Microsoft Once Again Decides to End Prometric’s Monopoly as an Exam Delivery Provider

After years of complaints from just about every Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Microsoft decided to add Pearson VUE as an alternative to Prometric, the only Microsoft exam provider available to MCTs. Prometric has been criticized by MCTs for its terrible service for a long time and Microsoft management, from Program Managers to senior Directors, have all heard the complaints (which I have personally witnessed) but never did anything about it. I can’t cover all the complaints over the years about Prometric in this blog post but if I were to write a book it will probably be at least a thousand-page long. Just go to any exam forum and find out what people think of Prometric.

But this was all in the past. After Microsoft certified training centers were allowed to add VUE as an exam provider they breathed a sigh of relief and so did the MCTs. Just about everyone I know switched from Prometric to VUE and life was good. Then came the dreaded decision from Microsoft in 2007 that VUE is being dropped as an exam provider and Prometric again became the only provider of Microsoft exams. It was Déjà vu all over again and the nightmare started again. MCTs and the training centers complained again but to no avail.

After Microsoft dumped them as an exam provider without any explanation in the past Microsoft has once again added VUE as an exam provider. However, what I find interesting is that Microsoft announced today that “Microsoft has strong relationships with Pearson VUE as an exam delivery provider.” Seriously? Since when? Firing a company without explanation and giving their competition complete monopoly is not considered “strong relationship” by most business standards. When Microsoft fired VUE in 2007, apparently VUE wasn’t even informed why they were dropped. Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog post back in 2007 had this quote from VUE.

“We have not been informed of the reason for this decision. Feedback we have received from Microsoft employees and partners over the years has been overwhelmingly positive. Please contact Microsoft for details.”

Does that sound like a “strong relationship” to you? Here’s something interesting. Do a Google search on Prometric hate and you will get about a million hits. Do a Bing search and you will get about 18,000 hits. Draw your own conclusion. I’m just sayin’.

How long will Microsoft keep VUE this time around, nobody knows. As an MCT, I would like to see Microsoft give MCTs choices and not limit us to a single exam provider.

Here’s Microsoft’s official announcement.

“Pearson VUE announces on June 2, 2014 they have been added as a new exam delivery provider for Microsoft Certification exams.

Starting September 4, 2014, candidates, including academic candidates, may choose from both Prometric or Pearson VUE to complete their Microsoft Certification Professional (MCP) exams and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams. Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and academic MTA exams will continue to be delivered through Certiport.

Microsoft has strong relationships with Pearson VUE as an exam delivery provider (EDP) for our Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and academic Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams with Certiport, a division of Pearson VUE, in addition to the recent announcement that Microsoft Press is now distributed by Pearson VUE. This EDP relationship will enable Pearson VUE to deliver the full spectrum of exams, including technical exams, and additional exam delivery capabilities that will streamline candidates’ experiences.

MCTs will continue to be provided with discounted exam vouchers to support their ongoing pursuit of certifications.”