Prevent Chatbot Cheating

6-part ebook with everything you need to know about chatbots and how to control if, how, and when they’re used in online learning.

How to cite AI in MLA

MLA formatting AI examples

How to cite AI-generated text in MLA

Works cited MLA AI citation
  • Template: “Prompt text” prompt. Title of Container, Day Month version, Publisher, Day Month Year, location.
  • Example: “Explain how Edgar Allan Poe used alliteration in his writing” prompt. ChatGPT, 14 May version, OpenAI, 20 May 2025, https://chatgpt.com/.
MLA AI in-text citation example:
  • (“Explain how Edgar Allan Poe used alliteration in his writing”)
Context for each part of the MLA AI citation template​
  • Prompt text (Title of Source): Add the prompt you used or briefly describe what the AI tool generated. 
  • Title of Container: The name of the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, etc.)
  • Version: Include the AI tool version and the release date, if it's available.
  • Publisher: Company that made the AI tool (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.)
  • Date: The date the content was generated
  • Location: URL for the AI tool.

How to cite AI-generated images in MLA

AI-generated images require a caption that includes a description of the prompt along with the AI tool, version, and date the image was created.

The text below the image of the napping golden retriever shows how to cite an image generated with ChatGPT’s image generation tool, DALLE-3.

DALL-E lets users create a shareable link. If you use a shareable link, include that specific URL instead of the general site link.

Oil painting of a golden retriever sleeping on a brown couch.
Fig. 1. “Oil painting of a golden retriever napping on a couch” prompt, DALL·E, version 3, OpenAI, 20 May 2025, https://chat.openai.com/.

Key points to know about MLA guidelines for citing AI

Here are a few key points to know about citing generative AI in MLA:

How does MLA define AI?

MLA defines generative AI as a tool that can as a tool that analyzes and/or summarizes content from a set of information available on the internet (e.g., web pages, books, and other writing), and uses that information to generate original content.

Be transparent about how you use generative AI in your work

Always cite when and how you use generative AI tools, whether it’s paraphrasing, quoting, translating, or generating content like text, images, video, and even code or data.

However, if you use an AI tool to find a source, just cite the source itself; you don’t need to cite that you used the AI tool specifically to find that source or that you found it through the tool. For example, if Google Gemini directs you to a research study that you use in your work, you’d only cite the research study, not Google Gemini.

Do not treat the AI tool as an author

MLA guidelines are clear that AI can’t be listed as authors.

Author responsibility

Similar to APA guidelines, MLA indicates that it’s up to the author(s) to verify any AI-generated content used in their work.

How to cite AI in Chicago Style

Citing AI in Chicago style is less rigid than APA and MLA. Chicago says to cite AI content in a note, not in the bibliography because the chat can’t be shared like a source. But some AI tools offer shareable links, so this rule MIGHT change.

Example AI citations in Chicago

In most cases, you can simply acknowledge the AI tool in your text (e.g., “The list of tropical fish was generated by ChatGPT”).

However, if you need a more formal citation for a research paper, for example, you’d add a numbered footnote or endnote like this: Text generated by Claude, Anthropic, May 20, 2025, https://claude.ai/.

If you’ve edited the AI-generated text, just mention it at the end of the note, like this: Text generated by Claude, Anthropic, May 20, 2025, https://claude.ai/. Edited for style and content.

Detecting and preventing AI cheating

If you have concerns about chatbot cheating, you aren’t alone. While AI detectors and plagiarism checkers tools won’t really help because they’re ineffective when AI-generated text is edited, remote proctoring software can detect and block AI tools during exams and written assignments.

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ChatGPT vs. Honorlock Online Proctoring

Using online proctoring services to stop students from cheating with ChatGPT

ChatGPT has had educators nervous since it became available to the public in the fall of 2022. It wasn’t the first generative AI chatbot, but it was the one that got everyone’s attention. Since then, many similar AI chatbots have popped up, like Gemini and Claude, and other chatbot-like tools such as Perplexity and NotebookLM are gaining popularity.

And people use chatbots for just about everything now. They can write everything from long-form essays to punny jokes, solve math problems, summarize and simplify text, and write code. Some even use them to organize their schedule or just to vent about their day.

The problem is that ChatGPT and other chatbots have been used to cheat on exams (which is why you’re here). ChatGPT is highly capable and there are very few exams it can’t help with.

Early-ish versions of ChatGPT passed these exams

ChatGPT exam scores for UBI, CPA, LSAT, and GRE

2025 Guide to Preventing Chatbot Cheating

6-part guide on how chatbots work, ways to use them in courses, how to prevent cheating, and guidance to help start AI initiatives.

Book with text saying Guide to Preventing Chatbot Cheating

Can ChatGPT be detected as plagiarism?

Plagiarism tools can’t reliably detect ChatGPT because they look for text that’s copied exactly from the source or looks pretty similar to it. That’s a big problem because ChatGPT doesn’t just copy from the resources it was trained on, like websites, research studies, news, code, etc.

It’s similar to how you learn from all kinds of different sources. But if someone asks you a question about it, you don’t just recite answers word for word. You put it into your own words, make connections, and you can explain it differently depending on who you’re talking to. It isn’t an perfect analogy, but that’s the gist of how ChatGPT works and why plagiarism detection doesn’t.

Can AI detectors detect ChatGPT?

If a student copies text directly from ChatGPT without making any edits, AI detectors are usually accurate. But realistically, students will probably make a few changes before submitting. Once AI-generated text is altered, even if another AI tool is used to make the changes, the accuracy of AI detection decreases (Liu et al., 2024; Weber-Wulff et al., 2023).

How does AI detection work?

AI detection assesses how predictable the writing is (perplexity), how sentence length and structure vary, and whether it sounds a little too “cookie cutter.”

Human writing usually has more variety and specific details, so when text is predictable or the sentences are all a similar length, AI detectors might flag it as AI-generated.

What is an acceptable AI detection score?

That’s the million dollar question, but there’s no real answer. Whether the AI detector indicates that the text is 10%, 30%, or 85% AI-generated, educators have to make that call.

How can Honorlock’s online proctoring software prevent the use of ChatGPT for written assignments?

Honorlock’s hybrid proctoring solution prevents the use of ChatGPT using a combination of AI and live proctors. Some of the proctoring features we use to control AI chatbots are covered below.

Detect cell phones and other secondary devices

Several of Honorlock’s remote proctoring features work together to detect cell phones and other secondary devices (other laptops, tablets, smartwatches, etc.), so you don’t have to rely on a live proctor to catch it in real time.

Honorlock detects when test takers try to access test bank content using a cell phone or other device, and it uses exclusive AI-powered Apple Handoff technology to spot nearby Apple devices during the exam.

Lock the browser

With Honorlock’s BrowserGuard, instructors can block access to all external resources, like websites, applications (like ChatGPT), and browsers—or allow access to specific resources, like research journals and case studies, software such as Word, or other online word precessors like Google Docs.

This gives educators the flexibility to allow learners to access supplemental materials while still securing it from unauthorized use of chatbots and other AI writing.

Honorlock’s BrowserGuard also records the participants’ desktops and prevents keyboard shortcuts, like copying and pasting. If copy/paste is attempted, the participant receives a notification that it isn’t allowed and the AI marks it as a medium flag.

However, locking the browser is just one piece of the puzzle to preventing chatbot cheating. If you’re only using browser lockdown software, there’s no way to know if someone is:

  • Using a phone to access ChatGPT or browse the internet
  • Asking Siri or Alexa to access apps/sites
  • Having someone else write the essay or take the exam
  • Typing what a friend is reading to them from off-camera
Use smart voice detection

If your proctoring platform doesn’t have smart voice detection, participants can use voice assistants like Siri or Alexa to open ChatGPT, ask questions, and have the answers read aloud.

Honorlock’s Smart Voice Detection listens for specific keywords or phrases, like “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” and it records and transcribes audio while the exam is in progress. If it detects potentially dishonest behavior, a live proctor is alerted to review the situation and intervene if necessary.

Scan the room and record behavior

Honorlock’s remote proctoring platform makes it quick to check the room for unauthorized resources, like cell phones, notes, and even other people. And our platform monitors and records behavior throughout the exam.

This way, you’ll know that test takers aren’t accessing ChatGPT from other devices, using their notes, or asking other people for help.

Set the amount of time they have to write the essay once they begin

Instructors can create rules that specify a certain number of hours participants have to complete the written assignment once they begin. Honorlock’s remote proctoring software and services are available 24/7/365, so they can write their essays anytime they’re ready within your set time frame, and you’ll know it’s being proctored.

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Other online proctoring tools from Honorlock
Live Pop-In® (AI + live proctoring)

Honorlock’s Live Pop-In secures online assessments and assignments with a hybrid proctoring approach that uses AI to monitor the test environment and behavior, and a live proctor reviews anything the AI flags to determine if they need to intervene or not.

The AI monitors exams and assignments and alerts a live proctor if something looks suspicious. The proctor reviews the situation and only steps in if absolutely necessary, so test takers aren’t interrupted unless there’s a real concern. Our blended proctoring solution delivers a less intimidating and non-invasive experience for participants.

Finds leaked test content on the internet
Honorlock’s Search and Destroy™ technology scours the internet automatically for leaked test content and gives instructors the ability to send takedown requests with one click. This way, you’ll know your test content isn’t available on sites like Quizlet, Chegg, Reddit, and Quora.
Verifies test takers’ identity

You need to know that the person taking the proctored exam is the same person getting credit in the class. Honorlock’s ID verification takes about 60 seconds. It captures a picture of the test-taker along with their photo ID.

Stay ahead of AI cheating

ChatGPT and many of the AI chatbots are powerful tools that have advantages and disadvantages in online learning. Use Honorlock’s solution to stay ahead of the curve and in control of if, how, and when chatbots and other AI are used in your courses and assessments. 

Fill out the form to see how Honorlock works.

More resources

How to Block Cluely AI During Exams and Interviews to prevent cheating

What is Cluely & How to Block It

Text says AI Prompting 101 For Education. Examples and Templates

AI Prompting Examples, Templates, and Tips For Educators

5 ways students justify cheating

How Students Justify Academic Dishonesty

13 Ways to Prevent Cheating on Online Tests

How to proctor essays and written assignments (typed or handwritten)

Proctored Essays & Written Assignments

What is online proctoring for remote testing

What is online proctoring?

Tyler Stike

Tyler is Honorlock's Director of Content and a doctoral student at the University of Florida focused on educational technology.