MCT New and Renewing MCTs - Update May 29
Updated May 29 🚨 MCT Renewal Tool Launching Soon! 🚨 The MCT Renewal tool will be released very soon. To ensure a smooth renewal process, please make sure you meet the following requirements: ✅ You have an active certification ✅ You have taught at least one class since your last renewal If you don’t meet both criteria, you will not be able to renew. 🗓️ Important: All MCTs who were active prior to May 2024 have been automatically extended until August 1, 2025. 🆕 New MCT Enrollments: We are still accepting new enrollments manually. If you’re looking to become a new MCT, please work with an ISCP to get manually onboarded. 📢 Stay Informed: Monitor the MCT Lounge Program Announcements for updates on when the renewal tool is live.New Training Services Partner Onboarding Update
Hello new TSPs. We are currently updating the onboarding process to provide better communications around process and timing. While we work to update, please send me a private message if you have completed the onboarding form and you are currently waiting on a response. I anticipate this workaround to last for a few weeks and for us to have a new process in place in January. Once the update is complete and the normal process resumes, I will delete this thread. Thanks, DanCopilot Licenses and Evolution of Benefits Packages
Hi all, If you haven't already heard the news, Microsoft is making updates to the product licensing in benefits packages: partner.microsoft.com/en-US/blog/article/innovate-with-partner-benefits. This includes Copilot for Modern Work and Biz Apps benefits. What is changing? Beginning January 22, 2025, we are adding over 20 in-demand product licenses to our benefits packages. This includes game-changing Microsoft Copilot products, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft GitHub. These product licenses will be accessible in select partner benefits packages and Training Services Partner Solution Area designations. For information on changes by benefits package type, see our benefits transition walking deck. Additionally, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program benefits guide has been updated to include the upcoming license availability (starting on page 45). As part of this benefit transition, we are also announcing that Microsoft will no longer sell Microsoft Action Pack, Microsoft Learning Action Pack, or legacy silver / gold benefits starting January 22, 2025. We will continue to offer the three new benefit packages that were released in January 2024: Partner Launch Benefits, Partner Success Core Benefits, and Partner Success Expanded Benefits. These are optional benefits packages and not required to participate in the Training Services Partner (TSP) ecosystem. Timeline January 21, 2025: partners will be able to purchase or renew Action Pack or legacy silver / gold benefits through this date. All existing legacy benefits purchased on or before this date will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. January 22, 2025: new product licenses will be added to qualifying benefits packages. Existing Action Pack and legacy silver / gold benefits packages will not receive the new licenses. Next Steps Having a benefits package as a TSP is optional, but recommended. Aside from product licensing, partners receive Azure credit greater than the cost of the package. Additionally, Solutions Area partners have access to elevated badging and the customer-facing partner directory (coming soon). Partners may opt to participate in the TSP ecosystem with no benefits package. Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal date on or before January 21, 2025, have the ability to: renew legacy benefits for one more 12-month period and / or transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas (note: TSPs can simultaneously have all 3 options above) Partners looking to receive benefits who have an Action Pack or legacy silver / gold renewal data after January 21, 2025, have the ability to: transition to Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, or Partner Success Expanded benefits, available now and / or meet Solution Area badging requirements in one or more Microsoft Solution Areas Resources Familiarize yourself with the transition walking deck and updated benefits guide Review the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program FAQ Compare offerings across the Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, and Partner Success Expanded benefit packages Join the TSP Community Calls for additional information as it becomes available (August 28 th call invites are attached) Ask questions of other TSPs and Microsoft program managers via the Training Services Partner Forum We will continue to provide updates through our regular communication channels as we work towards January 2025 and beyond. As always, if you have any questions please reach out. Thanks for your support. DanUpdate on Credit Card Requirements for M365 Tenants
Update on a solution for credit card requirement issues on M365 tenants for the remaining courses: MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams Resolved. There should not be any further issues, and Trainers can continue with their deliveries. MS-721: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Fully resolved by Friday December 8 th . ALH’s are onboarding a new tenant solution for the course GitHub is being updated with new instructions to help resolve the issue. NOTE: Please reach out to your ALH to find out when you can resume utilizing the labs Thank you.NEW: MS-203 Retirement Update
The new retirement date for MS-203: Microsoft 365 Messaging will now be December 29th, 2023. We understand that the initial retirement date did not support future scheduled deliveries of this course, and we always strive to provide course retirements in a timely manner to allow for appropriate planning. Please continue to reach out with any questions you may have. Thank you!Challenges with the availability of Applied Skills Assessments for TSPs
Hi team. I’d like to raise a critical issue impacting TSPs concerning the Applied Skills Assessments. According to the latest Courseware Title Plan (tab 'Applied Skills Assessments'), 17 out of 31 non-retired Applied Skills Assessments are currently offline—more than 50%. For ILT providers, this presents a significant challenge, as these assessments are a vital component for students who opt for paid instructor-led training over the free Microsoft Learn-based alternatives. The unavailability of these assessments undermines the value of our ILT offerings. Students enrolling in these courses expect access to assessments to validate their knowledge. Without this, their incentive to choose a paid option diminishes, forcing us to reconsider offering these courses altogether. Key questions we need clarity on: Why have these assessments been taken offline? Why hasn’t this been proactively communicated to TSPs? Is there a timeline for their return? This lack of visibility and communication complicates planning and makes it harder for us to deliver a consistent, valuable experience to students. Clear updates and transparency on this issue would greatly help TSPs align with Microsoft’s strategy while ensuring student satisfaction. I’d appreciate hearing from others facing similar challenges and any insights from the team regarding next steps. Kind regards, Marnix WolfJuly V1 Title Plan out now!
Hello, everyone -- The July Monthly Title Plan V1 is attached to this forum. This Monthly Title Plan is also shared in: MPN Partner Portal Learning Resources page resources page for Training Services Partners MCT Lounge Tech community Lounge for MCTs Please ensure to download the PDF document also uploaded to this post. It will provide you with additional information for NEW ILT Courses, coming soon. See snapshot below: Thank you!May V1 Title Plan out now!
The Monthly Title Plan for May V1 is attached to this post. The Title Plan can also be found in the following locations: MPN Partner Portal Learning Resources page Resource page for Training Services Partners (Title Plan publishing takes 2-3 business days) MCT Lounge Brand-new lounge for MCTs Thank youNEW Copilot ILTs coming your way May & June!
UPDATE TO AI-3016! AI-3016 was marked incorrectly on the marketing slide below. This course will be offered as an Applied Skills Copilot ILT. The updated version has been shared below. _______________________________________________________ Note: Please click on image to view full-size. Thank youATTENTION DP-500 WILL BE RETIRING APRIL 30TH, 2024!!
DP-500 for ILT will be retiring on April 30th, 2024 Find out how certification and exam retirements make way for new opportunities. Microsoft Fabric—the all-in-one analytics solution that covers everything from data movement to data science—has enabled the role of enterprise data analyst to evolve into that of analytics engineer. As a result, effective April 30, 2024, we’ll retire the Microsoft Certified: Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate certification and Exam DP-500: Designing and Implementing Enterprise-Scale Analytics Solutions Using Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Power BI. Enterprise data analysts can now earn the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate certification by taking DP-600 and also passing Exam DP-600. Please see the blog posted on MS Learn for further information regarding this found here: Microsoft Credentials roundup: In-demand news for in-demand skills - Microsoft Community Hub Thank you!
