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Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center '00 (Microsoft CTEC) Program Guide

Over the last several years the Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (Microsoft CTEC) channel has expanded focus from offering quality Information Technology (IT) classroom instruction on Microsoft products to providing a broad range of relevant IT training services. Increasingly, customers continue to ask for more choices in technology-based delivery options, customized content, and online services, which prompts the development of new business models as well as changes the roles for instructors. At the same time, the need for IT training, from both IT departments and business units, continues to grow. The primary drivers of this expanding market are:

• The continuing IT skills shortage.

  The need for high quality, well-trained staff to manage, maintain, and deploy technology is crucial. IT staff members are considered valuable corporate assets.

• Globalization of business.

  The trend to do business without boundaries continues to increase. Global firms look for global training solutions that can deliver "mass customization," thus achieving customization and consistency.

• Customer demand for full-service solutions.

  Customers demand a full spectrum of training service solutions. Enterprises seek training providers who can provide customized, flexible solutions, so they can continue to focus on their core business.

• Business performance improvements.

  The new trend to tie IT training to business performance improvements is beginning to create a demand for performance improvement consultants, who can integrate training with larger business goals.

Microsoft CTEC channel partners can take advantage of expanding opportunities for training in four key content areas; Expect increased demand for Line of Business (LOB) applications for developers and integrators. The market for Knowledge Management solutions using Microsoft technologies will continue to climb as Microsoft Exchange gains ground as the leading messaging platform and Microsoft Office 2000 enables knowledge workers to increase productivity at the desktop. Windows 2000 will help knowledgeable IT professionals align with business services to deliver cost effective, managed solutions Additionally, Online Business solutions will spur the market for training on the new Microsoft commerce and Internet server technologies.

Microsoft strives to continue the evolution of the Microsoft CTEC channel so member companies can position themselves as the premier providers of quality IT training solutions. New improvements to the Microsoft CTEC program, such as the increased focus on MCT readiness, will put Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT) on the cutting edge. The new Microsoft Official Curriculum Courseware Licensing program will offer flexibility to channel partners. Microsoft will focus the Microsoft CTEC 2000 Program to build on the following initiatives:

• Build a full-service training channel, to respond to increasing customer demands for services.
• Promote a climate that encourages early-adopters in the channel.
• Identify the Microsoft CTEC brand with high quality, expert Microsoft training.
• Jumpstart strategic product deployments with large scale training via MS CTEC channel delivery. Another initiative that is driving Microsoft forward is our focus on customer and partner satisfaction. We are committed to igniting and driving the desire for continuous learning to the channel; we view Microsoft CTECs as valued partners who have the power to expand Information Technology learning. We have designed the 2000 Microsoft CTEC program to help our channel partners anticipate and respond to the evolving IT training market, overcome the challenges, and align them towards success in the future.

What's New? Changes for 2000

After making substantial changes to the Microsoft CTEC program in 1999, this year we're building onto that foundation and providing new program opportunities. The program will focus on maintaining stability and taking the next steps towards increasing flexibility and creating more options for customers. Some of the changes for next year include:

• In February 2000, we'll hold the first Trainer Event, a large-scale session for trainers that will compliment our T-Prep (trainer preparation) and Tech Week offerings as well as offer multiple training preparedness for technology tracks that trainers will be able to attend. This is one of many continued efforts that Microsoft is building to help all Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT) obtain their MCSE or MCSD certification in order for them to continue as MCTs in the year 2001.
• In early 2000, Microsoft CTECs will have the option of signing up for the Microsoft Official Curriculum Licensing program. The Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) strategy is evolving to meet the requirements for flexible training, localized content and solution based training. The MOC Licensing program allows Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (Microsoft CTECs) to download MOC electronically and pay for its usage on a per-license basis. Microsoft CTECs will have the capability to replicate and customize the courseware. The goal is to eventually extend the capability to localization and giving the ability to re-purpose for online learning delivery. There will be specific requirements and a separate application that each Microsoft CTEC will need to qualify for and submit in order to participate in this program. Please watch our Microsoft secure web site for more details.
• We have doubled the number of training-use licenses for your classroom use. As of January 1, 2000, the new Microsoft CTEC addendum will allow you to replicate 200 copies of a legally acquired product or one copy per student, whichever number is lower.
• Hardware Requirements - We have again upgraded our minimum hardware requirement levels in order for our top level Windows 2000, Exchange, SQL, and Developer classes to run with the best experience possible. As you know, the reality of the industry is that hardware has a short shelf life and with continuous improvements that are being made we gear our software and courseware to take advantage of these hardware advantages, in doing so, we have fully fleshed out all levels of our hardware requirements. As a Microsoft CTEC, you are expected to run the courses on minimum level machines required to ensure a quality delivery.

Program Benefits

Membership in the Microsoft CTEC program includes the following benefits:

• Recognition.

  Microsoft CTECs are the only training organizations that can use the Microsoft CTEC logo and the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) logo to market their training services. You may also use the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and MCT logos as long as you have these certifications on staff. You may use the logos in advertising, on business cards, and in other communications provided that your use is in accordance with the logo guidelines that you will receive in your Microsoft CTEC Welcome Kit. They help emphasize your credibility as a certified provider of Microsoft technical training.

• Technical information.

  As a Microsoft CTEC, your company is on the inside track for the latest Microsoft education technology. Microsoft CTECs receive special access to up-to-the-minute Microsoft product information through the Microsoft Certified Solution Provider (MCSP) program. Microsoft CTECs also receive invitations to Microsoft conferences and local technical-training events.

• Training products.

  As a Microsoft CTEC, your company has a distinct advantage within the training industry because Microsoft CTECs are the premier commercial suppliers of instructor-led MOC courseware. This courseware is developed directly by Microsoft in conjunction with its product developers and support engineers.

• Training-use licenses.

  As a Microsoft CTEC, your company can take advantage of training-use licenses worth at least U.S.$300,000 annually. Provided you have at least one legally acquired copy of the Microsoft product that is the subject of a course, you are licensed to replicate 200 copies of the product or one copy per student, whichever number is lower. This license is for the purpose of training students on Microsoft products only. Microsoft CTECs who offer online training may use up to 700 Terminal Server Enterprise with the corresponding number of Windows NT Server licensing for use ONLY with online students.

• Referral opportunities.

  Microsoft CTECs are eligible to receive customer referrals through Microsoft for information technology professionals who are seeking technical training on Microsoft products. These professionals can learn about your company through Microsoft's training-referral database located on the Microsoft Home page. Customer referrals are based on the information you supply in the business profile section of your application. You enter this information when you apply for the Microsoft CTEC program and it is your company responsibility to keep your profile updated throughout the year.

• Microsoft CTEC Welcome Kit.

  When your company becomes a Microsoft CTEC, you will receive a welcome kit that contains program information, marketing templates, program logos, and sales tools. The Welcome Kit will also include your official letter of acceptance into the Microsoft CTEC 2000 Program.

• Access to online communications via the Microsoft CTEC Web site.

  At the private Microsoft CTEC Web site, you can access a rich collection of current, real-time information on the Microsoft CTEC program. MCTs can join their own private secure web site accessible through the Microsoft CTEC Web site. Through the private MCT web site, MCTs exchange information with one another and with Microsoft course developers as well as obtain the latest updates to the course error logs.

• Joint training and marketing opportunities with Microsoft.

  If you have an authorized Microsoft CTEC site close to a Microsoft office, you may be invited to participate in local Microsoft seminars and events and can take advantage of local training opportunities.

• Volume Rebate Rewards.

  If you are a Microsoft CTEC in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Western Europe, South Africa, or the South Pacific, you may be eligible to participate in a rebate program. The rebate is based on your instructor-led MOC courseware purchasing activity. Refer to the appropriate regional area on the Microsoft CTEC secure web site for more information.

• Regional support.

  If you cannot find the information you seek on the Microsoft CTEC Web site, in most regions of the world you have access to a Microsoft telephone service center team dedicated to supporting the Microsoft CTEC program. This team augments resources available to you on the Web by providing information on the application and renewal process, MCT requirements and courses, MOC courseware, and the Microsoft CTEC program in general.

• MCT opportunities.

  MCTs have the unique opportunity to receive industry-recognized credentials when they become certified to deliver MOC courses. (Refer to the "Program Requirements" section of this Program Guide for details on the minimum number of MCTs per site.)

• Alerts and notifications.

  Every two weeks we send Flash Mail - an email update of announcements to keep you informed.

Program Requirements

To maintain your membership in the Microsoft CTEC program, your company must agree to meet the minimum requirements for MCTs, hardware standards, communications, and course delivery. Please read the program requirements thoroughly.

Microsoft CTEC Membership Requirements

This section summarizes the basic Microsoft CTEC membership requirements that each site is required to meet.

• Become a Microsoft Certified Solutions Provider (MCSP).

• Employ and report at least two exclusive MCTs per site.

  In North America, Western Europe, Latin America, the South Pacific Rim, and Japan, each of the two required MCTs must be either MCSEs or MCSDs. Report your number of qualifying MCTs when you join the Microsoft CTEC program and continue to update throughout the year. These MCTs can be full- or part-time trainers and employed or on contract, but each MCT can represent only one Microsoft CTEC site. You can report and maintain MCT data either online using the Business Profile Online Tool located on the MCSP Online web site or by calling the appropriate regional service center.

• Meet minimum hardware requirements.

• Establish and publish quality control and general customer-satisfaction policies.

  Such policies may include money-back guarantees, instructor evaluations, options for retaking a class at no additional charge, and similar implementations. Microsoft follows up with customer complaints and continuous complaints can lead to probation on your Microsoft CTEC status.

• Pay the annual Microsoft CTEC fee.

  Prior to the program renewal on January 1 of each year, you will receive a reminder that your annual Microsoft CTEC fee (and Microsoft Certified Solution Provider fee) is due. Although some regions do not require a Microsoft CTEC fee, some regions may require Microsoft CTECs to send the signed Microsoft CTEC program invoice. All new Microsoft CTEC applications will need be approved and processed within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving business plan application.

• Agree to site inspections and audits.

  With notification, Microsoft may conduct inspections and audits during normal business hours. As background for these inspections, you should maintain student and MCT records and class schedules for a period of one year.

Microsoft Certified Trainers

To become a Microsoft CTEC, you must have two MCTs attached exclusively to your company. Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are professional instructors with working knowledge and practical experience in developing, implementing, or supporting one or more Microsoft products. The MCT credential helps Microsoft recognize high-quality instructors and prepare your instructors to successfully deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) courses.

A qualified MCT is an individual who has successfully demonstrated the following to Microsoft:

• Basic instructional skills.

  These include presentation and classroom-facilitation skills

• Technical competence and course-preparation capabilities as demonstrated by passing the appropriate Microsoft certification exams.

  Microsoft strongly recommends (but does not require) that MCTs preparing to teach a MOC course attend the MOC course or a trainer-preparation course either at a local Microsoft CTEC or at Microsoft.

For new technology courses, MCTs may attend a trainer-preparation course or a publicly offered course at a Microsoft CTEC. By doing so, they gain provisional certification to teach the course until the exam is available. Once the exam is available they have 30 days to pass the exam to become fully certified.

Becoming Certified

To become certified to deliver MOC courses, a candidate must first submit an MCT application to Microsoft with proof of instructional skills. After an instructor's MCT application is approved and he or she has demonstrated instructional skills, an instructor becomes certified on an individual-course basis. For each MOC course that the instructor intends to become certified to deliver, he or she must:

• Study the Microsoft Trainer Kit, and prepare for the exam.
• Pass the required Microsoft certification exam(s).
• In some cases, attend the course. (Course attendance requirements vary. Consult the MCT Web site for details.)

Specific trainer-certification requirements for courses are published on the private Microsoft CTEC Secure web site and MCT Web sites. Once an instructor completes all trainer-certification requirements for the course and sends in corresponding information, Microsoft updates the worldwide MCT database to reflect that the instructor is now certified to deliver the specified MOC course.

If you are contracting an MCT, ask for his or her current MCP transcript, which serves as proof that he or she is certified to deliver the MOC course. It is the Microsoft CTECs responsibility to ensure that an instructor (either full-time or under contract) is fully certified and in good standing before that instructor delivers an MOC course for the Microsoft CTEC.

MCT Delivery Requirements

• All Microsoft CTEC MOC courses, with the exception of online courses, must be taught by MCTs.
• For online training only, the instructor may be a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).
• MCTs will need to be re-certified on new technologies. For example, MCTs certified on old technologies will no longer be a qualified MCT - they must upgrade their skills and certification to the latest Microsoft technologies.

Facilities and Equipment

Please read the following recommendations for public classrooms and adhere to the instructor and student equipment requirements specific to Levels 1-4.

Microsoft recommends that any Microsoft CTEC offering public classroom instruction has access to facilities meeting the following minimum guidelines:

• Owned or leased by a Microsoft CTEC.
• Adjustable ventilation system (cooling and/or heating according to regional requirements).
• Projection equipment (an overhead projector and LCD panel or high-definition television).
• Projection screen with a diagonal measurement of at least six feet (or two meters).
• Ability to darken the room for display purposes.
• Blackboard or whiteboard of at least 10 square feet (or two square meters).
• In the United States, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as required by law.

New Hardware Requirements

As for equipment, Microsoft requires a certain minimum configuration for instructors and certain other minimum configurations for students, as described in the text and table below. We have described the following:

• An understanding of the need to upgrade.
• When you should start upgrading.
• An in-depth look at the reasons for each requirement.
• The Microsoft 2000 hardware requirements tructor and Classroom machines.

Why the need to upgrade?

When determining the hardware requirements for courses they develop, the Microsoft courseware teams look at reasonable hardware requirements for optimal performance of the software. One of the courseware team's goal is to ensure at minimum, a reasonable customer experience. The new requirements outline their counsel for that 'reasonable' experience. Ideally, as a competitive advantage, we encourage you to provide the student with an exceptional experience and make the corresponding hardware purchasing decision.

Based on customer demand, we will roll out more scenario-based courses that integrate several products simulate an actual business environment. Again, reasonable performance for these courses will generally require at minimum Level 3 hardware requirements.

When you should start upgrading

This depends on what courses you wish to offer. If you are delivering Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and most BackOffice courses now, you should be at Microsoft CTEC 2000's Levels 1 & 2 already. The newer product courses rolled out this year will generally require Levels 2 & 3. Keep in mind that as Microsoft releases new courseware to reflect changing software requirements, you will need to audit your hardware environments to ensure that you're prepared to deliver those courses.

At present, we do not anticipate the need for Level 4 hardware in the classroom until mid to late 2000. HOWEVER, it is advised that you consider the long-term approach as you begin procuring hardware. These requirements are based on the Microsoft/Intel PC99 v.1.0a and Hardware Design Guide v.2.0 for Microsoft Windows NT Server specifications. These standards are available online at the PC 99 Addendum Web Site and the Windows Driver and Hardware Development Web Site.

Instructor System Requirements

*For classes that require hardware levels 1 or 2, the instructor machine must match or exceed level 2 specifications, including: internet access, amplified speakers and a connection to a SVGA 800x600, 256-color projection display device.

*For classes that require hardware levels 3 or 4, the instructor machine must match or exceed the student machines, including: Internet access, amplified speakers and a connection to a SVGA 800x600, 256-color projection display device.

Student System Requirements

Minimum requirements for student systems are: One computer for each enrolled student.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
Processor	Pentium II, or equivalent, Personal Computer with processor speed greater than, or equal to 166mhz	Pentium II, or equivalent, Personal Computer with processor speed greater than, or equal to 300mhz	Pentium II, or equivalent, Personal Computer with processor speed greater than, or equal to 400mhz	Pentium II, or equivalent, Personal Computer with processor speed greater than, or equal to 450mhz
L2 Cache	256K	256K	512K	512K
Hard Disk	At least 4GB	At least 4GB	At least 8GB	At least 12G
RAM	At least 64MB	At least 256MB	At least 256MB	At least 512MB
DVD/CD	DVD or CD-ROM drive (12x or greater)	DVD or CD-ROM drive (12x or greater)	DVD	DVD
Network Adapter	Required - must not use ISA bus	*Required - must not use ISA bus	*10/100 Mb/s required	*10/100 Mb/s required
Sound Card	Recommended	Yes	Yes	Yes
Video Adapter	At least 4MB	At least 4MB	At least 4MB	At least 4MB
Monitor	15 inch - 17 inch recommended	Super VGA monitor (17 inch)	Super VGA monitor (17 inch)	Super VGA monitor (17 inch)
System Bus	ISA devices allowed	PCI bus must meet 2.1 specs-ISA devices allowed except video, hard disk, or network cards	PCI bus must meet 2.1 specs-ISA devices allowed except video, hard disk, or network cards	PCI bus must meet 2.1 specs-ISA devices allowed except video, hard disk, or network cards