Alaska to Require Licensure Exams for Its Mortgage Lending Professions

Pearson VUE to Develop and Administer the Exams

BLOOMINGTON, Minn., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson VUE, the electronic
certification and licensure testing business of Pearson, announced today that
the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development ("Department") has selected Pearson VUE to develop and administer
licensing exams for Alaska mortgage brokers and loan originators. The contract
was awarded following a competitive bidding process in April and was signed in
May.
Alaska joins the growing trend of states requiring a licensure exam for
the mortgage profession, becoming the ninth state to do so. Currently, Pearson
VUE has contracts with six of these states, including Alaska, making it the
leading provider of licensure exams for mortgage lenders, brokers, and loan
originators.
"Recent events in the mortgage industry have made the examination program
a necessity," said Mark Davis, Director of the Division of Corporations,
Business and Professional Licensing. "To better protect home buyers, it was
essential for our State to contract with a reliable vendor with a proven
reputation. Pearson VUE, who has successfully administered our Department's
insurance licensure program for almost 20 years, fit this description
perfectly."
Pearson VUE is responsible for original exam development and electronic
administration throughout their test center network. Once testing begins in
July, the Department can expect an exam that is a fair and accurate assessment
of all relevant statutes and procedures related to mortgage brokers and loan
originators in Alaska. Additionally, candidates will benefit from such
features as 24/7 exam registration through the Web; toll-free telephone
support (available during business hours in Alaska's time zone); a helpful
candidate handbook; immediate, on-site score results, and convenient test
center locations.
Pearson VUE operates three test centers within the State that are
augmented by "petition testing sites." Unique to Alaska, petition testing
consists of a network of sites mutually identified by Pearson VUE and the
State, offering exam administration in remote parts of Alaska at identified
peak times. This arrangement has already met success in Pearson VUE's
administration of the Alaska insurance and real estate licensure programs.
Art Valentine, vice president of professional services and general manager
of regulatory services at Pearson VUE said, "Our proposed solutions meet all
of the State's requirements for convenience, security, exam development, and
most importantly, consumer protection. The Department can now look forward to
a smooth implementation, flawless service delivery, and unparalleled customer
support."
Robert Whelan, president of Pearson VUE said, "The State of Alaska's
Department of Commerce has entrusted us with a serious responsibility in
developing this critical examination program. Our plan is to not only build
the program, but to also build a genuine partnership with the Department;
working together, we will ensure their licensure program is a success and that
all constituents are completely satisfied."
In related news, the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development also announced today that its Division of Insurance
("Division") has renewed its contract with Pearson VUE for the development and
administration of the State's insurance licensure examination program. The
Division awarded Pearson VUE the contract through a separate competitive bid
process issued in April. This renewal extends Pearson VUE's partnership with
the Division, which began in 1990, for up to five additional years.
About Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE (http://www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in electronic
testing for regulatory and certification boards, providing a full suite of
services from test development to test delivery to data management. Pearson
VUE offers exams through the world's largest network of test centers in 162
countries, providing testing services for information technology, academic,
government and professional clients. Pearson VUE acquired the former Promissor
in 2006, thereby extending its leadership in the certification market. The
company's innovative technology offers the highest levels of security and
program control, while its commitment to service provides clients and
individual test takers with an unmatched testing experience.
Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the
international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times
Group, Pearson Education, and the Penguin Group.
SOURCE Pearson VUE

Mary Beth Mohn of Pearson VUE, +1-952-681-3000