Common Questions

The ArcGIS Desktop Associate and Professional exams for version 10.1 are available now. The remaining exams are expected to be released between February and April 2013. For more information, see this article.

For reference, the current version 10 certifications will remain active after the 10.1 release. We will be supporting certifications up to two versions back so that candidates may choose to take a version 10.0 or 10.1 certification exam.

The purpose of the Esri Technical Certification Program is to create a standardized level of expertise for the use of Esri products and technology. This is achieved by allowing individuals to validate their knowledge, skills and abilities against a proven and measurable level of competency. The program is designed around three Esri user domains: Desktop, Developer and Enterprise. Each domain includes multiple tracks and certification levels to establish a hierarchy of expertise using Esri products.

Esri certifications are based on the use and best practices of Esri products and complement the Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) certification. A GISP is a certified geographic information systems (GIS) professional who has met the standards for ethical conduct and professional practice as established by the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI). The GISP is not based on or affiliated with any specific product or technology.

Learn more about how the two programs complement each other.

The best way to distinguish between the associate and professional certifications would be to review the candidate qualifications and skills measured sections for each of the available certifications. The professional level certifications will build upon the knowledge required at the associate level and are considered more advanced.

For the exams currently available, they do not require any prior coursework or training before taking them. However, we do encourage candidates to review the candidate qualifications to determine if their skill set matches those expected of a certified candidate.

For the exams that are currently available, you may test for the professional level without first having achieved an associate level certification. However, future exams may require an associate level certification first so please continue to check back as more exams become available. This will be indicated in the candidate qualifications.

Esri certifications do not expire. Exams will be reviewed at each software release to determine if the exam needs to be updated to align with changes in the software. However, once you are certified at the specified version, you will always hold that certification. It will be up to you to determine if certification at the next version is necessary.

No. Esri Technical Certification exams are computer based proctored exams and are only available in Pearson VUE Testing Centers.

There are no pre-requisites for any of the current certification exams that are available.

No. You must be a part of the Esri Certified Training Program (CTP) to teach Esri courses. CTP recognizes individuals as Esri Certified Trainers once they have been pre-approved and have completed a series of trainer requirements; one of which is achieving an Esri Technical Certification.

Esri Technical Certification exams are delivered exclusively at Pearson VUE testing centers, worldwide. Candidates can locate their nearest authorized testing location and register for their exam at pearsonvue.com/esri.

You may attempt to retake an exam in accordance with our retake policy located in our Policy Guide [PDF]. For those interested in retaking the exam, we recommend reviewing the exam overview, identifying any gaps with the skills measured topics, and work on improving those skills with the available resources.

Our general retake policy is as follows:

• If a candidate does not pass a certification exam, a second attempt at the same exam may be taken a minimum of fourteen (14) days after the first exam.
• If a second attempt at the same exam is not passed, the candidate must wait ninety (90) days before attempting to take the same exam a third time.
• If the third exam is not passed, the candidate must request permission from Esri before attempting a fourth exam.

Beta Exam Retake Policy

• Beta exams may be taken only once per exam.
• This policy supersedes the general retake policy.

Esri Technical Certification examinations are offered in English only.

If you are unable to take an Esri certification exam either using standard testing equipment or within the standard exam duration, Esri is dedicated to making all reasonable efforts to accommodate you. If you have a disability that requires you to have special accommodations to take an exam, e-mail certification@esri.com. Be sure to include the following:

• "Accommodation Request" in the e-mail subject.
• Your name.
• Your Esri ID provided by Pearson VUE.
• Type of accommodation required.
• Contact information including e-mail address and phone number.

Please submit the e-mail to Esri at least three weeks before registering for an exam. Pearson VUE testing centers will work with you to accommodate your needs as best they can. If the testing center of your choice cannot accommodate your needs, please contact Pearson VUE for further assistance. The information requested in the e-mail, and any documentation regarding your need for accommodation in testing, will be held in strict confidence and will not be shared without your express written permission.

Due to the duration of our beta exams, candidates may experience issues scheduling a 4.5 hour time slot available at their local Pearson VUE testing center. Test center hours of operation are independently controlled and are based upon the availabilities of their test center staff.

For questions about beta testing, or if you experience any scheduling conflicts, please contact us at certification@esri.com.

All beta testing of the exams must be completed before scoring will be determined. Results will be returned approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the close of the beta testing period.

Beta exams may only be taken once. You will be able to retest when the exams are final and open to all Esri users. Candidates attempting to retake a final exam will be expected to purchase a voucher at the standard price of $225.

Registration for beta exams can only be completed through the Pearson VUE web site, where you will find a list of Pearson VUE testing centers near you. Further directions to register for a beta exam will come with your voucher code approval.

The beta exam is currently open to Esri partners, distributors, and employees only.

• There is no penalty for providing incorrect answers. If you choose an incorrect answer, you simply do not earn credit for that item. No points are deducted for incorrect answers or answers left blank.
• If a question specifies that you must choose multiple correct answers, you must choose the exact number of correct answers specified in the question in order to earn the credit for a correct answer. Partial credit is not given.
• Some questions on the exam might not be included in the calculation of your score. To gather data to update and improve the quality of Esri certification exams, we need to present new content to candidates without counting the results toward their score.
• Scoring is calculated by totaling up the number of correct answers and determining if this is above or below the established passing score for this particular exam.

The Esri Technical Certification Program is designed to validate qualified candidates' knowledge, skills and abilities against a proven and measurable level of competency using Esri products. Candidates who achieve a passing score are deemed qualified in the respective domain and are subsequently awarded a certification.

To prevent the possible misinterpretation or misuse of numerical pass scores and section specific scoring, it is our policy to protect the integrity and value of Esri Technical Certifications by keeping score information confidential. We are continually reviewing ways to improve our score reporting for the future.

After successfully completing a certification exam, you will receive:

• Access to My Certification which includes tools and resources for individuals who are certified.
• Access to a print on demand certificate that includes your unique validation number.
• Ability to send certification verification to your employer, prospective employers, and professional organizations.
• The privilege of using the official emblem for your certification on business cards, web sites, letterhead, in presentations, and more.

The contents of Esri Technical Certification exams are confidential and disclosure of exam content and information could compromise the integrity of the exams, and ultimately the certification itself. By accepting the terms of the Non-Disclosure Agreement, you are legally prohibited from disclosing content and information that is in or directly related to Esri Technical Certification exams.

You will be notified via e-mail approximately five business days after taking the exam.

No. Certification results are confidential and only disclosed to the examinee. If you wish to share your results with your employer you can send official validation of your passing through your My Certification page.

No. Due to privacy concerns, exam results are only shared with the individual who took the exam.