LPI Exam Check-in 2026: OnVUE Online Guide (All Exams)

This guide covers the check-in for Linux Professional Institute (LPI) exams taken through Pearson VUE’s OnVUE platform, based on the pages LPI and Pearson publish as of October 2026.

How LPI Exams Are Delivered

LPI exams are delivered by Pearson VUE (now branded Pearson Professional Assessments). You can sit them in person at a Pearson VUE test center or online through OnVUE, Pearson’s online proctoring system. LPI’s own FAQ confirms both routes and says exam prices and lengths are the same online. You first need a free LPI ID, then you create a Pearson VUE account using that ID and schedule from there.

Pearson publishes one OnVUE rules page for LPI, and it applies to every LPI exam. The exam you choose changes the content and timing, not the check-in process.

Question counts and durations come from Pearson’s LPI program page. The “online” column is the weak spot: LPI’s online testing page lists only some exams, and it was written when OnVUE launched. The reliable test is to sign in to your Pearson VUE account and see whether the exam offers an online option when you schedule.

Regional note. There is no regional restriction on the LPI OnVUE page itself, but Pearson does not accept IDs from countries where OnVUE delivery is restricted (see the ID section below). If you are in a country with unreliable bandwidth or heavy network filtering, a test center may be the safer route.

Pre-Exam Preparation

Hardware and Network Requirements

• A Windows 10 or macOS 14 (or newer) computer. Linux is not supported, which surprises many LPI candidates. LPI has said publicly that it is pushing Pearson on this.
• A working webcam, microphone, and speaker. Headphones, earbuds, and headsets are not allowed.
• One display only. Multi-monitor setups are not permitted, and any secondary or touchscreen display must be disconnected and covered if it cannot be removed.
• At least 6 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload.
• No virtual machines or beta operating systems.
• No VPN, no corporate network, and no public or shared network.
• No phones, tablets, styluses, watches, or smart devices with recording or AI features (smart speakers, smart glasses) within reach.
• Ability to close every application except OnVUE.

Run the official system test on the same computer and the same network you will use on exam day. Restart the machine before the real exam, and make sure nobody else in the house is streaming or downloading during your slot.

Exam Tip: Many Linux users run Windows or macOS only inside a virtual machine, and OnVUE bans virtual machines. If your only machine is a Linux box, borrow a Windows or Mac laptop, or book at a test center. Do not discover this at check-in.

ID Requirements

You need one valid, government-issued photo ID, and the name on it must match the name on your exam booking exactly. Pearson’s LPI page lists these as accepted:

• International passport
• Plastic driver’s license
• National, state, provincial, or EU ID card
• Alien registration card (green card or permanent resident/visa)
• Approved Aadhaar cards (Pearson publishes a separate Aadhaar policy)
• Non-U.S. military ID, including spouse and dependent
• Japanese employee or student ID together with a Japanese Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate

These are rejected: expired, digital, damaged, copied, or privately issued IDs; birth certificates; naturalization papers; Geneva Convention ID cards; Canadian health insurance cards; U.S. Senate, House, and military or secure-access IDs; and any ID issued by Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, or the restricted regions of Ukraine. Paper IDs are accepted only in Algeria, Brazil, Cameroon, and the Dominican Republic.

Which ID should you use if you are not sure? Take the passport. It is on the accepted list everywhere, it carries a clearly printed name, and LPI itself noted that Japanese candidates had the smoothest experience with passports. The national ID card is also accepted, but a card that cannot legally be photographed or has a damaged chip area is a gamble you do not need.

Name matching is the number one check-in killer. The check is against the name on your Pearson VUE booking, which comes from the profile you built with your LPI ID. Check these before exam day:

• Open your Pearson VUE profile and compare it with your ID letter by letter, including middle names, hyphens, and accents.
• If a field is wrong, edit it under My Profile. If a field is locked, contact the LPI customer service team through Pearson.
• Do not rely on nicknames or a different name order than the ID shows.

The LPI page lists a single photo ID and does not mention a secondary ID (confirm on the official page). Candidates under 18 must show their own ID, and a parent or guardian must be present during check-in with their own ID to give consent.

Exam Tip: A name mismatch means no exam and a forfeited fee, because the platform says that if any requirement is not met you cannot test. Fixing the profile takes five minutes a week before. It cannot be fixed at check-in.

Testing Environment

• Use a private, quiet room. Bathrooms, offices, libraries, and coffee shops are prohibited spaces, and you must be fully dressed.
• Clear your desk completely. Only the testing computer, pre-approved items, approved comfort aids, and a drink in an unmarked container may stay.
• Remove everything on, under, or within arm’s reach of the desk: books, notes, paper, pens, tissue boxes, makeup, food, smoking products, bags, wallets, coats, glasses cases, and weapons.
• Clear whiteboards and note boards in the room before you start.
• Stay alone for the entire session, and make sure nobody can see your screen, even from a distance.

Step-by-Step Check-in Walkthrough

Pearson’s LPI page summarizes check-in as technology checks, photos of you and your ID, and a 360° room scan. In practice it breaks into the steps below. The exact screen order can change when Pearson updates OnVUE, so treat the order as a guide and follow the on-screen prompts.

1. Run the system test days earlier. Use the LPI-specific system test link from Pearson. Sticking point: it passes on your home Wi-Fi but you test from another network on exam day. Handle it by testing on the exact machine and connection you will use, and fix any failure while you still have time to reschedule.
2. Sign in 30 minutes before your appointment. Log in to your Pearson VUE account, open your scheduled exam, and start check-in. Sticking point: the start button is missing. That usually means you are outside the check-in window or your appointment time is in a different time zone than you assumed. Re-read the confirmation email.
3. Complete the technology checks. OnVUE tests your camera, microphone, and connection and needs to close other programs. Sticking point: background apps such as chat clients, backup tools, and VPN clients block the launch. Quit them before you start, and disable the VPN completely.
4. Take your face photo. Look straight at the camera in even light, with no hat or sunglasses. Sticking point: a bright window behind you makes the photo fail. Face the light instead of putting it behind you.
5. Photograph your ID. Hold the original ID, not a scan or a screen image, and keep the whole card flat and glare-free. Sticking point: the name does not match, or the ID is a type not on the list. Prevent this with the profile check above. If glare is the problem, tilt the card slightly and retake.
6. Do the 360° room scan. Pan slowly around the whole room, then show your desk surface and the space under it. Sticking point: items you forgot are within arm’s reach. Pick up the camera and look at your own room first, before the proctor does. Some programs have you use a phone for the room photos (confirm on the official page), so keep your phone nearby but away from the desk until asked.
7. Wait for the proctor. A live proctor reviews your check-in and may ask for another look at the desk or ID. Sticking point: the wait feels like a freeze. Do not close the window or restart; keep the camera in view and sit still.
8. Start the exam. The proctor will release the exam. Your session is recorded. If your computer freezes or disconnects, close OnVUE and relaunch it from your downloads folder, as Pearson instructs.

Exam Tip: The proctor chat cannot pause or extend your exam and cannot fix your computer or network. Use it for questions about instructions, not for technical rescue. Sort the technical side out before you click start.

What the Proctor Looks For During the Room Scan

The proctor is checking that your space and ID meet the requirements and that nothing can help you during the exam. These are the things most often flagged:

• Papers, notebooks, sticky notes, and pens anywhere in reach, including on shelves behind you.
• Whiteboards, posters, or note boards with writing on them.
• A second monitor, a TV, or a laptop that is closed but still connected.
• Phones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers. Silence is not enough; they must be out of reach.
• Headphones, earbuds, or wired headsets.
• Other people in the room, or a door that cannot be closed.
• Items under the desk, on the floor next to your chair, or on a second table.
• A drink in a labeled bottle. Only a beverage in an unmarked container is allowed.

Rules During the Exam

Pearson’s LPI page does not publish a separate “warning” list. It states that violations lead to the exam being revoked and the fee forfeited. In real sessions, proctors often intervene first on minor issues, so the split below is my reading of how that plays out. Do not count on a warning for anything in the second tier.

Tier 1: Likely to Draw a Proctor Intervention

• Looking away from the screen for long stretches or covering your mouth.
• Mumbling or reading questions aloud (the page says do not speak or read aloud unless instructed).
• Something in view that you can quickly remove, such as a cup with a label or a stray item at the edge of the desk.
• Shifting out of the camera frame briefly.

Whether the proctor pauses the exam, asks you to fix it, or reports it is the proctor’s call (confirm on the official page).

Tier 2: Revocation and Fee Forfeiture

• Cheating, or letting another person take your exam.
• Recording, sharing, or letting anyone else view your screen, even if you are having technical trouble.
• Leaving the webcam view without an approved break.
• Using a phone without explicit permission from a proctor.
• Failing to follow on-screen instructions or the proctor’s guidance.
• Having a prohibited item, person, second screen, VPN, or virtual machine that you did not disclose or remove.

Rules on Breaks, Scratch Paper, and Drinks

Breaks. Pearson says not every exam allows breaks and that leaving the camera view without an approved break is a violation. The LPI OnVUE page does not announce any scheduled break for LPI exams, so plan as if there are none (confirm on the official page). Your LPIC exams are 90 minutes, so use the restroom before you start check-in, not after.

Paper and pen. Not allowed. The LPI page explicitly pre-approves a digital whiteboard and says this does not extend to physical whiteboards or writing materials of any kind. Practice with Pearson’s digital whiteboard beforehand so you are not learning the tool during the exam.

Drinks. One beverage in an unmarked container is allowed on the desk. Peel labels off bottles, or use a plain glass or mug. Food and smoking products are not allowed.

Exam Tip: Candidates who normally scribble commands or diagrams on paper hit this wall hardest. Do one or two practice sessions using only the digital whiteboard so your habits adapt before the real exam.

Online Proctored vs. Test Center

Online suits you if you have a spare private room, a Windows or Mac computer, a stable home connection, and you are comfortable with strict rules.

A test center suits you if you work only on Linux, share your living space, have unreliable internet, or know that a webcam and room scan will make you anxious.

Exam Day Checklist

The Night Before

• Unplug your second monitor and put it somewhere other than the testing room.
• Compare your ID with your Pearson VUE profile name once more.
• Run the system test again on the exact machine and network you will use.
• Turn off the VPN permanently on that computer, and ask housemates not to stream during your slot.
• Check your appointment time and time zone in the confirmation email.
• Practice with the digital whiteboard for a few minutes.

60 Minutes Before

• Restart your computer and close all other apps, including cloud sync and chat clients.
• Clear the desk, the floor around you, and the walls behind you.
• Take the phone out of reach, along with smartwatches and smart speakers.
• Eat something, fill a plain drink container, and use the restroom.
• Put your ID within reach and make sure it is not expired.

30 Minutes Before

• Sign in to your Pearson VUE account and start check-in as soon as the window opens.
• Check your lighting and make sure the camera sees your face clearly.
• Tell everyone in the home that the door stays closed until you finish.
• Have your ID flat in your hand for the photo, not in a wallet sleeve.

During the Exam

• Stay in front of the camera for the whole session.
• Do not read questions aloud or talk to yourself.
• Do not touch your phone unless a proctor tells you to.
• If the connection drops, relaunch OnVUE from your downloads folder.
• Use the in-exam chat only for instructions or procedural questions.

FAQ

Check-in and Technical Questions

What happens if my internet drops mid-exam?

Pearson’s instruction is to close OnVUE and relaunch it from your downloads folder. If the problem continues, use Pearson’s customer service page for LPI. The proctor chat cannot troubleshoot your network. Whether you may resume or must reschedule is not spelled out on the LPI page (confirm on the official page), so keep your appointment confirmation and report the issue right away.

Can I use my laptop’s built-in webcam?

The requirement is a working webcam, microphone, and speaker, and the official page does not require an external camera. A built-in webcam that passes the system test should be fine. Make sure the lid stays open and no second display is connected.

What if check-in times out or I am late?

Start 30 minutes early so you have room to recover. The official LPI page says that if a requirement is not met you cannot test and the fee is forfeited. The late-arrival cutoff itself is not listed on the LPI page (confirm on the official page). If you are stuck, contact Pearson’s LPI customer service immediately.

Can I use headphones or earbuds to block noise?

No. Headphones, earbuds, and headsets are prohibited, so use the computer speakers and choose a quiet room instead.

Can I take the exam in my office?

Pearson lists offices as a prohibited space, and corporate networks and VPNs are prohibited as well. Test at home on a private connection, or book a test center.

What if I fail? When can I retake?

Pearson’s LPI page says you wait seven days after your first failure and fourteen days after later failures. Anyone who passes an exam cannot retake it for at least two years. LPI’s Japan pages give a slightly different summary, so check LPI’s policies page for the current rule. LPI has also announced a free-retake promotion with Pearson for exams completed between September 29 and November 17, 2026, but you have to opt in (confirm on the official page); Pearson’s banner shows a slightly earlier start date.

Do I get my result right away?

LPI’s FAQ says you receive a score report right after the exam, and Pearson transfers your results to LPI within 24 hours. If you have met the certification requirements, the certification is then issued.

Is there anything I can do if I need an accommodation?

Yes. Pearson’s LPI page links an accommodation request for OnVUE bookings. Ask before scheduling, not on exam day, because approvals are not instant.

References

Official and Platform Sources

References

• Pearson VUE: LPI online exams with OnVUE (requirements, rules, and setup)
• Pearson VUE: Linux Professional Institute exam program page
• OnVUE system test for LPI exams
• Pearson VUE: OnVUE digital whiteboard guide
• Pearson VUE: online testing with OnVUE overview
• Pearson VUE: test-taker resources and FAQs
• LPI: frequently asked questions, including OnVUE online exams
• LPI: online testing page
• LPI: OnVUE exams now available in Japanese (note on passports)
• LPI: Pearson VUE free-retake campaign announcement
• LPI: certification policies
• LPI: staff reply on DevOps Tools Engineer online availability

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