Program Requirements
Published: July 6, 2009
Microsoft is committed to building and supporting the highest-quality IT skills programs. Certain standards and expectations are set to help ensure that institutions participating in the Microsoft IT Academy Program represent the high standards of Microsoft and that their offering is aligned with the program’s objectives. In support of this commitment, we ask that Microsoft IT Academy Program members meet the following requirements.
On This Page
Eligibility
Membership is open to all primary, secondary, post-secondary, and preparatory schools; as well as to vocational, trade, military, and technical educational institutions; and to accredited sources of continuing education.
An organization that applies must be an accredited or government-sponsored educational institution. For example, an institution must satisfy the requirements of an "educational institution," as described in the first part of the "qualified education user" definition of the Microsoft Academic Volume Licensing eligibility requirements.
Learn more about eligibility requirements
Applicants must also meet minimum hardware and classroom setup requirements.
Restrictions
Contract training prohibition: Members are not permitted to contract with third-party organizations (for example, companies, agencies, and so on) for the member to provide ITA training through its IT Academy membership to such third-party organization’s employees, customers, or constituents.
Application and payment
An institution that applies must complete the Microsoft IT Academy Program online application process and accept its terms and conditions. You may be required to submit the following information for consideration and admittance into the program. Program benefits will become available when all application requirements are fulfilled, which may include:
| • | Proof of academic accreditation by an approved accrediting body or government sponsorship |
| • | Proof of non-profit status (if applicable to your institution) |
| • | Tax I.D. (not required for Asia Pacific) |
| • | Valid e-mail account |
| • | Completed application and membership Terms and Conditions Agreement |
| • | Annual membership payment |
| • | Not concurrently operating as a Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions |
Program administrator
A program administrator must be designated during the online application process and must provide a current e-mail address. The program administrator assumes the following areas of responsibility:
| • | Be the primary point of contact to ensure consistent communications |
| • | Maintain current contact information for the IT Academy Program administrator |
| • | Provide contact information for IT Academy educators and their certification status where applicable |
| • | Arrange payment for purchases made on behalf of the Microsoft IT Academy |
| • | Maintain student, educator, and institution records related to the program |
| • | Obtain and secure all Volume Licensing keys |
| • | Assure that all program and licensing benefits are met in accordance with the Microsoft IT Academy Member Terms and Conditions Agreement |
Curriculum
All courses on Microsoft products that an institution offers through its IT Academy membership shall be primarily based on Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC), Microsoft Official Academic Courseware (MOAC), and Microsoft Learning as available. The member is permitted to supplement the training with other suitable materials. Note that this requirement does not affect training that you offer outside of or not under this program. A member must be able to meet the course delivery requirements as described in the following section. The agreement for using the evaluation software in student kits is between the purchaser of the kits and Microsoft.
Course delivery
Institutions must deliver training through its IT Academy membership only to the following:
| • | Any student who is officially enrolled in its educational institution, including both academic and continuing education departments, whether such courses are provided on a credit or non-credit basis |
| • | Educators, staff, or technical employees at Microsoft IT Academy member campuses, provided that training is in the context of educator development courses |
Educators must be Microsoft-certified in the subject of the IT Academy training course they are to teach.
Participation in other Microsoft programs
Members can participate in the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Program as community and technology learning centers (CTLCs). Please note that this program is separate from the Microsoft IT Academy Program, and members must abide by the requirements of each program independently and must not use the benefits of one program under the other. Member institutions cannot be enrolled concurrently in the Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions program and the Microsoft IT Academy Program. Members must select the single program that best suits their core business needs.
