Pearson VUE are not doing Microsoft Exams anymore

WanBoy67

Just saw this link posted on Trika's Microsoft Learning blog
http://www.pearsonvue.co.uk/home/gsn/msvoucher

Anybody got more info on this?

markieman31

can you provide a parent link for that one? the link to where you found that?

WanBoy67

http://blogs.msdn.com/trika/archive/2007/07/03/lifecycle-of-new-generation-certifications.aspx

Check the comments at the bottom of the page, currently it's the last comment

markieman31

thank you

blargoe

That really sucks

Webmaster

That'd odd, especially since Pearson VUE claims to not know what's going on.

Could be related to exam center security since it finally became a hot topic at Microsoft, but I have to say the security department of Pearson VUE has always been A LOT more responsive to my braindump and **** site reports than Microsoft. Ah well, what do I know... seems there are suddenly a lot of experts on that matter. Could very well be something entirely different, maybe they just had more complaints about Pearson VUE, or Prometric is cheaper. Either way, I'm sure we'll find out soon considering this will affect a lot of people.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to drive a couple of miles extra for my next Microsoft exam.

royal

My experiences of Pearson VUE and Prometric have been very much different. When I go to Prometric, they make sure I have no electronic equipment on me and offer a storage locker to store my goods in. They also have several security cameras watching all the cubicles. When I have gone to Pearson VUE, out of about 7-8 times, only once have they asked me if I had any electronic equipment. I have used two different Pearson VUE centers and neither of them had any cameras or seemed to care much about the security and integrity of the exams. I literally could have brought books into the exam center and nobody would have known. It just seems like the overall testing environment at Pearson VUE is that they don't care about the integrity of the exams. Of course each center is different depending on the personality and mood of the person who is working there, but from visiting two different Pearson VUE centers, I have had the same feelings regarding both.

Webmaster

If it is security related it has probably more to do with test centers in certain Asian countries where they don't just bring material 'into' the exam room.

The Pearson VUE center here used to be Prometric too, so I never really noticed a difference myself. I've heard horror stories about both though.

But here's an older topic from about a year ago that shows the proper attitude imo: "Pearson VUE closes down a brain **** site" At least Mark Poole speaks the type of language the vendors should use more often.

Anyway, it's still just a wild speculation. They probably think they have a very good reason because this will certainly hurt Pearson VUE. 4000 Pearson VUE test centers world wide won't be able to deliver Microsoft exams anymore. Ah well, if they have an average of 10 desktop PCs per test center, according to Microsoft they will be able to save $2,225,200 on power-savings if they move to Windows Vista...

matradley

Perhaps this is localized to the UK?

snadam

matradley wrote:

Perhaps this is localized to the UK?

im thinking the same thing, as I see nothing about this while browsing the North America side of things.

This would totally suck as the pearson vue test center is minutes away form my house, and the next prometric one is about 30 minutes further out not including traffic.

that and I dont see anything from Microsoft site either

ajs1976

On Trika's blog, one of the commentors mentioned that an official announcement is coming next week.

WanBoy67

Further light to shed upon this topic. It's worldwide.

Google ' Vue No Longer Microsoft Testing Partner ' This is where I found this information. It's the first link. I'd post a link to the URL but the forum keeps blocking the domain name...

A copy of the email Pearson VUE sent to partners.

---

Microsoft have announced that they will no longer provide testing via the Pearson VUE test centre network from 1st January 2008.

Pearson VUE will, unfortunately, be unable to sell vouchers for ANY Microsoft exams after 31st August 2007. After this date, only candidates with prepaid vouchers will be able to register.

Please ensure that YOUR candidates are aware of the following key dates:

31st August 2007
Last date for voucher purchase.

31st August to 31st December 2007
Registrations for candidates with pre-paid vouchers only.

31 December 2007
Last date for Pearson VUE Microsoft exam delivery.

If you would still like to purchase vouchers before 31st August 2007, please click here.

Pearson VUE will, of course, go from strength to strength and will continue to offer a full range of exams, including Cisco, CompTia and many others (click here to find out more) outside of the Microsoft range of certifications. Rest assured, our commitment of service to you is still our highest priority.

Remember, Pearson VUE have NO MINIMUM requirements for test volumes.

For more information click here or email our sales team.

I too cannot find any confirmation at VUE or Microsoft's website

ajs1976

I think the whole thing is odd considering that VUE was the test provider at TechEd a few weeks ago.

drthtater

IT'S A TRAP!!!!


seriously though, until I got word from MS or VUE, I'd take it with a grain of salt.

WanBoy67

Absolutely. But it is on their own website (maybe not the US website - but why would it be UK only?) - maybe they've been hacked? :

JDMurray

Has anybody called the U.S. Pearson VUE Voucher Store (800-869-4101) and asked?

http://www.pearsonvue.com/contact/voucherstore/

drthtater

But if we did that then we couldn't gossip unknowingly about it.

WanBoy67

I would doubt that they would know, if there hasn't even been an official announcement. I don't live in the US btw. As far as I can tell, most sales people have no idea what they're selling in the first place. What? We sell vouchers? You sure? If this does happen, they will still be selling vouchers for nearly 2 months and they won't stop doing exams until the end of the year.

Let's wait and see if any more information comes to light.

WanBoy67

This would seem to confirm the move.

Prometric FAQ regarding the change.

ajs1976

trika's blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/trika/archive/2007/07/06/microsoft-learning-announces-prometric-as-exam-provider.aspx

Official announcement:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/register/edp/default.mspx

Official FAQ:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/register/edp/faq/default.mspx

snadam

ajs1976 wrote:

trika's blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/trika/archive/2007/07/06/microsoft-learning-announces-prometric-as-exam-provider.aspx

Official announcement:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/register/edp/default.mspx

Official FAQ:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/register/edp/faq/default.mspx

I would pretty much say that seals the deal..

This just officially added 30 extra minutes to my drive time for MS exams

matradley

Perhaps things will change by then. PearsonVUE could modify their testing procedures in order to accommodate this change. Otherwise, I will be driving up to two hours away for Microsoft Exams.

ajs1976

The center I test at is both a VUE and prometric center, so this change will not effect me very much. For those of you that it will cause problems, start raising hell with Microsoft. If you let them know, they might do something about it, but if you don't, they have no reason to make changes.

drthtater

I guess I lucked out. I have several of both around me.

matradley

I wonder if Prometric is going to offer the academic 072 series?

bearfan

I've taken all my tests through VUE because they have a test site just 3 miles away. The closest Prometric site is about 18-20 miles.

The security policies are supposed to be the same and determined by the vendors. If some test centers are lax, its probably that individual test center and not Vue or Prometric. I'd think there would be just as many incidents of people cheating at Vue as at Prometric.

My fear is this move will make tests much harder to schedule. The many people who now go to Vue will have to go somewhere else and how will Prometric accomodate them unless they open a lot more sites?

What are people's personal experiences at both Vue and Prometric?

matradley

bearfan wrote:

I've taken all my tests through VUE because they have a test site just 3 miles away. The closest Prometric site is about 18-20 miles.

The security policies are supposed to be the same and determined by the vendors. If some test centers are lax, its probably that individual test center and not Vue or Prometric. I'd think there would be just as many incidents of people cheating at Vue as at Prometric.

My fear is this move will make tests much harder to schedule. The many people who now go to Vue will have to go somewhere else and how will Prometric accomodate them unless they open a lot more sites?

What are people's personal experiences at both Vue and Prometric?

From what I see, there are few Prometric sites in Canada in comparison to PearsonVUE. A horrible decision on Microsoft's part.

bcairns

I have to agree with everyone one here...this just sucks.

I have gone to Vue because the test center is 30 minutes away.
The closest Prometric site is an hour away in good traffic

not fun, hope all the vue test centers switch to prometric or vue gets their act together.

kenny504

Wow...i live in the Bahamas and there are no prometric testing centers over here. Exams are going to be expensive for me to aquire now.....

Well..I have to finish up mcse before its too late. More incentive!!...

This is crazy!!!...i really wish microsft hadn't done this or at least gave a warning much more earlier. I doubt centers over here will switch to prometric in time...

But i'll keep my fingers crossed.

BeaverC32

Sorry kenny, but I find it hard feeling sorry for you...I mean, c'mon, you live in the BAHAMAS!

I have a Prometric center 10 minutes from me, so I guess I'm lucky.

Megadeth4168

ajs1976 wrote:

The center I test at is both a VUE and prometric center, so this change will not effect me very much. For those of you that it will cause problems, start raising hell with Microsoft. If you let them know, they might do something about it, but if you don't, they have no reason to make changes.

Same here! I have a testing center only a few miles from me that doubles as both a Vue and Prometric center. I've actually never tested with VUE before.....