Introduction

Why Becoming a MCT is the ideal career path .Cloud Computing continues to dominate the technology landscape. Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure are the leaders in the market. Microsoft has seen an increase in market share during the last few years.

The new role-based certification Microsoft has released fuels opportunities in the technology industry. Microsoft Certified Professionals that currently hold or are seeking to hold Microsoft premier certifications will qualify for entry in the Microsoft Certified Trainer program.

Who are MCT’s

Microsoft Certified Trainers have the sole authority to deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware to Microsoft Education Learning Partners, and Microsoft Professionals. MCT’s are experts in Microsoft Technologies, and Products combined with the expertise to transfer knowledge to student populations.

Microsoft Certified Trainers can deliver any content in which they are currently certified. This means that a Microsoft Certified Trainer that is certified in Microsoft Power BI as an example is allowed to deliver content to other Microsoft Professionals seeking skills and or certification in Microsoft Power BI.

Internationally recognized

Microsoft Certified Trainers are members of an exclusive club. The MCT Certification is the gold standard in technical training. The MCT Program is one of Microsoft’s oldest and most established certifications. The MCT Program was founded in 1993 to deliver courseware to those with Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Microsoft SQL certifications. These were Microsoft’s initial flagship certifications.

The MCT Program has continued to evolve with other Microsoft Certifications, from Windows N.T. through the Windows 2,000 series of products to today’s advanced Azure based programs.

Many vendors such as CompTIA, Cisco, Linux, and others have developed certified trainer programs based on the MCT Program. Microsoft Certified Trainer certification is recognized worldwide and MCT’s are sought after on a global scale. Microsoft Certified Trainer Certified is internationally based an MCT’s can teach in any markets from North America, Europe, Asia, and others without restrictions, provided they possess the qualifying underlying certification.

MCT benefits

It is almost impossible to put a dollar value on the benefits of MCT Certification. Professionals holding this premier certification have access to Microsoft’s vast library of courseware and could in theory learn every Microsoft product.

Benefits include but are not limited to deep discounts on books and exams. Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to beta exams, MOS vouchers, Microsoft trainer kits, access to a complete library of content. MOC online courses, Azure pass program, MCT central and more.

Microsoft Certified Trainers not only have access to their own community, but a job portal that is specifically designed and dedicated to the MCT community. If that’s not enough MCT’s have access to all Microsoft Labs.

Career flexibility

Microsoft Certified Trainer certification is such a premier certification, that those obtaining this certification have a vast career path to select from.

Many Microsoft Certified Trainers decide to become freelancers. This allows them to select the courses they want to teach. They decide what training providers that are comfortable working with, and how often they want to work.

Freelancers earn more than in-house Microsoft Certified Trainers. Freelancers determine their rates based on length of the course, the difficulty of the course, the audience they are engaging in and where the course is located. Many freelancers will provide training in markets where they see the best growth opportunities, and often teach courses that end up paying for a planned vacation.

Microsoft Certified Trainers that are selected to work as in-house trainers through employers like Microsoft Education Learning Partners, Corporations, or other Education providers find the pay to be excellent.

The average pay for Microsoft Certified Trainers in 2022 is above $136,000 and ranges from $85k-$253k in 2022. This is an increase of roughly 16% from $116,000 in 2021. New MCT’s should know their worth and negotiate salaries accordingly. Tips Microsoft Education Learning Partners must have Microsoft Certified Trainers of staff to maintain their partnership status. Don’t sell yourself cheap.

Opportunity for growth

Microsoft Certified Trainers have several opportunities for career growth. Microsoft Certified Trainers have access to an abundance of Microsoft courses to select from in delivering content to the IT community.

MCT’s skills reach beyond traditional classroom delivery. Microsoft Certified Trainers develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Soft Skills as well as leadership skills are a natural outgrowth of MCT Certification.

Microsoft Certified Trainers find it easier than professionals holding other certifications to move into IT Management roles from IT Training managers to Directors or V.P. of training or operations.  Microsoft Certified Trainers develop skills as course designers by understanding how to write objectives and measure student outcomes.

Requirements for MCT Certification

There has been a good deal of incorrect information on what it takes to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer. Many candidates have been instructed that they must have previous training experience to qualify for MCT Training. No previous training experience is required. Microsoft Professionals with the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification no longer qualifies for the MCT Program. By August of 2022 candidates could no longer submit a reference letter from your employer attesting to 1 year of training experience. This will no longer qualify for MCT Certification. Candidates must take a Microsoft Instructional Skills course from an authorized Microsoft provider of MCT Certification Training.

Not all Microsoft Education Learning Partners are authorized to deliver Microsoft Instructional Skills (MCT) Courseware. You must verify that the provider is on the list maintained by Microsoft as a authorized provider of MCT or Microsoft Instructional Skills training.

Here are the requirements for entry into the Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Program.

• You must possess a qualifying Microsoft Certification
• You must attend a Microsoft Instructional Skills Course. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Where to locate a Microsoft Instructional Skills Course

The Microsoft Certified Trainer certification is the gold standard of technical training. The MCT Program is a annual membership program. There are only a handful of Authorized Providers of Microsoft Instructional Skills (MCT) Certification. At last count there were nine (9) authorized firms that provide this unique skill.

Of the nine (9) providers there is only one (1) or two (2) at most that serve the global community. One of these two offer a Self-Paced course. Be aware that a final exam is required to receive your certificate of completion. You may also select a Virtual Live Instructor-Led course or an In-Person course as well. Most providers deliver in-person courses. This can increase your costs when you factor in travel, food, and accommodation.

You can see a full list of providers by googling how to become an MCT. This will lead you to the Microsoft website. There you can see which provider best fits your needs, cost requirements, and schedule.

If you are seeking Microsoft Instructional Skills visit Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc.

Final thoughts

Microsoft Certified Trainer Certification is the ideal career path. Candidates join an exclusive club of teaching professionals. Microsoft Certified Trainers receive deep discounts on books, and exams. They have their own job portal, MCT community, and access to Microsoft courseware and labs.

Microsoft Certified Trainers can select to be freelancers or in-house trainers. Though freelancers earn more than in-house trainers, in-house trainers earn on average over $136,000.

Career growth and flexibility is a big plus with being a Microsoft Certified Trainer. MCT’s hold a wide range of job titles from trainers, designers, managers, and IT directors. You must take a Microsoft Instructional Skills (MCT) course to enter the MCT Program. Not all providers are global or have several delivery options to use from.