MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) Philippines Testing, Benefits and Info

John Salvatierra from Quezon City emailed us this inquiry yesterday:

"Dear TechPinas, I want to be an MCP but I have no idea just how I could be one. Please help me. Thanks!"

mcp certification
Microsoft Certified Professional - Certificate

Hi John! I've always wanted to post an entry about Microsoft Certification process in the Philippines but the idea often gets lost in my mind with all the current gadget buzz. I'm not an MCP myself and I'm also interested to know more about it. Thanks for the inquiry! Anyway, here's the little that I know about the MCP process (and as such, it is always best to get in touch with Microsoft for more detailed info):

First, let's get down to basics:

What is an MCP? [via]

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) broadly refers to all Microsoft, certifications. But it can also refer to an individual who completes any exam within the program (subject to some exclusions).

The MCP program offers multiple certifications, based on different areas of technical expertise. To attain these certifications, a candidate must pass a series of exams within the program. The current generation of certifications are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE).

Popular previous generation certifications (Previous generation certifications are still supported) include Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA).

OK, that's pretty straight-forward. But basically, an MCP (the person) is someone who knows his Microsoft stuff really well and has been certified by Microsoft for being so.

What's the basis for the certification?

The certification is given to someone who was able to pass a Microsoft Certification Exam based on any area of technical expertise.

Getting Started:

1. Choose a Certification

As mentioned above, there are different kinds of Microsoft Certification. Which one do you need? Do you need certification to be a Technology Specialist or an Application Developer? Remember that you can choose more than one. Choose the one/s that you really need.

2. Find the Right Training and Take Microsoft Courses

You can do this online or offline. There are available e-learning courses and e-reference libraries that you can avail of on the internet. Or you may choose to enroll in an actual MCP course and get classroom training. Explore your options HERE.

3. Take the MCP Exam?

Again, you can do this online or offline. If you want to take on online, visit this SITE. If you are in the Philippines and you want to take the test offline, you may get in touch with Prometric via 1-800-1-611-0126 for a complete list of all official testing venues in the country. What about testing venues outside the Philippines? Visit this SITE.

IMPORTANT: Read Exam Policies HERE. Off hand, keep in mind that the MCP exam is a Timed exam. So use time wisely in answering questions.

What are the exam formats?

Microsoft Certification exams include various formats and question types, which are applied on a per-item basis to accurately evaluate the candidate's knowledge and skills.

Formats might include:
Case study format
Simulations
Virtual labs
Question types might include:
Multiple-choice questions
Hot-area questions
Active-screen questions
Drag-and-drop questions
Build-list and reorder questions
Microsoft is continually introducing innovative testing technologies.

4. Get exam results:

For online testing:
You will receive notification of your pass or fail status immediately upon completing your exam. In addition, you will receive a printed report that provides your exam score and feedback on the skills measured. The exam provider will forward your score to Microsoft within five working days of your test.

For offline testing:
Get in touch with your testing center for release schedule of exam results.

5. Pass the exam and become an MCP!

What are the benefits of being an MCP?

Earning a Microsoft Certification not only helps you stay current with the latest Microsoft products and platforms, it demonstrates your specific job-related experience and technical problem-solving skills.

[The bonus?]

"Forty-three percent of survey respondents report salary increases as a result of Microsoft Certification."
– Redmond magazine 2006 survey of Microsoft IT professionals compensation

There you go! Kinda rough intro to the MCP process -- I hope you find this helpful.

If you want to learn more about Microsoft Certified Professional training and testing procedures, visit the Microsoft Learning website.

[via]




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2 comments:

  1. hi there, i also want to take this certification. i was wondering about the cost. pls advice. tnx.

    ReplyDelete
  2. yah, pls. any advice on the cost. tnx

    ReplyDelete

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