Microsoft Going Green... digital is free, paper certs you will have to pay for

[mschapv2]

So I received my MCP Flash newletter today and read the following information. Has anyone else heard about this?

In accordance with the Microsoft Environmental Initiative, Microsoft Learning's goals are to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and products and to be a leader in environmental responsibility. To reduce the company's carbon footprint, we are transitioning from traditional paper to digital Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certificates. Orders for MCP Certification Welcome Kits will discontinue on June 30, 2009. After that, if you require a paper certificate, you may order one beginning July 7, 2009, through the MCP member Web site. There will be a shipping and handling fee associated with your order.

Link: http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/2009/...cates-are-here

I can see them wanting to "save the environment" but come on, a digital cert, how much is that really going to save them? True you can still order a paper cert and pay shipping and handling, does that mean the cost of the exam is going to be lower? I've always thought the paper certs from microsoft and the id wallet cards from the welcome kits were something really professional looking, something I could hang up and display on my wall and always looked forward to receiving them in the mail.

[BosonMichael]

Weak!!

Well... at least they're still keeping the exam costs low. However, that's probably the next thing to change.

[Beoweolf]

No more lapel pins, no more wallet card with your Full certifications listed and now, no more Paper certificates either - everything is online - or - you can download them and spend your own dime on paper, ink and a decent printer. However, fees have risen - its now $125 USD for a regular exam, the best discount vouchers have been limited to somewhere around 15% - 20% max, unless its Microsoft sponsored promotional (of course Dream works promotions are not included - those are where High schooler’s are offered even deeper discounts on exams, books and software).

I don’t know about the rest of you guys, but I like my Wall paper, my lapel pins and wallet card…I get all warm ‘n fuzzy looking at them. Besides, as they say on the exam results “keep your documentation, just in case there is a dispute in the future.”

With only Prometric administering the exams and culling of exam sites, there is not much competition for your exam dollar nor incentive for Microsoft to give a break to the struggling candidate anymore. Ever get the feeling that your loyalty is misplaced; not reciprocated? Might as well get used to our new designations as the Official open wallet to the world. Less filling - and less calories, higher price … What’s not to like?

Funny how Colleges are still issuing "real" diplomas, even the "greenest" students want to bring something home to Mom 'n Dad ... have something to show for the tuition, room and board, long nights studying, nights wasted with your nose in a dusty manual, paper cust from pages pressed into your cheek ... drunken bacchanals in far off places.

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by Beoweolf

However, fees have risen - its now $125 USD for a regular exam...

It's been $125 for years... since Jan 4, 2002, in fact.

Originally Posted by Beoweolf

With only Prometric administering the exams and culling of exam sites, there is not much competition for your exam dollar...

Sure there is. There's always CompTIA and Cisco. That said, I don't believe Cisco's sending out free certificates anymore either.

Originally Posted by Beoweolf

Ever get the feeling that your loyalty is misplaced; not reciprocated?

Once upon a time, Microsoft gave every MCP a free year subscription to TechNet. How do you think we felt after they took THAT away?!?

Originally Posted by Beoweolf

Funny how Colleges are still issuing "real" diplomas

For a multi-year program that costs tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars? It'd better. This is a $125 exam that takes hours, not years. Can't compare them.

All that said, I also liked the wallet card and actual certificates. I ordered six Welcome Kits just this week to get caught up before they cancel the program.

[Beoweolf]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

It's been $125 for years... since Jan 4, 2002, in fact.



Sure there is. There's always CompTIA and Cisco. That said, I don't believe Cisco's sending out free certificates anymore either.



Once upon a time, Microsoft gave every MCP a free year subscription to TechNet. How do you think we felt after they took THAT away?!?



For a multi-year program that costs tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars? It'd better. This is a $125 exam that takes hours, not years. Can't compare them.

All that said, I also liked the wallet card and actual certificates. I ordered six Welcome Kits just this week to get caught up before they cancel the program.

...I remember that program, free technet subscription ... it was a good deal for both MS as well as the Tech. Gave you chance to play with technology, even if your company was ready to pay for your subscription or use the products.... Ahhh - the good ol' days

The issue isn't the actual cost increase. It’s the lame, questionable justification; As well as regional disparity. Most of the message was playful indignation at the cost of my favorite villian slash livilihood.

If a company wants or needs to increase its fees, then do it. In the end, the consumer will make a decision as to whether or not - it’s worth it to him. I was a little put off when we first had to request our welcome kits, but it wasn't that big a deal. Now that they making it fee-based; it is a deal, maybe not a "Big deal" but a deal none the less. You even admit that getting in under the wire is a priority. If I had to make a bet; I would think that even the most jaded MCSE secretly harbors some affection for those little tokens. I'v been taking exams, in one form or another for my entire career. If it wasn't main frame, it was microsoft or some other vendor. I still keep my little bood of certs. In some odd way, they comfort me.

Taken in total, my previous message supports that conclusion. For me, we are still below the "unbearable pain/cost threshold" which would cause me to not take an exam or upgrade a certification ... matter of fact, in some ways increasing the cost of each exam should cut down on "fishing" for certifications. My pet term for people that take an exam over and over, until they finally learn just enough to pass, without investing too much time in OJT, Training, or any of the other bothersome little obstacles.

Yes there are years of time and thousands of dollars invested in getting an academic degree, might there not be a minor equivalence in maintaining your MCSE from NT through 2000, 2003 2008, not only has the number of exams increased over time, hopefully the difficulty, security as well as familarity with more products seems to have increased.

The point about cost of exams; As I mentioned, in past, it was usually possible to get a substantial discount either by catching a time limited voucher (the more vouchers a seller purchased, the lower the unit cost for each exam). If a vendor overestimated how many vouchers he could sell, he lost money - like when an airline sends a flight out 1/2 empty; it will still cost the same for fuel, labor, landing fees, etc, whether the jet is full or empty. It better to sell it a reasonable or even a deep discount than just eat the cost. With just one exam provider, it’s better for the provider, not exactly a benefit for the frugal candidate.

In the past I help Checkpoint certifications, from FW-1 through AI-NG ; until their cost for and frequency of exams exceeded their value in the market. I still think they have a fantastic product, but it cost more to keep current than it was worth.

Bottom line, in the grand scheme of things a piece of paper to hang on the wall may not be valuable, it still signifies a lot to those that earn it. A little recognition, as a token or reward, doesn't have to be worth a lot to have meaning.

[Triton.Deep]

-takes a deep breah-

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

-another deep breath-

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHA

Microsoft: We're going green to help our environment and will no longer print paper certificates unless of course you manually go and buy them from us.

Come on, someone else has to chuckle at that. Cisco is going green to, now all of their switchs, routers, and firewalls will be green. *chuckles*

Why can't they just be honest? "It's cheaper for us, nothing personal; we still love you guys."

J.

[Chuzpah]

I noticed this in my newsflash as well. I always thought it was kind of cool to receive a welcome kit with my MS printed certificate. Online certificates remind me of Brainbench.

[mschapv2]

After passing 70-646 exam it finally showed up on my transcript. I was curious on the price to order a hard copy - paper certificate. Total price for me is: $10.55 USD, in case anyone is curious.

[escaleraroyal]

they went go gree since july 2009 and I got my mcp in 2008. I called them today and i didnt know i had to order my order kit and asked if i could still get it for free. The guy on the phone told me they stop the production of the wallet card so they can't send me the kit for free unless i pay the shipping and handling cost. What a joke...l

[Tinus1959]

Originally Posted by escaleraroyal

they went go gree since july 2009 and I got my mcp in 2008. I called them today and i didnt know i had to order my order kit and asked if i could still get it for free. The guy on the phone told me they stop the production of the wallet card so they can't send me the kit for free unless i pay the shipping and handling cost. What a joke...l

See the bright side on this: Your knowledge does not come with a wallet card, does it? I have been MCP now for 13 years and never was asked to show my card. It does not give that much benefit, the card that is. The rest of the plus-es stay the same.