Contact an Apple Authorized Training Center (AATC) in your area.

Many Apple Certification exams are available in other languages. All exams are available at all Apple Authorized Training Centers.

Apple is dedicated to developing technology that is usable by and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. If you are unable to take an Apple Certification exam, either using standard testing equipment or within the standard exam duration, the Apple Certification program is committed to making all reasonable efforts to accommodate you. Please contact your selected test center at least 14 days in advance of your test date. Additional information about special accommodations can be viewed in the Program Policies document at http://www.apple.com/legal/certification/

Exams typically cost US$65-US$200 but are priced according to currency values in specific countries and regions. Certification exam prices are subject to change. In some countries and regions, additional taxes may apply. Beta exams are free. Contact your selected AATC for exact pricing.

Here is some general information about exam scoring:

1. There is no penalty for guessing on single answer questions. If you choose an incorrect answer, you simply do not earn credit for that item. No points are deducted for incorrect answers or answers left blank.
2. If a question specifies that you must choose a specific number of correct answers, you must choose the exact number of correct answers specified in the question. You will earn credit for each correct answer chosen. No points are deducted for incorrect answers.
3. If a question specifies that you must "Select All that Apply," you do not have to choose the exact number of correct answers specified in the question. You will earn one point for each correct answer chosen. For each incorrect answer that you choose, .25 points will be deducted. This prevents candidates from simply selecting all responses.

There are several important pieces of information on the score report: 

The score report indicates the time that a candidate finished the exam. A candidate must wait seven 24-hour periods after completing an exam before they are eligible to retake an exam. Please note, Prometric uses Greenwich Mean Time to indicate the exam start and end time, so you may need to adjust to determine the actual end time in your time zone.

Some exams include questions that are worth more than one point as they ask students to select more than one option. So while a score could indicate that a student earned 52 out of 64, the exam might only include 60 questions. A student had the potential to get 64 answers correct, not 64 questions correct. 

If you fail a recertification exam, the score report will include information on how you can retake the exam, if you are eligible. If you took the exam in a proctored setting, you should contact your testing center to reschedule.

The score report details the areas in which a candidate demonstrates technical strength and the areas in which the candidate shows a need for improvement. The report provides a numeric score for overall exam performance.

Apple provides numeric scaled scores on all exams that provide the candidate with some indication of their level of performance on the exam. Apple has worked with customers and testing industry experts to create an exam scale that is consistent across all exams.

In most cases, each item is worth one point; however, some questions or question types may be worth more than one point. Apple does not provide information about how many points specific items are worth.

Points are not deducted for incorrect answers for single answer questions; if you answer incorrectly, you will simply not earn the credit associated with answering correctly. However, for exams with multiple answer questions, .25 point is deducted for each incorrect answer. This prevents someone from simply selecting all options to earn the maximum number of points.

No, it does not indicate an error. It is not uncommon for candidates to obtain similar or identical scores on multiple attempts of an exam. Receiving the same score on multiple attempts does not indicate that the program computing the results is in error.

You answered all the questions in that section incorrectly.

In some cases, you may experience a delay of up to a minute while your next question loads. Prometric's software is designed to accommodate this event. A delay between questions does not impact the responses you have recorded. Your exam will be scored correctly regardless of delays between questions.

Although Apple Certification exams provide feedback about the areas where examinees need to develop their skills further, Apple Certification exams are not designed to provide detailed feedback. We encourage you to use the relevant Exam Preparation Guides to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

The content of all Apple end-user exams is strictly limited to the content of the corresponding Apple Pro Training Series books. Students who master the contents of the book should be able to pass the certification exam, whether they attended an instructor-led class or used the book to self-study. Trainer exams may include questions about material outside the scope of the Apple Pro Training Series books. For example, the Trainer exam could include questions from a Train-the-Trainer Podcast, the Apple Certified Trainer Program Guidelines, a white paper, or online tutorials. Trainers are told about any supplementary materials that they are expected to study in their Trainer acceptance email.

Learn more about Apple Certification programs and preparatory materials

The Exam Preparation Guides located on http://training.apple.com provide information about how many questions will be presented in each section of an exam.

The time varies from one exam to another, but it will not exceed two hours under normal circumstances. In addition to answering the exam questions, you will have time to review instructions and provide comments after the exam is completed. To request the duration of your exam, contact the test center; however, because Apple reserves the right to change the exam content and time at any time, the most accurate information will be obtained if you contact the test center on the day of your exam.

The testing software provides a notification screen before the exam begins that shows the maximum time allowed for answering the questions in that exam. Some candidates may complete the exam before reaching the maximum time.

Apple is dedicated to developing technology that is usable for and accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. If certification candidates are unable to take an Apple Certification exam within the standard exam duration, the Apple Certification program is committed to making all reasonable efforts to accommodate these candidates.

Individuals vary in their approaches to test taking, so there is no one approach that works for everyone. However, these tips help most candidates:

1. Use all of the time allowed for the entire exam.
2. Answer the questions you know first. If you are unsure of a question, mark it for review, and return to it later.

To return to the question immediately preceding the question that you are answering, use the Previous button. To return to any other questions, use the Review Screen at the end of the exam.

If you have feedback about an instructor-led Apple training course, you can provide it directly to the instructor. For Peachpit Press books, click here.

You will receive notification of your pass or fail status immediately upon completing your exam. The exam provider will forward your score to the Apple Certification Record System within five working days of your exam.

If you do not pass a certification exam and want to retake it, review the Exam Preparation Guide and continue to practice the necessary skills. When you are ready, call your test center to schedule a retake in accordance with our retake policy. Note that you must pay for each exam you retake. The retake policy can be viewed at http://www.apple.com/legal/certification/.

Apple Certification exams include various formats and question types, which are applied on a per-item basis to accurately evaluate the candidate's knowledge and skills.

Question types might include:

1. Multiple-choice questions with either a single response, or multiple responses; some multiple-choice multiple-response questions may earn a candidate partial credit. Partial credit for IT exams means part of the one point that each exam item is worth; for Pro Apps exams it means one or more points, up to the number of points available for that item.
2. Hot-spot or interactive media questions that ask a candidate to click an area in an image.

No. Apple does not identify the formats of any given exam at the time of registration. Also, we adopt new testing technologies and question types periodically. Both practices help us protect exam security and the value of Apple Certification.

The following questions and answers for each question type may also help you.

Hot-spot questions

• Q. How do I know which elements are selectable?
• A. Selectable elements are marked with a border and shaded when you move your cursor over them. If an image does not include any shading or borders, the entire area is selectable.

• Q. I can't see the complete text of a question. What should I do?
• A. You can use the split bar to resize panes. In some cases, you might need to use the scroll bar to view the entire text of the question or the entire graphic.

Drag-and-drop questions

• Q. How do I answer a drag-and-drop question?
• A. Drag the appropriate source objects to the correct target locations in the answer area. When a source object is within a target, an outline will appear around the dimmed box. The object will snap into position when you release the mouse button.

• Q. How do I remove a source object from a target?
• A. You can either drag the object back to its original position or select the object and press the DELETE key. To replace objects that have been positioned on a target, you can also drag another object into its position. To reverse all selections, click the Reset button.

• Q. I can't see the whole text of a question. What should I do?
• A. You can use the split bar to resize panes. In some cases, you might need to use the scroll bar to view the entire text of the question or the entire graphic.

• Q. Do I need to use all source objects or targets provided?
• A. You will need to use all source objects or targets provided.

• Q. Can I use source objects more than one time?
• A. Some source objects can be used only one time, while some can be used more than once.

To help protect exam security and the value of Apple Certification, we cannot share information about which items you missed. This is a standard practice in the certification industry. The bars on the score report show your relative performance in the various subject areas covered by the exam. However, Apple provides section feedback to allow candidates to review how they did on each topic, without seeing specifically which questions they got wrong.

Our exam-retake policy helps to ensure that candidates take the necessary time to prepare for their exam, and to prevent unauthorized use and/or piracy of the exams or any of their content. The retake policy can be viewed in the Program Policies document at http://www.apple.com/legal/certification/

No. Exams cannot be re-scored. If you have a concern about the technical accuracy of a particular item, please send an email with your contact information, your registration ID, the number and name of the exam, the date you took the exam, and the location of the testing center. Please provide as much detail as possible about the item to expedite review.

If you experienced technical difficulties during the exam, please notify your exam proctor or contact Prometric customer service.

To offer other types of feedback, please email the Apple Certification Program Manager.

Cheating is any activity that negatively affects the integrity and/or security of the Apple Certification program or enables an unqualified candidate to pass an exam.

As explained to all exam candidates at the testing centers, if a candidate violates testing rules, the candidate is permanently ineligible for any Apple Certification and may lose any Apple Certifications the individual already holds. Proctors at testing centers are authorized to respond immediately and appropriately against candidates who are caught violating testing rules. Examples of violations include, but are not limited to, using notes brought into the testing center (whether on crib sheets or electronically), copying test questions, bringing any electronic equipment (such as cell phones) into the testing room, referring to the courseware, opening a specific software application and looking at the monitors of other test takers.

A "brain dump," as it relates to the certification exams, is the practice of copying and sharing actual certification exam questions—or questions that are very similar to the actual questions. Brain dump providers, including Web sites and printed study materials, are in violation of Apple intellectual property rights and non-disclosure agreements.

Brain dump users may have memorized enough information to pass an exam, but they do not have the requisite knowledge to manage Apple software or systems effectively. Hiring managers find this out eventually. There is no substitute for hands-on experience. Please inform Apple if you think you have discovered a brain dump site. Please email the Apple Certification Program Manager. Refer to Question 16 for details on what to include in the email.

Proxy testing occurs when someone takes an exam for another candidate.

The primary warning sign of a proxy testing Web site or organization is any guarantee that you will pass the test without having to take it. Proxy testing sites indicate that they will provide a full credential if you send them your credit card information.

Corrective action—up to and including removal from the Apple Certification program and prohibiting the taking of any Apple Certification exams—will be taken against any candidate who obtains certification through proxy testing, even if the candidate did not intend to defraud the Apple Certification program. Furthermore, giving your identification and credit card information to an unknown entity on the Internet could put you at risk of credit card fraud or identity theft. If you believe a Web site or company provides proxy test-taking services, please inform Apple immediately. Please email the Apple Certification Program Manager. Refer to for details on what to include in the email.

Falsified score reports are reports that Apple deems to be unauthentic or that deceive or defraud the Apple Certification program in any way.

If Apple determines that a candidate has falsified a score report, the candidate will be ineligible to take any future Apple exams and their Apple Certification credentials may be revoked.

The test centers are provided with security policies that must be enforced in order to acquire and maintain test center status. Ongoing inspections ensure that each test center is maintaining the security outlined by Apple. In addition, proctors at test centers are authorized to immediately take appropriate measures against candidates who violate testing rules. If you have a concern about the security of your exam experience, please email the Apple Certification Program Manager. Please allow two business days for a response.

Test center administrators act inappropriately when they fail to follow through on any of the Apple and Prometric security policies. Examples could include, but are not limited to, overlooking inappropriate candidate identification; failing to ask for an ID from each candidate; failing to conduct periodic walkthroughs; failing to keep partitions between testing stations; overlooking the presence of crib sheets or electronic devices; providing answers or aid in any form with regard to any exam item; and allowing the release of Apple intellectual property in any form.

If Apple determines that a testing center has acted improperly or fraudulently, Apple has the right to cease delivery of all Apple exams at that center.

We work closely with Prometric to ensure that every test center delivers a satisfactory experience. Unfortunately, candidates may experience a technical issue during an exam. Prometric’s software is designed to accommodate this event and saves your responses after each item. If you have feedback about your testing experience, please contact Prometric customer support. Prometric will work with the test center to investigate and resolve the issue.

We appreciate your feedback about the Apple Certification program and your testing experience. If you have a concern about the technical accuracy of a particular item, wish to challenge a test question, or have other feedback about the exam, please email the Apple Certification Program Manager.

To report technical difficulties experienced during your exam, please contact Prometric customer service.

An Apple employee will conduct an initial evaluation. If additional evaluation is needed, an independent subject-matter expert (technical and job-function expert) will review and evaluate the challenge. This process may require evaluation and input from a number of people.

No. Apple applies a rigorous exam development process to ensure the technical accuracy, clarity, relevance, and objectivity of our certification exams. Furthermore, given the credentials of the independent subject-matter experts and the respect they garner from the IT community, we consider their evaluation final.

No. To help protect exam security, we keep the rationale for challenge decisions confidential. The evaluation remains a part of Apple records until the exam is retired. All feedback is compiled and carefully considered as Apple makes decisions on how to improve the overall quality of the exam.

No. By not providing this information, we are better able to maintain exam security.

If you already have an account in ACRS - you can now log in using your Apple ID. Go to: http://training.apple.com/acrs and enter your Apple ID and password. You may be asked to create a new Apple ID.

If you do not yet have an account in ACRS - an account will be created for you once you take an exam for any of the following: Mac OS X, Xsan, all Pro Applications or iWork. Whether you pass or fail one of the eligible exams, an account is created and you will receive a welcome email with account login information.

Your Apple ID gives you access to a variety of Apple Services. We will not share your information with anyone unless you authorize us to do so. You can create an Apple ID for access to the Apple Certification Records System at http://training.apple.com/acrs.

If you are eligible for access to ACRS, follow the steps on the User Guide (PDF) to create an Apple ID.

Follow the Password Retrieval process at http://appleid.apple.com.

Candidates cannot create an account in the system. An account is created for you once you take an exam for any of the following: OS X, Pro Applications or iWork. Whether you pass or fail one of the eligible exams, an account is created and you will receive a welcome email with account login information.

The Welcome email was sent to the email address from your Prometric account. If your email has changed, and you did not receive the "Welcome to the New Apple Certifications System" email, please contact us.

Log into the Apple Certification Records System and select the Update Personal Info link on the navigation bar to update your contact information. To update your name or email address:

• Your name - if your name needs to be corrected, email us with how your name should appear. Be sure to update your name in your Prometric account as well, or it will replace your name in ACRS next time you take an exam.
• Your email address - your Apple ID email address will override any Primary email address in ACRS. We recommend that you use the same email address for your Prometric and Apple ID accounts.

Your acquired certifications for the following Apple software products should be visible in your account:

• OS X
• Pro Applications
• Xsan
• iLife and iWork

Your records should be updated within two business days after you have taken an exam. If you passed an exam and a certification is granted, you will receive an email from applecert@apple. com when your account is updated. Once logged into the Apple Certification Records System, you can view your exam and certification records anytime by selecting either the Certification Progress link or the History link on the navigation bar. If you still can't see all your exams and certifications, please email us.

Once you are logged into the Apple Certification Records System, click on the Certification Progress link in the left navigation bar. The certification progress page will indicate your remaining steps to certification. For more information about all Apple Certification requirements, visit http://training.apple.com/certification.

• They can view your listing on the Apple Certified Professional Registry. If you have not yet opted in to list your certifications there, you can do so at any time via the Apple Certification Records System (see next question and answer for more information).
• They can use the Credential Verification service for a small fee.
• They can ask the certified professional to use the Apple Certification Records System Publish Credential link (in the left navigation bar) to send an official credential verification for a small fee.

To opt in to be listed on the Apple Certified Professional Registry, log into the Apple Certification Records System, click on "Update Personal Info" in the left navigation menu, and opt in to display your credentials. You can also select the parts of your profile you wish to display.

Eligibility requirements for listing on the Apple Certified Professionals Registry:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have at least one current certification for Pro Applications, OS X, or iWork.
• Apple Certified Trainer certifications are not eligible for listing (the enduser certifications are listed instead)
• Apple employees are not eligible for listing

You should receive an email within three days of your exam results being added to your ACRS account, as long as you have logged into your ACRS account within the last six months. The email will come from Apple's certificate fulfillment vendor, ALOM (mycertificate@alom.com) at the primary email address listed in your ACRS account. The name on your certificate will be printed as it is displayed in your PRIME account. The email will provide an estimated timeframe on when to expect your certificate in the mail.

If you have a question that is not answered in these FAQs, please email us.