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Accreditation for Continued Excellence (ACE) Program
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
SGI Customer Education offers the ACE program to provide metrics measuring students' comprehension of topics presented in our training courses. By successfully completing examinations in this program, students earn certificates and titles that recognize the knowledge they have acquired. The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) should provide a better understanding of the ACE program and how it works. Please contact us with any questions you have that are not answered here. Program Overview
Program Benefits Course Credentials
Sequence Credentials
Testing
Certificates
Program Overview What is the Accreditation for Continued Excellence (ACE) program? [Top] The ACE program provides metrics measuring students' comprehension of topics presented in our training courses. By successfully completing examinations in this program, students earn accreditation credentials, certificates, and titles that recognize the knowledge they have acquired. What is an accreditation credential? [Top] An accreditation credential indicates that a student has successfully completed an examination that covers the topics presented in one or more of our classes. Individual course credentials and course sequence credentials are available. Each credential granted through the ACE program indicates that the individual demonstrated significant comprehension of the topics related to the credential at the time that the examination occurred. After obtaining a credential, the individual should be able to perform standard professional duties related to the topics covered. These credentials do not imply that the individual has expert knowledge in any of the topic areas. What is the difference between course and sequence credentials? [Top] Course credentials are available for specific courses that SGI Customer Education offers. To receive an individual course credential, a student must achieve or surpass the minimum accreditation score on the examination for the course. Sequence credentials indicate a student has successfully achieved accreditation in a topic that spans multiple courses. To receive a sequence credential, a student must achieve or surpass the minimum accreditation score on a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination covers topics from all courses in the sequence. Do credentials expire? [Top] Credentials do not expire; however, credentials are coded to the software revision they support. SGI Customer Education recommends updating your credentials approximately every two years to keep up-to-date with the latest changes. How can I update my credentials? [Top] You can obtain updated credentials by achieving or surpassing the minimum score required for accreditation on the current course examination. (Your course and sequence credential certificates indicate the level of the credentials that you currently hold.) Are credentials offered for customized courses? [Top] Credentials are not offered for customized courses. To receive a credential after taking a customized course, you must take a standard ACE examination. Refer to the examination information for information about the objectives covered by each examination. The examination information provides additional resources you can reference to learn about any topics that were not covered in the customized course. Program Benefits How does the ACE program benefit employers? [Top] Employers can use the ACE accreditation course sequences to maximize their training investment with SGI. These sequences guide students through the most effective course selections to reach specific goals. Accreditations granted through the ACE program enable employers to verify that their employees have successfully gained the knowledge presented in the training courses. How does the ACE program benefit students? [Top] Students can use the ACE accreditation course sequences to select the courses that will best meet their goals. Students can use the accreditation credentials and certificates granted through the ACE program to showcase that they have acquired the knowledge necessary to work with SGI systems. Course Credentials What is a course credential? [Top] A course credential indicates that a student has successfully achieved accreditation for a specific course. What course credentials are available? [Top] Course credentials are available for the following courses:
How do I earn course credentials? [Top] To receive an individual course credential, you must achieve or surpass the minimum accreditation score on the examination for the course. Can I earn a course credential without attending the course? [Top] We realize that you might already have the knowledge and experience presented in a specific course. Therefore, you do not need to attend a course to earn the course credential if you take the course credential examination and achieve or surpass the minimum score for accreditation. If you choose to take an examination without attending a course, we recommend reviewing the examination information for the course before taking the examination. Sequence Credentials What is a sequence credential? [Top] A sequence credential indicates that a student has successfully achieved accreditation in a topic that spans multiple courses. What sequence credentials are available? [Top] The following sequence credentials are available:
How do I earn sequence credentials? [Top] To receive a sequence credential, you must achieve or surpass the minimum accreditation score on all course examinations in the sequence or on a comprehensive examination. (The comprehensive examination covers topics from all courses in the sequence.) Receiving a sequence credential earns you the title that goes with the credential:
Do I need to attend all courses in a sequence to earn the sequence credential? [Top] We realize that you might already have knowledge and experience related to courses included in an accreditation sequence. Therefore, you do not need to attend all courses in a sequence to earn the sequence credential. You can skip one or more courses in a sequence and still earn the credential by taking the comprehensive examination for the sequence credential and achieving or surpassing the minimum accreditation score. If you choose to take the examination without attending all courses in the sequence, we recommend reviewing the examination information related to the courses in the sequence before taking the examination. Testing What types of examinations are available? [Top] ACE examinations use a multiple-choice question format. The examinations are typically delivered via a Web-based testing engine. Examinations delivered via the Web-based testing engine include a core set of questions plus additional questions that are randomly selected from a larger pool of questions. The questions are presented in a randomized order. Paper-based tests are used when the examination delivery environment does not offer Internet access. How many questions does an examination include? [Top] The number of examination questions for each course credential varies based on the content of the course. The examination information for each course specifies the number of questions included in the examination. A comprehensive sequence credential examination includes all questions from all courses in the sequence. What is the minimum examination score required to achieve an accreditation? [Top] The minimum score required to achieve an accreditation is 80%. Because the number of questions varies for examinations, refer to a specific examination information to determine the minimum number of correctly answered questions required for the examination. How long do the examinations take? [Top] Although the time required to take an examination can vary based on the course content included in it, our standard guidelines for test times are:
Examinations offered on the last day of a class will take place in the afternoon. If you plan to take an examination at the end of a class, ensure that your travel arrangements allow you time to complete the examination. Where can I take an examination? [Top] Examinations can be taken at:
Are there any testing centers near my location? [Top] SGI Customer Education training centers are located in Sunnyvale, CA and Chippewa Falls, WI. These locations include test center capability. The National College Testing Association (NCTA) provides access to local testing centers. Refer to NCTA's participating member list to find a testing center near your location. Is there a charge for taking an examination? [Top] There is no charge for taking the test offered on the last day of class; the class tuition includes the test. If you choose to take the test at a different time or need to retake a test, an additional fee is required. Students who need to take a test for the additional fee may take the test at an SGI training center or at selected local testing centers. The fee for taking a test at an SGI training center will be provided upon application. The fee for taking a test at a local testing center will be provided upon application. (Contact an SGI Customer Education representative for additional information about site-specific testing fees.) How do I register for an examination? [Top] There are two ways to register for an examination:
What should I review before taking an examination? [Top] Refer to the specific examination information for information about the objectives covered by the examination. What should I bring to an examination? [Top] If the examination is at an SGI training center, you need to bring a photo ID. If the examination is at a local testing center, you need to bring a photo ID and funds to cover the site's testing fee. (A Customer Education representative will provide additional information about specific site requirements when working with you to schedule the examination.) Do not bring reference materials; reference materials are not allowed when taking an ACE examination. How will I receive my examination score? [Top] You will receive your examination results via email within five (5) business days of taking the examination. This email contains your score broken down by topic areas so you can see how you did on each topic. What is the examination cancellation policy? [Top] If you need to cancel a scheduled examination, please notify SGI at least 15 business days prior to the examination date. Cancellation requests received within 15 business days of the examination date will be assessed the following penalty:
Local testing centers may also have cancellation policies; if you cancel an examination at a local NCTA testing center, you will also be responsible for any cancellation charges accessed by the test center. Why do I need to commit to a non-disclosure agreement before taking an examination? [Top] The non-disclosure agreement is designed to protect the integrity of ACE examinations and credentials, which enhances the value of the program for you and employers. This agreement indicates that you will not copy and/or disclose any examination questions through any means (including but not limited to verbal dissemination, email, Websites, blogs, online chat, instant messaging, hardcopy, digital images, audio, and video). Certificates What types of certificates are available? [Top] Two types of certificates are available:
How will I receive a certificate? [Top] You will receive a PDF file with your certificate via email within five (5) business days of attending a course or taking an examination. If you took an examination, the email indicating your score includes the certificate. If you require a hardcopy certificate, please contact us. How do accreditation certificates indicate revision levels? [Top] Course-level accreditation certificates list the major revision level of the software that the course supports. Sequence-level accreditation certificates list the revision levels for all courses in the sequence. When you update a credential, you will receive an updated certificate that indicates the new revision level. How can I get a replacement certificate? [Top] Please contact us to receive a replacement certificate. | |
