diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/models.py b/common/djangoapps/student/models.py
index 89e2548bbb..b7b2b4e21d 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/models.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/models.py
@@ -200,13 +200,37 @@ class TestCenterUser(models.Model):
         return self.user.email
 
 class TestCenterRegistration(models.Model):
+    """
+    This is our representation of a user's registration for in-person testing,
+    and specifically for Pearson at this point. A few things to note:
+
+    * Pearson only supports Latin-1, so we have to make sure that the data we
+      capture here will work with that encoding.  This is less of an issue
+      than for the TestCenterUser.
+    * Registrations are only created here when a user registers to take an exam in person.
+
+    The field names and lengths are modeled on the conventions and constraints
+    of Pearson's data import system.
+    """
+    # TODO: Check the spec to find out lengths specified by Pearson
+
     testcenter_user = models.ForeignKey(TestCenterUser, unique=True, default=None)
     created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, db_index=True)
     updated_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True, db_index=True)
-    accommodation_request = models.CharField(max_length=1024)
-    # TODO: this should be an enumeration:
-    accommodation_code = models.CharField(max_length=64)
+    course_id = models.CharField(max_length=128, db_index=True)
     
+    # store the original text of the accommodation request.
+    accommodation_request = models.CharField(max_length=1024, blank=True)
+    # TODO: this should be an enumeration:
+    accommodation_code = models.CharField(max_length=64, blank=True)
+
+    @property
+    def candidate_id(self):
+        return self.testcenter_user.candidate_id
+    
+    @property
+    def client_candidate_id(self):
+        return self.testcenter_user.client_candidate_id
     
 def unique_id_for_user(user):
     """
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
index d972cb326c..cfb6b3a39b 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
@@ -207,11 +207,11 @@ def dashboard(request):
 
     # we want to populate the registration page with the relevant information,
     # if it already exists.  Create an empty object otherwise.
-    try:
-        testcenteruser = TestCenterUser.objects.get(user=user)
-    except TestCenterUser.DoesNotExist:
-        testcenteruser = TestCenterUser()
-        testcenteruser.user = user
+#    try:
+#        testcenteruser = TestCenterUser.objects.get(user=user)
+#    except TestCenterUser.DoesNotExist:
+#        testcenteruser = TestCenterUser()
+#        testcenteruser.user = user
     
     # Build our courses list for the user, but ignore any courses that no longer
     # exist (because the course IDs have changed). Still, we don't delete those
@@ -252,7 +252,8 @@ def dashboard(request):
                'show_courseware_links_for' : show_courseware_links_for,
                'cert_statuses': cert_statuses,
                'news': top_news,
-               'testcenteruser': testcenteruser,
+# No longer needed here...move to begin_registration               
+#               'testcenteruser': testcenteruser,
                }
 
     return render_to_response('dashboard.html', context)
@@ -692,7 +693,7 @@ def _do_create_or_update_test_center_user(post_vars):
     
     registration = TestCenterRegistration(testcenter_user = testcenter_user)
     # registration.register(user)
-
+    registration.course_id = post_vars['course_id']
     registration.accommodation_request = post_vars['accommodations']
 
     return (user, testcenter_user, registration)
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard.html b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
index f771f3e098..c7a8df077a 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
@@ -239,7 +239,8 @@
                 </div>
 
                 <div class="message message-status is-shown exam-schedule">
-                   <a href="#" class="exam-button">Schedule Pearson exam</a>
+                	<!-- TODO: pull Pearson destination out into a Setting -->
+                   <a href="https://www1.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/signin/SignInPage/EDX" class="exam-button">Schedule Pearson exam</a>
                    <p class="exam-registration-number">Registration number: <strong>edx00015879548</strong></p>
                    <p class="message-copy">Write this down! You’ll need it to schedule your exam.</p>
                 </div>