Is This the Year You Become an MCT. Have you ever dreamed that once you became certified the opportunity to work when you want and for who you want would happen? IT professionals that possess high-level certifications certainly can put themselves in the driver’s seat. The question becomes how? Every year you vow to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and every year you put it off.

You know that obtaining perhaps Microsoft’s most prestigious certification positions you for the life you want. Well, it is a new year, and a new opportunity to gain control over your IT career and life.

Microsoft Certified Trainers have incredible earning power, both as in-house trainers or through freelance training. As of August of 2022, Microsoft Certified Trainers that were employed as in-house trainers earned an average of $136,931 an increase of nearly 16% of 201 salaries which were $116,657. Salaries range from $85,000 to $253,000. Freelancers earn more and have the option of building their own practice. Freelancers have the option of setting rates based on course type, difficulty of the course, the length of the course and the number of students they train in a given course. Freelancers also will charge for classroom configurations and equipment setup. They can travel across the globe delivery Microsoft content, and charge for air travel, hotels, cars, and meals.

Microsoft Certified Trainers are employed in every industry, from technology to finance. They are the backbone of Microsoft Education Learning Partners that must have MCT’s on staff to obtain and maintain their partnership status.

Microsoft Certified Trainers are provided a host of benefits that include discounts of up to 75% on all exams both practice and industry exams. Discounts on Microsoft books both press and e-books. Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to the complete library of Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) courses and all online Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) labs.

Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to the entire suite of Trainer kits complete with slides and instructor notes to further your development as a technical trainer.  The MCT certification is the gold standard of technical training, and MCT’s have their own unique Job Portal. The MCT job portal houses career and teaching opportunities from across the globe. Microsoft Education Learning Partners and other MCT’s post training opportunities here before they are available to the public. Microsoft also provides MCT’s with a regional MCT lead to further develop your skills, ad answer any questions.

Microsoft Certified Trainers can enroll in the Microsoft Azure Pass Program and receive a $100 voucher access to increase their skills with Microsoft premier Azure product. MCT’s can enroll in the Microsoft Beta exam program allowing them the ability to test new products and updates to existing exams while providing valuable feedback to Microsoft’s products team. MCT are invited to Microsoft’s annual events that are exclusive to the MCT community. Here you can network with other MCT and gain insight on Microsoft’s products and services, while getting training tips from other Microsoft Certified Trainers.

How to become an MCT

The MCT certification is perhaps Microsoft’s most prestigious certification having been established in 1993. The Microsoft MCT Program was created to provide training to Microsoft Windows 3.1 and SQL professionals and has evolved to encompass all Microsoft products. Employer attestation letters and recommendations from current MCT’s will not meet the requirements for MCT Certification. Previous training experience is not required, nor can it be used to qualify for MCT certification.

• You must possess a Microsoft qualifying certification
• You must attend a Microsoft Instructional Skills course from a Microsoft approved provider.

To see a complete list of qualifying certifications you can visit the Microsoft website or Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc.

Locating a Microsoft Approved Provider of Instructional Skills

The MCT Certification is a highly sought-after certification. The number of approved providers is limited. Many providers cover a limited geographic region, and you should check with the provider to determine if they serve your region.

There are only 9 approved providers of Microsoft Instructional Skills Certification. Each provider should offer an in-person course. Many offer a Live Virtual Instructor-Led course, and one offers a Self-paced course. The Self-Paced course requires you to take and pass a final exam before they will issue your certificate of completion.

You will need to check each provider’s website to determine if they serve the global market. You can also send them an email directly or call directly. Selecting Live Virtual Instructor-Led or the Self-Paced course may work best depending on your learning style, as each is significantly less costly than the in-person course when you factor in travel, meals, and hotel accommodations.

There are currently less than 20,000 Microsoft Certified Trainers worldwide and therefore the opportunity for career advancement has never been better. Microsoft continues to be the most widely used computing system among fortune 500 companies and with their market growth in cloud computing, data analytics, cybersecurity, and their Microsoft 365 product line MCT Certification is the most powerful tool you can add to your toolkit.

Best wishes in your pursuit of Microsoft Certified Trainer Certification.