This may help.
Access to the same online training as available to Apple-authorized service providers is sold to private parties as AppleCare Technician Training. This training kit is sold at the Apple Store Online and Apple Retail Stores. It costs US$299 for one year of online training access. For details about AppleCare Technician Training, see
Apple - Support - AppleCare - Help Desk Support
Since June the ACMT exams are no longer taken at an examination centre, they are now taken online. The current exams are:
9L0-010 - Apple Certified Mac Technician Hardware Exam ($150 USD)
9L0-064 - Apple Certified Mac Technician OS Exam ($150 USD)
Another change that came in during June was doing away with the annual recertification exams. These have been replaced by exams on new products as they are released. I've had to take 5 in the last year at $15 each, your AASP employer will pay for those.
Lots of changes from the way training and exams used to be taken in the past.