REDMOND, Wash., April 2, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the 10-year anniversary of its Microsoft®
Certified Professional (MCP) program. Initiated in 1992, the MCP program has helped more than 1.2 million people worldwide develop and highlight their skills on Microsoft’s leading-edge technologies.
The MCP program has evolved continually over 10 years with updates to existing certifications and new credentials developed to meet industry needs. The program validates experience and aptitude, assuring current and future certified individuals that their certification is a true reflection of the skills needed to perform specific job functions.
“My MCSE certification was instrumental in landing my first consulting job with Bankers Trust in New York,” said Brian Bosserman, president of Business Systems International. “Not only did it help my career, but the experience has led me to look for people with Microsoft credentials when I am hiring.”
One of the first 10 Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) in the world, Bosserman has used his certification in a variety of roles during his 16 years in the IT industry. His accomplishments include writing a number of white papers; managing the technical infrastructure of the production environment for the award-winning No. 1 Internet news site, MSNBC; and acting as a lead technologist for mission-critical trading-floor systems migration to the Windows NT®
operating system.
“It has been an exciting 10 years, and we’re pleased that the MCP program has proven to be such a valuable resource in the industry,” said Robert Stewart, general manager of the Training and Certification Group at Microsoft. “Our focus for the next five to 10 years will be to build on this value, and deliver training and certification in ways that will integrate even more tightly with our customers’ daily lives. For example, we now have more than a dozen e-learning classes available. With these classes, our Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers are able to deliver a world-class blended learning solution that combines classroom, online and self-paced study into one experience.”
In the face of an ever-changing technology environment, the benefits of being an MCP evolve along with the continued growth of the community. Active engagement in online chats, and participation in exam development through the beta process provide these technology leaders with an opportunity to contribute to and gain knowledge from a virtual forum. This feedback is used to keep the program vibrant and relevant to the needs of both employers and participants.
“The real value of a certification is when a business can look at a credential on someone’s resume and immediately expect a certain level of technical skills,” said Joe Puleo, director of business development for Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (Microsoft CTEC) New Horizons. “The Microsoft certifications are well known within the industry, and the history and depth of the program — along with the high-quality products — make it a logical choice for someone making a career in IT.” Candidates who are interested in more information, including immediate steps they can take toward earning an MCP credential, should visit http://www.microsoft.com/mcp/ or contact their local Microsoft CTEC for the latest information about training and certification exam requirements. More information about the history of the MCP program can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/10years/.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. Journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team for additional assistance.
