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Exam and Applied Skills assessment lab retake policies

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Microsoft Certification exam retake policy for role-based, specialty, and fundamentals exams

  • If you don’t pass an exam the first time, you must wait 24 hours before retaking it.
  • A 14-day waiting period is imposed between all subsequent attempts (up to 5).
  • You may not take a given exam more than five (5) times within a 12-month period from the first attempt. If you failed the exam 5 times, you’ll be eligible to retake it again 12 months from the date of your first attempt.
  • You cannot retake an exam you’ve passed unless your Certification has expired.
  • You must pay to retake the exam (if applicable.)

Submit a request for an exam retake inside the waiting period

You may request a waiver of the retake waiting period if you experienced internet connectivity issues or equipment failure during the exam and a Pearson VUE case was created. Waivers will not be granted for any other reason.

Waiver requests must include the Pearson VUE case number to confirm that you are eligible.

To request the waiting period to be waived, please contact Training, Certification, and Program Support (microsoft.com). If you did not experience an internet connectivity issue or equipment failure, you do not qualify for a waiver of the waiting period.

If you need assistance rescheduling your exam, please contact Pearson VUE Customer Support - Customer service :: Microsoft :: Pearson VUE.

Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exam retake policy

  • If you don’t pass a Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exam the first time, you must wait 24 hours before retaking the exam.
  • If you don’t pass the second time, you must wait seven (7) days before each subsequent attempt (up to 5).
  • You may not take a given exam more than five (5) times within a 12-month period from the first attempt. If you failed the exam 5 times, you’ll be eligible to retake it again 12 months from the date of your first attempt.
  • You cannot retake an exam you’ve passed unless your Certification has expired.
  • You must pay to retake the exam (if applicable.)

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam retake policy

  • If you don’t pass a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam the first time, you must wait 24 hours before retaking it.
  • If you don’t pass the second time, you must wait 2 days (48 hours) before each subsequent exam retake.
  • There is no annual limit on the number of attempts on the same exam.
  • If you pass an Office exam, you may take it again.

Beta exam retake policy

  • Beta exams may be taken only once during the beta period.
  • If you pass a beta exam (determined after the beta period ends), it meets the requirement for the associated Certification. (Other exams may be required to earn the Certification, however.)
  • If you fail the beta exam, it can be retaken once the exam is live. If you fail the exam once it’s live, the general retake policy stated above applies to all subsequent attempts.
  • This policy supersedes the general retake policy.

Applied Skills assessment lab retake policy

  • You can retake an assessment lab by selecting the appropriate assessment lab from your profile 72 hours after your last attempt.
  • Your profile will display all assessment attempts, including the date, score, and any relevant details. However, only passed assessment labs will appear on your transcript.
  • Note that a cancelled lab or one that ends abruptly for any reason will be scored. As a result, this counts as an attempt, and you will need to wait for 72 hours before retaking the assessment lab.