zeshan.com

When the revolution came and MCP cards were withdrawn from the MCP benefits, MCTs were still receiving a brand new card every year. It was nice and shiny and showed off our range of certifications at the back. Now with the release of the brand new MCP wallet cards, the question had to be asked would we MCTs be getting the new card as a free benefit or would we have to pay (in addition to the annual fee).

I am pleased to announce that MCTs will still get a free wallet card in the next programme year (2012-2013).  The difference is that MCTs will need to proactively go to the wallet card site to order the card instead of it being sent in the kit.  The site has been set up so that when you choose MCT for the front of the card, it will give you the card for free.  The process will start in the next programme year as everyone has already received their current wallet card.

The new wallet cards with the Microsoft Tag link to the VBC profile look great and definitely have an air of sophistication about them. However, they are limited to only 5 certifications to go on the back of the card. My current MCT card has 10! I’m sure that more experienced trainers have a lot more. So the price of new technology is losing the extra certifications. The plus side is that if a prospective employer wants to check that you actually have a certification a simple Tag scan will tell them everything they need to know.

If you do have a VBC profile and intend to carry around one of these cards in your wallet, then I would strongly recommend that you adjust your profile to limit the amount of personal information e.g. address, phone number, when you go on holidays etc. The danger is that your wallet could be stolen and then the criminal can access information that you would like to keep private.

Technology – powerful in the right hands, extremely dangerous in the wrong hands…

Somehow I missed this earlier in the week, but if you are a MCP and missed out on the era of free wallet cards or have worn out your existing ones, then you now have the opportunity to buy a shiny new wallet card.

Microsoft has updated the style and colours to be more in line with the recent branding (Red for Trainers, Green for Technical and Orange for Office). You can also customise the back of the card to add up to 5 more certifications. Say for example, you’re a MCITP – so that can be your primary card. Let’s say on the way you took the MTA, MCP, MCSA, MCTS and MCDST, then you can include those on the back. A nice handy way to confirm with your prospective employer of your certifications.

The coolest factor has to be the Microsoft Tag code on the back of your card – this links your card to your online VBC. Once again making it more valuable.

The final addition on the new card is the option to add your picture to it – I’m not a big fan of ID cards (having had to carry around a “Gaijin card” for 2 years in Japan just felt wrong) so this feature is quite subjective. I can see people uploading icons/logos of their own companies to replace this. It will be interesting to see if this feature is taken up.

When I went through the system, it gave me a price of $8.95 – not too bad (if the cards are well made!)

You can order your wallet card by logging into the MCP member site: http://www.microsoft.com/certified

I work in IT Certification.

I’ve seen young people go from being shy and unsure of themselve to becoming mature confident IT Technicians. I would say that most of that is due to Certifications. I can instruct, train, motivate and push, but it’s not until a student goes into that room, where a Certified Instructor has no place, and comes out smiling that the benefits of the training have been realised.

Once you have a certified individual, they become more confident in their working practices, they are happy to take ownership and present at a different level. It has been my pleasure that over the years I have been able to guide over 100 students towards gaining their IT certification and I would like to invite them (and you) to take part in Certiport’s Power of 10 competition.

Simply submit a short video before the end of May explaining how certification has impacted your life and you could win some fantastic prizes.

Check out the video below for more information: