Celebrating 20 Years of Microsoft Certification!

Mark Protus, Microsoft Learning — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:34:00 GMT

This year is the 20^th Anniversary of the Microsoft Certified program. I’m really happy to announce the launch of 20 Years|20 Ways, a year-long effort to partner with our community of certified IT Pros and Developers throughout 2012. Through social cause and social media, we will encourage you celebrate 20 years with us by sharing your expertise, growing your career, and seeding the next generation. You can read the official announcement in our News Center.

Personally, I’m very excited to have a chance to work with all of you to celebrate this monumental event. I started my Microsoft career more than 21 years ago as part of Microsoft University – developing training and courseware for Windows 3.1 support professionals. I had the pleasure of working with a very scrappy and determined team as we introduced Microsoft Certification, competed against existing industry certifications, and helped to grow Microsoft Certified into the global standard that it is today.

For 20 Years|20 Ways, we hope to grow a whole new generation of certified professionals, who will start careers, create new ideas and industry innovations, and change the world over the next 20 years. We hope you can help us spread the word and seed the next generation by:

1. Telling your story. Inspire others by sharing your career story on our Facebook page and provide hope and a future to those who need it the most.

2. Participate in our exam donation to students. By upgrading your skills with a qualifying exam, Microsoft will donate an entry level exam to an aspiring student in need – and help them kick-start a new career in the IT industry.

3. Check out the NetHope Academy and the great work they are doing to provide technology, resources and training to countries around the world – and rebuild IT infrastructures in countries experiencing a natural disaster.

By working together as a community – I honestly believe we can change the world.

Born To Learn

Celebrating 20 Years of Microsoft Certification!