As the Chief Technology Officer for holSystems, hosts of TechEd and Microsoft TechNet Virtual Labs, I can attest to our fundamental connection with training and learning and with the Microsoft Learning community. I tell you this because I, too, am a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), as are many of my colleagues. It is very important to us to stay current on Microsoft technology, and that means we pay close attention to changes in the Microsoft certification landscape—where there has been some exciting news! 

Microsoft recently announced that it was moving back to Pearson VUE as its primary exam provider. The benefit that I’m most excited about is the new online proctored exam offering, and I registered for one right away! I’m happy to share my experience with you, so you know what to expect.

You still register online, like you would for a traditional exam at a hosted testing facility. The only difference is that you select the Online Proctored version of the exam. Then, get your computer and workplace ready. To ensure that you have an appropriate machine available, review the technical requirements document. The workplace where you choose to test should be similar to what you would find in a test center—no distractions, no paperwork, and no other visible displays. If you’re in an corporate office environment, you may want to reserve a conference room. I took the exam in my home office.

When exam time came, I signed in on the Microsoft Learning website. After I started the exam process, Adobe AIR-based exam software was downloaded. (This is a small download which can be uninstalled at the end of the exam.) Then, the software launched, and I was connected to an online proctor, who verified that I am who I claimed to be and who made sure, via webcam, that the test area was cleared of all materials. I even had to take a calendar off a nearby wall!

The exam process itself was fairly straightforward—like any computer-based exam. My webcam stayed on for the entire process, and a proctor monitored the exam via that webcam. (At one point, my webcam had drifted a bit, and I was briefly interrupted by a pop-up chat window asking me to adjust the webcam so I was visible again.) After the exam was finished, there was the usual comment period and then, as in the past, I immediately received my score report.

So what is the takeaway here? Although the experience wasn’t perfect, I loved the convenience of taking an exam from my home office. If you can guarantee a quiet, isolated area, with appropriate hardware, the online proctored experience may work well for you, too. I fully intend to take advantage of the opportunity in the future, and I encourage you to do the same!