Check out the new MCP transcript format
By Ed Tittel
LANWrights, Inc.
When Microsoft announced its revamp of the Window 2000 certification program -- and included nine exams from the NT 4.0 era as electives for the MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 credential -- they also announced that they would be providing new Microsoft Certified Professional transcripts in April,2002. Those new-format MCP transcripts are now available online.
There is a catch, however: you must be an MCP and have established a Microsoft Online ID to access the MCP secured site where you will find the revised transcript format. For instructions on how to access this page, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcpsecure.asp.
Once you leap this hurdle, you'll find yourself at the MCP Member site's home page at https://partnering.one.microsoft.com/mcp/. On that page, you'll find a Transcript Tool entry in the Spotlight section on the top right. From there, you're just a couple of clicks away from your transcript. The first click takes you to a warning screen that explains that you must have the right browser version and ActiveX controls to view an official transcript; the second click takes you to an on-screen rendition of your transcript, where you can see your records in black and white. This final screen also includes a button labeled "Print MCP Transcript" that permits you to print a copy of your official transcript, should you need it for
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inclusion with a resume, to provide to your employer or for any other reason you might have.
What's new and interesting about the new-format transcript is that it clearly lists all certifications obtained in its Microsoft Certification Status section beneath your name, address and MCP ID number. This includes mention of specific versions of the MCSE, such as MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 or MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, and so forth. The new format makes it much easier to distinguish not only what credentials somebody holds, but also their vintage -- and thus, presumably, their relevance to specific job requirements. If you haven't checked your new transcript out yet, take a look. I think you'll like what you see!
The way version information appears on your transcript is as follows:
[TABLE]For credentials such as MCSE+I or MCP+I, where only one version (Windows NT 4.0) is recognized, no version information appears. Note also that the NT 3.5 MCSE (dated 9/13/1996) is not labeled as such, since it's no longer a recognized or valid credential. This notation is a useful addition to the MCP transcript, a clear indicator of where an MCP's expertise lies, with specific mention of each credential's currency.
Ed Tittel is a principal at a small content development company based in Austin, Texas, and the creator of the Exam Cram series, and has worked on over 30 certification-related books on Microsoft, Novell, and Sun related topics.
