Can I use my Aadhaar card for a Microsoft exam?

Yes, if it is the physical PVC (plastic) Aadhaar card issued by UIDAI and the names match your exam booking. Pearson VUE's Aadhaar policy rejects laminated paper Aadhaar, privately printed cards and photocopies, and its online rules reject digital IDs. The policy says Aadhaar works for most exams, so a valid passport is the safest option.

Can I take a Microsoft exam online from home in India?

Yes. Microsoft exams are delivered online through Pearson VUE's OnVUE service, with a proctor watching through your webcam and microphone. You need Windows 10 or macOS 14 or later, a stable connection of at least 6 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload, a private room and a computer that passes the system test.

What happens if my name on Microsoft Learn does not match my ID?

You may not be allowed to take the exam. Microsoft says the legal name on your Learn profile must exactly match the government ID you present. Correct the legal name in your profile settings before booking. If you already have an appointment, contact Microsoft Credentials support well before exam day to make sure the booking carries the corrected name.

How late can I reschedule a Microsoft exam?

At least 24 hours before your appointment. Microsoft's policy says a reschedule or cancellation inside 24 hours forfeits the exam fee, and a company-purchased voucher is lost. Some event vouchers have stricter terms, such as a 72-hour cut-off and a fixed expiry date, so read the voucher terms before you book.

Can I use my office laptop for an online Microsoft exam?

It is risky. Microsoft advises using a personal computer because work computers often contain software that stops OnVUE from launching, and you need local administrator rights. Pearson VUE also prohibits corporate networks and VPNs. If a personal laptop is not available, book a test centre instead.

How to Book a Microsoft Exam in India: Pearson VUE and ID Rules

To book a Microsoft exam from India, sign in to Microsoft Learn with your personal Microsoft account, make sure your legal name matches your government ID exactly, select Schedule with Pearson VUE on the exam page, then choose an online or test centre slot and pay or apply a voucher. You can book up to 90 days ahead and hold two appointments at a time.

At a glance

Rule	What it means for you
Booking window	Up to 90 days ahead, at most two exams scheduled
Name	Learn profile legal name must exactly match your ID
Aadhaar	Only the plastic PVC card issued by UIDAI
Online check-in	From 30 minutes before to 15 minutes after start time
Reschedule or cancel	At least 24 hours before, or the fee is forfeited
Retake after a fail	Wait 24 hours, then 14 days between later attempts

Before you book: get three things right

Most exam day problems start weeks earlier, at booking. Sort these out first.

1. One profile, on your personal account

Microsoft's registration page recommends signing in with your personal Microsoft account. A personal account stays with you when you change jobs or leave college, and so do your certificates. Do not open a second profile because you forgot a password; recover the first one, because a duplicate account can delay your certification while support merges the records.

2. Your legal name, exactly as on your ID

If your Learn profile has no legal name, you are asked to add one before booking, and Microsoft says it must match your ID or you will not be able to take the exam. Indian names cause trouble here more than most. Initials, a father's name used as a surname, a single name, or a different spelling on your passport and your Aadhaar can all trip you up.

The fix is simple: decide which ID you will carry, then copy the name into your profile exactly as that ID prints it. Do this before you book. If an exam is already booked and you need a correction, contact Microsoft Credentials support early rather than the day before.

3. An ID that Pearson VUE accepts

Pearson VUE's OnVUE testing requirements ask for a valid, government-issued ID with a recognisable photo that exactly matches the name on your booking. Accepted forms include an international passport, a plastic driving licence, a national ID card and approved Aadhaar cards. Expired, digital, damaged and photocopied IDs are refused, so a phone screenshot or a DigiLocker copy will not work.

Aadhaar has its own rules. Pearson VUE's Aadhaar ID policy (version 1.2, May 2026) applies to test centre and online testing in India and says:

The card must be a physical PVC (plastic) card issued by UIDAI.
Laminated paper Aadhaar, privately printed Aadhaar cards and photocopies are not acceptable.
The card must show your first and last names matching your registration, a recent recognisable photo, a ghost image and a guilloche pattern.

The policy says Aadhaar is accepted for most exams, not all, so a valid passport is the safest choice if you have one. Candidates under 18 need their own valid ID, and a parent or guardian must be present at check-in to show their ID and give consent.

Step-by-step: booking through Pearson VUE

Open the exam page. Go to the certification page on Microsoft Learn, for example Azure Fundamentals or Power BI Data Analyst, and scroll to Schedule exam.
Choose Pearson VUE. Most exams show only Pearson VUE. Certiport appears only for Microsoft Office Specialist exams or exams taken through an academic institution.
Sign in and confirm your details. Add or check your legal name, then fill in address, contact email and mobile number with the +91 country code. Pearson VUE may call that number if your online exam has a problem.
Submit to Pearson VUE. Choose the exam language and the delivery method: in person at a test centre, or online with OnVUE.
Pick a slot. For a test centre, search near your city and choose a centre and time. For online, choose a time and confirm it is shown in Indian Standard Time.
Pay or redeem. On the payment and billing screen, pay online or select Add Voucher or Promo Code. Taxes may apply. Our guide to Microsoft exam costs in India explains how pricing works.
Check the confirmation email. Exam code, date, time and name should all be right. Your appointment also appears on your Learn profile under Certifications.

Online (OnVUE) or test centre?

Both deliver the same exam. Choose the option where the least can go wrong.

Factor	Online with OnVUE	Test centre
Computer	Yours: Windows 10 or macOS 14 or later	Provided
Internet	Stable, at least 6 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up	Provided
Room	Private, walled, door closed, you alone	Quiet booth
Monitoring	Webcam, microphone, recording	Centre staff
Suits	A private room and reliable broadband	Shared homes, shaky internet

Pearson VUE prohibits VPNs, corporate networks and public or shared networks for online exams, and allows only one display. Microsoft's online exam page adds that you need local administrator rights, that work computers often block the OnVUE software, and that a wired connection is better where possible. Greeters and proctors communicate in English.

Run the system test on the same laptop, in the same room, on the same connection you will use. Microsoft is blunt about this: if your system fails the test, it will probably fail during the exam, and a test centre is the better choice.

Think about your household too. The proctor watches the room for the whole exam, and Microsoft says the exam is ended if anyone other than a child under 13 is in the room. Agree a quiet slot with your family, keep the laptop charged in case of a power cut, and if you rely on a Wi-Fi router, check that its power supply will not drop out halfway. Online exams also involve facial comparison against your ID; if you do not want that, Microsoft says to book a test centre.

Exam day checklist

For an online exam:

Restart the computer, close every application, turn off pop-up blockers, and run the system test again.
Unplug extra monitors and turn them away. Clear the desk of books, notes, pens and whiteboards.
Keep only a drink in a transparent, spill-proof container. No food and no chewing gum.
Check in between 30 minutes before and 15 minutes after your start time from your Learn profile, using Go to the exam, then Begin exam on Pearson VUE.
Use your phone to take the headshot, ID and room photos, then place it out of arm's reach but close enough to hear if the proctor calls.
Remember that breaks do not stop the clock, and you cannot return to questions you saw before the break.
After the exam, uninstall the Pearson VUE secure browser.

For a test centre:

Carry the same ID you used to set your profile name, unexpired and original.
Read the centre address and arrival instructions in your confirmation email the day before, and allow for traffic.

Rescheduling, cancelling and retakes

Change plans at least 24 hours ahead. Microsoft's reschedule and cancellation policy says that if you reschedule or cancel less than 24 hours before the exam, your fee is forfeited, and a company-purchased voucher is lost too. Do it from your Learn profile: Certifications, then the appointment, then Reschedule or Cancel.

Read voucher terms separately. Some Microsoft event voucher terms use a stricter 72-hour cut-off and require you to book and take the exam before a fixed expiry date. Our guide to Microsoft exam discounts for students in India covers how vouchers work.

If the technology fails. Contact Pearson VUE support during or right after the problem and note the case number. Microsoft's retake policy only waives the waiting period for internet or equipment failure with a Pearson VUE case number.

If you do not pass. Wait 24 hours before the second attempt, then 14 days between later attempts, with at most five attempts in 12 months. Each retake is paid unless your offer includes one.

How CertTulen Academy can help

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