The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant

The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLS) is an interesting certification. It is not one that directly involves taking a test and earning an MCT: MCLC or MCITP – in fact it doesn’t exist. This is a certification you earn by providing learning consultative expertise to a client(s). Where your role is more that of a technology training consultant – where you diagnose current and desired business performance and design learning solutions to bridge the learning gap.* The few sales people I have worked with over the years have little to no clue about the actual classes they are selling – they are only interested in getting enrollments and are not concerned about the needs of their customers (as one sales person I knew was caught saying to a customer – “um, like um, we have these, um programming classes – you interested?”). They sell classes to customers without knowing what the class offers nor do they know the customer’s needs when it comes to training. They expect the poor trainer to make up the slack as they laugh all the way to the bank with their commissions. Now I have met some real sharp sales people in the last year and these I applaud! How do you go about getting your MCLC? There are several steps one must go through – first off you must hold your MCT. You are providing information to a client regarding their learning requirements and who better to provide this information than the ones who teach the classes? Then you must submit a case study – showing how you played a lead consultative role in developing a training and learning plan for their customer. They must demonstrate four required competencies: Assessment, Design, Development and Evaluation. Your case study will go before a review board along with a letter from the client (extolling your virtues of course). Assuming all goes well, you will earn your MCLC by doing what we do best – helping our customers succeed! This certification really highlights the knowledge and skills of the MCT community. We have the direct interaction with our students/customers and from this learn what it is they may need. * http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mclc/default.mspx