Esri Beta Exam FAQs

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Esri Beta Exam FAQs

Beta exams are a vital component of Esri’s high-stakes certification exam development process. The beta exam helps ensure the validity of each item included on an operational exam as well as the exam’s overall industry workflow alignment. Compared to those taking an operational exam, beta exam participants have a unique experience. Here’s what you need to know about beta exams if you’re considering participating in one.

• Visit our Esri Beta Exam Schedule blog for the latest dates.

Why does Esri create beta exams for its technical certifications?

Beta exams are a standard part of all certification programs—they are the “pre-test and analyze” mechanism used within the exam development process. Detailed analysis of beta exam results helps ensure the operational exam validates skills used within current industry workflows and software best practices. To keep up with ever-evolving technologies, Esri certification exams are updated every 18-24 months. 

Why should I take an Esri beta exam?

Passing a beta exam means that you have achieved that certification at the earliest possible time. If you are seeking new professional opportunities or aiming to enhance your credentials to earn new business opportunities, taking a beta exam may be a useful way to achieve those goals sooner.

If you are someone who enjoys contributing to the GIS community, taking a beta exam may also be for you. During a beta exam, you have the option to provide feedback on each item. Our testing vendor analyzes the feedback collected during the beta exam process to identify the highest quality exam content and uses that content to create the operational exam.

Your participation in a beta exam is your “voice” in this process, and your participation helps ensure the operational exam is updated to be a valid measure of the skills defined within its exam information guide (EIG), which is included on each Esri Academy exam page (like this one). If you’re considering taking a beta exam, it’s important to carefully review its EIG to determine if the exam is right for you. 

Who is qualified to take an Esri beta exam?

Esri beta exams are available to the entire Esri community of users, including students, customers, business partners, international distributors, and employees. As with operational exams, it’s important to review the beta exam’s qualified candidate description in its exam information guide to ensure your skills match or exceed the description.

What should I expect when taking an Esri beta exam?

To support our rigorous exam development process, beta exams have more questions than operational exams.

During the beta exam, you will review, answer, and when appropriate, post a comment on the exam question. Our testing vendor reviews all beta exam feedback and discards poor-performing questions. This ensures that the content used to create operational exams is a valid measure of the skills defined within the exam information guide.

Beta exam results are released about 10 weeks from the close of the beta exam period, and only a pass or fail result will be provided.

What should I consider before purchasing an Esri beta exam voucher?

The most important thing to consider is whether your knowledge and skills match those of the exam’s qualified candidate description (found in the beta exam information guide). The voucher purchase and registration process is the same, whether you’re taking a beta or an operational exam. However, beta exams are only available for a two to three-week period. Therefore, you have a relatively short time to purchase the exam voucher, schedule your exam appointment, prepare for your exam, and take your exam.

We are not able to extend a beta exam’s open period, and no refund will be provided if you register for a beta exam and do not attend your exam appointment within the beta exam period. Your exam voucher is good for one year after the date in which it was issued and can be applied towards an operational exam instead. It may also be used for a future beta exam if it falls within the one-year period.

With these considerations in mind, it’s critical that you review all the beta exam information available to you before purchasing a voucher.

Is passing a beta exam equivalent to passing an operational exam?

Yes, a certification will be awarded to all individuals who pass a beta exam.

If I don’t pass the beta exam, can I retake it?

Retakes are not available for beta exams. If you do not pass the beta exam, you are welcome to take the operational exam after it releases, which will be eight to ten weeks after the beta exam period closes. To learn more, read our Esri Exam Retake Policy FAQs.

When are Esri beta exams available?

See the Esri Beta Exam Schedule blog for the latest dates.

How do I purchase an Esri beta exam voucher?

Beta exams are the same price as operational exams—$250 USD. Certification exam vouchers are sold by Esri and can be applied towards a beta exam during the two to three-week period in which it's open, or towards any available operational exam.

To purchase a beta exam voucher, visit its exam details page on Esri Academy. The Purchase button will be active when registration opens and throughout the beta exam period. You can wish-list the exam details page for easy access after registration opens.

Beta exams and operational exams use the same exam voucher.

Can a foundation, associate, or professional level exam voucher be used to register for a beta exam?

Yes, beta exams are the "pre-test and analyze" mechanism used within the exam development process. For this reason, we use the same voucher type to support each beta exam during its unique beta exam period. Only foundation, associate, or professional level exam vouchers can be used to register for a beta exam within the Pearson VUE registration system. To learn more, read Esri Technical Certification Voucher Types.

How do I register for an Esri beta exam?

Purchase an exam voucher from Esri and enter the voucher code when scheduling an exam appointment with our testing vendor Pearson VUE during the beta exam period. You’ll need to sign in with your Pearson VUE account or create an account if you do not have one.

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