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How to Become an
APTC Test Center
Revision 1.0
November 18, 2011
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This manual is the exclusive property of Prometric Inc. This manual is licensed for use with restrictions to
authorized centers and Agents. Information herein is proprietary in nature and may not be disclosed to
unauthorized persons without the expressed consent of Prometric.
Copyright© 2011 Prometric ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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How to Become an APTC Test Center
1 General ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Benefits of Delivering APTC Exams......................................................................................... 1 Owner Responsibility ................................................................................................................ 2 Testing Room Facilities ............................................................................................................. 3 Immediate Testing Area ............................................................................................................ 3 Staff ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Operations.................................................................................................................................. 4 Technology Requirements ......................................................................................................... 5 Mandatory Workstation Requirements........................................................................ 5 Mandatory File Server Requirements .......................................................................... 5 Mandatory Admin Station Requirements .................................................................... 5 Network and Router Configuration ............................................................................. 6 APTC Application ..................................................................................................................... 6 Revision 1.0 • 18-November-2011
Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
How to Become an APTC Test
Center
General
Table 1. General Details.
Details
• Prometric owns and operates the worlds' largest network of testing centers and takes great pride in providing
candidates with a testing environment that gives them the best possible chance of succeeding in their testing
experience.
• Authorized Prometric Testing Centers (APTCs) are dedicated to the delivery of certification tests for
professionals in information technology. This includes test delivery services for our 100 partners such as
Microsoft, Novell, Sun, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Apple, CompTIA, and Citrix amongst others
• Prometric does not charge a franchise fee to deliver our exams.
• There are strict operational, technical, and security standards that must be met and maintained.
Benefits of Delivering APTC Exams
Table 2. Benefits.
Details
Benefits of delivering APTC exams to your current as well as potential candidates/students will be:
•
Convenience
Examinations are delivered to test centers on personal computers at individual workstations using Client
Server and Local Area Networks. Test sites can therefore offer different tests simultaneously.
•
Immediate Scoring and Results
Prometric computer-based tests can be scored immediately and results may be given to candidates before
they leave the test center.
•
Comfort
Every testing center is designed to minimize distractions and ensure that candidates are able to perform at
their best level. Each test center will be a permanent, uniformed setting that includes private, modular
workstations with comfortable seating, proper lighting and ventilation, and high clarity screens to
minimize eyestrain.
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 1
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Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Details
•
Security
We provide an unmatched level of security. Using our client server environment, test data is completely
secure. All testing information is retained on a secure file server, encoded and transmitted regularly to
and from the host computer. No floppy disks are used at individual workstations, ensuring that there is
no possibility of tampering or exposure to computer viruses.
Owner Responsibility
Table 3. Owner Responsibility.
Details
Operator agrees that it will maintain and provide at the Operator's sole expense all of the following:
•
Software Security
Operator agrees to maintain and utilize Prometric's required software security mechanisms which will be
used to monitor and maintain the security of all Proprietary and Confidential Information, tests, tests
items and Prometric Testing Software.
•
Data Privacy
Operator agrees that it will only use Candidate names or Candidate-related personal information obtained
through the registration or testing process solely for the purpose of fulfilling its obligations under this
Agreement.
•
Physical Security
Operator agrees to provide a testing facility ("Facility") convenient for access by Candidates (including
those who are disabled) and suited for secure testing purposes, as specified by Prometric in its Manual.
•
Transmission of Data to Prometric
Operator will, in conformance with the Manual, transmit back to Prometric all Candidate data files,
supervisor reports and other test-related files.
•
Commencement of Testing
Operator agrees that it will have all hardware and software installed and be prepared to administer tests
within thirty (30) days of the effective date.
•
Convenience
Examinations are delivered to test centers on personal computers at individual workstations using Client
Server and Local Area Networks. Test sites can therefore offer different tests simultaneously.
•
Immediate Scoring and Results
Prometric computer-based tests can be scored immediately and results may be given to candidates before
they leave the test center.
•
Comfort
Every testing center is designed to minimize distractions and ensure that candidates are able to perform at
their best level. Each test center will be a permanent, uniformed setting that includes private, modular
workstations with comfortable seating, proper lighting and ventilation, and high clarity screens to
minimize eyestrain.
•
Security
We provide an unmatched level of security. Using our client server environment, test data is completely
secure. All testing information is retained on a secure file server, encoded and transmitted regularly to
and from the host computer. No floppy disks are used at individual workstations, ensuring that there is
no possibility of tampering or exposure to computer viruses
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 2
Revision 1.0 • 18-November-2011
Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Testing Room Facilities
Table 4. Testing Room Facilities.
Details
•
The testing room must be quiet and free from distractions such as printers, copiers, conversations, and
general facility traffic.
•
The testing room should be pleasantly and comfortably furnished. The room should be well lighted,
must have proper ventilation and be temperature controlled during testing for general comfort.
•
The testing room shall contain no materials (reference texts, posters, etc.) that are related to the subject
matter of the tests.
•
The testing room and equipment will be dedicated to testing based on your pre-determined schedule.
•
Each testing workstation will be separated by an acoustical partition and located such that no
candidate can read the monitor of another candidate. *Partitions are strongly preferred, however, in
cases where partitions aren't available, no one work station should not have any direct line of site to
another with a minimum of 5 feet (1.524 meters) between workstations unless privacy screens are
used, then a 3 foot (.9144 meter) minimum would be acceptable.
•
The available desktop space at each workstation must be at least 3 feet (.9144 meters )wide by 2 feet
(.6096 meters) deep.
•
The room will be furnished with workstation furniture that is ergonomically designed to allow for
adult candidate comfort during testing.
•
The Test Center and testing room must meet American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for
disabled persons access, or other similar disabled persons requirements according to local law, and at
minimum, permit wheelchair access.
Immediate Testing Area
Table 5. Immediate Testing Area.
Details
Your test center must include:
•
Space outside but near the testing room that can be used to support an administrator workstation and
printer.
•
Space outside but near the testing room for the file server. This should be a secure area with a noninterruptible power supply attached to the file server.
•
A secure storage area, such as a lockable file cabinet or other lockable cabinet, outside the testing
room, to securely store candidates' personal belongings during the testing session.
•
Visual monitoring of candidates through a window or via a video monitor. The viewing window or
video monitor must be within easy viewing distance of the administrator's work area. Many consumer
grade video-monitoring systems also have audio capability. The use of audio monitoring is also
recommended as an aide to proctoring.
•
A locked storage cabinet for Prometric's testing clients' exhibits and other testing supplies that is
accessible by authorized personnel only.
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 3
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Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Staff
Table 6. Staff.
Details
The Test Center owner/operator will assign a minimum of one person, (two or more are strongly
recommended), to be trained and certified as a Prometric Test Center Administrator (TCA). (Please note:
individuals holding IT certifications, or currently pursuing the same, cannot serve as TCAs.)
A TCA must:
•
Complete the annual Prometric Standard Operating Procedures Training Course.
•
Earn a passing score on the Prometric TCA Certification Exam.
•
Engage in periodic Continuing Education modules.
•
Not be involved in any activities or actions which might suggest a conflict of interest regarding the
content of the tests to be administered, such as hold an IT industry certification(s) (MCSE), pursue an
IT industry certification while serving as a TCA, or participate in or train a preparatory course for any
IT tests delivered on behalf of Prometric and its testing clients.
•
Manage daily test center operations and:
• Be available to administer tests during scheduled testing hours.
• Be skilled at customer service relations and committed to providing high-quality services to all
candidates.
• Be skilled in test administration and secure proctoring.
• Be skilled in handling difficult situations with professionalism.
• Be fluent in (U.S.) English and over the age of 18.
•
Manage daily test center communications and:
• Online communications with Prometric.
• Maintain communication with Prometric district and/or territory managers.
Operations
Table 7. Operations.
Details
The owner/operator must:
•
Agree to use Prometric's Internet-based product, Polaris, including Site Manager and Pulse.
•
Agree to have its site listed on the Prometric website www.prometric.com (not applicable for "Private"
sites).
•
Agree to accept all testing candidates referred to the test center, that is, candidates other than your own
students. (Private testing centers are exempt from this requirement.)
•
Agree to deliver certification tests for all testing clients that Prometric specifies for the testing site.
•
Agree to establish a fixed schedule for testing. (Private centers are exempt from this requirement.)
•
Request any changes to alter the fixed testing schedule at least 30 days in advance.
•
Establish communications with Prometric at specified times as determined by Prometric. A
communication session must occur at least 24 hours prior to and immediately following a testing
session.
•
Participate actively in Prometric's quality assurance program.
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 4
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Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Technology Requirements
Mandatory Workstation Requirements
Table 8. Mandatory Workstation Requirements.
Requirements
•
Display monitors: 17 inch CRT or 15"+ Flat Screen
•
Display resolution: 1024x768, 24 or 32 Bit color
•
Workstation: 1 GHz or faster
•
Operating system: Windows XP Professional SP 2 or higher
•
RAM: 1 GB
•
Hard Disk Space: 8.5 GB free disk space
•
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or 8
•
Audio Output capability
•
Network Throughput must be a minimum of 100 MBS
•
Internet Access Capability minimum of 256K per each workstation
•
Microsoft .Net 2.0
Mandatory File Server Requirements
Table 9. Mandatory File Server Requirements.
Requirements
•
1 GHz or faster
•
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 2008, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP4, Microsoft
Windows 2003 Server SP2, configured as a (Domain & Workgroup) controller
•
Peripherals: DVD drive
•
RAM: 1 GB
•
Hard Disk Space: 8.5 GB free disk space
•
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or 8
•
Internet Access Capability, Minimum 256K
•
Network throughput: 100 MBPS
•
Microsoft .Net 2.0
•
Antivirus Software (updated)
Mandatory Admin Station Requirements
Table 10. Mandatory Admin Station Requirements.
Requirements
•
Display monitors: 17 inch CRT or 15+ inch flat screen
•
Display resolution: 1024x768, 24 or 32 Bit color
•
Workstation: 1 GHz or faster
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 5
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Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Requirements
•
Operating system: Windows XP Professional SP 2 or higher
Peripherals: DVD drive
•
RAM: 1 GB
•
Free Hard Disk Space: 8.5 GB
•
Network through put: 100 MBPS
•
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or 8
•
Internet Access: 256K minimum
•
Microsoft .Net 2.0
•
Adobe Acrobat 9 or above
Network and Router Configuration
Table 11. Network and Router Configuration.
Requirements
•
100 MBPS Switch
•
Must be able to access: www.2test.com, www.polaris.prometric.com, www.pulse.prometric.com Port
11001 and port 11002
APTC Application
Table 12. Application.
Application
Important Note: For your application to be accepted, you must provide your employer/institution e-mail
address only. For security reasons, Prometric no longer accepts public e-mail addresses such as Yahoo!,
Hotmail, Gmail, Rediff Mail, etc
*Required Field
Site Details
* Company name
* Legal company name
*Address
*City
*Country
State/Province
*Zip or Postal Code
Web Site Address
Previous APTC Site Code
Federal Tax ID#
(Please note: A Dunn and
Bradstreet report will be run
on every potential partner.)
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 6
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Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Application
Mailing Address (if different from above)
Address
City
State
Country
Zip or Postal Code
Primary Contact Details
*First Name:
*Last Name
Title/Role within the
Company
*E-mail address
*Confirm E-mail Address
*Telephone Number: (Please
include country code & area
code)
Fax Number: (Please include
country code & area code)
Testing Information
*How would you best
describe your business?
Academic Institution
Commercial/independent Information Technology (IT) Training Organization
Government Agency
Military Installation
Testing-only Institution
Other
*How many years have you
been in business?
*How many IT examinations
are you expecting to deliver
each month?
Are you currently
offering/providing IT testing
are your location or
elsewhere within the
organization?
Yes
No
If yes, please provide details
of test center locations and
partnerships:
*If approved as an APTC,
are you prepared to complete
installation and open your
test center within the next 30
days?
Yes
No
How to Become an APTC Test Center - 7
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Prometric
Copyright ©2011 Prometric. Information herein is proprietary and company confidential.
Application
Training Information
*What type of non-IT
training is offered?
English Language
Accounting
University Entrance-level Certification Preparation
Graduate Record Examination Preparation
Other
*Number of active training
seats:
*Number of testing
workstations:
*Is this a state/province
certified or accredited
teaching institution?
Yes
No
If yes, please provide details:
Vendor Authorization: Membership/Authorization
Number:
* Adobe Authorized Training
Center
Yes
No
Apple Authorized Training
Center
Yes
No
* Citrix Authorized Learning
Center
Yes
No
* CompTIA Member
Yes
No
* HP Certified Partner
Yes
No
* IBM Business Partner
Yes
No
* IBM Education Center
Yes
No
Microsoft Certified Partner
Learning Solutions
Yes
No
* Microsoft IT Academy
Member
Yes
No
Oracle Learning Partner
Yes
No
* Sun Business
Yes
No
Any other IT
Authorizations/Memberships:
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