The quality of training is determined most by the quality of your trainer, the MCT. Our MCTs are passionate about technology and we know that with more resources they will dig deeper into the technologies and as a result offer even better training. That is why we will be providing our MCTs with more tools in the next few months.
Good news never gets old, and if it does forgive me, I just want to make sure you did not miss this. Microsoft Certified Trainers, if you have not heard about our new benefits and renewal timelines, read on!
The new MCT Program will start in April and this year we will be opening Renewal one month early, i.e. March 1st and you can renew until the end of April. This will give you an additional month to renew, the new program year will start in April, renewing in March will give you a full year in the program (April 1st 2009 - March 31st 2010).
You may have heard of the new MCT Benefits which focus on getting you the basic tools MCTs need: a FREE TechNet Plus Direct subscription will be provided to all MCTs that renew! TechNet is such a fantastic content treasure chest with its technical libraries, TechNet magazine and access to over 70 Microsoft products and betas (no more downloading betas from BitTorrent, get the real deal!) and of course there are the newsgroups and concierge offering you support 24/7.
Another benefit that we feel may not have the attention it should have is the discount on what we call e-ref . Microsoft Press has over 600 titles available online (e-reference) and more titles are added all the time. Retailing at 250USD, MCTs will get a 60% discount in the new program year.
Meanwhile, I m still enjoying the fantastic performance of Windows 7 and discovering new stuff all the time, get the beta and check out www.microsoft.com/springboard!
Posted by Tjeerd Veninga
Comments
Monday, February 16, 2009 5:38 PM by Terry Griffin
The new free TechNet Plus is a great move forward. I already purchase it, but as part of the MCT system...excellent!
Keep up the good work.
regards, Terry Griffin
Monday, February 16, 2009 5:53 PM by John Salceda
Technet benefit is very much welcome extra, keep it up.
Monday, February 16, 2009 6:16 PM by Mon Salvador
Wow! an added benefit! Hope every year this benefit is for free :)
Thanks Ken for the news!
Monday, February 16, 2009 6:50 PM by steve tretakis
So your saying that that the 20% discount that I just took advantage of a week ago was pretty much me $300+ away? How is that supposed to me amke feel good about the program?
Monday, February 16, 2009 7:28 PM by Bruce Kobrin
What a pleasure! I asked for this on some survey we filled out. Wonderful!!
Monday, February 16, 2009 7:46 PM by Ken Talkington
Thanks for the Great work at getting a Real benefit (not that all were not) I know you have work hard to get things for MCTs and the powers to be put it down...but through your and all the MCTs...we made it. Thanks again
I am already a TNP subscriber and I assume that this will just be added on to my subscription and extend my just purchased 1 year sub to 2 years (as long as I remain a MCT)...of course if this were to contiune next year and so on; then what s the difference.
Truly Ken R. Thanks, no Thank you Very Very much for this!!!!
Monday, February 16, 2009 9:07 PM by Ratamahata
Wonderfully great!
MCT Benefits rocks! This really helps to dig deeper into what matter most to our students!
Monday, February 16, 2009 10:38 PM by Wilson
Wow I filled up a MCT survey last year and feedback on free Tech Net Plus, and my wish comes true at last.
Monday, February 16, 2009 11:59 PM by Ryan O Connell
WOW thanks Ken this is great and this without doubt will add value to all MCT Trainers. This rocks, again thanks to Microsoft as this realy does prove that they care about MCTs and all the hard work they do to achive there certifications. Once again thanks as this will realy add value.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 12:38 AM by Richard Muir
Well I just paid more money to save 20% for next years TechNet, but this is something I have always advocated for MCT S so that they may be proficient on the job and a great bonus.....MicroSoft Press because trainers learn best by teaching them selves through self paced training (lab work with the tools to do it with)!
Richard Muir MCSA,MCSE,MCT,LCNS.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:03 AM by Krosen
Credit where it s due, folks: Tjeerd Veninga--our MCT Community Lead--and our TechNet team are the ones who made this happen. (I just happened to point you guys to Tjeerd s blog entry :-))
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:59 AM by Michiel Miltenburg
I was just about to renew my Technet Subsription.
This is very good news.
I am gonna take a look at the e-ref.
Thanks
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:07 AM by Marcelo Santos
Great News!
I always expected that Technet will be in a near future a add-on to MCT program, and now this is a reality.
I will renew my MCT credential and push to the limit my knowledge efforts!
Marcelo.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:34 AM by Dan Swistak
Thank you Microsoft. A very very good decision. I have always felt that MCT s are a major asset to Microsoft. Keeping the tools in the shed sharp and ready is a good thing. Again, thank you Microsoft for the great decision.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:13 PM by Joseph Reyes
Thanks a lot Microsoft for including the free Technet Plus subscription.
It s a wonderful decision to help out MCTs get lots of information on the products that we deliver to the public.
I will take closer look at the e-Ref.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:50 PM by Jesse Schuchart
Thanks Ken and Tjeerd. You just gave me another great reason to renew!
Thanks for listening to us and taking our feedback.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:15 AM by Mohamed Lwila
Thank you very much about program , you give me power to renew my MCT program for this year and for ever ................
Regards
M.Lwila
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 8:36 AM by Egon Pramstrahler
Great news! Thank you for listening to the MCT community!
Kind regards
gon
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:43 PM by Hoangcongtrung
Thanks Microsoft, give me the information above.
Regards,
Thursday, February 19, 2009 4:50 AM by Ijaz Hafeez
Thank You Microsoft...
I have been buying Technet. It will be so good to get it as a part of the MCT program. Finally Microsoft has realised it needs to take care of the MCTs... after all we also promote Microsoft business. I will sure look at e-ref as well.
Yup I will be renewing.
Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:07 AM by Randel Hall
WOW! Thank you Microsoft. A long time coming.
This has been in my comment line from day one. MCT s are the active IT professionals that are demonstrating to the IT community the tools that Microsoft can offer. The ability for use to get the Documentation that we needed was a great step, VPC images to help with classroom setup was another great move, but this is a perfect trifecta. Now we have access to the software and tools needed.
Happy MCTing
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 1:54 PM by khumes
Getting Tech Net as a benefit is excellent. I subscribe and was just getting ready to renew. I am very excited to have it as part of my MCT benefits. Thank you.
Monday, March 02, 2009 12:14 PM by Rashid Jamac
All credits to Ken and Tjeerd not least whoever came with the idea for Tech Net Benefits which will encourage us "MCT s" to test Application and e-ref unfortunately I have already purchased mine early this year.
Once again on behalf of all MCT Thank you
Thursday, March 12, 2009 12:09 PM by Sassan Karai
My apology already in case I missed information on how to actually get the new Technet subscription. I have already re-enrolled my MCT status for 2009 and cant use the old code to get the Technet subscription any longer - are we supposed to get sign up codes via email - or will the subscription start automatically (which would be great)
Best regards
Sassan