Stop getting more Microsoft certifications that lead to a job and Invest in Your Career. You have gotten your Microsoft Certifications now what? Most Microsoft Certified Professionals will take a job in IT Support or Help Desk or some other IT related job to get the experience they need.

This is the general path that many IT professionals take. There is nothing wrong with this career path.  If you are new to IT and paid $15,000-$20,000 for your education this makes sense. Let’s say you went to an IT school that promised starting pay of $50,000-$60,000 in yearly income. You are excited about your future and can’t wait to get started.

You work hard to get certified and accomplish your goal. As a matter of fact, you received several Microsoft Certifications from the associate’s level to the expert’s level. You eagerly begin submitting your resume. You land your first job and you’re earning $45,000. 3 years later with the required experience you’re earning $60,000. You continue to get calls from headhunters, but the offers are not what you are worth. You are on the job treadmill. There is a solution.

How to leverage your existing Microsoft certifications

Now that you are in possession of some or one of Microsoft’s premier certifications you need to know how to use it for the benefit of you and your family. Microsoft certifications are the best in the industry as their products remain the most widely used.

IT professionals that hold Microsoft certifications are not entirely aware of the power of their certification. If you are new to IT or a seasoned professional leveraging your existing certification to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer is an excellent way to not only earn more income but also to create incredible career opportunities.

To become a Microsoft Certified Trainer, you must meet certain requirements that are spelled out by Microsoft. The requirements are stringent because the rewards are amazing. You cannot just decide that you would like to start your certification path as a Microsoft Certified Trainer. Several of the other certifications that Microsoft offers do not have the level of prequalification that becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer has. However, once you understand the requirements and meet them, your IT career can change quickly.

There are currently fewer than 20,000 MCT’s worldwide. Becoming a part of this exclusive membership-based group can take your career to new heights. The challenge for many Microsoft professionals is they don’t know where to start, how to find a provider of Microsoft instructional skills certification and how the Microsoft Certified Trainer certification is viewed globally.  

Why you should consider MCT Certification

There are several reasons to consider MCT certification. We will explore some of them. Microsoft Certified Trainers are Certified by Microsoft. They are experts on Microsoft technologies, and products. MCT’s have the sole authority to deliver Microsoft products to the global market. They are the only IT professionals that can deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) courses.

The benefits and value of MCT certification is hard to put a dollar value on. Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to the complete library of Microsoft products. They have access to all the online Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) Labs. MCT’s have complete access to training kits for any Microsoft approved course, this comes complete with slides and instructor notes to help you develop your training skills throughout your career.

Microsoft Certified Trainers receive discounts on all Microsoft books and exams. They can also enroll in the Microsoft Azure Pass program. This allows for a monthly subscription worth $1,200 annually. Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to Microsoft Beta Exams. Having such access allows you to participate in providing proper feedback to Microsoft before new exams and products are launched to the public.

Microsoft Certified Trainers have their own MCT Job Portal. The MCT Job Portal is exclusive to the MCT community. Jobs are frequently posted here by both Microsoft Education Learning Partners and other MCT’s that become aware of career opportunities. MCT’s also have access to their own MCT region lead to answer questions and guidance.

Microsoft Certified Trainers averaged $136,931 as of August. This represents an increase of nearly 16% over 2021 salaries of $116,657. Microsoft Certified Trainers’ salaries range from $85,000 to $253,000. These numbers are for in-house trainers that are employed through traditional corporations, large and small businesses, and Microsoft Education Learning Partners.

Microsoft Certified Trainers that freelance earn more than in-house trainers. These professionals have the freedom to build their own practice.  Freelancers take full advantage of holding multiple Microsoft certifications and can teach any subject they are certified in. Freelancers charge several ways for their services. They often charge daily, hourly, or weekly rates. Freelancers decide on their rate by determining the type of course being offered, the difficulty of the course, the market for the course, for example Data Analytics or Cybersecurity two in demand products.  Freelancers can charge rates based on class size, length of course, delivery format, and any travel, rental car, meals, and hotel accommodations. They will also charge more if they need to perform machine configurations or classroom setup.

Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) certification is recognized internationally and is the gold standard of technical training. The Microsoft Certified Trainer program began in 1993 and was Microsoft’s third (3) certification that Microsoft offered. The MCT Program was developed early to provide training to Microsoft Professionals that held Windows 3.1 or Microsoft SQL certifications.  The MCT Program has grown to cover hundreds of Microsoft Certifications. Microsoft Certified Trainers are used in all Microsoft Education Learning Partners and these learning partners must have MCT’s on staff to acquire and maintain their partnership status.

What are the requirements for entry into the Microsoft MCT Program

There has been much misinformation surrounding how to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer. The first thing we have heard over the years is that you must have previous training experience to apply to the Microsoft MCT Program. This is not accurate, previous training experience is not a requirement for MCT certification. The second thing we have heard is that you must be recommended for membership to apply for the MCT Program. This is not correct. As a matter of fact, a recommendation letter does not meet the qualifications for entry into the MCT Program. Finally, candidates have been misled into believing that if they get their certificate of completion from a Microsoft Education Learning partner this would be acceptable to enter the MCT Program. Again, this is incorrect as many Microsoft Education Learning partners are not authorized or approved to deliver the Microsoft Instructional Skills course.

The requirements to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer are as follow:

• You must possess a qualifying Microsoft Certification
• You must attend and complete a Microsoft Instructional Skills course from a Microsoft Approved Provider.

Finding a provider

To become a Microsoft Certified Trainer, you must attend your instructional skills course from an approved provider.

There are currently nine (9) or ten (10) approved providers of MCT Training you can locate a complete list by doing a google search on how to become an MCT. This query will provide a link to Microsoft’s website.

Please be sure that you select a provider from the approved list. If by chance some company convinces you they have a relationship with Microsoft that will earn your MCT Certification do not proceed.

Once you reach Microsoft’s website you can also discover all the exams and certifications that qualify you to take the Microsoft Instructional Skills course. You can also access a complete list by visiting Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc. FAQ, and requirements page.

You only need possess one certification on the qualifying list to proceed to the Microsoft Instructional Skills course.

Best wishes on leveraging your Microsoft Certification into a career as a Microsoft Certified Trainer.