Frequently Asked Questions

General Information About BEST Plus
BEST Plus Training
How To Get Started Using BEST Plus
Purchasing BEST Plus
Activating Purchased BEST Plus Test Administrations
Online Activation

Administering BEST Plus
Scoring BEST Plus
BEST Plus Score Management Software
Technical Questions
Troubleshooting

What is online Purchase Code activation?

Online Purchase Code activation is a service that allows you to obtain a Purchase Code, view your test administration balance, and see the most recent activation. This online system can be accessed at any time.

For assistance in using this system, please see our BEST Plus Online Activation Guide.

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Do I have to use the online activation system on the same computer on which I am running BEST Plus?

No. You can access the online activation system and obtain a Purchase Code from any computer. It does not have to be obtained from your designated testing computer(s).

However, if you can access the Internet from your testing computer, press the Alt and Tab keys at the same time to minimize BEST Plus and use the online activation service. Once you have received your Purchase Code, you can maximize BEST Plus by clicking on the program activation bar on the Windows taskbar.

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What do I do if my Internet browser won’t let me access the site?

If you are having trouble accessing the site, your browser’s security settings may be set too high.

If you are using Microsoft® Internet Explorer you can change the security settings by following the steps below:

  1. From the Toolbar, go to Tools and select Internet Options from the pop-up menu
  2. Click the Security tab
  3. Click Trusted sites icon
  4. Click Sites button
  5. Be sure the box "Require server verification" is unchecked
  6. Begin typing name of web site into box (after first letters, matching site names will appear, and you can select http://www.cal.org/bestplus/BPOnlineActivation/index.aspx )
  7. Click the Add button
  8. Click OK to close Trusted sites dialogue box
  9. Click OK to close Internet Options dialogue box

If you have any further difficulty, please contact your local technical support staff.

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Why does my user information not "match the database"?

There are several reasons why this might happen:

  • We may not have your correct email address on file.
  • If you were trained recently, it can take up to 10 business days for CAL to receive and enter your registration forms into our database.
  • We may not have your name entered correctly in our database.
  • You may not have registered for a password or your password is incorrect.
  • You may not have the correct Customer #. Please check with your program director.

To resolve any of the issues listed above, please contact User Support at 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 1, or by e-mail at BPSupport@cal.org between 9 AM and 7 PM EST.

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How do I register for a password?

Below the sign-in form, click “If you do not have a password, please click here.” link. Your 5-character password will be sent to you within a few minutes from BPSupport@cal.org and will be in the form of Letter # Letter # Letter (ex. A2A2A).

For further assistance, please see our BEST Plus Online Activation Guide.

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What should I do if I registered for a password, but I have not received it?

Check your spam or junk email filter and make sure BPSupport@cal.org is on your safe list.

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What does “Server Error in ‘/BESTPlus/BPOnlineActivation’Application” error mean?

The software that runs the online Purchase Code activation capability does not recognize apostrophes, accent marks, or other special characters. Please try typing your name without them. (e.g., O’Connor as OConnor, José as Jose).

If you have any further difficulty, please contact User Support at 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 1, or by e-mail at BPSupport@cal.org between 9 AM and 7 PM EST.

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How do I change my password?

Below the sign-in boxes, click the “To change your password, please click here.” link.

For further assistance, please see our BEST Plus Online Activation Guide.

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How can I retrieve my password if I forget it?

Below the sign-in boxes, click the “If you do not know your password, please click here.” link. Your password will be sent to you within a few minutes from BPSupport@cal.org.

For further assistance, please see our BEST Plus Online Activation Guide.

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The screen says I have less than 20 administrations remaining. What do I need to do to activate more?

This means you must purchase additional test administrations as your balance is low. You can download and send an order form to us by mail or fax (888-700-3629) or you can order materials online at the CAL Store.

Please allow one business day for processing. If you are paying by purchase order, please include a signed copy with your order.

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The amount of tests the screen says is different from what I want to activate. How do I change the amount of tests I want to activate?

Each Registration Key is only good for a specific quantity: 20, 50, 100, 300, or 500. Check your Activation Screen in BEST Plus to see how many tests your Key will activate. If you need to activate a different quantity, please click here for instructions.

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I made a mistake and entered the wrong Registration Key. How can I fix my test balance?

Once you have entered your Registration Key and click Activate, the Key is recorded and the amount of test administrations activated is deducted from your program’s balance.

If you feel you have made a mistake, please contact User Support at 1-866-845-BEST (2378), option 1, or by e-mail at BPSupport@cal.org between 9 AM and 7 PM EST.

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For more information about BEST Plus or training workshops,
call 1-866-845-BEST or send an email to BEST Plus.

Shop for BEST Plus products online 24 hours a day
at the CALstore calstore.cal.org

The development of BEST Plus was funded by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), U.S. Department of Education, Contract # ED-00-CO-0130.
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