Pearson Vue

Fulcrum45

Are they consolidating their test centers? Getting more stringent? I've noticed the number of test centers around me have dwindled by quite a bit- at least in NE Ohio anyway.

iBrokeIT

I can't imagine testing centers being a highly profitable business. Most of them are not run by PearsonVue themselves and are instead run by third party operators.

Fulcrum45

True, I cant imagine its all that profitable either. I was wondering if they were requiring more stringent standards on their third party facilitators or something. Just seems odd. I'm only mildly concerned at this point as its only added an additional 10 miles to my nearest test center.

Carlp2

The same thing is happening here in Huntsville, AL. One has disappeared, another looks like it is going to go away based on the schedule they show.

scaredoftests

They are terrible to deal with...

Fulcrum45

Carlp2 wrote: »

The same thing is happening here in Huntsville, AL. One has disappeared, another looks like it is going to go away based on the schedule they show.

If this was for a more advanced exam then I could understand- but ICND2? And yes, I agree. Horrible to deal with.

kenrin

I kind of like the testing center I always use for pearson. It is a part of the college so you get all those 18 year olds taking english and math tests while you doing IT. I hope they get rid of the ones for the new horizons computer learning center, those idiots wanted me to pay thousands to get A+ and Net+

Fulcrum45

Thousands for A+ and Net+? Yikes, no thanks.

tmurphy3100

The center I went to for my A+ and Net+ is not showing up when I try to sign up for Security+. Its a local airport...I wonder if maybe they just do not do the Security+?

Fulcrum45

I suppose that's possible but still kinda odd. I would think if they tested for CompTIA then it would include all of them. I've been running into issue of my local test sites disappearing. I look on Pearson Vue to schedule and exam and come to find that all my local centers have dried up.

scaredoftests

So how are you supposed to test? That bites!!!

Verities

From what I can tell they're moving to a remote proctor model to increase accessibility to exams. They've already started doing this with Microsoft exams:

https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/online-proctored-exams.aspx

CompTIA started remote proctoring as well with ProctorU:

https://proctoru.com/portal/comptia

I'm sure more exams will be available in the future.

techfiend

Until this week I've always had good luck scheduling with 4 different places within 20 miles. This week I only had one option and it was only 1 day, I was wondering what was going on. I see the others have openings next week so hoping they don't stop providing pearsonvue, for 2 of them it's about all they do I think.

kenrin

Hahaha, I put up that reply without looking the other day and guess what? the new horizons center is off the list.

The three local colleges, the ECPI university, and the "Elite Career Services" are the only ones listed. Looks like they tagged off about 5 places in my area. Good riddance.

Edit: I have around 30 centers within 50 miles, it is ridiculous.

beads

If many do go to a remote proctor style its only going to hurt the value of certifications in the first place by injecting another layer of uncertainty into the mix. That is, I wonder if this candidate took this exam at a center or at his highly qualified friends place after meeting on Craig's list?

Its gonna happen!

- b/eads

Verities

beads wrote: »

If many do go to a remote proctor style its only going to hurt the value of certifications in the first place by injecting another layer of uncertainty into the mix. That is, I wonder if this candidate took this exam at a center or at his highly qualified friends place after meeting on Craig's list?

Its gonna happen!

- b/eads

The exams RedHat offers via kiosk are remote proctored and I don't see any of their certifications devalued. I've found most of the critics of remote proctoring haven't actually been a part of the process. ProctorU did a really good job of making me clear my desk, making me show them my entire room, and ensuring I had the door closed for Server + via webcam. They even take you into an application that allows them to take over your computer so you don't have access to anything but the exam.

scaredoftests

ITIL is remotely proctored.

tmurphy3100

Well ProctorU still has no news on CompTIA being offered again. It really sucks that the venue that I passed my past certs in is no longer listed and I have to make a far drive.

BigTone

In the chicago area we only have one place that has consistent availability and/or on weekends. Most of the other places don't test until 10 am. No chance for an early exam and then a trip to work. I'm lucky my job will let me test and then come in to work. Plus the one place I did test at has awful reviews, the one time I went I had zero issues... (actually got an error after I submitted my exam but got my passing sheet after I went to the desk) a few people that were sitting for other exams did seem to be having some sort of connection problems.

Jasiono

Whew. I thought I was the only one.
There was a testing center I went to on the outskirts of Philadelphia. A little private airport. Old room old chairs and the computers were super old, but their scheduling was awesome in my opinion.

I scheduled my ICND1 the other week and they weren't available. The nearest ones were smack dab in the middle of Philadelphia and one is at Strawberry Mansion (don't let the name fool you. The crime rate is through the roof in that area).

I just ended up going to a community college located near a remote site of the company I work for. Worked out but my commute was longer than expected.