Esri Technical Certification Program – Partner FAQs

[TinaBrewington]

This article addresses some of the questions commonly asked by Partners related to the Esri Technical Certification program, certification exam vouchers as part of partner agreement benefits, and other certification topics.

What are certification exam vouchers/partner exam vouchers?

Certification exam vouchers are the payment mechanism used within the Pearson VUE Registration System, Esri’s exam delivery vendor. Before you can register to take an exam, you must obtain a certification exam voucher and visit the Pearson VUE site to create an account, then register to take your exam and apply the voucher code. Learn more about exam vouchers here.

Esri has created certification exam vouchers that are provided exclusively to the Esri Partner Network (EPN). These vouchers are provided to partner organizations annually as part of their EPN agreement benefits. These voucher types are unique as the voucher code may be applied towards multiple exam registrations within a one-year period. The number of uses corresponds to your partner agreement level and its respective certification exam voucher benefits. Learn more about exam vouchers here.

Does my organization receive partner exam vouchers? If so, how many?

Partners within the platinum, gold, and silver agreement levels receive exam vouchers annually as part of your agreement benefits. Platinum and gold partners receive 10 exam vouchers, silver partners receive 5 exam vouchers. Learn more about EPN exam vouchers here.  

What do I do once I’ve received my partner exam voucher?

To use a voucher, visit Pearsonvue.com/esri, and login or create an account. Then, choose the exam you’d like to take. The Pearson VUE Registration System will take you through the registration process. At the very end there will be a section for you to enter your exam voucher number. Once applied it will zero out your cost and allow you to register for the exam appointment. Learn more about exam registration using vouchers here.

How do we obtain our EPN partner exam vouchers?

• I’m a Partner in the USA: At the time of your partner agreement renewal, send an email request to your assigned Esri Customer Service representative and provide them with your organization name and Esri customer number. They will process your request and send you the voucher code for the current agreement period.
•         I’m an International Partner: Contact your regional Esri Distributor to request these vouchers on your behalf.

How do we purchase additional certification exam vouchers outside of our EPN agreement benefits?

• Domestic Partners will use the “Partner Tools” tab within the My Esri order management system to make the purchase on behalf of their organization. 
• International partners should contact their regional distributor to submit the certification exam voucher request on their behalf.
• Customers wishing to use an Esri prepaid agreement such as Advantage Program or Training Pass should contact their Esri Training Consultant to submit the certification exam voucher request on their behalf and apply the prepaid contract for payment.
• You can learn more about purchasing vouchers and applying them for exam registration here.

Do certification exam vouchers expire?

Vouchers are good for one year from the date they are issued. This issuance date aligns with your partner agreement period of performance, so it is in your best interest to obtain and use these vouchers as soon as they are available. The expiration date is outlined on the order email you receive when you are sent your vouchers. Learn more about exam vouchers here.

 Do unused vouchers roll over into the next year if unused?

Vouchers that are not consumed within 365-days of issuance will not roll over into the next partner agreement period. The Pearson VUE Registration System will not accept expired vouchers to create appointments. Ensure that you register and attend the appointment before the expiration date. Learn more about exam vouchers here.

If someone takes an exam and fails, do they have to use another voucher to retest?

Yes, every exam appointment, including retakes, requires the use of a voucher. You can learn more about our exam retake policies here.

How we track and manage our voucher codes and how many have been used?

A voucher code will be one code good for X amount of uses based on your partner agreement benefits. When your organization receives your partner exam voucher via email, make a note of how many uses you get with your exam voucher and the expiration date. Be sure to store your exam voucher code somewhere for easy reference throughout the year. Other recommendations include creating an internal voucher consumption approval process, so you know who was authorized to use the voucher, for what exam, and when to ensure all uses are consumed before the voucher expires. Once you reach your total uses, you’ll know the voucher is no longer valid.

If you need assistance checking voucher uses remaining, please contact the Certification team using our Contact Us form in Esri Academy.

Can we see certification results for individuals in our organization who use our partner certification exam vouchers to take their exam?

Certified individuals can be viewed within the Certification Directory in the Esri Academy if they elect to do so (this is not required). Esri is unable to share test taker data related to name, score, or pass/fail information. You would need to request these individuals disclose this information with you internally as needed for Partner certification activities. Learn more about how to be featured in Esri Academy.

How do I know which certification I should have individuals take if we are pursuing a Partner Specialty?

Review the application for the Partner Specialty you have selected to learn if there are any Esri Technical Certification requirements or recommendations. Partner Specialty applications can be viewed in the Partner Community. If you have any questions about Partner Specialties, please contact your Partner Manager, or email the Partner Operations team at partneroperations@esri.com.

What is the difference between Partner Specialty emblems and Esri Technical badges?

• Partner Specialties are for partner organizations and enable Esri partners to differentiate their offerings and be recognized for industry and technical expertise. These specialties can require an organization to have Esri-certified staff to fulfill the specialty application requirements.
  • Partner organizations with specialties receive a specialty emblem for use on web pages, in advertising, tradeshow signage, and marketing materials. These can also be promoted within Esri.com and the “Find a Partner” directory.
• Esri Technical Certifications are earned by individuals in an organization to validate their skills and apply them to industry workflows. Some Partner Specialties require individuals in your organization to achieve specific Esri technical certifications to fulfill specialty application requirements.
  • Individuals who achieve an Esri technical certification receive a digital badge and eCertificate that can be viewed, shared, and verified. Learn more about Esri digital badges with Credly here, and view our technical certification digital badges here.

Stay Connected

We recommend you subscribe to the Esri Partner Network in Esri Community to stay up to date on the latest partner program information. If this article didn’t address your certification question, please ask general questions on the Esri Partner Network Questions board, or contact the Esri Technical Certification team by submitting a Training and Technical Certification case in the Partner Community, or by submitting a case in Esri Academy.