ETS Test Scorer Jobs: I Dusted Off My Educator License for a Program That Didn’t Exist

A First-Person Account of Hope, Investment, and the “No Programs Open” Screen

Having decided to pursue legitimate non-phone remote opportunities, I came across the ETS Scorer position. To be honest, I find job listings in a variety of places. I could not tell you where I found this one. But when I saw it, I was excited.

ETS. Educational Testing Service. The company behind the TOEFL, TOEIC, Praxis, and GRE exams. A name every educator knows.

This was not a sketchy gig platform. This was legitimate.

I dusted off my educator license. I drew from my years of experience as a secondary educator. I was ready.

The Hope

The job listing was sparse. Not much information about the position itself. But what I found on the site gave me hope.

ETS described its scoring work as part-time employment for Raters associated with its testing programs:

• TOEIC®
• TOEFL®
• Praxis®
• GRE®
• And other testing programs

The work involved scoring constructed responses—written short answers, essays, spoken responses, portfolios. Work could be done online through ETS’s proprietary system called ONE (The Online Network for Evaluation).

Raters score from home, following ETS guidelines. Training is provided. Certification is required.

It was exactly the kind of work I was looking for. Flexible. Legitimate. Aligned with my skills as an educator.

At the bottom of the page was an Apply button. I clicked it without hesitation.

The Investment

I created an account. The interface was clean. Professional. It felt like a real application process—not a data collection form disguised as a job listing.

I scanned the menu on the left-hand side. Toward the bottom was a section titled Programs with subcategories:

• Find a Program
• My Programs

Of course, I wanted to know what was available before I started the application. I clicked.

I was greeted with a notice: “The My Info section must be completed prior to viewing available programs.”

Fair enough. They wanted my information first. So I scrolled back up to begin the process.

First thing needed: a resume.

I had resumes already prepared. But I knew I would have the best chance of securing a position if I tailored my resume to what I gathered ETS would be looking for. Educator experience. Scoring experience. Attention to detail. Reliability.

I created a well-written resume just for this purpose and uploaded it to the site.

Then came the actual application. I was grateful for the auto-fill feature. My employment data populated automatically from the resume I had uploaded. That saved time.

But the education section required manual entry. I opened my college transcripts. Having the information at my fingertips was handy. I entered my degrees, my certifications, my coursework. It took a few minutes.

Then came the EEO and disclaimer sections. I clicked through, agreeing to the standard language.

Finally, the moment I had been waiting for. I could now see what programs were available.

The Reveal

I clicked Find a Program.

The screen loaded.

And then I saw this:

“Currently, there are no programs open.”

That was it.

No explanation. No timeline. No indication of when programs might open. No suggestion that I should check back later. Just a blank screen telling me that after all that work—the tailored resume, the opened transcripts, the careful form-filling—there was nothing.

I stared at the screen.

I had done everything right. I had taken my time. I had tailored my resume. I had opened my transcripts to ensure accuracy. I had completed every section carefully.

And there were no programs.

The Aftermath

I sat back and thought about what had just happened.

Two hours. For a screen that said “no programs open.”

ETS now had my tailored resume. My employment history. My education details. My certifications. My contact information. All stored in their system.

And I had nothing.

The Pattern: Ghost Programs

This is not a “ghost job”—a position posted with no intention of hiring. This is something slightly different. Call it a ghost program.

The system is designed to collect qualified candidates. It is not designed to tell you whether work actually exists before you invest your time.

What ETS Gains

What Others Are Saying

I searched for experiences from other ETS applicants. The pattern is consistent.

ETS scoring work is seasonal. There may genuinely be no programs at certain times of the year. But the application process does not communicate that upfront. You only discover it after you have invested time.

The Educator Angle

I am a licensed educator. I have years of experience in secondary education. I understand pedagogy. I understand assessment. I understand the importance of consistent, fair scoring.

ETS positions—scoring Praxis, TOEFL, GRE—are natural fits for former educators. They value classroom experience. They understand what teachers bring to the table.

For ETS to have a system that implies opportunities exist, encourages tailored applications, and then reveals nothing—that is particularly frustrating for someone with my background.

I dusted off my educator license for this. I tailored my resume to highlight exactly what I thought they would value. I opened my transcripts to ensure every detail was accurate.

And there were no programs.

What Educators Should Know

If you are an educator considering applying to ETS, here is what I learned:

What I Decided

I left my profile active. My resume is in their system. My employment history is there. My education details are saved.

Maybe someday a program will open. Maybe I will get an email. Maybe I will finally get to use my educator license for this work.

But I am not waiting.

The time I invested was real. The hope was real. The letdown was real.

If ETS eventually reaches out, I will consider it. But I am not holding my breath.

Final Thoughts

I applied for an ETS test scorer job. I dusted off my educator license. I tailored my resume. I opened my transcripts. I completed the application carefully.

Then I saw this: “Currently, there are no programs open.”

No explanation. No timeline. No indication of when something might appear.

ETS now has my tailored resume. My employment history. My education details. My certifications. My contact information.

And I have a screen that says nothing is available.

If you are an educator considering ETS, go in with your eyes open. The application process may take time. You may invest significant effort. And you may be left with nothing but a profile in their system and a message that says “no programs open.”

I hope you have better luck than I did.

Key Takeaways

This article is based on my personal experience applying to ETS. I did not receive any compensation from ETS. I am sharing this to help other educators make informed decisions about their time and effort.