Compass Cloud

User Training & Technical Requirements

User Training & Technical Requirements:

• Exam Administrator
• Test Candidate

User Guides

• Exam Administrator (Proctor) guide
• Test Candidate guide

Important scheduling details

Please review the information on this page and determine the actual number of committed Test Candidates carefully in your session request. Below is a summary; detailed scheduling instructions are found on the Exam Administrator (Proctor) guide and reviewed in this training video.  
 

• Review all user training and technical requirements prior to scheduling your first session
• The person scheduling the session does not have to be the Exam Administrator (Proctor), but does have to be associated to your Certiport Authorized Testing Center (CATC). Within the calendar tool, Certiport Organization Administrators can see all sessions scheduled for the center, Exam Administrators (Proctors) can only see the sessions that they created
• CATCs can schedule at their convenience down to a minimum of 1 hour in advance of the actual session start time
• You cannot schedule out past 30 days
• The exams scheduled can be a mix and match of any program, suite, or version year (up to five different exam titles)

Session time (LITA exams only)

When using the Compass Cloud solution please note that there are two time limits you need to be aware of when delivering Live-in-the-Application (Adobe, Autodesk, or Microsoft Office Specialist) exams. Only Live-in-the-Application (LITA) exams employ the use of virtual machines on Compass Cloud, so Session time is only applicable to that type of exam delivery, but all Test Candidates must arrive and be ready to test at least 5 minutes prior to their scheduled start time no matter which exam they are taking.

• Session time: the amount of time the virtual machine is active (approx 2 hours) or until the Test Candidate finishes the exam and disconnects from the session
• Exam time: the actual timed portion the Test Candidate has to complete the certification exam - between 45-60 minutes for all standard exams

Session time is used by the Test Candidate to log in, review the tutorial, ask the Exam Administrator (Proctor) any questions, review their results, send feedback, or to complete other similar tasks. If the Test Candidate begins later than 30 minutes to their scheduled session, they will be locked out and need to reschedule their exam as there may not be enough overall time to complete all tasks as well as the exam itself.

How to schedule your session

When ready, use a method below to schedule your Compass Cloud session:

Global Users:

Scheduling a session as a Certiport Organization Administrator or Organization Member:  Log in and change the selection under the "Welcome!" in the dropdown at the top of the page to Org Admin or Org Member. Mouse over the "Exam Delivery" tab and click the dropdown menu item for "Compass Cloud: Create Sessions" and then click the "Create and manage exam sessions" button to be taken to the calendar dashboard tool.

Scheduling a session as an Exam Administrator (Proctor):  Log in and change the selection under the "Welcome!" in the dropdown at the top of the page to the Proctor role. Under the "Create and Manage exam sessions" section on the page, click on the blue heading for "Compass Cloud - In classroom proctoring" and then click the "Create and manage exam sessions" button to be taken to the calendar dashboard tool.

Creating an event

All roles: Click the "Create session" button. Enter your session name and details and click "Next" to enter your exam details. After submitting a scheduled event, you will receive a confirmation email within 5 minutes with additional instructions.

Compass Cloud

The Compass Cloud desktop app needs to be installed on every testing workstation you wish to administer exams with. The desktop app is not used by the Exam Administrator (Proctor), only the Test Candidates. Only Certiport Organization Administrators or Organization Members can obtain the installer file. 

• Windows, Mac, and Chromebook users: Log in and change the selection under the "Welcome!" in the dropdown at the top of the page to Organization Administrator or Organization Member. Mouse over the "Exam Delivery" tab and click the menu item for "Compass Cloud: Download & Installation" and then click the link under your desired operating system.

Mass Deployment for Windows

For advanced users familiar with scripting and Active Directory, the installer file can be mass deployed in a Windows environment.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does Compass Cloud require Admin Rights to run?
A: Windows and Mac users will need local admin rights to install the Compass Cloud desktop app. Chromebook users will need to download the Compass Cloud app from the Play Store (see Section 5). Managed devices may require that a local IT Admin allow the Chromebook app to be installed or install it on your behalf.

Q: Can we use vouchers in Compass Cloud?
A: Yes, vouchers that your CATC has purchased and are available for use can be used as a payment method when scheduling your exam session (you would select "Center assigned voucher" when scheduling a session). Vouchers that a Test Candidate has purchased on their own can also be used, but they must be assigned to themselves and associated to a scheduled session via their assigned access code. If you know a Test Candidate has their own voucher, you would select "User assigned voucher" when scheduling a session in the calendar.

Q: Can we install Compass Cloud on the same workstations we have Compass for Windows or Exams from Home?
A: Yes. These all work independently from each other and will not cause any interference.

Q: Is the calendar scheduling tool the same one we use for Exams from Home?
A: No. The Compass Cloud calendar tool is completely separate from the EFH calendar tool.

Q: Can we use a webcam to administer exams remotely with Compass Cloud?
A: No. The Compass Cloud software is only available to use onsite/in-person at CATCs and does not have an Admin VM that can view the Test Candidate's desktop or communication features such as Chat. All in-person Exam Administration policies must be enforced when using Compass Cloud.

Q: The Test Candidate requires an ADA accommodation; can I still apply for one with Compass Cloud?
A: Yes. ADA accommodations are supported in the Compass Cloud solution in the form of extended testing time for pre-approved candidates. However, accessibility tools such as JAWS and other screen readers are not supported. Certiport’s Compass for Windows and Compass for Mac locally installed solutions still support all forms of accommodations detailed on our ADA page.

Note: With Compass Cloud, there is nothing additional that needs to be performed for ADA that must be selected when scheduling an exam session for a Test Candidate with an accommodation. Simply schedule a Test Candidate that is already approved for an accommodation, and they will have extended time when they launch their exam. If a Test Candidate does not have extended time but has been approved, please contact Customer Service (it can take up to 10 days after submitting an ADA request and all supporting documentation to be approved).

Q: Can we schedule a mix of ADA-approved Test Candidates along with regular-time Test Candidates in one scheduled exam session event?
A: Yes. Since the accommodation approval “flag” comes from the Test Candidate’s user account profile, Compass Cloud will adapt to the different types of exam lengths and stay active as long as required (or until the exam time runs out). However, it is imperative that ADA Test Candidates that are taking Live-in-the-Application exams (which occur on virtual machines) do not start their exam late or they may run out of session time.