Accessing your MCID and Access Code (For Certiport Users)

After passing Microsoft Certified Professionals qualifying exams, you automatically become an MCP  and was given access to MCP site. Within 1 to 2 weeks, an email message from Microsoft will be sent to you containing instructions on how to access MCP along with your Microsoft Certification ID (MCID) and Access Code.

The email needs immediate attention as the Access Code is only valid up to 30 days. After the 30 days period, you might need to contact Microsoft Regional Center to request for a new one.

For whatsoever reasons, some candidates are reporting that they do not receive any email from Microsoft and therefore do not have a their MCP and Access Code.

For those who have obtained their MCP thru Certiport Exams (MTA and MOS) you may be able to have your MCP and Access code via your Certiport account.

Here are to steps from Certiport on how to Access your MCID. The Access Code initially sent to your email is also available just below where your access code can be found.

TO ACCESS YOUR MCID AND ACCESS CODE

Log in to the Certiport Website

1. Navigate to www.certiport.com and click Login. Log in using your Certiport Username and Password.

Obtaining your Microsoft Registration Information

2. Once logged in, access your Profile by clicking on My Profile.

 

 3. Click on the Programs tab to access your registration information.

4. Click on Edit Registration Data for the Microsoft program.

5. Locate your MC ID within the registration info.

Source: certiport.com

-Dexter Magalang

Retired MTA Exam Suggested Replacements

For those who are still confused on what to replace the retired MTA titles. Please see recommended replacements below.

Exam #	Exam Title	Retirement	Suggested Replacement
98-362	Windows Development	31-Jul-14	Software Dev Fundamentals
98-373	Mobile Dev Fundamentals	31-Jul-14	HTML5 App Dev Fundamentals
98-349	Windows OS	31-Jul-15	Mobility and Device Fundamentals
98-363	Web Development	31-Jul-15	HTML5 App Dev Fundamentals
98-372	.Net Fundamentals	31-Jul-15	Software Dev Fundamentals
98-374	Gaming Development	31-Jul-15	HTML5 App Dev Fundamentals
98-365	Windows Server Admin	31-Jul-16	Cloud Fundamentals
98-367	Security Fundamentals	31-Jul-16	N/A
98-379	SW Testing Fundamentals	31-Jul-16	N/A

Other MTA Exam Info:

Exam #	Exam Title	Info
98-364	Database Fundamentals	No Change
98-366	Networking Fundamentals	No CHange
98-368	Mobility and Device Fundamentals	New Title
98-369	Cloud Fundamentals	New Title

-Dexter Ray Magalang

Exam Retake Policy

1. General Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam retake policy
   1. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score on an exam the first time, the candidate must wait at least 24 hours before retaking the exam.
   2. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score the second time, the candidate must wait at least 14 days before retaking the exam a third time.
   3. A 14-day waiting period is also imposed for the fourth and fifth subsequent exam retakes. A candidate may not take a given exam any more than five times per year (12 months). This 12-month period starts the day of the fifth unsuccessful exam retake. The candidate is then eligible to retake the exam 12 months from that date. To take a given exam more than five times per year, a candidate must submit a request and obtain prior permission from Microsoft.
   4. If a candidate achieves a passing score on an exam, the candidate cannot take the exam again.
2. Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exam retake policy
   1. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score on an exam the first time, the candidate must wait 24 hours before retaking the exam.
   2. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score the second time, the candidate must wait seven days before retaking the exam a third time.
   3. A seven-day waiting period is imposed for each subsequent exam retake.
   4. A candidate may not take a given exam any more than five times per year (12 months). This 12-month period starts the day of the fifth unsuccessful exam retake. The candidate is then eligible to retake the exam 12 months from that date. To take a given exam more than five times per year, a candidate must submit a request and obtain prior permission from Microsoft.
   5. If a candidate achieves a passing score on an MTA exam, the candidate cannot take it again.
3. Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam retake policy
   1. Retake vouchers can only be used to retake the same exam that was failed.
   2. All vouchers must be used prior to their expiration dates, without exception.
   3. Retake vouchers must be used within 30 days of the initial failed exam.
   4. As of July 1, 2014, the retake policy changed to the following:
      1. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score on an exam the first time, the candidate must wait 24 hours before retaking the exam.
      2. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score the second time, the candidate must wait 48 hours before retaking the exam.
      3. A two-day waiting period is imposed for each subsequent exam retake.
      4. If a candidate achieves a passing score on an exam, the candidate may take it again.
4. MCP beta exam retake policy
   1. Beta exams may be taken only once.
   2. This policy supersedes the general retake policy.
5. Exam-specific retake policy exceptions
   1. In some cases, Microsoft may have special policies for specific exams.

   
   

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-exam-policies.aspx

Console 8 Update (V8.4) allows delivery of MTA and MCE

Console 8 Update (V8.4) allows delivery of MTA and MCE

In case you are still not aware, the latest version of Console 8 (v8.4) has now the ability to deliver Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams as well as the Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exam. MOS OneNote and SharePoint (2010 & 2013) are still delivered via online exam.

Version 8.4 also includes introduction of the LAN Solution feature which alleviates the internet load with respect to downloading updates in areas with limited bandwidth. The feature was released August 17 and allow CATCs greater flexibility with downloading updates by designating a specific computer in their lab (or network) to act as the server, which will facilitate the distribution of content updates to the other workstations via the CATC's own LAN, as opposed to using internet bandwidth per workstation. Additional information regarding this feature can be found here.

Previous Release Enhancements and Fixes

Console 8.3.5.1 Release Configuration:

This release will also be an optional update, but highly recommended that all Certiport Authorized Testing Centers take this update at their earliest convenience. A new Console 8 installer will not be provided for this release.

The 8.3.5.1 release includes the following enhancements and fixes:

This maintenance release address an issue where multiple MOS 2010 tiles would appear on the “Product Selection” screen. This fix allows the deploy MOS 2010 exams (MAS Compliant versions) without impacting iQsystem with these deploys. The Pending MOS 2010 exams in these languages can now be released. Additionally the following enhancements/issues were also addressed:

·         Issue that may prevent updating services from downloading the latest available files.

·         The “Register” and “Cannot access my account” always going to English pages instead of the appropriate localized page.

·         Driver and Renderer (DnR) performance enhancements and stability improvements (Note: These improvements only effect the GS3 & GS4 exams available in Console 8):

o   Removal of SQL Lite dependency.

o   Removed most dependencies of IIS Express, but still needed for now.

o   Simplified installer – reduced size and added flexibility in deployment.

Console 8.3.5 Release Configuration:

This release will be an optional update, but highly recommended that all Certiport Authorized Testing Centers take this update at their earliest convenience. A new Console 8 installer will not be provided for this release.

The 8.3.5 release includes the following enhancements and fixes:

·         Improved performance when logging into Console 8 and through the select exam pathway.

·         Improved stability of “Update Services” in low-bandwidth and unreliable regions. This was improved by:

o   Adding support for resuming downloads via “Update Services”.

o   Fixing issue where download failures could occur when bandwidth is less than 768k.

o   Adding support for importing and exporting of updated items. These can now be stored on a media device such as a USB drive and shipped to locations where updating via web is not a viable option. Click here for more information.

·         Addressed issue with MOS 2013 where a 0 score result upload is possible although the exam had scored items.

(source: www.certiport.com)

-Dexter Magalang

Console 8 MTA Update and AntiVirus Program

Console 8 MTA Update and AntiVirus Program

Date: 9/2/2015
Subject: Console 8 update for MTA exams
Issue: MTA Update detected as worm
Other details: Avast AntiVirus
Resolution: Disable Antivirus during update

While working with one of our CATC yesterday, I have noticed that update for MTA on Console 8 stops at specific point and returns a network connection error. I asked assistance from their network admin to trace on communication logs and found that their network antivirus was detecting some of the updates from certiport server as a potential threat (worm).

To be able to continue the update, we decided to turn off the network antivirus. After the antivirus was turned off, the update was successfully completed. After the process, we decided to set the unit as Console Server.

When trying to update Console Clients, the same issue was experienced, the update stops and returns a network connection error. This time, it was Avast antivirus that was blocking the updates. The update was downloaded successfully after Avast was temporarily disabled, however during installation of the update, Avast continuously prompts that a threat was detected pertaining to the MTA updates.

A notification was already sent to Certiport regarding the issue, and they have confirmed that this was a false positive

-Dexter Magalang

What am I doing?

What is this blog all about?

I decided to have this blog in order to easily find and share IT related issues that I was informed or encountered. I will not be posting everything under the I.T. world, this blog will focus on IT matters that are related or somehow related and  affects that of my field of work.

Specifically, what am I planning to post in here?

This blog may include but is not limited to the following:

     1. MOS and MTA Certification

          - General Exam Info

          - Updates and changes

     2. Certiport Programs

          - Announcements

          - Certification Exams

     3. CATC Concerns

          - General Info

          - Announcements / News / Updates

          - Certification Exam Software (Console 8)

          - FAQ

     4. MS Office and Windows

          - General Info

          - Announcements / News / Updates

     5. Other IT Related Issues

          - Announcements / News / Updates

          - Problems and Fixes

          - Software that I find helpful

Hopefully this could help others that are working on things related to the subjects specified above.

For comments, suggestions, violent reactions (meron agad?) you may contact me at dexterray.magalang@gmail.com

-Dexter Ray Magalang