Test Center News
Tech Tips from VSS
Choosing a security question you’ll remember…
Group 1
(Note: click images for a better view.)
Group 2
During the first quarter of 2009, test centers will be asked to upgrade their Pearson VUE software. When launching Registration Manager or Site Manager after this latest Pearson VUE software update, you will notice a new step in which you are asked to provide answers to two security questions for identification purposes. These are NOT your typical “mother’s maiden name” questions so to better help prepare you, here is the list of questions from both groups. You will need to choose one question from each group.
It is best to choose a question for which an answer pops into your head without giving much thought since that is likely the answer you will remember.
Submitted by:
Tom Schreiner
VSS Technician
Americas Region VSS
If you call the VSS helpline to have your password reset, the technician will read your chosen questions to you and verify that your responses match the ones you provided. If your answers match, the technician will provide you with a temporary password which will allow you to log in and create a new password. If your answers do not match, or you cannot remember your answers, it will be necessary for the technician to call you back at your test center to verify your identity. This extra verification step may delay having your password reset if your account information or phone numbers are not up to date.
As always, the VSS technical team will be happy to assist you with any issues!
Sponsor News
ACSM
New ACSM/American Cancer Society (ACS) Specialty Certification Now Available
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), in collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), has launched a new specialty certification called the ACSM/ACS Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer (CET). The CET is designed for health and fitness professionals working with any of the more than 10 million individuals who have been affected by cancer. Because living a healthy, active lifestyle is so important to cancer survivors, ACSM professionals have the potential to make a significant contribution to the continued well-being of these individuals by earning the CET designation in order to safely and effectively work with those who have been affected by cancer. The CET exam is now available at over 4,300 Pearson VUE® Authorized Test Centers around the world.
Candidates can register for the CET exam a number of ways:
- Online at PearsonVUE.com/ACSM
- Phone registration in the United States and Canada: 888-VUE-ACSM (883-2276)
- See the global phone directory at: PearsonVUE.com/ACSM/contact
- On site registration: Any Pearson VUE® Authorized Test Center worldwide
ACSM Certified Professionals can email certification@ACSM.org for a discounted voucher for the new CET exam.
For more information on this specialty certification, visit www.ACSM.org/certification or PearsonVUE.com/ACSM/CET.
Altiris
The Altiris certification program will be deactivated at the end of January 2009. You may remove any Altiris documentation you have from your Exam Sponsor Guide at that time.
As you may know, Symantec acquired Altiris a year ago. Symantec has decided to retire the existing Altiris certification program that’s being delivered through Pearson VUE. They will not be transitioning the Altiris program to the Symantec Certification Program.
Cisco
Cisco “ComeBack2009” and “Specialize” Promotions
Cisco is launching two new promotions that may be of interest to your IT candidates.
The first, ComeBack2009, reaches out to individuals with lapsed certifications who may be hesitant about renewing their certification.
- The ComeBack2009 promotion is for anyone who has achieved a Cisco certification in the past, but for whatever reason has let their certification credential lapse. If they take a full-priced exam now and don’t pass it, they can get a second chance in the form of a free retake. This gives those with lapsed certifications a jump start toward earning back their credential. Candidates must complete all exams needed for a certification in order to gain back their certification. Further details can be found at PearsonVUE.com/Cisco/ComeBack2009.
The second promotion, Specialize, is designed to promote Cisco’s new CCNA specialization certifications, announced last summer.
- The Specialize promotion encourages those who currently have a Cisco CCNA certification to “specialize” in a Cisco CCNA concentration. Individuals who take a full-priced CCNA concentration exam will be given a free retake exam should they need it. This offer is only valid for 640-460-IIUC CCNA Voice, 640-553 IINS CCNA Security and 640-721 IUWNE CCNA Wireless exams. Further details can be found at PearsonVUE.com/Cisco/Specialize.
With each of these promotions, both the initial exams and the free retakes must be scheduled and taken between January 20, 2009, and July 20, 2009, and regular retake rules apply. Candidates who are eligible for these promotions were invited to participate in an email blast sent by Cisco and they will receive a reminder midway through the promotion period.
Regional News
Americas
Quality Monitoring Program
On a monthly basis, as part of our quality monitoring program, Pearson VUE sends representatives to visit test centers posing as examination candidates. After the representative has completed the exam, a written report is submitted to Pearson VUE. These reports are discussed with the test center to ensure consistent and continued quality performance throughout the Pearson VUE channel of test centers.
For the month of December we would like to congratulate the following test centers on outstanding performance in both the general appearance of the test center and in compliance with security procedures.
| Site ID | Location Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 55150 | Anne Arundel Community College | United States |
| 53530 | St. Cloud State University | United States |
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA)
Cisco Networkers, Barcelona, 26th–29th January 2009
Pearson VUE EMEA will be providing on-site testing at Cisco Networkers from 26th–29th January 2009, in Barcelona. We hope to see some of you at this event.
IT Training Awards 2009, The Dorchester, London, 5th February
Pearson VUE will be sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award at the IT Training Awards 2009. This prestigious award celebrates individual achievement in IT Training and recognizes excellence and outstanding personal contribution to the IT training industry.
This year Pearson VUE will also be the main sponsor of the ChildLine Charity Auction in a bid to help raise over £20,000 for ChildLine. To be held at The Dorchester in London on Thursday 5th February 2009, the prestigious event will be presented by the Countess of Wessex and will see the auctioning off of luxury prizes such as holidays in the Maldives, New York and Portugal.
Suzana Lopes, Commercial Director from Pearson VUE, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the Charity Auction at this year’s IT Training Awards ceremony. ChildLine is such a worthwhile charity that we are proud to be involved to help make a difference. Every day around 4,000 children call ChildLine for comfort, advice and protection so it is with great pleasure that Pearson VUE is able to support this event, and help to raise additional funds so that more young people can get the help and support they need.”
The Charity Auction has raised over £135,000 for the charity ChildLine in the last six years.
Quality Monitoring Program
On a monthly basis, as part of our quality monitoring program, Pearson VUE sends representatives to visit test centres posing as examination candidates. After the representative has completed the exam, a written report is submitted to Pearson VUE. These reports are discussed with the test centre to ensure consistent and continued quality performance throughout the Pearson VUE channel of test centres.
For the month of December we would like to congratulate the following test centre on outstanding performance in both the general appearance of the test centre and in compliance with security procedures.
| Site ID | Location Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 41962 | Digi Trade | Prague, Czech Republic |
Asia-Pacific (APAC)
Quality Monitoring Program
On a monthly basis, as part of our quality monitoring program, Pearson VUE sends representatives to visit test centres posing as examination candidates. After the representative has completed the exam, a written report is submitted to Pearson VUE. These reports are discussed with the test centre to ensure consistent and continued quality performance throughout the Pearson VUE channel of test centres.
For the month of December we would like to congratulate the following test centres on outstanding performance in both the general appearance of the test centre and in compliance with security procedures.
| Site ID | Location Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 42954 | Emile Planning Co. Ltd. - Nagoya | Japan |
| 23011 | MISNet Inc. | Philippines |
| 54118 | Unique Network Technologies | India |
| 52713 | Hei Long Jiang G-bond Technical Training Center | China |
| 2923 | IDM Computer Studies (PVT) Ltd. | Sri Lanka |
| 54024 | Tianjin Eddic Info Scitech Co Ltd. | China |
| 51136 | Hunan Opensource Technology Co. Ltd. | China |
| 54560 | Fuzhou Alading Network Training Center | China |
| 39296 | Xiao Tong Electronic Co. | China |
| 54570 | Fuzhou Top Federal Software Service Co., Ltd. | China |
| 48026 | Shenzhen TYL Science & Technology Co., Ltd. | China |
| 54117 | Wuxi Sunshinevale Center | China |
| 50726 | NetPro-ITI Academy | Viet Nam |
| 52240 | Sinosofts Information Technology Co Ltd. | China |
| 53303 | Fuzhou Dongfang Ruizhi Computer Service Co., Ltd. | China |
| 50375 | SPOTO (Fuzhou) IT Prof. Training | China |
| 51398 | BachKhoa Networking Academy | Viet Nam |
| 50375 | SPOTO (Fuzhou) IT Prof. Training | China |
| 52461 | Changchun University | China |
| 51433 | Changchun Frontlink Computer Training Center | China |
| 51385 | AEO Lahore | Pakistan |
| 54842 | Hangzhou Donghui HR-Training Co., Ltd. | China |
| 55611 | Jinan Hanvic United Technology Inc. | China |
| 51791 | Beijing Zhong Da Jin Qiao | China |
| 54578 | Xiamen Wisdom Computer Technology Co., Ltd. | China |
| 54262 | Chengdu Ke Li Te Ren Zheng Jiao Yu Zhong Xin | China |
| 200049880 | Chengdu Milkyway Education Center | China |
| 52479 | Northwestern Polytechnical University MS-CTEC | China |
| 53170 | Chengdu High-Tech Gocean Education Center | China |
| 200050086 | GSD scithch Microsoft Certified Tech Edu Cnt | China |
| 47487 | Chongqing Neptune Network | China |
| 53848 | Xi′an P & T Institute | China |
| 46516 | Suzhou Wanbo Computer Engineering Co Ltd. | China |
| 52394 | Boxue Education Center | China |
| 200050247 | New Horizons C.L.C - Hanoi | Viet Nam |