Sunday Night Butterflies and MCT Certification. You are an IT professional. You may have (1) year of experience (3) to (5) or (10) or more years of experience. You are very competent and know your way around the technology space. But it’s Sunday night and the butterflies are starting to turn.

You are quite aware of the recent headlines. Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and others are all announcing layoffs or downsizing to put it in terms more digestible for the tech community. You have a mortgage, multiple car notes, kids, and a spouse, the butterflies are real. Is this the week your boss needs to talk with you about the future of the company or more specifically your future?

Those of us that’s been around for (20) plus years have seen this movie before. It’s not pretty, yet there is a way to beat them all to the punch.

Have you ever thought about the true value of your certification? If you possess a mid to high-level Microsoft certification, the time to increase your value is now.

The Cure for Sunday Night Butterflies

Become a Microsoft Certified Trainer. Why will this certification increase your value and work as a hedge against the onslaught of negative thinking and news of your impeding doom.

Microsoft Certified Trainers have the lowest unemployment rate of most IT certifications if not all. The unemployment rate has not exceeded 3.5% since its inception. Microsoft Certified Trainers have the sole authority to deliver Microsoft’s Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware. IT trainers that do not hold this certification are not allowed to teach Microsoft courseware in Microsoft environments such as Microsoft Education Learning Partners.

Microsoft Certified Trainers are members of an exclusive annual membership-based club. The benefits and perks far out way the cost of getting certified, and provide the perfect vehicle to increase your skills, earn an excellent living, and strengthen your value in a market that is seeing investors focus on profits overgrowth.

IT professionals that hold MCT Certification receive deep discounts on books and exams. Up to 50% of books and 75% off exams. MCT’s can increase their skills by enrolling in the Microsoft Azure Pass Program and the Microsoft exam Beta program. These programs provide considerable value putting you on the cutting edge of Microsoft cloud computing tools and access to what is coming down the pipe. You can also provide valuable feedback to Microsoft before the release of new exams or program changes.

MCT Certified Trainers have access to Microsoft’s complete library of courseware at no additional cost. MCT’s by accessing official courseware can prepare for exams and certifications that are being sought without needing to shell out additional funds for training. MCT Certified Professionals have access to MCT trainer kits across product lines to further their development and readiness for classroom delivery. These trainers’ kits come complete with side decks and instructor notes and tips. They cannot be shared with the student population under any circumstances.

It is impossible to put a true dollar value on MCT Certification. Not only is it the gold standard of technical training, and internationally recognized, it covers access to all products and services within the Microsoft ecosystem. This includes Microsoft Azure all products, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Microsoft 365 family and advanced Master-level office products.

Microsoft Certified Trainer certification cures the Sunday butterflies. MCT’s have their own MCT support community and MCT job portal. That’s right MCT Certified professionals have a job portal that’s unique to these professionals. Microsoft Education Learning Partners, Corporations both small and large and colleges and universities post on the site seeking to locate qualified trainers.

MCT’s that are in-house trainers averaged $136,931 as of August of 2022. This is an increase of nearly 16% above 2021 which reported average salaries of $116,657. Salaries range from $85,000 to $253,000 with the highest reported salary exceeding $500,000.

Microsoft Certified Trainers that freelance earn more than in-house training and enjoy more career freedom. Freelancers can set their own rates based on several factors including the type of class, the number of students, the difficulty of the course, the course duration, where the course is located, what are the accommodations like air, hotel, meals, and car rental. Many freelancers develop their own practice and work with clients they are comfortable with. This is not an exhaustive list of the benefits of MCT Certification, but you get the picture.

If you are an employer that needs to make difficult decisions in terms of head count, what would you do? Would you prefer to keep a one-dimensional employee or one that not only has hands-on skills but the ability to train your employees and manage team members. The choice is clear. You want to keep the MCT.

What if you are now MCT Certified? What are your choices? You could go out on your own and freelance through Microsoft Education Learning Partners or teach at the colleges and universities that have added certification-based training to their curriculum to increase the career prospects for their student population and attaching their university name to their programs. Many colleges and universities do not have Microsoft Certified Trainers on staff. Those that do make sure their students are aware. Conversely Microsoft Education Learning Partners must have full-time MCT’s on staff to maintain their partnership status.

How do you Become a Microsoft Certified Trainer

Becoming a member of the Microsoft MCT Program is a huge accomplishment. Entry into the program is stringent but straightforward.

First let’s clear up some information that is not correct. You may have been advised that you will need a good deal of training experience before you can even consider applying to the MCT Program. This is a falsehood. You do not need previous training experience to become an MCT.

Until April and August of 2022 you could use the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification or an employer attestation letter proving your training experience to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer. This is no longer the case. (MOS) Certification was removed from the MCT Program for new MCT’s in April of 2022. Employer Attestation letters were removed in August of the same year. Lastly, you could not now nor never provide a recommendation from a current MCT to gain entry to the MCT Program.

The Requirements for entry into the Microsoft MCT Program.

• You must possess a Microsoft qualifying certification.
• You must attend a Microsoft approved instructional skills course.

For a complete list of qualifying exams and certifications visit Microsoft or Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc. Note you are only required to hold one of the certifications listed.

Finding the Right Approved Instructional Skills Provider for Your Needs

The MCT Certification is unique and perhaps Microsoft most prestigious certification. It was founded in 1993 (1) year after Microsoft flagship certifications Windows 3.1 and Microsoft SQL

There are a limited number of Microsoft Instructional Skills Providers. Currently there are (9) listed and approved providers. If you are offered a instructional skills course from a provider not listed I would caution that you do not proceed.

Many of the providers listed offer in-person courses or virtual live instructor-led courses. Check directly with providers for schedules and times. Most only serve their local region. There are a few that serve a wider geographical region. One provider does serve the global community via their virtual instructor-led model though you must consult their calendar for times. They also offer a Self-Paced course for active working adults that wish to work at a pace that’s convenient for their active lifestyle.

Candidates seeking the Self-Paced course are required to complete and pass a final exam. The exam is 2 hours in length, it is 50 questions, and you have 2 hours to complete and pass the exam.

Now that you have a clear understanding of the value of MCT Certification do not allow the Sunday butterflies to strike. Stay relaxed and execute your plan. You will never have Sunday butterflies again.

Best wishes in your quest to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer.