ACSP and ACMT exams

[Butchie-T]

Wow,

Ok, I'm a believer. Interesting and strange that Apple would do that for the exam. Good on ya' and good luck if you have not taken it already. Is the passing score still 74% or did they bump it up a bit? Is the exam pretty close to the Yosemite and Mavericks exam?

Thanks for the info.

 

[patent10021]

Do you work for a dealer? It looks like it. So maybe that's why you're allowed to. You have GSX? I will look into this too. There must be a catch. Awesome if it's for anyone though. Wonder how I could find out. Because once I pay for the exam on Pearson I pretty much have to book it somewhere. I wish someone else could verify this as well. Maybe the code you got was a special code.

Come to think of it what would someone with a physical disability do to take the exam? There must be some special circumstances.
[doublepost=1461461722][/doublepost]


[doublepost=1461461903][/doublepost]Strange, I logged in but couldn't get access to any sales training or quizzes. It also shouldn't say 2008. Maybe you had a special registration via your company.

I'm also not having success with ACSP exam registration. I think the system is down on weekends? "The service is unavailable."

p.s. Maybe your "code" ACSP code is tied to your company therefore you can take it at home?? I don't know. I wonder what would happen if I used that code? lol

 

[bradl]

Do you work for a dealer? It looks like it. So maybe that's why you're allowed to. You have GSX? I will look into this too. There must be a catch. Awesome if it's for anyone though. Wonder how I could find out. Because once I pay for the exam on Pearson I pretty much have to book it somewhere. I wish someone else could verify this as well. Maybe the code you got was a special code.

my employer isn't a dealer, per se. They are authorized to provision and refurb Apple products (specifically, iPads) for POS terminals. But they aren't explicitly a dealer for them.

Come to think of it what would someone with a physical disability do to take the exam? There must be some special circumstances.

No disability here. As mentioned earlier, for the 10.9 ACSP, there was an ACTC in town, but they stopped offering the exam in 2015. The next closest ACTC is 100 miles away, in San Francisco (I'm in Sacramento).

Like you, I had to pay through Pearson, and book it with the ACTC. That is why I thought it was weird that they offered it online.

Strange, I logged in but couldn't get access to any sales training or quizzes. It also shouldn't say 2008. Maybe you had a special registration via your company.

Not sure on that, but the funny thing is that I logged in as well, and had the same problem.

I'm also not having success with ACSP exam registration. I think the system is down on weekends? "The service is unavailable."

Glad I'm not the only one! I had the same thing today as well, as I was going to take the exam today, but their server kept returning 503 errors (Server Temporarily Unavailable). I've been getting this since 10:30am PT.

And if it were normally down on weekends, it doesn't explain giving the exam period to be through a Saturday. What I would have thought is that if it were purchased on a Friday, the period should carry over to the next business day, not the next calendar day.

p.s. Maybe your "Elcap101NP" ACSP code is tied to your company therefore you can take it at home?? I don't know. I wonder what would happen if I used that code? lol

I don't know. But I will say this. Since I wasn't able to get to the exam today, we'll definitely be getting to it on Monday. So feel free to use it after that, and see what you get. How far away are you from the closest ACTC?

BL.

 

[patent10021]

Thanks for the info. The only thing I can think of is that maybe it's because you are doing it through a company that is authorized to do certain things vs the regular Joe. I guess we'll soon find out lol

What I meant was I wonder how a person with a physical disability would take the exam. There must be some special circumstances therefore technically one should be able to take it from home.

I actually have to travel very very far to take it if it's proctored so unless I can take it from home I'd rather just take it when I'm in Shanghai since it's no less convenient. They have a testing center right in the same building as the Shanghai Apple store.

Hey, seriouslyl ACSP is NOT listed.
http://www.training.apple.com/certification/onlinecert

I'm pretty sure you are able to take it online because of your code.

 

[Butchie-T]

BL,

Have you had the opportunity to sit the 10.11 support exam yet? If so, how well did you do and was it pretty muck like the Mavericks and Yosemite exams?

 

[bradl]

BL,

Have you had the opportunity to sit the 10.11 support exam yet? If so, how well did you do and was it pretty muck like the Mavericks and Yosemite exams?

Going to be doing this tomorrow. I'm thinking it will be similar to the Yosemite exam than anything.

However, if you do decide to take it online, here's some advice for you.

Do NOT take the exam until you are ready.

I can't stress that enough. I say that because when you purchase the exam and have a code to take it online, you will be given a 48-hour window to take the exam. That is how long it will be available for you to take. If you wait longer, the status of it will show as expired, and unless there was some outlying circumstance to cause it, the only way you can take it is to purchase it again. Additionally, that 48-hour window is based on date and time based on calendar day, not business day. So if you purchase this on a Thursday at, say, 4pm local time, you will have until Saturday at 4pm local time to take the exam.

That's what happened to me, where it was purchased at 12 noon on Thursday, so I had until 12 noon on Saturday to take it. Saturday, Pearson's servers were returning 503 error codes all day (Server temporarily unavailable), which caused me to miss the window. In talking to Pearson on it they'll create a ticket for you that will take 3-5 business days to resolve. So if you have the time and patience to wait, you can go down that route. If not, you can dispute the payment with your credit card processor, get the money refunded, and purchase again.

Again, this doesn't explain why the exam has the option to be unproctored, as you can still take it at an AATC, which will be proctored. Additionally, the code that was mentioned in the thread has no bearing or outcome on the actual exam, so I do not see a reason why it would be unique to me or anyone, because it just provides the availability to take the exam without having to go to an AATC to do it. For example, if there weren't that single AATC in Auckland, the closest AATC to New Zealand would be Melbourne, AU: 3.5 hour's flight and a passport away. Doable, but you'd be burning half a day to get there, 2 hours to take a test, and another half day to get home.

With that, if you are thinking of taking it, here's what I suggest:

1. Wait until you believe you are absolutely ready,
2. Purchase the exam (this starts that 48-hour clock),
3. Spend the first 24 hours preparing for the exam (last minute studying, practice tests, etc.),
4. Take the test no later than 36 hours after purchasing it.

That way, you get at least one more day's study time prior to taking it. And again, this says absolutely nothing about not having any training/studying material (read: Apple's prep guide, any books, notes, etc.) next to you while you are taking the exam.

Either way, I'll give a better idea on how it is tomorrow, as mine is rescheduled for no later than 2 days from now (4/29/16) and I'll be taking it on 4/28.

BL.

 

[patent10021]

I have a question with 2 possible answers.

For a Mac used in public we don't want the browser history to remain after they log out.

We could enable the Guest account for login.
We create a managed account with parental controls.

Aren't these both correct? Does a managed account also auto delete the Safari browser history when they log out? Or is it just a Guest account that deletes the browser history?

 

[Butchie-T]

I have a question with 2 possible answers.

For a Mac used in public we don't want the browser history to remain after they log out.

We could enable the Guest account for login.
We create a managed account with parental controls.

Aren't these both correct? Does a managed account also auto delete the Safari browser history when they log out? Or is it just a Guest account that deletes the browser history?

Login with the guest account, muck around a bit in Safari and then log off. As soon as you start to log out you will actually see a nag telling you that logging out of the guest account will delete the browser history. Create a managed account and do the same thing, pretty sure you will not see that same nag upon logout.

Page 134 Support Essentials 10.10 Guest Accounts paragraph.
[doublepost=1461808380][/doublepost]

Going to be doing this tomorrow. I'm thinking it will be similar to the Yosemite exam than anything.

However, if you do decide to take it online, here's some advice for you.

Do NOT take the exam until you are ready.

I can't stress that enough. I say that because when you purchase the exam and have a code to take it online, you will be given a 48-hour window to take the exam. That is how long it will be available for you to take. If you wait longer, the status of it will show as expired, and unless there was some outlying circumstance to cause it, the only way you can take it is to purchase it again. Additionally, that 48-hour window is based on date and time based on calendar day, not business day. So if you purchase this on a Thursday at, say, 4pm local time, you will have until Saturday at 4pm local time to take the exam.

That's what happened to me, where it was purchased at 12 noon on Thursday, so I had until 12 noon on Saturday to take it. Saturday, Pearson's servers were returning 503 error codes all day (Server temporarily unavailable), which caused me to miss the window. In talking to Pearson on it they'll create a ticket for you that will take 3-5 business days to resolve. So if you have the time and patience to wait, you can go down that route. If not, you can dispute the payment with your credit card processor, get the money refunded, and purchase again.

Again, this doesn't explain why the exam has the option to be unproctored, as you can still take it at an AATC, which will be proctored. Additionally, the code that was mentioned in the thread has no bearing or outcome on the actual exam, so I do not see a reason why it would be unique to me or anyone, because it just provides the availability to take the exam without having to go to an AATC to do it. For example, if there weren't that single AATC in Auckland, the closest AATC to New Zealand would be Melbourne, AU: 3.5 hour's flight and a passport away. Doable, but you'd be burning half a day to get there, 2 hours to take a test, and another half day to get home.

With that, if you are thinking of taking it, here's what I suggest:

1. Wait until you believe you are absolutely ready,
2. Purchase the exam (this starts that 48-hour clock),
3. Spend the first 24 hours preparing for the exam (last minute studying, practice tests, etc.),
4. Take the test no later than 36 hours after purchasing it.

That way, you get at least one more day's study time prior to taking it. And again, this says absolutely nothing about not having any training/studying material (read: Apple's prep guide, any books, notes, etc.) next to you while you are taking the exam.

Either way, I'll give a better idea on how it is tomorrow, as mine is rescheduled for no later than 2 days from now (4/29/16) and I'll be taking it on 4/28.

BL.

Bradl,

Thanks for the heads up. I'm not quite ready for the 10.11 Support Essentials exam just quite yet. Got some more studying to do first. I cleared the 10.10 Support and Server exams the first part of this year so I'm just focusing on the deltas between 10.10 and 10.11 which are pretty minimal so far. Good luck on your exam when you do sit for it.

 

[patent10021]

Thanks

 

[philcebutv]

can anyone confirm if the ACSP 10.11 can be taken online?

I can see the system requirements when you book the ACSP exam that it looks like it can be taken online. However, I don't want to spend my money unless I can confirm that it can be taken online. I am afraid that in the end i have to go to an apple authorize center to take the exam because we currently do not have a locale here and I have to fly to other countries just to take the ACSP exam

Can someone confirm?

I really don't need the certification but company force us to take it.

 

[Butchie-T]

can anyone confirm if the ACSP 10.11 can be taken online?

I can see the system requirements when you book the ACSP exam that it looks like it can be taken online. However, I don't want to spend my money unless I can confirm that it can be taken online. I am afraid that in the end i have to go to an apple authorize center to take the exam because we currently do not have a locale here and I have to fly to other countries just to take the ACSP exam

Can someone confirm?

I really don't need the certification but company force us to take it.

Typically you have to go to an AATC to take the exam. The poster upthread here received a code, or their company did and passed it to them. And they were able to sit the exam in an on-line format. It is out of the ordinary with what is reflected on the Apple Training web page but there ya' go. So, unless you get a code as well, then yes, you will need to go to a AATC to sit the exam.

http://training.apple.com/en/certification/osxyosemite.html

 

[bradl]

Typically you have to go to an AATC to take the exam. The poster upthread here received a code, or their company did and passed it to them. And they were able to sit the exam in an on-line format. It is out of the ordinary with what is reflected on the Apple Training web page but there ya' go. So, unless you get a code as well, then yes, you will need to go to a AATC to sit the exam.

http://training.apple.com/en/certification/osxyosemite.html

Keep in mind that what you are referencing is for Yosemite: 10.10, which is indeed true. What we don't know is if Apple has changed that requirement for El Capitan. Until Apple or Pearson state otherwise, we should assume that that hasn't changed. Again, I am not sure on why I've received that code to take it online and not at an AATC, and additionally, that code came directly from our rep at Apple.

There are numerous reasons why my employer may have received it (according to our rep, a lot of people who are on the Partner Channel have to meet the requirement to have that certification by 4/30/2016, or be dropped from it, so that may be a reason why), so while I may be the exception to the norm, it would be interesting to see if this is now the norm and not the exception.

BL.

 

[philcebutv]

ACSP
System Requirements:
This exam can only be taken if all of the system requirements listed below are met.

Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 or higher or iOS device with iOS 6
Internet Browser Version: Safari 4.0 or higher, Internet Explorer v6 or higher, Firefox 3.0 or higher, Chrome 5.0 or higher
Screen Resolution: Screen resolution equal to or greater than 1024 X 768
Flash Version: Flash version 9 or greater could be required but depends on the exam you are taking
Internet Connection: You will need a sustained, high speed, Internet connection for the duration of the exam.



The above text is what I get when I tried to purchase either the ACSP 10.11. Isn't it that it should prompt me to select an apple authorize testing center? - I seem to remember this when it was on prometric..

The above text is also what I get when purchasing MIB 10.10/11 on which the exam can be taken online

Only difference on the two exam above is that under apple training link MIB has a private access code MIBCapitan11 while ACSP has none.

 

[patent10021]

Everyone gets that same info. The test is when you actually click PURCHASE. Which I haven't done yet. Because then you'll be given times and dates etc.

 

[Butchie-T]

Keep in mind that what you are referencing is for Yosemite: 10.10, which is indeed true. What we don't know is if Apple has changed that requirement for El Capitan. Until Apple or Pearson state otherwise, we should assume that that hasn't changed. Again, I am not sure on why I've received that code to take it online and not at an AATC, and additionally, that code came directly from our rep at Apple.

There are numerous reasons why my employer may have received it (according to our rep, a lot of people who are on the Partner Channel have to meet the requirement to have that certification by 4/30/2016, or be dropped from it, so that may be a reason why), so while I may be the exception to the norm, it would be interesting to see if this is now the norm and not the exception.

BL.

The link shows the requirements for El Cap as well. Apple just has not updated the link. If you look at the exam requirements for the 10.11 support exam you will see the link that references taking the exam at an AATC site.

 

[bradl]

The link shows the requirements for El Cap as well. Apple just has not updated the link. If you look at the exam requirements for the 10.11 support exam you will see the link that references taking the exam at an AATC site.

However, I would like someone else to confirm this. Could any of you do the following:

1. go to https://aatcportal.apple.com/AATCWeb/locations in your browser,
2. for the search criteria, select "OS X Support Essentials 10.11", and "United States". Leave the city blank.
3. hit Go.

Do you get any results?

If not, can you do the same again, and select ANY country. Do you get any results?

Finally, do this one more time, and for the search criteria, select "OS X" instead of "OS X Support Essentials 10.11". For the country, put in "United States". For the city or post code, indulge me and put in "95834".

After submitting, you should see some options for V2 Consulting. That is the company that is the AATC in the bay area. If you mouse over any of them in the list, you should see their location show up in the map. In the map, there should be a link for "Schedule". In my case, I chose either the one in San Francisco, or the one in Milpitas/Santa Clara.

When you do that, do you only see the options for the El Capitan 101 training class, and ACMT Complete class? Finally, if you change the search criteria to "Exam IT" and leave the AATC blank, do you get any dates?

I ask, because I think it is really weird that no AATC on the west coast is offering the 10.11 ACSP exam. This could lead one to believe that they are transitioning to this being online.

I'm still trying to take this bloody exam, because each time I've tried, Pearson's site has had issues, causing the availability of my exam to lapse, and that was even when taking it 28 hours into the 48-hour window. So if you do try to take it online, be ready, and try to take it as early as you can, otherwise you could run into issues.

BL.

 

[patent10021]

I've done this before. No one has exams for 10.11 because it's too soon. 10.10 is everywhere.

First two V2 stores don't work. Third link works for but exam data.

• V2 CONSULTING INC
• 4130 CAHUENGA BLVD STE 230

--------------------------------------------------------------
The names have been changed. For example:

ACMT 2016 certification
Apple Service Fundamentals Exam (SVC-16A)
ACMT 2016 Mac Service Certification Exam (MAC-16A)


ACiT 2016 certification
Apple Service Fundamentals Exam (SVC-16A)
ACiT 2016 iOS Service Certification Exam (iOS-16A)


So I think ACSP will also have a name change and could be why it isn't listed globally YET.

 

[Butchie-T]

However, I would like someone else to confirm this. Could any of you do the following:

1. go to https://aatcportal.apple.com/AATCWeb/locations in your browser,
2. for the search criteria, select "OS X Support Essentials 10.11", and "United States". Leave the city blank.
3. hit Go.

Do you get any results?

If not, can you do the same again, and select ANY country. Do you get any results?

Finally, do this one more time, and for the search criteria, select "OS X" instead of "OS X Support Essentials 10.11". For the country, put in "United States". For the city or post code, indulge me and put in "95834".

After submitting, you should see some options for V2 Consulting. That is the company that is the AATC in the bay area. If you mouse over any of them in the list, you should see their location show up in the map. In the map, there should be a link for "Schedule". In my case, I chose either the one in San Francisco, or the one in Milpitas/Santa Clara.

When you do that, do you only see the options for the El Capitan 101 training class, and ACMT Complete class? Finally, if you change the search criteria to "Exam IT" and leave the AATC blank, do you get any dates?

I ask, because I think it is really weird that no AATC on the west coast is offering the 10.11 ACSP exam. This could lead one to believe that they are transitioning to this being online.

I'm still trying to take this bloody exam, because each time I've tried, Pearson's site has had issues, causing the availability of my exam to lapse, and that was even when taking it 28 hours into the 48-hour window. So if you do try to take it online, be ready, and try to take it as early as you can, otherwise you could run into issues.

BL.

No results for me either. And that is odd because the place I normally go to for Apple training is this site: http://rewindtech.com/training/ and they have 10.11 training dates on their schedule and they are an Apple authorized training and testing center. Not sure why they do not show up in the Apple search.

 

[bradl]

I've done this before. No one has exams for 10.11 because it's too soon. 10.10 is everywhere.

I was told by Apple that they have the ACSP exam for the latest version of each OS available no later than 6 months after the OS is released. So time nearly matches. They announced El Capitan at WWDC last year, and was released on September 30th, so that makes it about right. What makes that odd is that that 6 months availability puts it roughly 2 months before the newest version would be announced.

Either way, that may explain the rush that Apple has going on with some of their resellers in the Partner Channel.

BL.

 

[patent10021]

Well it is true that soon after new exams are out new OSs are soon released. I waited last year for PeachPit 10.10 and by the time I got it in March? 10.11 was almost out. At least beta. Can't remember. Though I'm not sure why a computer exam system would take so long.

Either way no 10.11 exams listed across the globe.

 

[bradl]

Everyone gets that same info. The test is when you actually click PURCHASE. Which I haven't done yet. Because then you'll be given times and dates etc.

This is correct.

I just took the exam. The exam process flow (read: look/feel of the exam) is exactly how it is when you take it at an AATC: same greeting, same example and demographics questions, same look and feel. The only difference is that you can do it at home or at your office.

Now that I've taken it, I can give a bit more background on my end. My employer provisions and distributes POS devices and systems, including iPads. Since we're the supplier, that doesn't put us as a direct reseller per se, but puts us in the reseller frame. With that said, Apple has taken a different path for its funds for anyone in its Partner channel (read: resellers). The funds for that are basically the funds that get recovered after a slight markup for reselling the product (between the 4% - 8% range). Those used to get paid out each year, pursuant to the date of becoming a member in the Partner Channel, provided that the reseller meets the requirements for being in the Partner Channel. Normally, those requirements consists of one person passing the MIB, one person passing the ACSP, and sales reps having 9000 points or more in the Apple sales training portal.

Now, they've changed that to be at every quarter. And apparently, with the ACSP 10.11 just becoming current, everyone in the partner channel needed to have someone pass that exam before the end of the quarter, which is April 30th. So a lot of companies were in a jam and had to rush to take this exam. My company apparently (?) knew about this back in February, which would indicate that Apple may have had the 10.11 exam ready by then, which means that this online option would have been available then as well. I don't know, nor am I going to ask.

What I do know is this: the online code is able to be used as many times as one needs, and is not tied to any person or company. So that code can be used by anyone; additionally, it does not directly affect the exam or the taking of the exam. So if anyone wants that code, I'd suggest asking your account rep regarding it, or if there were any major circumstance that would call for it (for example, disability, long travel to the exam (example: if the only AATC in New Zealand closed up, someone down there would need to get a passport, and fly to Melbourne or Sydney to take the exam), etc.), bringing it up with Apple to get that code.

As far as the exam goes, it does go into detail about El Capitan, but I wouldn't advise anyone to go into this with just knowing what what they know from Yosemite. It's definitely worth studying up on El Capitan. Additionally, I don't advocate nor support or condone anyone going into the exam with any material sitting next to them. Not only would that be unethical, but you couldn't truly prove that you know what you know when you take it, making your certification rather hollow. Tread carefully here, as it does put your character and integrity on the line.

Finally, be real strict on that exam availability. If you miss it for any reason (even no fault of your own), you'll e in for a week's worth of frustration because that's how long it will take for you to get any resolution on it, making you think that it's easier to purchase the exam again and get it over with. My job could shoulder that cost, but for the individual, doing this at $250USD is a lot. My exam availability screwed up 2 different times because of Pearson's and Apple's sites being down that we're fighting to get $500 refunded, and have spent $750 to take a $250 exam. And since they give you a 48-hour window to take it, that's why I keep reiterating to not purchase it until you are ready, and take it within 30 hours of taking it. That gives you a good day to finish any last minute studying and practice tests, plus keeps you within that window.

With that, I'll be back later to post more thoughts on it. For everyone else wanting to take it, bonne chance, mes amis!

BL.

 

[philcebutv]

What I do know is this: the online code is able to be used as many times as one needs, and is not tied to any person or company. So that code can be used by anyone; additionally, it does not directly affect the exam or the taking of the exam. So if anyone wants that code, I'd suggest asking your account rep regarding it, or if there were any major circumstance that would call for it (for example, disability, long travel to the exam (example: if the only AATC in New Zealand closed up, someone down there would need to get a passport, and fly to Melbourne or Sydney to take the exam), etc.), bringing it up with Apple to get that code.

Will there be any other code or will it be the same for ACSP, similar to MIB?

 

[patent10021]

Will there be any other...

It would be better to delete/edit your post and ask in private so that every Dick and Jane doesn't get the same idea and floods his inbox. Just my 2 cents.

 

[philcebutv]

It would be better to delete/edit your post and ask in private so that every Dick and Jane doesn't get the same idea and floods his inbox. Just my 2 cents.

I've edited my post..

I am just wondering if @bradl is taking the re-certification of ACSP, that might be the case why he was able to take exam online. Mine will be like a new one.

 

[bradl]

I've edited my post..

I am just wondering if @bradl is taking the re-certification of ACSP, that might be the case why he was able to take exam online. Mine will be like a new one.

Nope. no 'recertification', as there is no such thing. The 10.11 exam is becoming current, with the 10.10 exam being deprecated. Not to brag, but I've tested for and passed the ACSP for 10.9, 10.10, and now 10.11. The reason for having to do those is that a 10.9 certification doesn't apply to any future OS X release, nor does a 10.11 certification apply to any previous release. For example, I have no idea on the deep inner workings of, say, any MacOS release between Snow Leopard, and System Software 7.5.3 (the last MacOS I worked on)

The certifications are good for the entire lifecycle of the OS released, so as long as 10.10 is used and supported, if a client needed work from someone certified in it, I could do it.

But there is no recertification exam; it is the actual exam that you take at any AATC.

BL.