Unfair Attempt Loss Due to Lab Token Expiration Issue

Question

I am facing an issue during the Microsoft Applied Skills assessment where the lab session token expires while I am actively working on the tasks. Due to this, I am unable to continue the assessment.

When prompted to cancel, it counts as an attempt and enforces a 72-hour waiting period, even though the issue is not caused by inactivity or connectivity problems.

This issue has occurred multiple times. I have already faced the same problem in a previous attempt and had to wait 72 hours. Unfortunately, it has happened again in my current attempt.

This is not a Pearson VUE exam; it is a lab-based Applied Skills assessment. The issue appears to be related to the lab session environment rather than my system or network.

I request you to kindly:

• Reset or restore my current assessment attempt without penalty
• Allow me to retake the assessment without the 72-hour waiting period
• Investigate the repeated token expiration issuec46092a5-dd89-4dcc-a235-e86ea53c1c6a.png

Answer 1

Contact support https://aka.ms/CertificationSupport

Answer 2

Applied Skills assessment labs are scored as soon as they are launched, and any lab that is cancelled or ends abruptly for any reason is counted as an attempt. This behavior is by design and automatically enforces the 72‑hour waiting period before another retake is allowed.

Specifically, for Applied Skills assessment labs:

1. Any launched lab (including one that is cancelled or ends unexpectedly) is scored and counted as an attempt.
2. After each attempt, there is a mandatory 72‑hour waiting period before the same assessment lab can be taken again.
3. All attempts (including those that ended abruptly) appear in the profile with date and score details, but only passed labs appear on the transcript.

There is no documented waiver process for the 72‑hour waiting period for Applied Skills assessment labs similar to the Pearson VUE exam retake waiver (which applies only when a Pearson VUE case exists for connectivity/equipment issues during a proctored exam). For lab-based Applied Skills assessments, the documented path when something goes wrong with the lab environment is to contact Credentials Support so the issue can be investigated and appropriate assistance provided.

Recommended actions:

1. Wait for the current 72‑hour period to elapse before attempting the same Applied Skills assessment lab again, because the system will enforce this automatically.
2. Contact Credentials Support and provide:
   • The assessment lab name and ID.
   • The dates/times of the affected attempts.
   • A description of the repeated token expiration behavior and any screenshots (such as the token expiration message).
   Use the support entry point documented here: Credentials Support.
3. If the lab is associated with a certification exam that includes performance-based labs and you believe the issue is related to the lab environment, also consider using the Exam item challenge process so the lab team can review and adjust the lab content or scoring if needed.

These channels are the documented way to have lab issues investigated and to receive case-specific assistance; any exception to the standard retake timing or adjustment of attempts must be handled directly by the support team.

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References:

• Exam and Applied Skills assessment lab retake policies
• Assessment lab duration and lab experience
• Assessment lab frequently asked questions
• Exam duration and exam experience
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• Exam frequently asked questions