VAC FAQs

How does the Microsoft Office Specialist Vendor of Approved Courseware (VAC) Program work?

Once a vendor has joined the Microsoft Office Specialist VAC Program, it becomes eligible to submit courseware for review. Upon joining, Pembroke will send detailed information about how to submit courses. We ensure that the courses cover all the content that the exam actually tests. The courses also must provide adequate opportunity for students to apply what they are learning in performance-based exercises. After the review, we provide relevant feedback and the review results for each course. Click here for a flow chart.

What materials are required for review?

Vendors receive specific details upon joining the Program, but here is a list of the basic requirements:
1. the course materials, including instruction and exercises
2. a "map" that tells our reviewers where we can find the instruction and exercises for each Microsoft exam objective/skill standard
3. an instructional strategy document
4. the completed and signed Content Review Application
5. payment


What turnaround time can I expect?

Our average turnaround time is about three days. Although we are required to complete reviews within 10 days of receiving all of your review materials, we are generally much faster than that (for English courseware, at least). Naturally, some reviews go quickly, and some take more time. But we do our best to be as fast as possible without sacrificing quality. We know that you are anxious to receive your results!

What happens if there are problems with a course?

We work quickly to provide specific feedback and help you resolve the problems so that the course can be approved.

What happens after my course passes a review?

We will send official notification that your course has passed, and you will work with the VAC Program Manager at Certiport to obtain the logo and use it correctly.

 

 



What languages are available for reviews?

ICERT is the international division of Pembroke which provides course reviews worldwide. We review courses developed in:

  • English
  • Japanese
  • French
  • Spanish
  • German
  • Italian
  • Dutch
  • Portuguese
  • Norwegian
  • Swedish
  • Chinese, and many more

For more information about course reviews in Japan, please contact the ICERT country manager Mikiko Minami, directly.

For more information about course reviews in languages other than English, contact Rebecca Smith.

How long has Pembroke been conducting these reviews?

Since 1995, we have reviewed over 2,000 courses for Microsoft certification, both for highly technical topics (such as MCP and MCSD), and for Microsoft Office. Pembroke has been involved in Microsoft's training certification programs the inception of Microsoft's training certification. In fact, we helped develop the original program. We have seen all kinds of courses, so we can handle just about anything. And, when we must reject a course, we always explain to the company why and how the problem could be fixed.

What kind of feedback will I get?

While the relevant feedback is of course pass or fail, we like to provide you with more information above and beyond the basic requirements. In addition to results that show how a course fares against the program standards, our results always include ratings from our expert reviewers. The ratings tell you how a course compares to others the experts have seen, including specific comments and suggestions for improvement.