Becoming an MCP - The Foundation

It is a dream of mine that someday I’ll be adding a certificate to my resume befitting my status as an IT professional. It never came early in my career until three years ago while I’m already been in the industry for several years.

I’m a Computer Engineering graduate but sadly, we don’t have a licensure exam similar to those of other Engineering courses like ECE, EE, ME, ChE, IE and others. The reason for this is that many said that my course is a fast moving industry that in few months, the existing technology will no longer exist or becomes obsolete. Indeed, it’s partly true but in my humble opinion, the foundation will always be the basis of new technologies so therefore having an exam is an absolute effort that will manifest the credibility of a Computer Engineering graduate adding both the foundations and the contemporary ideals on that exam.

In its absence, we cannot consider ourselves as Engineers though some carry it to their business cards but not me, I am not resolute that I am worthy to be called one until I got the exams which companies and organizations build up to make a IT standard test to label me such a title.

For three years I became obsessed taking these exams to be known to the world that in my little effort and some overtime pay, I am indeed a master of my craft and consequently a slave of these organizations for paying them in dollars. But what I have become after these strenuous and painstaking exams is something I cannot toss away because my name is no longer plane and simple, beside it or below it are titles which I’m proud to say that yes I can prove to you that I can do the job with my years of experience plus this.

My very first achievement is passing my Windows XP Professional exam in October 2005 which gave me the title of MCP. By this time, I’m already a SNA with 8 years of experience in the IT industry. Many perceived that passing and getting the title is by merely reading thru books and reviewers, yes it’s 99 percent true but the remaining 1 percent is experience and that 1 part is the most important one…

Many managers are being blinded by acquiring personnel with this and that in their names but when it comes to providing support and expertise, those who are in the business without a title are still the best thinkers and support you could ever find. So when getting a person for a higher position in the IT industry, always keep in mind to get that person within your organization not just to build harmony in that section but to promote wise decision-making to your staff and build respect and confidence in you as a leader.

If you’ve been exposed to XP for quiet a bit, there’s no way you’ll fail this exam. It covers your daily administration job on workstations such as 2000 and XP. If you’re just a user, spend more time on administering the OS such as permissions, updates, apps deployment and installations. When I first start reviewing my materials, I learned a lot of new thing re XP so I became more productive because of these stuff that XP can do that was waiting for me to explore and implement in my job.

There’s always a shortcut to passing it by getting the latest or second best reviewers you can find but always keep in mind that learning is a process and whatever you get from it, keep it and ponder from it, never neglect the importance of sharing it with your clients and colleagues.

And when you’re decided and ready, then do a Google search or Yahoo search for testing centers near you, schedule the day and time and pay it. And pray! You’ll pass!