REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of
its new testing and certification partnership with Pearson VUE,
Microsoft Corp. is harnessing the cloud to make its highly valued
certification exams more accessible than ever. In addition to
Pearson VUE's extensive network of authorized test centers in
training centers, academic institutions, corporations, correctional
facilities and U.S. military installations around the globe,
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Microsoft Technology
Associate (MTA) exams can now be taken online in select
locations.
Delivered through a process called "online proctoring," select
exams can be delivered through the cloud and taken by test
candidates from their home, office or any other location that meets
security requirements. This new capability makes testing accessible
to candidates who do not live or work within easy travel distance
of a testing center while protecting the integrity of the
certification process. Candidates will be supervised in real time
by Pearson VUE proctors using webcams, microphones and other
security protocols.
During this initial beta period, a limited set of online
proctored exams is available for U.S. residents only. Microsoft
expects to announce wider availability in the near future. During
the beta period, candidates may purchase online proctored exams for
the same price as onsite exams. This includes two new MCP exams
designed for IT pros and developers adopting Microsoft Azure as the
cloud for their modern businesses.
Those who certify via online proctoring will need to meet
security arrangements, including a clean, private room or office,
with a desk space clearly visible via webcam. They must also
complete security-related admission steps, such as an ID check,
with a greeter before testing can begin. In addition, the proctor
is trained to notice telltale signs of cheating and will require
the candidate to do a visual sweep of the test-taking environment
with the webcam.
"Online proctoring offers an industry-leading experience that
reflects our increasingly mobile- and cloud-based world," said
Alison Cunard, general manager for
Microsoft Learning Experiences. "It's all about adding convenience
by enabling people to take an exam where they live or work."
Customers who want to continue taking tests onsite can take
Microsoft exams at either Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers.
However, effective Jan. 1, 2015,
Pearson VUE will become Microsoft's sole global exam provider.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and academic MTA exams will
continue to be delivered by Certiport Inc., a Pearson VUE
business.
Pearson VUE test centers provide security measures that help
safeguard testing integrity. Candidates are photographed and asked
to provide a digital signature, in addition to other identification
and admission requirements. The photograph and signature become a
permanent part of each candidate's Microsoft certification
record.
Photos taken during the admission process will be printed on
score reports along with an access code that will allow for
third-party viewing of the candidate exam record and digital photo
on the Pearson VUE website. This access code can be shared — solely
at the candidate's discretion — with employers and others for
verification purposes. All candidate data will be securely stored
and protected by Pearson VUE.
The collection of digital photos and digital signatures during
the test center admissions process provides more reliable assurance
of candidate identity, resulting in increased assurance that
individuals are presenting accurate certification records in the
marketplace.
Regardless of whether candidates test onsite or online, all
candidates will need a Microsoft Account, such as the one they use
with Office 365, Microsoft OneDrive or Skype. Participants can
arrange for onsite or online tests through an integrated exam
registration process at http://www.microsoft.com/learning.
"We're excited to see where this partnership takes us," said
Bob Whelan, president and CEO,
Pearson VUE. "Pearson VUE has always strived to give candidates the
best testing experience possible, and Microsoft is equally
committed to making certification testing frictionless and widely
accessible. Together, we're changing the landscape to increase
skills validation and open new doors to career success."
About Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE (http://pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in
computer-based testing for information technology, academic,
government and professional testing programs around the world.
Pearson VUE provides a full suite of services from test development
to data management, and delivers exams through the world's most
comprehensive and highly secure network of test centers in more
than 175 countries. Pearson VUE is a part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO;
LSE: PSON), the world's leading learning company.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide
leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help
people and businesses realize their full potential.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.