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Microsoft Betas Learning Consultant Certification for MCTs

The new title will recognize “the practice” of designing and delivering custom learning solutions for organizations.

Microsoft released details Tuesday on its new Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC) certification at TechEd 2005 Europe in Amsterdam. Currently in beta, it will be open to all Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) beginning Oct. 1.

The MCLC expands on the general training credential of the MCT but focuses on the training professional’s ability to “design, develop and deliver consultative learning solutions based on Microsoft technologies and products,” said Ken Rosen, senior marketing manager of Microsoft’s MCT program. “Target customers are enterprise organizations who want tailored, rather than off-the-shelf solutions, to address their business needs.”

Though the MCLC is based on the MCT, it’s not a “master” or “expert” version of the trainer certification, according to Rosen. “MCLC indicates ‘additional’ learning-related expertise beyond the classroom, not stronger classroom training expertise.”

To obtain the expanded Microsoft credential, candidates must be, first of all, active MCTs. They must be able to demonstrate their experience in providing learning solutions for customers by submitting a case study, which is reviewed and approved by a regional review board of practicing learning consultants, managers of learning consultants or industry experts. Also required are a career advancement certification, such as one of Microsoft’s other IT certifications, and a customer ROI attestation letter in which a customer verifies the description of the project in the case study, the role played by the candidate and the results achieved by the solution.

Unlike the MCT, the MCLC has no minimum delivery requirement. “Because learning consultants spend much of their time out of the classroom—and because particularly intense projects may take them completely out of the classroom for the duration of the project—the minimum delivery requirement is waived for MCLCs regardless of tenure,” Rosen said. “In other words, the minimum ‘delivery’ requirement is replaced by a minimum ‘practice’ requirement.”

MCTs with less than five years of tenure in the program are required to deliver training using official Microsoft Learning products to a minimum of 15 students per year.

MCLCs must renew their titles yearly and are required to submit an additional case study every two years. No additional subscription fees other than those for the MCT are required for 2005-2006. Applications for new MCLCs will be accepted quarterly in October, January, April and July.

Microsoft plans to disclose more details about the MCLC at its Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Minneapolis later this week.

About the Author

Dan Hong is the associate Web editor of MCPmag.com, CertCities.com, TCPmag.com, Redmondmag.com and RCPmag.com.

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