Pearson VUE to Deliver MCP Exams for Microsoft

Inetman

Pearson VUE to Deliver MCP Exams for Microsoft - MarketWatch

Ultimas

Hmm, I haven't used any Prometric test center yet, but the Pearson Vue I've used for CompTIA has been straight. Hope this is for the better.

Doyen

That's great news. I have yet to visit a Prometric test center either since I have been going for VMware, CompTIA, and Cisco certifications at PearsonVue centers. If they do carry Microsoft MCP, I may consider going for some Microsoft certifications since PearsonVue centers are more convenient for me. Thank you for sharing

gorebrush

Hang on.. didn't Pearson used to deliver MS exams way back?

They certainly delivered some of mine. Though the Prometric centre is the exact same place for me, just sat on different bank of computers when I took later exams.

cyberguypr

Yes. My first MS exams were through Vue. Actually I found an email i have from 2006:

February 15, 2006
Second Shot is Back: Free Microsoft Exam Retakes with Pearson VUE

Dear CYBERGUYPR,

Microsoft’s free exam retake offer is back by popular demand! Simply complete your exam(s) at any Pearson VUE® Authorized Center by June 30, 2006 and retake the exam(s) for free if you do not pass on the first attempt. Initial (paid) exam(s) must be completed by June 30, 2006; second shot (free) exam(s) must be completed by July 31, 2006. This offer is valid for all Microsoft exams worldwide. Any means of payment, including promotion codes and vouchers, may be used on the paid exam(s). You must pre-register for this offer with Microsoft. For complete details, visit http://www.PearsonVUE.com/ms/2ndShot

Asif Dasl

Interesting... like others my test center in Dublin is both Pearson VUE & Prometric, but this is why this forum is so great for keeping up on this kind of stuff. I'm sure I would be trying to book my MCSE with Prometric and wonder "what the heck!" when did that change!

But it's not all roses though - I think Pearson VUE charges me VAT on exams and Prometric doesn't so MS exams might just have got more expensive for me... Doh!

SweenMachine

Asif Dasl wrote: »

Interesting... like others my test center in Dublin is both Pearson VUE & Prometric, but this is why this forum is so great for keeping up on this kind of stuff. I'm sure I would be trying to book my MCSE with Prometric and wonder "what the heck!" when did that change!

But it's not all roses though - I think Pearson VUE charges me VAT on exams and Prometric doesn't so MS exams might just have got more expensive for me... Doh!

This doesn't signal the end of Prometric for MS, this seems just like a logical next step to VUEs purchase of Certiport; essentially they have already been delivering MS exams, just not the professional ones..

The article says "has selected Pearson VUE AS an exam....." -- not THE exam....

-scott


edit to add: from Pearson VUEs website


Will Microsoft continue testing with Prometric?
Yes, Microsoft certification exams will continue to be available through both exam delivery providers.
Why is Microsoft making this change?
Microsoft has a long history of testing with Pearson VUE and its Certiport business. Between the two businesses, Microsoft has worked with Pearson VUE for more than 15 years. Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) academic exams will continue to be delivered via the Certiport test center network as they have been up to this point. However, Microsoft is expanding its relationship with Pearson VUE beyond its Certiport delivery to include delivery of the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams and MTA exams through Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers beginning September 4, 2014. Over the months and years ahead, Microsoft plans to introduce other innovations designed to enhance the candidate experience as part of this expanded relationship with Pearson VUE.

jmasterj206

I assume exams like the 70-410/411/412 are considered MCP exams? If so this helps me a ton. My nearest Prometric is 100 miles away, whereas my Pearson Vue is 15 miles.

emerald_octane

Great news. Love my local Pearson VUE center; close, clean, good staffs all around. The Prometric site is dingy and far away.

6502

That's great. I've had problems with Prometric and none with Pearson. I hope going with Pearson means that we'll be able to reschedule closer to the test date without the fee.

gorebrush

Asif Dasl wrote: »

Interesting... like others my test center in Dublin is both Pearson VUE & Prometric, but this is why this forum is so great for keeping up on this kind of stuff. I'm sure I would be trying to book my MCSE with Prometric and wonder "what the heck!" when did that change!

But it's not all roses though - I think Pearson VUE charges me VAT on exams and Prometric doesn't so MS exams might just have got more expensive for me... Doh!

Yeah I have that as well but then... my company pays all my exams for me so I can't grumble too hard

Doyen

jmasterj206 wrote: »

I assume exams like the 70-410/411/412 are considered MCP exams? If so this helps me a ton. My nearest Prometric is 100 miles away, whereas my Pearson Vue is 15 miles.

I was wondering about that as well, so I typed in "MCP" in google and it lead me to their Microsoft certification site. MCP, meaning "Microsoft Certified Professional", is what they consider their professional certifications while their MTA, mean "Microsoft Technology Associate", are their entry certifications. Since PearsonVue is offering both MCP and MTA certifications, I believe they are implying they are going to offer all Microsoft certifications...that is my interpretation of it.

j4g3rb0mb3d

Halleluja!

I have nothing against Prometric, but this is way more convenient for me. The nearest Prometric is 23 miles away from home, down two different tollroads. The nearest PearsonVue to me is 5 miles from home at a nearby community college.

Prometric's computers are crappy too, IMHO. HP Pentium 4 XP computers.... noticeable lag when progressing from question to question and on drag-and-drop questions. Not so much at Prometric, as they have Core i3's. I always found it ironic taking my Win7 tests on hardware that couldn't support Win7.

Hopefully, this also leads to speedier and more accurate reporting to Microsoft, too. The 5 business day wait is BS, and I've had to email MS more than once to fix my transcript. However, this could be an issue with Microsoft and not Prometric.

arwes

I knew this would happen. How, you ask? Because I just finished not long ago taking my last Prometric-only exam through WGU. The closest Prometric testing center is about 100 miles away and is staffed by jerks, so I go the opposite direction about 130 miles to a testing center next door to a law enforcement firing range. All the exams I have left before graduation are Pearson Vue, and for that I've got a test center about a mile away. At least now if I feel like doing further MS testing I'll have a nearby testing center, but I got burned twice by tests that had blatant errors on them and it's left a rotten taste in my mouth.

BookFella

This is good news for me in case I plan on taking any more Microsoft certs. A 5 mile drive instead of 90-95 miles

ayubjon

It is interesting. I am trying to order 70-411 exam, although without any luck.

This page says Prometric is exam provider: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/exam-70-411.aspx

And here I couln't find the Microsoft on the list of vendors: Locate a Test Center

SweenMachine

ayubjon wrote: »

It is interesting. I am trying to order 70-411 exam, although without any luck.

This page says Prometric is exam provider: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/exam-70-411.aspx

And here I couln't find the Microsoft on the list of vendors: Locate a Test Center

Just a FYI to everyone, if you go to Pearson VUE's website; they have a whole thing all about this... that's what I did when I wanted to know more.....

I will respond tho for those uninterested in taking 2 mins to dig further, that you are unable to purchase any exams until Sept 4th; until that point it's still only Prometric. On Sept 4th, you can start to book and sit at Pearson..


-scott

Edited to add:

Not only is it on their website; it is in the initial link in the initial post..

"BLOOMINGTON, Minn., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson VUE announced today that beginning September 4, 2014, the company has been added by Microsoft as an exam delivery provider for the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Program. Pearson VUE will deliver all MCP exams in addition to the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams delivered by its Certiport business today. The exams will be delivered in thousands of Pearson VUE® Authorized Test Centers around the globe."

RomBUS

Prometric has always been all over the place for me but I feel for the guys that said they almost had to go out of state to find one. It seems Prometric was only abundant in NY.

Never tested at a PearsonVUE but hopefully they are close to me as well

One negative I know for me is that I do not see any PearsonVUE test locations open on the weekends...about 95% of the time I schedule my test on a Saturday (so I do not waste a day off or half day). Hopefully they keep some Prometric sites open

Deathmage

this is great news! - this means I could go to one testing center 5 minutes from my house for all my certifications. Having to drive 2 hours just to take a Microsoft exam has been one reason why I haven't done them yet.... the one test center in town as mentioned above does CompTIA, VMware, and Cisco...

RomBUS wrote: »

Never tested at a PearsonVUE but hopefully they are close to me as well

There is a number of them close to you man. There is a really good one in Shelton, CT.