Microsoft Certification Program benefits and member sites

Learn about the benefits of the Microsoft Certification Program. Find answers to frequently asked questions regarding program benefits, member site access, and Microsoft accounts.

Program benefits

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Microsoft Certification is an industry standard that is recognized worldwide. After you earn your Microsoft Certification, you have access to a number of benefits, which can be found on the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) member site.

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Individuals who have passed a Microsoft exam have access to the member sites.

On the site, you will find:

  • A downloadable version of your certificate (you can order a printed copy); MOS members will need their Certiport login information

  • Your official Microsoft Certification downloadable transcript, access to the transcript-sharing tool, and access to the IT Certification Council (ITCC) site, where you can create an industry-wide transcript

  • A tool to create and download certification logos

  • Your contact preferences and profile

  • A link to the MCP eStore

  • Your Certification Planner

  • A sign up for the MCP Flash newsletters

  • Promotional offers and additional services

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Charter Members are the pioneering group of individuals who achieve a certification within six months following the retail release date of the certification. (People who pass the beta exams will receive the Charter certificate after the certification is commercially released.) Charter Members are recognized by being given the Charter version of the certificate acknowledging their early adoption of the technology solution. The Charter version of the certificate includes the word "Charter."

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If you have any of the following certifications, you are eligible for the Charter certificate: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM), or Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD). Exceptions include those certifications that are released when the technology covered is no longer the latest version of the technology. These include the MCSA: Windows 7, the MCSA: SQL Server 2008, and the MCSA: Windows Server 2008.

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You can digitally download or order your Charter certificate at any point after it is earned.

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The six-month "clock"’ start time is based on the earliest time the certification can be earned, which is typically based on English-language exam availability. For example, if an exam is available in German two months after the English version is available, the German candidate has only four more months to earn a Charter certificate.

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Through this initiative, Microsoft convenes a coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations that are interested in contributing expertise, cash, and in-kind resources to help U.S. veterans and their spouses build the skills and access the resources that they need to be successful in today's workforce.

Learn more about this benefit

Accessing the member site

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The MCP member site is available if you have passed a Microsoft qualified exam. The MCT member site is open only to those individuals who have earned an MCT certification. The MOS member site is open only to those individuals who hold a Microsoft Office certification on products such as Microsoft Office Excel and Office Word.

Sign in to the MCP member site
Sign in to the MCT member site
Sign in to the MOS member site
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After you pass your first Microsoft Certification exam, you will receive a welcome email message outlining the steps needed to gain access to the member sites. Please check your junk folder to ensure that the automatic email message is not blocked by your spam filter. Here are the instructions you will receive in the email message.

  • Create a Microsoft account if you don’t already have one.

  • On your first visit, click on the link provided in the email and use your Microsoft account to log in to the MCP member site. Note This must be done within 90 days of receiving the email to meet security requirements.

    • In some cases, you may be required to enter your Microsoft Certification ID (MC ID) and temporary access code, which will be supplied in the email message.

    • On future visits, log in to the MCP member site using the same Microsoft account.

  • For assistance, go to Microsoft training and certification help.

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Your MC ID is shown in your welcome email as well as in the profile information on the member site. If you are unable to access the member site, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center for assistance.

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An access code is a unique code that allows first-time access to the Microsoft Certification member sites and, if required, is provided in your welcome email. You can only use the access code to sign in to the member sites for the first time. If you misplace your code or it has retired, you can request a new code online, or contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center for assistance.

Using the member site

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After you register, you must wait 24 hours before accessing your program benefits.

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If you cannot remember the Microsoft account information associated with your account, or you have other difficulty accessing the member sites, contact the Microsoft Regional Service Center in your area.

Note If you have a Hotmail account, MSN email account, or Microsoft Passport, it is your Microsoft account.

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Because online benefits are available only to eligible Microsoft Certification Program members, you must enter your Microsoft account credentials to access your online benefits. After your account is authenticated, you will be redirected to the page you are trying to access.

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You are required to use your legal name for the MCP, MCT, and MOS sites. The Microsoft Personal Profile is associated with your Microsoft account.

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To update your legal name, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.

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You can update your Microsoft Personal Profile in the Profile Center.

To change the name that is associated with your Microsoft Certification ID (formerly, MCP ID), contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.

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It can take up to 48 hours for changes in your profile to appear on your Microsoft Certification transcript. Check your transcript later to verify that your email address has been updated.

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After you update your Personal Profile, a message is sent to the email address noted in your profile. For the changes to be saved, you must follow the instructions in the email message to confirm the update. Otherwise, the email address in your profile will be removed because it has not been confirmed.

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Follow the MCP logo guidelines to correctly promote your relationship with Microsoft and to protect the integrity of the logos. You must sign in to the MCP, the MCT or the MOS member site in order to access these guidelines.

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Logos are available for download from the MCP, MCT, or MOS member site.

To download your logos:

Sign in to the MCP member site
Sign in to the MCT member site
Sign in to the MOS member site
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The test that you passed might not qualify you to print that specific logo. If you believe this is an error, contact the Microsoft Regional Service Center.

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Contact the Microsoft Regional Service Center.

Microsoft account and Profile Center

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Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) enables you to simply use your email address and password to sign in. After you create your Microsoft account, you can access all Microsoft account sites and services. If you already have an MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger, or Passport account, it is your Microsoft account.

Learn more about Microsoft account.

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Yes. You can sign up for a Microsoft account now. You will not be able to enter the MCP, the MOS, or the MCT member site without one.

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If you cannot remember the Microsoft account that you used to access the MCP, the MOS, or the MCT member site, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center for assistance.

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If your Microsoft account is unused for one year, your Microsoft account may expire, and you may need to reestablish a Microsoft account.

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Log in to the member site and, under the My Profile section, click “Edit your Microsoft Account profile.”

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Update the following information to ensure that you receive communications from Microsoft:

  • Your contact preferences: Specify whether you want to receive promotional information about Microsoft products, services, and events.

  • Your personal information: View, add, or edit your personal contact information, such as your email address, business or personal address, and phone numbers.

  • Your business information: View, add, or edit information about your job and your organization so that we can personalize content and recommend materials that match your job, organization, or industry.

  • Your technology preferences: View, add, or edit information about your technology interests so that we can personalize content and recommend materials that match your interests.

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You are under no obligation to receive email messages from Microsoft. However, if you indicate that you do not want to receive communications from Microsoft through email, you cannot receive e-newsletters, such as the MCP Flash and MCT Flash. These communications provide up-to-date information on changes in training and certification resources, such as discontinued exams, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) benefits, and special offers.

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Visit the Microsoft Profile Center to indicate that you want to receive email messages from Microsoft.

  1. Sign into the Microsoft Profile Center to view and update your profile

  2. Click My Contact Preferences, located on either the Profile Center home page (shown above) or on the left-hand side of the page (shown below). Select E-Mail Address, and then click Save.

    Note You can always unsubscribe from selected e-newsletters. However, if you do not select the E-Mail Address option, Microsoft cannot send you any information by email, including product notifications and news.

  3. Sign-up for e-newsletters: Select Manage Subscriptions on the left-hand side of the page. Check all of the subscriptions that you want to receive, and then click Subscribe. You can also unsubscribe from publications.

Accessing your transcript

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Access your transcript from one of these sites:

Sign in to the MCP member site
Sign in to the MCT member site
Sign in to the MOS member site

Under the section called Transcript, click on the link called View, or download your Microsoft transcript.

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Microsoft offers a tool called Transcript Sharing, which can be accessed from the home page of the member sites. Under the section called Transcript, click the link called Share your Microsoft Transcript.

You will be asked to create an Access Code (which can be changed at any time) and given a Transcript ID. You will then provide these two codes to your selected audience, along with the following URL:

https://mcp.microsoft.com/authenticate/validatemcp.aspx
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Microsoft has worked with the IT Certification Council (ITCC), along with other industry certification providers, to provide MCPs with the opportunity to create one transcript across providers. Under the Transcript section of the home page of the member site, click Create a multi-vendor transcript. You will then be asked to provide your transcript sharing codes. The transcript sharing code can be found by clicking Share your transcript.

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If you cannot print or access your transcript, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.

To ensure a prompt response:

  • Use the email address associated with your Microsoft Certification ID (MC ID), if possible.

  • Have your Microsoft Certification ID number available.

  • If you do not know your Microsoft Certification ID, have other information available, such as your address, telephone number, exam numbers, and completion dates.

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It can take up to two weeks for Microsoft to receive and process your exam records. If it has been more than two weeks since you took your exam, and the results still do not appear on your transcript, or if you notice any other problems, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.