Differences Between the MVP and MCC Awards

This article is part of the Wiki series:

Microsoft Community Contributor (MCC)
Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
Commonalities
Community Resources
See Also

Microsoft Community Contributor (MCC)

The MCC award is a badge offered by Microsoft, which is designed to recognize notable contributions to Microsoft online community forums such as TechNet, MSDN, O365 and Microsoft Community." There are more active MCCs in these tools than MVPs. It is more difficult to become an MVP, and the selection process is more rigorous. The MCC selection process is now automatic, based on your accomplishments. For more about the selection process and how to become an MCC or MVP, see How to Become an MVP or MCC.

MCC is a badge, with status in your TechNet/MSDN/Community profile and it's 3 months long program.

MVP is an award program. The award is for one year at a time.

You may have an MCC badge and be eligible for MVP (and MVPs can earn MCC badges.)

Most Valuable Professional (MVP)

The MVP award takes forum contributions into consideration, but it looks beyond these tools at overall industry leadership. The program considers quality, quantity, and level of impact. It involves sharing knowledge (Forums, Wiki, blogs, Gallery), speaking at conferences, and leading others. They evaluate based on whether you're educating the community, providing support to the community, and providing feedback to the product teams (but they look for people who lead others in these goals). They evaluate on the previous 12 months of contributions. For more about the selection process and how to become an MCC or MVP, see How to Become an MVP or MCC.

Because the MVP award evaluates a wide array of leadership, the process is rigorous and it might take more work to become an MVP. Because an MVP is awarded on the previous 12 months of contributions, you must be active and consistent for over a year. When you see an MVP, you know the person has made great contributions within the last 12 months of the award date.

MVPs are nominated by specific Microsoft employees and by MVPs. However, MVPs can also be nominated by anyone via an option on the Web site.

MVP awardees receive "a small set of services and other benefits." The benefits include (among other benefits) the award status in your TechNet/MSDN profile, a listing among the official Microsoft MVPs, and an MVP profile page.

The MVP award is divided by specific technology, and the award is based on a full year of contributions.

You can have an MCC badge and be an MVP. (This is a change to the program. Previously, MVPs couldn't become MCCs.)