Software Partner Training and Certification FAQ

Transcription

1 Software Partner Training and Certification FAQ November 2017 NOTE: The former software division of Hewlett Packard Enterprise is now part of Micro Focus. The Micro Focus partner ecosystem now includes former Hewlett Packard Enterprise Software partners. Until Fall of 2018 both partner programs will continue to operate separately as the Micro Focus Partner Program and the Software Partner Program. This document applies to the Software Partner Program Distributor Channel and as such all references to Software contained herein are aligned to the Software Partner Program. Channel Partner Use Only

2 Contents Q1: What is new starting November?... 3 Q2: What remains the same?... 3 Q3: What kind of training is available?... 3 Q4: What does the Software Certification Path look like?... 3 Q5: What is the difference between Software Enablement provided certifications and certifications provided by the Software Education Organization?... 4 Q6: What does the Presales Technical Certification (PTC) stand for?... 4 Q7: What if I want to learn and get certified with delivery, installation and configuration technical content?... 4 Q8: What about existing ATP, AIS, ASE and MASE certifications?... 4 Q9: When will current certifications expire?... 5 Q10: Are all certifications free of charge?... 5 Q11: Where can I view all available certifications?... 5 Q12: Where can partners see which certifications they have earned?... 5 Q13: How do I access the Software Training and Certification Process?... 5 Q14: In order to get certified with this process, do I have to take the corresponding courses to pass the exam? Q15: How do I print a certificate to show I am certified? Q16: How do I register for the new Software Partner Community? Q17: Will all my certifications move with me to the new Software Partner Community? Q18: I have changed employers. What happens to my learning history? Q19: What is a Learner ID and where can I find it? Channel Partner Use Only 2

3 Q1: What is new starting November? A: Software Partners will access all their training and certification needs for requirements within the Software Partner Program via the newly introduced Micro Focus Software Partner Community (SPC). This new SPC is part of the introduction of our simplified business processes and application architecture referred to as FAST (Future Architecture for Software Transformation. Q2: What remains the same? A: Besides the new access and click-path via the new portal the process as well as Sales Certifications (SC) and Presales Technical Certifications (PTC) introduced back in May and September of 2017 remain unchanged. Q3: What kind of training is available? A: If you are a new hire, there is the Partner Onboarding Program which is a customized enablement journey designed to equip you with the product training, program information, and tools expertise that you need for sales success. The program provides 30-day and 60-day learning paths based on your role and product specialization. If you are looking for ongoing training and enablement use The Partner Readiness Roadmap which offers you quarterly updates on our latest products, solutions, and technologies. It allows you to view recommended learning for the current quarter and instantly access offerings. Learner training plans are categorized by Business Unit, role, and offering type. Enablement offering types include self-paced training, live events, and valuable new assets. The Readiness Roadmap is easy and intuitive to use: 1. Access the Partner Readiness Roadmap. 2. Click on the Business Unit (BU) tab that you are interested in: ITOM, ADM, Security, IM&G, or Big Data. 3. Select Sales or Technical. 4. View and select the offerings. If you are looking for foundational knowledge for a particular solution go to the Partner Foundational Program. The program offers a structured learning path to ensure you are equipped with the complete product and solution knowledge needed for your role, including market insights, pain points, personas, discovery conversations, technical presentations, demos and more. For each Software Business unit (BU), the program offers: Level 100 Sales Certifications (SC) Level 200 Solution-focused foundational training Level 300 Presales Technical Certifications (PTC) with required and supplemental training You can access all these training offerings via the new Software Partner Community (SPC). Click on Knowledge tab, then click on Training and Certification. Further details on how to access can be found in the corresponding question (Q13) in this document. Q4: What does the Software Certification Path look like? A: The Presales Technical Certifications (PTCs) and Sales Certifications (SCs) introduced in 2HFY17 are the only requirements needed to obtain credits toward the Software Partner Program. The PTCs will coexist with any technical certifications the partner has already obtained. Certifications obtained via Software Education will also count towards receiving program credit. The following slide provides a summary overview. Channel Partner Use Only 3

4 Q5: What is the difference between Software Enablement provided certifications and certifications provided by the Software Education Organization? A: The Enablement Organization is providing Sales Certifications (SCs) and Presales Technical Certifications (PTCs) across the whole Software Portfolio. These SCs and PTCs are the only requirements needed for a partner to obtain credits towards the Software Partner Program. Training and exams for these certifications are free of charge*. Software Education offers certifications for selected Software products only. These certifications are at the delivery, installation and configuration level and are also accepted for meeting Software Partner Program requirements. Software Education offerings come at a cost. More details can be found on their website. *with the exception of Big Data PTCs that have two courses at a cost Q6: What does the Presales Technical Certification (PTC) stand for? A: The Presales Technical Certifications (PTCs) are appropriate for Presales Technical Consultants. This level validates the partner has the foundational skills to provide technical consulting work with customers in selling Software products and solutions. It confirms the partner understands the value to the business and can provide technical support along the sales process and specifically in sales presentations, product demonstrations, and customer training. The PTCs are eligible towards partners technical requirements within the Software Partner Program. Q7: What if I want to learn and get certified with delivery, installation and configuration technical content? A: Delivery installation and configuration certifications for selected Software products are being offered via the Software Education Organization page. For more details please see the Software Education FAQ on that same website. Q8: What about existing ATP, AIS, ASE and MASE certifications? A: When you are certified with an ATP, AIS, ASE and MASE you will still receive credit towards the Software Partner Program based on the specific partner program certification criteria guide for your region. However these certifciations are no longer available to take through the legacy HPE Certification & Learning website. Channel Partner Use Only 4

5 Q9: When will current certifications expire? A: Currently held certifications are valid based on the specific partner program certification criteria guide for your region. For more details please contact the regional partner program team. AMS APJ EMEA - software.partner@microfocus.com Q10: Are all certifications free of charge? A: The SCs for all BUs and PTCs for ITOM/ADM/Security and IM&G are free of charge. Only PTCs for Big Data Platform have two training course requirements that partners will still need to fund: Big Data Platform: Vertica Essentials 8.x - Instructor-Led or Virtual Classroom IDOL Essentials 11.x- Instructor-Led or Virtual Classroom or Self-Study These courses are provided by the Software Education Organization. The cost and price can be found via the links above on the Software Education page. Q11: Where can I view all available certifications? A: You can view all available Sales Certifications (SC) and Presales Technical Sales Certifications (PTC) on the Partner Foundational Training and Certification Program website. Q12: Where can partners see which certifications they have earned? A: Learning history for the SCs and PTCs can be viewed in the Learning Center by each employee for their respective learning. With the introduction of the Software Partner Community partners now have visibility into overall membership partner type and specializations directly on the Home tab. For more details please contact the regional partner program team. AMS ams.software.partner.program@microfocus.com APJ apj.software.partner.program@microfocus.com EMEA - software.partner@microfocus.com Q13: How do I access the Software Training and Certification Process? A: The navigation path to the Software Training and Certification process is via the new Software Partner Community. There you have two options: 1. On the Home tab, under Useful Links on the right hand side, click Training & Certification (screenshot 1) 2. Access the Training & Certification page via the Knowledge tab: -> Training & Certification (screenshot 2) Channel Partner Use Only 5

6 Screenshot 1 via Home tab Screenshot 2 via Knowledge tab On the Training & Certification page shown below, click on Access to Sales and Presales Technical Certifications Channel Partner Use Only 6

7 On the following page, click Partner Certifications Foundational Training & Certification on the right hand side of the screen: Channel Partner Use Only 7

8 Below follows an example of a Presales Technical Certification. Choose the Business Unit of your choice (e.g. ITOM), click on Level 300; select the desired PTC by clicking on the respective link. Channel Partner Use Only 8

9 This will lead you to the corresponding curriculum. Click the Register button on the top. Then click on Complete Registration Channel Partner Use Only 9

10 Once you see the message that you have successfully registered for the curriculum you can take all the mandatory courses and knowledge checks. For a Sales Certification, choose Level 100; then follow the same steps as indicated in the PTC example above. Q14: In order to get certified with this process, do I have to take the corresponding courses to pass the exam? A: In order to obtain a specific certification you have to register for the full corresponding curriculum and take all the mandatory courses and knowledge checks. If a course is not mandatory, you can take the course at your own discretion. As you complete all the required modules and pass the knowledge checks, the curriculum status will show complete and you have obtained the certification. The detailed steps in summary are: 1) Get access to the Software Partner Community & Learner ID 2) Go to the Partner Foundational & Certification page (see question above on how to access) 3) Select the certification of your choice (this will lead you to the page with the corresponding curriculum) 4) Click register to the curriculum 5) Click on Complete Registration (this will give you access to all the courses in the curriculum) 6) Take all the mandatory courses and knowledge checks Channel Partner Use Only 10

11 Q15: How do I print a certificate to show I am certified? A: Select the Me tile on the main menu in the Learning Center and then click Completed Learning to display a list of all of the courses and curricula that you have successfully completed. You can click the blue Print Certificate button to view and print your certificate of completion. If you want to download the certificate, click the down arrow and select Export Certificate. Q16: How do I register for the new Software Partner Community? A: You can continue to login to the new Software Partner Community with the same credentials used on the HPE Partner Ready Portal. Your Learner ID will also follow you into the new portal. If you are a new partner, there is a link on the main landing page of the new portal. There are two Register links on the login page. Select the appropriate option and this will provide you with an online form to begin your registration process. Q17: Will all my certifications move with me to the new Software Partner Community? A: Yes, all your existing certifications and access rights will be migrated into the new portal. Q18: I have changed employers. What happens to my learning history? A: Your learning history can be transferred to your new employer. For more information, contact the Partner Program Management team for your region: AMS ams.software.partner.program@microfocus.com APJ apj.software.partner.program@microfocus.com EMEA - software.partner@microfocus.com Q19: What is a Learner ID and where can I find it? A: Your Learner ID is your key to training and certifications. It is a unique identifier in Learning Center that is created when you register for the Software Partner Community. You must have a Learner ID to register for all training including certification courses and exams. After your Learner ID has been issued, you can find it in Learning Center by clicking on the Me tile and then on Profile. You can also find it on the Home tab of the Software Partner Community. Channel Partner Use Only 11