A Deal for MCTs

MCTs Achieve Certified Technical Trainer Status

Last August, Novell announced a new program that grants Certified Technical Trainer (CTT) status to Certified Novell Instructors (CNIs) who became certified before January 1, 1997. The Chauncey Group, a division of Educational Testing Service (ETS), developed the program in 1996 "to help define and establish professional standards throughout the technical training industry." CNIs who obtained certification between January 1, 1997, and May 31, 1999, can take the CTT written exam for $100 (a savings of $50) to achieve CTT status.

When I read the announcement, I wondered whether Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) could get a similar deal. Well, I have an answer. Last week, Microsoft and the Chauncey Group announced a new partnership initiative. Under this agreement, anyone who obtained MCT status before January 1, 1997, is automatically eligible for CTT status. Those who obtained MCT certification between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1999, can become CTT certified if they pass the written CTT exam at the discounted price by June 1, 2000.

If you obtained MCT status before January 1997, call the Chauncey Group at 800-258-4914 to determine whether you made the list of MCTs that qualify for automatic CTT status. I called and found out that I wasn't on the list. I followed the Chauncey representative's advice and faxed a copy of my official transcript, but he has yet to send me a confirmation of my CTT status. I called back and faxed my transcript again, and perhaps—if Chauncey and Microsoft can get their acts together—I’ll be a CCT by the time you read this.

If you're not one of the fortunate MCTs grandfathered into the program, I recommend that you take the written exam to qualify as a CTT. Unfortunately, there isn't much information available about the exam's content. I wasn't able to find the exam course book, "Instructor Competencies: The Standards" (ISBN 881326-03-9) at my favorite online booksellers. It looks like we'll have to go to the Chauncey Group to get it. Although one reader characterized it as "an absolutely horrible book," it apparently contains all the competencies you need to master to obtain CTT certification.

The following online resources can help you pass the CTT exam:

More Free Training Resources from Microsoft
Each time I visit the Microsoft Web site, I'm amazed by the growing number of free training opportunities I find. I've highlighted many such opportunities in recent columns, and I have a few more to report this week.

Course 1626: Deploying Microsoft Office 2000 Using Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 follows Microsoft's self-paced training model. Course objectives include:

A number of prerequisites apply. Before taking the course, you should be able to

The self-paced course is divided into seven chapters:
Chapter 1: Overview of Microsoft Office 2000
Chapter 2: Installing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
Chapter 3: Configuring the Systems Management Server 2.0 Site
Chapter 4: Generating Office 2000 Readiness Reports
Chapter 5: Selecting an Installation Type
Chapter 6: Deploying Office 2000
Chapter 7: Removing SMS 2.0 from a Site

You can read the course objectives and download the course, a 3.6MB file.

Course 140: Deploying and Customizing Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit, which is also self-paced, covers product features, installation and configuration procedures, and deployed software management. Course objectives include:

In addition, Microsoft designed the course to assist students in their efforts to prepare for MCP Exam 70-080: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5, which is still in development.

The course is divided into six chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 5
Chapter 2: Customizing Connection Manager with the Connection Manager Administration Kit
Chapter 3: Preparing to Run the Customization Wizard
Chapter 4: Running the Customization Wizard
Chapter 5: Deploying Internet Explorer 5
Chapter 6: Managing the Deployed Configuration

Visit the Microsoft Web site to review course objectives and to download the 2.8MB course file.