I'm just hoping they keep the online ACTC recertification exams. So much more convenient than going to a training center.

@mattbomarc1 my understanding is ACA certs are available online, but ACSP/ACTC certs/recerts require proctored testing?

Not the recert exams. They have been online at Pearson Vue for the last few years.

@mattbomarc1 we checked with PearsonVUE and Apple, both say ACSP/ACTC requires proctored testing.

Are you sure you don't mean ACA? Take a close look at the image above. :)

Nope, this was the ACTC for 10.9. It's a private exam for those who already have the ACTC 10.8. I don't do any of those $60 Associate ones.

still gotta do it at a testing centre no?
I've done the actc recert exams since 10.2 all the way through to the last one which was for 10.9
always had to go to a prometric/pearson place and sit in the little room to do the exam on their machine.

Apple, PearsonVUE and several training centers I reached out to (East and West coast) all confirmed ACSP/ACTC exams are proctored.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/proctor

We've got the certification courses and exams in the UK for Support & Server essentials 10.10 (Amsys AATC). I'm assuming it's the same in the states.

Apple have been quite a bit quicker at releasing updated courses and exams in the last few years which is good.

I dont think the course covers fixing the 50% boot crash though ;)

@davidacland just curious, are the UK tests proctored as well?

@donmontalvo Yep the ACTC ones are. Not sure about the other ones, ACMT can be taken online without a proctor.

ACTC 10.10 is likely coming. The paper Server Essentials book isn't out yet and I think the 201 exam was just made available to the public in the last week.

ACTC recert exams in the States have been self-proctored. Taking it for the first time, you need to be in a proctored environment.

<disclaimer: like @davidacland I work for an AATC and am an Apple Certified Trainer>

Ahh, that might be where the confusion is coming from, ACSP/ACTC first cert require proctoring and re-cert doesn't.

I'll reach out to PearsonVUE and Apple again, maybe I didn't ask the right question.

According to the Exam Prep guide:

The recertification exam is a computer-based test offered at Apple Authorized Training Centers (AATCs) or from any computer with Internet access.

But can't find it anywhere online though...

Good news...ACTC 10.10 exams are out. :)

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

external image link

The link at the end of the Yosemite 201 Course PDF points to the 10.9 version of the book, here is the correct link:

http://www.peachpit.com/store/apple-pro-training-series-os-x-server-essentials-10-9780134033501

But can you take the exam online?

@hbatelaan according to Apple and the AATCs in our area, and as displayed in the images above, ACSP/ACTC cert/recert require a proctor. I'f be happy if I'm proven wrong. :)

Last info I heard from Apple in regards to 10.9 was also "proctored at a location".

New exam = proctored
Recertification exam = on your own

@RobertHammen my apologies you did state that earlier in the thread. I haven't taken ACTC yet, so I don't have first hand knowledge. But given you are or work for an AACT, you've got the inside scoop. I wish Apple would make it clearer though (see posted images; I added red square for emphasis on where Apple's info may be incorrect). @hbatelaan sorry if my last post was misleading.

Just to clarify the 10.10 ACTC recertification is available online. Why Apple doesn't have a link to the test on the certification page is beyond me. I had to go to www.pearsonvue.com/apple/ and log in to my Pearson account and search for the 10.10 recertification exam.

Apple PearsonVue

how difficult are these certs? what type of stuff do you need to know? I went through the MCP/MCSE stuff back in 2000 and that seemed like they wanted to M$ way to do things and struggled a bit with it.

@tron_jones from what I was told by Apple you still have to sit this exam at a AATC. The available online exams only shows Management Basics and Integration Basics. I'm not sure why they decided to change things other than to generate more money for AATC and to make things more difficult.

@jwojda from my experiences they can be a challenge. Thy devle into lots of areas most people don't touch, particularly on server. I've had people with years of experience in my classes that have struggled or even failed because they are only used to looking after the bit of the server they use.

Similar on the clients. You need to have a good memory for standard apple file paths and locations. For those that spend their time supporting Adobe / Microsoft etc, they might find it difficult.

I think the main difficulty is they aren't very "real world" so having experience of real world issues won't necessarily help you.

If the plan is to self study, I would definitely get hold of the books and go through the ReviseIT exam questions (iOS app, shameless Amsys plug there, sorry).

That's my view anyway :)

@jwojda +1 for what @davidacland mentioned. The books help and contain most of the gotcha question answers on the exam.

@jhbush1973

Glad I saw that before I purchased it, So I can purchase the exam online but only get a voucher to take to a proctor?

@RobertHammen is this correct?