Systems and methods described herein provide for administering and proctoring of a secure online exam that allows for complex testing utilizing practical examination tasks. The practical examination tasks provide for evaluation of the knowledge of the exam taker, as well as the exam taker's ability to apply that knowledge in a real-world environment. By performing the practical examination tasks in the context of a secure online exam, the competence of the test taker can be readily determined without worrying about the exam taker illicitly accessing information on their computer or via a remote source of data. The exam taker may perform the practical examination tasks through manipulation of an evaluation application executing on the exam taker's secured computer. The practical examination tasks may also be carried out through manipulation by the exam taker of an evaluation apparatus coupled to the exam taker's secured computer.