Vancouver, WA - March 14, 2006 LaserGrade announced today that Washington State’s Department of Licensing and Business and Professions Division has signed an agreement with LaserGrade to provide computer-based testing across the state for individuals seeking their Cosmetology License. More than 6,000 individuals test each year in the state of Washington, testing for cosmetology candidates began February 1. LaserGrade currently delivers the electrical contractors and electrical administrators’ certifications with the Department of Labor and Industries for the State of Washington.

"We are pleased and honored that the State of Washington has chosen to expand its test delivery services with LaserGrade,” stated Judith Moore, President and CEO, LaserGrade. “Washington’s Business and Professions Division has chosen LaserGrade’s computer-based technology to better serve their needs for cosmetology related examinations. In selecting LaserGrade, candidates will have more options on times to test and more convenient test locations.”

Susan Colard, Assistant Administrator, Business and Professions Division, Department of Licensing said, “This was a very long and involved process to take our exams to LaserGrade’s computer-based testing system. We have every confidence that LaserGrade will provide the State of Washington with the outstanding customer service that our colleagues in other states enjoy. We believe our candidates will find the computer-based test easy to take, quick, and truly shorten the time before individuals can begin working.”

LaserGrade, with secure computer-based testing centers across the United States and Canada, is the largest United States owned and operated network in North America. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, with a satellite office in Newtown, Pennsylvania, LaserGrade offers proctored computer-based test administration for licensure and certification examinations using its own secure network and software. For lower stakes testing, such as practice tests, pre-tests or after-tests, candidates may test via any computer by logging on to LaserGrade’s secure web-browser.

For more information, visit our website at: http://www.lasergrade.com

About the Washington State Department of Licensing

The Business and Professions Division of the Washington State Department of Licensing provides a broad spectrum of services in the areas of regulation, facilitation of business licensing and record keeping supporting the agency's primary mission of protecting public health and safety.

For more information visit our web site at: http://www.dol.wa.gov