MCLC: Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant

What does an IT Professional who wishes to enter into a consultative agreement with your customers? The easiest way of doing that is by building a brand name for yourselves. That you can do by earning a Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant. One step ahead of MCT in the value chain of training, if you are an MCLC, then you would in all probabilities be breaking your heads troubleshooting business issues and analyzing and fixing business requirements.

For you to get certified with an MCLC Certification, you would need to fit in the consulting brand of business. Unlike most of the other Microsoft Certifications, to get an MCLC Certificate you do not need to give any examination. But you do not get it for free, do you? You are required to submit an amalgamation of your Assessing, Designing, Developmental and Evaluation skills though a case study. Testing almost all the areas of your IT wizardry, it requires you to do this case study with one of your clients. Obviously, the case study must at the end provide tangible benefits to the customer's business.

Needless to say, you can become an MCLC only if you are a Microsoft Certified Trainer. So, if you wish to enter the consulting business with a bag and desire the MCLC Certification, do make sure that you have the MCT Certification ready. To earn your MCT Certification, you need to ensure that you pass one of the Microsoft Certification courses. Doing that would justify that you possess the technical skills as a Trainer to train a batch of students. You would do well to understand that if you have got an MOS Certification, you will not be able to train students on .NET Technologies which means that you can start training on a module which correlates to your certification module.

Getting an Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant Certification can be as easy of these three steps, but for my reader's understanding, I am telling you only two steps in points:

  • First, get your MCT Certification. As said earlier, your Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant Certification application will be null and void till you have a MCT Certification
  • Second, submit your case study on the lines of Assess, Design, Develop and Evaluate. Any experience in consulting aided by development and designing will stand your application in good stead.

This prestigious certificate is valid only for a duration of two years from the date of issue. After the two years, you are required to submit a new Consultative Service Case Study to the MCLS review board which will be appropriately reviewed and approved within 90 days of receipt of all the documents. If you are found of violating any of Microsoft/MCLC programs terms and conditions, your MCLC certification will be revoked not by choice.

Get on the consulting bandwagon, and drive your wagon. Be an MCLC.