Registration and scheduling overview

The Pearson VUE Testing System allows exam sponsors to customize the registration and scheduling processes:

Exam sponsors can choose which methods candidates can use to schedule appointments.
Most exam sponsors require Pearson VUE to handle candidate payments for exam fees, but some exam sponsors choose to collect the fees themselves.
Some exam sponsors also choose to authorize candidates to take exams, meaning that candidates may only schedule appointments for specific exams if the exam sponsor first pre-approves the candidate for the exam.

This chapter discusses the standard registration and scheduling processes. Any processes that are unique to an exam sponsor are described in the exam sponsor's client reference.

Registering a candidate for an exam and scheduling an appointment involves these main steps:

Some exam sponsors may require you to use Registration Manager to verify candidate information, but the main purpose of Registration Manager is to make exam registrations.

A candidate chooses which method they want to use to register for an exam and schedule an appointment.

Exam sponsors can specify which of the following methods candidates may use to register for exams and schedule appointments. See the exam sponsor's client reference for information about which registration and scheduling methods the exam sponsor permits.

Test center: Candidates can call or visit a test center to register for an exam and schedule an appointment. If the exam sponsor permits, you can use Registration Manager to schedule appointments at your own test center or at another test center.
Candidate website: The candidate website (https://www.pearsonvue.com) allows candidates to register for an exam and schedule an appointment on the internet.
Call center: Candidates can contact the Pearson VUE Call Center and have a call center agent help them register for an exam and schedule an appointment at a test center of their choice.

Candidates cannot use the candidate website to schedule an exam appointment for the current day.

The candidate's record is located or created in the testing system database. For more information, see Locating a candidate record and Creating or editing a candidate record.

When a candidate first registers to take an exam through Pearson VUE, a record for the candidate is created in the Pearson VUE Testing System database. This record contains information such as the candidate’s mailing address, email address, and phone number. In most instances, the information in the candidate's record is shared among all exam sponsors whose exams a candidate takes. However, some exam sponsors do not share candidate records with other exam sponsors. In this situation, the candidate has a totally separate record for a specific exam sponsor. For more information, see Protected and unprotected exam sponsors.

When a candidate wants to schedule an exam appointment, it is critical that you do not create a record for the candidate until you have first searched the database to determine whether a record already exists. If duplicate records are created for a candidate, the candidate’s exam results could be distributed across multiple records and the candidate’s certification may be delayed until the records are merged. It will save candidates a great deal of time if you work with them to be sure they do not have existing records. Using an existing record also makes the scheduling process go more quickly.

If you are creating a new candidate record, the candidate must agree to a consent requirement that appears in Registration Manager. For more information, see Creating or editing a candidate record.

The candidate specifies which exam they want to take, selects a test center, and chooses an appointment date and time. For more information, see Scheduling an exam.

A separate record, called a registration, is created each time a candidate registers for an exam and schedules an appointment. The registration contains information about which exam the candidate wants to take and where the candidate plans to take the exam. When you view a candidate’s exam history in Registration Manager, you can see all the exam registrations a candidate has made.

Some candidates require accommodations. For most accommodations, candidates must contact the Pearson VUE Call Center, go through an approval process, and then make an exam appointment through the call center so that the call center can make the necessary arrangements. Certain accommodations can be granted automatically. For example, some exam sponsors allow a candidate to receive a time extension if the candidate is taking an exam in English and English is not the candidate's primary language. In this situation, the testing system automatically determines whether the candidate is eligible and grants the accommodation when necessary. For more information, see General guidelines for ESL accommodations and Accommodations overview.

The candidate indicates how they will pay for the exam. For more information, see Entering payment and completing the order.

Which payment methods are available depends on how the candidate is making the appointment. At most test centers, payments are made by voucher, credit card, or Pearson VUE credit terms.

Occasionally, special discounts are available to candidates. These discounts may be offered by Pearson VUE or by the exam sponsor, or discount information may be provided directly to candidates in the form of promotions or vouchers. For more information, see Working with discounts.

After the payment information is entered, an order is created. Each order has a unique order number.

An order can contain multiple registrations. For example, one candidate can register for multiple exams on the same order, or multiple candidates can register for one exam on the same order.

Pearson VUE sends the candidate a confirmation letter.

The letter confirms the appointment and summarizes appointment details such as the location of the test center and the appointment date and time. The letter can be sent by email or ground mail.