What’s Your Resolution for Your IT Career. Every year millions of people resolve that something in their lives is going to change. We resolve to change our eating habits, the promise of losing weight, to spending more time with our friends and family, our work ethic, what our income looks like, and our career goals to name a few.

We join the gym, cut back on bad food and vow to secure our future and that of our family, allowing us more free time and greater earnings.

We feel great in the month of January, but as February approaches we fall back into the bad habits of our past.

Today you have a choice to make regarding your IT career and the future of your family. You have always had a passion for learning and sharing your knowledge with others. You are even in possession of the high valued Microsoft certifications.

Now is the time to act and become a Microsoft Certified Trainers.

What is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and what do they do?

A Microsoft Certified Trainer or MCT is a professional IT Trainer that is certified by Microsoft to teach IT professionals seeking technical skills in the Microsoft ecosystem. MCT’s have the sole authority from Microsoft to deliver content using Microsoft’s Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware. They are unlike any other trainers that teach Microsoft courses. They are empowered by Microsoft to teach the best practices on Microsoft products and technologies.

Microsoft Certified Trainers are members of an exclusive membership-based club. They have access to Microsoft’s complete library of official curriculum and all of the online (MOC) labs. This provides them with the preparation skills to increase student outcomes.

As holders of perhaps Microsoft’s most prestigious certification, considered to be the gold standard of technical training, MCT’s have access to the Microsoft Trainer kits. These kits come complete with slide decks and instructor notes to accelerate your preparedness for classroom instruction.

Microsoft Certified Trainers receive deep discounts on books both press and e-books along with up to 75% discounts on practice and industry exams. MCT’s can enroll in the Microsoft Beta program. This program gives you the opportunity to provide feedback to Microsoft on the look, feel and performance of exams before they become available to the public. The Beta exams can be up to 100% free, however, enrollment is on a first come first served basis. MCT’s can enroll in the Microsoft Azure Pass Program gaining access to Microsoft’s cloud-based service that is growing faster than Amazon’s AWS product. Each Microsoft Certified Trainer is provided an annual voucher for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam to keep their skills sharp in office products.

Membership to this exclusive club gains you access to the MCT job portal. The MCT job portal is for MCT’s only and provides access to career and training opportunities that are posted by Microsoft Education Learning Partners, Corporations both large and small, non-profit organizations, and other MCT’s that are aware of training needs in their local market.

MCT’s have access to the global MCT community. The MCT community provides the space where Microsoft Certified Trainers can share information and delivery ideas. They also provide feedback to the training community through MCT regional leads that are available not only for career development, but to help with work arounds to lab issues.

Microsoft Certified Trainers represent the gold standard in technical training and is internationally recognized. The opportunities for MCT’s are endless. There are less than 20,000 Microsoft Certified Trainers worldwide. This creates an enormous opportunity for Microsoft Certified Professionals seeking MCT Certification. There are well over 1 million Microsoft Certified Professionals. Many will need to pivot in today’s market by having advanced well-rounded skills. This is particularly true in Azure, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, and Microsoft’s 365 product lines.

MCT Certification creates outstanding career flexibility and earning power. MCT’s that freelance or provide contracting services charge based on several factors. These include type of course, difficulty of course, length of course, number of students, course location, air, hotel, meals, and other accommodations. The MCT Job Portal and MCT Community forum are excellent resources for global training opportunities. Freelancers have the option of building a practice and working with those clients they are comfortable with.

In-House MCT Trainers or employees earned an average of $136,931 as of August of 2022. This is nearly a 16% increase over the %116,657 salary earned in 2021. Salaries range from $85,000 to $253,000 for in-house trainers. Microsoft Certified Trainers can deliver content for any course they hold certification in. In-house trainers generally deliver content that impacts day to day employees.

In today’s dynamic technology market MCT certification is a most have skill to increase your value and provide you the flexibility and earning power that provides the long-term freedom and security you and your family desire.

Unfortunately, there has been a good amount of information that is not accurate concerning MCT Certification. Microsoft Certified Professionals have heard tons of information on the path to MCT Certification. One being that IT Professionals must have both long-term field experience and previous training experience before applying to the MCT Program. The second train of thought is you can use an employer attestation letter providing proof of your training experience. The last being you can get a recommendation from a current Microsoft Certified Trainer.

None of the options above will get you membership in the Microsoft MCT Program. First, you don’t need previous training experience to apply to the MCT Program. Second, an employer attestation letter is no longer acceptable to enter the MCT Program. This was retired in August of 2022. The last option a refence from a current Microsoft Certified Trainer has never been acceptable.

What it takes to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer

The requirements for MCT Certification are both stringent and straight forward.

• You must possess a qualifying Microsoft Certification.
• You must attend a Microsoft approved Instructional Skills course.

Visit the Microsoft website for a complete list of qualifying Microsoft Certification. You can also visit Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc.

How to select a Microsoft Approved Provider of Instructional Skills

The earning power and career flexibility of MCT Certification is unique in the Microsoft ecosystem. Many Microsoft Certified Professionals believe they can access this training through any Microsoft Education Learning Partner.

Few Microsoft Education Learning Partners are approved to provide this training. There are currently nine (9) firms that are approved by Microsoft for instructional skills certification.

When seeking instructional skills certification, you should consider a few things.

• What’s your budget
• Is there training available in your local market.
• Do they serve your region
• Can you contact them directly.
• How often are courses offered.
• Is there an option to work at your own pace.
• Are there tools such as videos for long-term learning.

You can see each provider that is approved by Microsoft when visiting their site for qualifying certifications.

We all make resolutions to change the conditions of our careers and lives. We each have different motivations for such resolutions. Whatever your motivation, becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer will provide the long-term career opportunities you desire.

Best wishes in your quest for MCT Certification