Admission process overview

Admissions Manager is the application that test administrators use to check in candidates for exams. All test centers are required to use Admissions Manager to admit candidates for exams. This requirement helps ensure that all test administrators and test centers follow a standard set of steps when admitting candidates. Admissions Manager gives you detailed information and reminders on the computer screen during the admission process. If necessary, the information can be customized for each exam sponsor and their exams so that you can quickly review any sponsor-specific admission information.

You must perform all steps in the admission process for every candidate, even if you know the candidate (such as if the candidate is a coworker or has previously undergone training or tested at your test center). A candidate's exam cannot be started in Delivery Manager unless the candidate has first been admitted through Admissions Manager.

Listed below are some things to note about the admission process:

You must verify the candidate's IDs and (if applicable) any other documentation the exam sponsor requires for admission.
In most cases, exam sponsors that require admissions data collection require you to capture a candidate's photograph, digital ID authentication, digital signature, or palm vein pattern depending on the exam sponsor's requirements and what equipment is installed at your test center. If a candidate refuses to provide any of these admissions data, see Admissions data waivers for more information.
Exam sponsors may have different policies about what you should do if there are identification issues, such as if a candidate's digital signature does not match the signature on the ID(s). For example, most exam sponsors require you to call the test center support line to contact a program coordinator for further instructions before turning away a candidate because of one of these issues. See the exam sponsor's client reference for more information.
Each step in the admission process is displayed in Admissions Manager, along with brief instructions. Steps are automatically checked off when you click the Next button to indicate that you followed the instructions and completed the step. After completing all steps for a candidate, you click Admit to change the candidate's status in the system to admitted.
Always read the text on the Admissions Manager screens carefully because information can change at any time and may vary by exam sponsor. If you have questions, refer to the exam sponsor's documentation for more information. If your question is not answered, call the support line. If any issue or problem related to the admission process arises, create a case.
Because you need to use Admissions Manager when checking in all candidates, it is important that the administration workstation at your test center is in close proximity to where candidates are checked in.
Many steps in the admission process are the same no matter which exam sponsor is involved. For example, you always need to ask candidates to store personal belongings before their exams. Exam sponsors also have different policies about what you should do if a candidate does not have the proper forms of ID, and certain exam sponsors may not require you to capture admissions data.

There are two sets of basic admission steps. The first set of steps is basic admission steps without admissions data collection. The second set of steps are basic admission steps with admissions data collection required. Depending on the exam sponsor's requirements, you see one of these sets of steps in Admissions Manager.

These sets of admission steps are the default steps used in Admissions Manager for an exam sponsor's exams unless custom steps have been developed for an exam sponsor. Pearson VUE sets up custom admission steps for an exam sponsor if the exam sponsor requires changes to the basic admission steps. For example, an exam sponsor may have handouts that you need to distribute before the exam. If an exam sponsor uses custom steps, that information is provided in the exam sponsor's client reference.

The following tables list the two sets of default admission steps. Information on how to complete each step is provided throughout this chapter.

Basic admission steps without admissions data collection

1. Request identification.

2. Distribute Candidate Rules Agreement.

3. Manually check ID(s).

4. Verify that signatures match.

5. Fill in log sheet.

6. Show candidate where to store belongings.

7. Offer candidate an erasable noteboard and pen.

Basic admission steps with admissions data collection required

1. Distribute the rules document and fill in log sheet (if applicable).

2. Request identification.

3. Manually check ID(s).

4. Capture signature and verify that signatures match.

5. Complete DIA.

6. Capture palm vein.

7. Capture photograph.

8. Show candidate where to store personal belongings.

9. Offer candidate an erasable noteboard and pen.

The signature, digital ID authentication, photograph, and palm vein step do not appear at test centers that do not have the equipment installed.