Kiosk exam availablity and COVID-19

[kpietras]

Dear Red Hat,

We did not receive any information regarding Exam Kiosk availability while the COVID-19 and restriction around that are in place.
In my country, the Red Hat Partners where kiosk exam resides are closing the offices due to government restrictions. 
Could you please confirm that you are developing some solution which will be extending the exams expiration period for the exam until the situation will be back to normal?
Or is there any plans to attend exams from home?

I know this is a difficult time for many of us.
Please care for each other and our communities when it counts. 
Stay safe and healthy.

[Lene]

We are currently working on a solution for this. I expect we will announce something fairly soon.

[Travis]

@Lene -

In addition to exam availability on the RHIE stations, I've had people reach out to me inquiring about if Red Hat was going to change certification deadlines as many of the RHIE stations are being closed in the wake of direction from government officials and other companies.

Will Red Hat be placing some public information out there for people needing to renew certifications say it expires in the next 3 months?

@Geoff - copying you too as we might need some messaging from both the certification team and training. 

--- Travis

[Geoff]

Thanks @Travis - will definitely need direction from @Lene & @RRR here, but happy to communicate out what our Certification team advises.

[esamedin]

Any news on the possibility of taking kiosk exams at home?

Thx

[RRR]

Thanks for asking.  There are testing locations all over the world and the situation on the ground varies enormously from country to country.  There are countries in which strict restrictions have been placed on travel and workplaces and others in which minimal, voluntary restrictions are starting to appear.  We need to ensure that any policy we might implement worldwide considers these widely different circumstances in all the places where we deliver exams.

There are concerns that all examinees worldwide share, however, regardless of whether attending an exam is prohibited by government order or just one's own judgment about the risks of leaving home.  We are finalizing plans and will be communicating them this week.

[kpietras]

Thank you for confirmation that Red Hat clearly see the issue and there are plans to help customers/community during these uncertain times.

Looking forward to new information
Thank you

[kpietras]

Dear @RRR  Randy,

Could you please share some insights about Red Hat strategy around exams which are going to expire? 

Online proctored exams, would also be fantastic, meanwhile assuring the highest  Red Hat standards. 

Respectfully, Kamil

[kpietras]

Respectfully, Kamil

[aoramirz]

Hello, I am also an interested party to this conversation and am also facing a deadline. 

The kiosk and testing centers in my area have been closed until about April 3.

I found this thread after searching online.  Thank you for having posted responses, I will be following and look forward to future information.

Respectfully, Allen

[AnnaBrown]

Me as well. It would be good to hear some postponing of deadlines, specially for tests which are getting retired, like RHCE EX300