Overview
This guide explains how OSPI certifications work from enrollment through exam day. Use the topics on the left for step-by-step details.
What OSPI exams are
OSPI offers performance-based, hands-on exams in a dedicated Linux environment. You complete practical tasks in a live lab—not multiple-choice questions in a browser quiz.
Quick path for candidates
- Create a portal account and enroll for an exam time slot.
- Receive a confirmation email with your exam waiting area link.
- Sign in before your exam, complete check-in (ID, room, screen share).
- Use the waiting area for SSH credentials when your exam window opens.
- Work in your exam environment for the scheduled duration, then disconnect when time ends.
How exams work
Each enrollment is tied to one scheduled exam window, one check-in, and one exam environment.
Scheduling
When you enroll, you choose an exam date and time (slot start). Your exam window is a fixed length from that start time (typically 90 minutes, depending on the exam).
Phases on exam day
- Before slot start — Check-in opens a few minutes early (default 5 minutes). You can verify ID and room setup; your lab may be prepared in the background.
- Exam window open — From slot start until slot end, you may receive SSH credentials in the waiting area and perform exam tasks.
- After slot end — Your allotted time is over. Disconnect from SSH; credentials are removed from the portal. The environment may be kept briefly for grading, then destroyed.
Waiting area
The waiting area is your home base on exam day. It shows a countdown, check-in status, SSH connection details when available, and exam task instructions. Keep it open in a browser tab separate from screen sharing.
One environment per enrollment
Each paid enrollment receives one exam lab for that sitting. You cannot reset check-in on a production exam to obtain a second environment for the same purchase.
Your account & portal
Personal information, sign-in, and where to manage enrollments and exam links.
Creating an account
Register at portal registration with your email and password, or use Google sign-in if enabled. Use your legal first and last name—they appear on enrollment and exam records.
What we store
- Account: name, email, and authentication details (hashed password or linked Google identity).
- Enrollments: exam choice, scheduled slot, payment status, and a private exam access link token.
- Check-in: timestamp when you complete identity and room verification (not raw camera recordings in the current pilot).
- Exam lab: connection metadata and encrypted exam password while your window is active (see Privacy Policy).
Portal pages you will use
- Dashboard — Overview after sign-in.
- Your exams & vouchers — Scheduled, in-progress, and past exams; voucher codes if applicable.
- Exam waiting area — Opened from your confirmation email or from Your exams on exam day.
- Exam check-in — Camera-based ID and room steps before the window opens.
Updating your information
If your name or email is wrong before an exam, contact contact@ospinstitute.org as soon as possible. Changing account details does not automatically reschedule an exam—you must follow enrollment policies for that.
Sign-in and security
Do not share your portal password or exam access links. Exam links are personal; anyone with your link still cannot access your session unless they are signed in as you.
Enrollment & payment
How to register for an exam and what happens after payment.
Choosing an exam
Browse certifications on the home page, open an exam detail page, and select Enroll to pick a time slot and pay (or apply a voucher).
Confirmation
After successful payment, your enrollment is marked paid. When mail is configured on the server, you receive a confirmation email with:
- Scheduled date and time
- A link to your exam waiting area
- Reminder to sign in with the same email used at enrollment
You can always return via Your exams while signed in.
Vouchers
If your organization provided a voucher code, follow the voucher flow on the enrollment page to claim a slot without card payment. Vouchers appear under Your exams once redeemed.
Before exam day
Prepare your space, connection, and accounts ahead of time.
Technical preparation
- Stable wired or strong Wi‑Fi connection.
- A computer with SSH client (Terminal on macOS/Linux, PuTTY or Windows Terminal on Windows).
- Updated browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended) for check-in and the waiting area.
- Government-issued photo ID ready for check-in.
- Quiet, private room for the full exam duration.
When to sign in
Plan to sign in at least 10–15 minutes before your scheduled start. Check-in opens shortly before the exam window (about 5 minutes by default). Completing check-in early avoids rushing when the window opens.
Review exam objectives
Read the exam detail page for objectives, duration, and allowed resources. For example, Ollama exams may allow official documentation from ollama.com in a separate browser tab.
Check-in & proctoring
Identity verification and screen sharing before your exam window opens.
What check-in includes
- Photo ID — Show a government-issued ID to your camera.
- Room / surroundings — Brief scan of your workspace.
- Screen sharing — Open the screen-share page in a dedicated tab and share your entire screen when prompted.
- Exam rules — Confirm you understand proctoring and conduct requirements.
Two-tab setup
Use one tab for screen sharing (stay on that page) and another for the waiting area and exam tasks. Do not close the screen-share tab during the exam.
Check-in is once per exam
After you complete check-in, you cannot run the full check-in wizard again for the same enrollment. Return to the waiting area for countdown and SSH credentials.
During your exam
SSH access, allowed resources, and task instructions.
SSH credentials
When your exam window opens and your lab is ready, the waiting area shows a password and SSH command. Connect from your own computer’s terminal. Credentials appear only during the active window—not before start and not after time expires.
Exam tasks
Task instructions appear in the waiting area when credentials are available. Complete tasks in order on your exam machine via SSH unless a task says otherwise.
Allowed resources
Unless your exam page states otherwise, assume:
- Official vendor documentation explicitly allowed for your exam (e.g. ollama.com for LLM-OPS-101) may be opened in another browser tab.
- No other external resources and no external AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) unless OSPI explicitly permits them.
Conduct
Work alone. Do not share passwords, receive unauthorized help, or leave the proctored setup without following exam rules. Violations may invalidate your session.
After the exam
What happens when your time ends and how grading works.
When time expires
The waiting area shows that your exam time has ended. Disconnect from SSH immediately and stop all exam work. Portal credentials are removed; continued work may not be scored and may be treated as a proctoring issue.
Environment shutdown
Your exam instance is retained for a short period after the window for grading, then terminated automatically. You do not need to manually delete anything on the exam machine.
Results
Scoring and result notification processes depend on the exam program. Contact contact@ospinstitute.org if you have questions about result timing.
Help & support
Who to contact and common issues.
Contact
- General & exam day issues: contact@ospinstitute.org
- Site & program inquiries: contact@ospinstitute.org
Common issues
- Cannot open waiting area — Sign in with the email used for enrollment; use the link from Your exams or your confirmation email.
- Check-in will not open — Too early; wait until check-in opens shortly before start.
- No SSH credentials — Wait for lab provisioning (often 1–2 minutes after check-in); refresh the waiting area. Credentials appear only after slot start.
- Screen share dropped — Re-open the screen-share tab and share again; inform support if it keeps failing.
Legal
See also Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.