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Disclaimer: This process worked till Oct 2024. If there is a change in the process or if the process is not working then please let us know in the comments or raise an
update request on this article
Microsoft offers exams and certifications through its Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI) that allow participants to advance, promote, and validate their knowledge of Microsoft and Azure technologies with accredited certifications.
Normally, these exams can cost $99 or more. Microsoft is offering courses and discounts for exams to earn Microsoft Certifications for UTD faculty and staff. Available certifications include many Microsoft technologies and tools, such as Windows, Teams, Office, Power BI and Azure. Microsoft Certifications validates one’s technical expertise, enhancing professional credibility and giving the confidence to tackle complex IT challenges.
UTD students can use Microsoft certifications to learn digital basics, as well as skills in data, AI, and cloud technologies.
Register for certifications as student. It is important to register as Student in Step 1 so as to consider student pricing.
If you do not have an ESI account, create an ESI account by following the steps covered in this article.
Please have the following items ready to ensure a smooth and successful sign-up process:
- Your @utdallas.edu email information
- Microsoft Edge (this browser is required to access some courses and exams).
- One of the options below:
- An email address that can be used for creating a new Microsoft account (it should be a personal email address.)
- An existing Microsoft account that uses your personal email address (if you already have one)
Once you have your required items ready, you will be ready to schedule an exam. First, access the ESI website.
- Visit the ESI website.
- Click Sign in now.
- Enter your @utdallas.edu email and click Next.
Next, find the Scheduling block and move through the steps of selecting an exam, creating a dedicated certification account, and scheduling your exam.
- Click Schedule or Explore Credentials under Microsoft Certifications.
- Find your desired topic and click Schedule Exam.
- On the next screen, view certification requirements, Learning paths, and options for scheduling your certification exam.
- Scroll down the page until you see Schedule or Schedule with Pearson VUE (One of the two options will be available). Note, ignore the fee associated with your exam. You will not be charged full fee as a member of UTD. Make sure that you do not choose Schedule with Certiport in this process of availing discounts.
Exam Price AZ 900 (Before Discount)
You will be asked to sign in or create a new Microsoft account. If you have an existing personal Microsoft account, use it to sign in. If you do not currently have a personal Microsoft account, create a new account with your personal information and your personal email address. Follow the screen prompts and complete the required fields until you are told that you successfully created your account.
You should now have two accounts:
- The Microsoft ESI account that grants you access to the portal via your @utdallas.edu email address
- Your personal Microsoft account (this account existed before this process, or you just created it with the steps above)
Next, you will use your personal Microsoft account to schedule your exam.
- Scroll to the bottom of your Certification Profile.
- Agree to the Terms & Conditions and select your email marketing preferences.
- Click Continue.
If you have already linked your two accounts, you will see the option to claim a 50% UTD ESI discount at the end. You can skip till step 12.
If you have not linked your two accounts, you will not see the discount option. You will see that you have no available discounts and that you can check for discounts with an email address. Follow these steps, to connect your email IDs.
- Go to settings by clicking in the top right corner on profile.
- In the left navigation menu, click on the Account Management button which will navigate to the Account Management section. Click on Add account button to link your @utdallas email ID to the account.
- Complete the next steps to link both email IDs.
- After linking both accounts, A popup might appear asking to link your accounts. Ensure the correct two accounts are listed (they should be the same two accounts we have used up to this point). Click OK.
- At this point, you should have both Microsoft accounts created and linked. You will now have the option of selecting how and where you take the exam. The following steps outline how to schedule a remote certification exam.
- Click Schedule exam.
- A new popup will appear telling you to enter contact details.
- Enter your address and contact details.
- Enter your @utdallas.edu email address (the same one used to initially access the ESI portal) in the lower white box that asks for your email. After you submit address details, you will be prompted to the Pearson portal for scheduling exam.
- Click OnVue: Online with OnVUE.
- Review the important preparations listed on your screen.
- Click Next.
- Select language. Click Next.
- Agree to exam and Microsoft policies by checking the appropriate boxes. Click Agree.
- Select proctor language. Click Next.
- Select Date and Time for the exam.
- On the next screen, review your cart and verify all of the information is correct and that your discount is applied at the bottom of the page. Your Estimated Total Due should be around half of the exam price.
- Click Proceed to Checkout.
- Your next page will be titled, "Enter payment and billing." Again, your total due amount should be half of the exam price. Click Next.
Disclaimer: The price in the above image is recorded on the date of 11/1/2024. It might vary in future.
- Verify all of your details once more.
- Click Submit Order.
Once you have successfully scheduled your exam, you will receive two emails:
- A payment invoice from Pearson VUE (with discount price as a UTD member)
- A Microsoft Certification Exam Scheduled confirmation email
Learners can reschedule or cancel exams in cases of unexpected scheduling conflicts by canceling 24 hours or more before scheduled exam appointments.
NOTICE: If a learner fails to attend three scheduled exams within 180 days, they will be asked to pay a deposit for any subsequent exams. Upon completion of subsequent exams, the deposit will be refunded. The exam deposit will be up to $99 (a credit card will be required).
Microsoft offers exams and certifications through its Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI) that allow participants to advance, promote, and validate their knowledge of Microsoft and Azure technologies with accredited certifications.
Normally, these exams can cost $99 or more. Microsoft is offering courses and discounts for exams to earn Microsoft Certifications for UTD faculty and staff. Available certifications include many Microsoft technologies and tools, such as Windows, Teams, Office, Power BI and Azure. Microsoft Certifications validates one’s technical expertise, enhancing professional credibility and giving the confidence to tackle complex IT challenges.
If you do not have an ESI account, create an ESI account by following the steps covered in this article.
Please have the following items ready to ensure a smooth and successful sign-up process:
- Your @utdallas.edu email information
- Microsoft Edge (this browser is required to access some courses and exams).
- One of the options below:
- An email address that can be used for creating a new Microsoft account (it should be a personal email address.)
- An existing Microsoft account that uses your personal email address (if you already have one)
Once you have your required items ready, you will be ready to schedule an exam. First, access the ESI website.
- Visit the ESI website.
- Click Sign in now.
- Enter your @utdallas.edu email and click Next.
Next, find the Scheduling block and move through the steps of selecting an exam, creating a dedicated certification account, and scheduling your exam.
- Click Schedule or Explore Credentials under Microsoft Certifications.
- Find your desired topic and click Schedule Exam.
- On the next screen, view certification requirements, Learning paths, and options for scheduling your certification exam.
- Scroll down the page until you see Schedule or Schedule with Pearson VUE (One of the two options will be available). Note, ignore the fee associated with your exam. You will not be charged full fee as a member of UTD. Make sure that you do not choose Schedule with Certiport in this process of availing discounts.
Exam PriceAZ 900 (Before Discount)
You will be asked to sign in or create a new Microsoft account. If you have an existing personal Microsoft account, use it to sign in. If you do not currently have a personal Microsoft account, create a new account with your personal information and your personal email address. Follow the screen prompts and complete the required fields until you are told that you successfully created your account.
You should now have two accounts:
- The Microsoft ESI account that grants you access to the portal via your @utdallas.edu email address
- Your personal Microsoft account (this account existed before this process or you just created it with the steps above)
Next, you will use your personal Microsoft account to schedule your exam.
- Scroll to the bottom of your Certification Profile.
- Agree to the Terms & Conditions and select your email marketing preferences.
- Click Continue.
If you have already linked your two accounts, you will see the option to claim a 50% UTD ESI discount at the end. You can skip to step 12.
If you have not linked your two accounts, you will not see the discount option. You will see that you have no available discounts and that you can check for discounts with an email address. Follow these steps, to connect your email IDs.
- Go to settings by clicking in the top right corner on profile.
- In the left navigation menu, click on the Account Management button which will navigate to the Account Management section. Click on Add account button to link your @utdallas email ID to the account.
- Complete the next steps to link both email IDs.
- After linking both accounts, A popup might appear asking to link your accounts. Ensure the correct two accounts are listed (they should be the same two accounts we have used up to this point). Click OK
At this point, you should have both Microsoft accounts created and linked. You will now have the option of selecting how and where you take the exam. The following steps outline how to schedule a remote certification exam.
- Click Schedule exam.
- A new popup will appear telling you to enter contact details.
- Enter your address and contact details.
- Enter your @utdallas.edu email address (the same one used to initially access the ESI portal) in the lower white box that asks for your email. After you submit address details, you will be prompted to the Pearson portal for scheduling exam.
- Click OnVue: Online with OnVUE.
- Review the important preparations listed on your screen.
- Click Next.
- Select language. Click Next.
- Agree to exam and Microsoft policies by checking the appropriate boxes. Click Agree.
- Select proctor language. Click Next.
- Select Date and Time for the exam.
- On the next screen, review your cart and verify all of the information is correct and that your discount is applied at the bottom of the page. Your Estimated Total Due should be around half of the exam price.
- Click Proceed to Checkout.
- Your next page will be titled, "Enter payment and billing." Again, your total due amount should be half of the exam price. Click Next.
Disclaimer: The price in the above image is recorded on the date of 11/1/2024. It might vary in future.
- Verify all of your details once more.
- Click Submit Order.
Once you have successfully scheduled your exam, you will receive two emails:
- A payment invoice from Pearson VUE (with discount price as a UTD member).
- A Microsoft Certification Exam Scheduled confirmation email.
Learners can reschedule or cancel exams in cases of unexpected scheduling conflicts by canceling 24 hours or more before scheduled exam appointments.
NOTICE: If a learner fails to attend three scheduled exams within 180 days, they will be asked to pay a deposit for any subsequent exams. Upon completion of subsequent exams, the deposit will be refunded. The exam deposit will be up to $99 (a credit card will be required).