Why You Need to Be Nimble in Today’s IT Market. As today’s Tech Market goes through the pain of downsizing or figuring out what they are committed to, IT Professionals must remain nimble. Being multi-skilled in today’s environment creates the flexibility and earning power that positions the IT professionals for growth. Change does not always mean things are getting bad. Change can provide opportunities you may have never considered without the disruption that’s happening currently for many IT professionals.

Microsoft Certified Professionals that possess high level certifications have historically not gotten the full value of their certifications. IT professionals earn a great living. Perhaps it is this earning power that leads to complacency. This can be dangerous for long-term career growth.

Many employers are seeking skilled IT professionals that can be agile and can move across product lines. As example of this is the cybersecurity professional that has skills in Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco configurations and Microsoft Security Operations Analysis. An IT professional that possess multiple skills is much harder to replace during market disruptions, than one who is one dimensional.

Microsoft Certified Professionals are presented with a unique opportunity to further strengthen their value. Microsoft continues to be the most widely used system in the IT eco-system. With the growth of Microsoft Azure cloud solutions, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity and Microsoft 365 product lines, Microsoft Certified Professionals can set themselves up to be nimble in today’s IT market. The path to creating additional value and career flexibility is through the Microsoft MCT Program.

Who are Microsoft Certified Trainers

Microsoft Certified Trainers are uniquely qualified professionals that are certified by Microsoft to teach Microsoft Products and Technologies. These professionals are members of an exclusive club of IT professionals that are given the sole authority by Microsoft to teach from Microsoft’s Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware. IT professionals with teaching skills cannot deliver any content from Microsoft’s Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware without being sanctioned as a Microsoft Certified Trainer.

The Microsoft MCT Program is perhaps Microsoft’s most prestigious certification program. This exclusive club requires an annual membership and MCT ‘s must remain in good standing. The Microsoft MCT Program is one of Microsoft’s oldest certifications having been created in 1993 to train Microsoft Professionals in Windows 3.1 and SQL. It is the gold standard for technical training and several vendors tailor the training programs after the MCT Program. The other advantage to becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer is the opportunities are endless with less than 20,000 MCT’s worldwide.

Microsoft Certified Trainer Benefits

Don’t be confused, becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer is a big deal. Microsoft Certified Trainers receive numerous benefits and perks. To many to put a value on. They receive deep discounts on books and exams up to 75%. MCT’s have access to the complete treasure trove of Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) courses, and online labs. There are trainer kits as well that come are complete with slides and instructor notes to further develop your training skills.

Microsoft Certified Trainers can enroll in Microsoft’s Beta exam program and the Azure Pass Program. The Beta exam program allows Microsoft Certified Trainers access to new exams, exams that are being updated and any redesigns. The Azure Pass Program is a $1,200 annual value and provides MCT’s access to Microsoft’s Azure products to enhance both their technical and training skills. MCTs not only can take advantage of these tools but have their own job portal. The MCT job portal is exclusive to members of the MCT community. Here is where Microsoft Certified Trainers can see job and career postings from Microsoft Education Learning Partners and others MCT’s before this information is in the public domain. The MCT community is a close tight nit community. Microsoft Certified Trainers can gain a wealth of knowledge and skills here, as other Microsoft Certified Trainers share tips, ideas, and lab workarounds to other MCT’s.

The MCT Certification is recognized internationally, and Microsoft Certified Trainers can seek employment opportunities globally. MCT’s earn excellent wages and salaries. The average salary for a Microsoft Certified Trainer as of August was $136,931 an increase over 2021 numbers of $116,657 or nearly 16%. Salaries range between $85,000 and $253,000 with the highest reported salary exceeding $500,000. These professionals are employed across industries and work for small and large businesses. They are employed by Microsoft Education Learning Partners as well. These Microsoft Education Learning Partners must employ MCT’s on staff to gain partnership status with Microsoft.

Microsoft Certified Trainers that choose to become freelancers earn more than in-house trainers. They have considerable flexibility. They can decide when to work, what firms they want to work with and which courses they would like to focus on. Freelancers can charge daily, hourly, or weekly rates. They can charge by the course, the type of course, the difficulty of the course, the length of the course, the number of students in the course, and based on the course demand. Freelancers Can build their own practice and work with specific clients. They can travel anywhere they are needed, and factor in the travel, meals and other accommodations went providing pricing. They will add cost for additional services such as classroom configuration, any additional labs or course customization.

The benefits, perks, and flexibility of MCT certification provides Microsoft Certified Professionals with the skills to remain competitive and nimble in today’s market.

How do you become an MCT

The requirements to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer are stringent but straightforward. You do not need to have previous training experience to apply to the MCT Program. You do not need to submit an employer attestation letter confirming your training experience. An employer attestation letter is no longer accepted by Microsoft to confirm your training experience as of August 2022. You cannot use a recommendation from a current or former MCT to become an MCT.

The requirements for MCT Certification are:

You must posses a qualifying Microsoft Certification

You must attend a Microsoft Instructional Skills course from a Microsoft Approved provider.

You can access a complete list of qualifying certifications by visiting Microsoft’s website or by visiting Fourth Dimension Technologies, Inc website.

Locating a provider that fits your needs

There are a limited number of approved providers of Instructional Skills Certification. The are several factors to consider when selecting the right provider for you. The first thing is to make sure the provider is a Microsoft approved provider and is on the list on Microsoft’s website. You can see this information when looking at qualifying certifications. Second, decide what’s the best path for you. All providers should offer in-person courses. Many that provide in-person courses serve a particular geographical region. Some will also offer Virtual Live Instructor-Led courses. Again, these may be limited to a region and are not always available. One offers all both these options plus a Self-Paced course. The Self-Paced course requires you to take and pass a final exam for your certificate of completion to be issued.

It’s important to reach out directly to providers to check course schedule and cost. You can also determine if they provide these services to the global community. Providers that are not on the Microsoft approved list should be avoided. Moving forward with a non-approved provider may cost you a significant sum of money and your certificate of completion will not be accepted.

If you learn best in-person ask the provider about their schedule and when classes are available. Many training programs have moved online, and if you prefer this model check with the provider to determine when a course is available in your region. If you are a self-starter and prefer to work at your own pace for several reason’s including your work schedule, family obligations, or social considerations you may want a Self-Paced course because there is no time limit regarding when you complete the course. You can also start and stop at your leisure. Keep in mind that the Self-Paced method does require you to take and pass a final exam. There is currently no additional cost for exams.

The opportunity to be nimble in today’s IT market has never been better. Opportunities are always available when markets tighten.

Best wishes in your quest to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer