11/28/2007 -- The Microsoft Learning Group on Monday said it has made some incremental improvements to the benefits package that it issues to those who achieve Microsoft Certified Professional status. According to a press release issued by the company, improvements include better access to troubleshooting information online, better transcript management and quicker updates to certification information.

The key benefit is broader access to Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and technical support information that was previously only accessible to Microsoft Partners and those who earned the Most Valuable Professional designation.

Microsoft Learning has also made improvements in the Transcript Manager and Certification Manager, updating the information within days of passing a test or completing certification requirements. Transcripts can also be downloaded in .XPS or Adobe .PDF formats, with certificates bearing the same design online as the one that gets mailed to new titleholders. Microsoft has also added a global member directory that's searchable.

The group said that benefits package improvements were done in anticipation of the new exams and credentials that will follow the release of Windows 2008 in February next year. The improvements also follow in step with several changes that have taken place over the months, such as a new exam retirement policy announced at the end of last year, and the change to a single test provider earlier this summer.

To date, Microsoft has issued MCP certificates to 2.2 million people worldwide. To read more, click here. -- Michael Domingo, Courtesy of MCPmag.com