Trainer Training, Putting You Ahead

The Challenging and Rewarding Career of an Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) 

Are you interested in becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)? If so, you have chosen a growing and lucrative field of study that quickly pays dividends with your very first job. Becoming an Microsoft Certified Trainer  is a well respected position and takes work. If you don’t mind getting down to business and believe that you’ve got what it takes, then you must first acquire the training and necessary skills to get you on your way. Please read on for helpful information to steer you in the right direction: toward a rewarding career as a Microsoft Certified Trainer!
MCTs are authorized trainers who have been certified by the Microsoft Corporation to provide instructor-led courses to Information Technology developers and specialists. Instructors are responsible for teaching Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) to their students.
In order to receive Microsoft Certified Trainer certification there are several steps you must take first. These “musts” include:

• You must prove that you possess teaching skills. As a trainer you can do this by attending PrepMasters 3-in-1 Workshop a Microsoft Approved Train-the-Trainer course. Participants will receive a Train-the-Trainer certification and recorded in-class performance ready for the CTT+ submission. Or prove that you are an instructor at an accredited institution.
  
• You must possess a premier Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) or Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) credential.(MCSE, MCSD, MCSA, MCDST, MCSD, MCAD, MCDBA, MCP or MCDBA).
  
• You must complete an application with Microsoft online.
  
• You must pay an annual fee to become MCT certified and to keep your certification current. (in addition to taking the CECs and providing ten days of MOC training annually). Fees vary from country to country, the US fee is $400.00 or check the Microsoft site for your country.
  
• You must fax a copy of your Train-the-Trainer or CTT+ certificate to: 661-793-6555 include a cover letter & email info, Attention: MCT Escalations, MCP ID# & your name and title of document you are submitting. Or email an electronic copy of your Train-the-Trainer or CTT+ certificate to: mct@microsoft.com
  
• You will receive notification via email 72-hours to 10-days.
  

To keep your certification current you must:

• You must continue to earn technical and instructional continuation education credits (CECs) by attending a course taught by a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) at a Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center (Microsoft CTEC).
  
• You must provide a minimum of ten days of Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) or MSDN Training courses annually.
  
• You must meet technical competency requirements for each course you are authorized to teach.
  
• You must teach a minimum of 15 students per year.
  
• MOC Course evaluations must reflect high customer satisfaction scores. PrepMasters provides a sneak peak at this online evaluation in its 3-in-1 workshop.
  
• You must submit to an audit if necessary. Microsoft conducts audits approximately five percent of the MCT community to ensure compliance with program requirements.
  

Yes, it takes work, but the benefits of becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer are extensive and Microsoft shows their commitment to you by backing up their program with their legendary support network. With the economy continuing to improve and salaries on the upswing, right now is an excellent time to explore becoming an MCT. Upon successfully completing the Microsoft Certified Trainer program and once your application has been approved, you will then be able to gain access to the Microsoft Certified Trainer member site and receive terrific benefits including: a discount on Microsoft products and textbooks, access to downloadable material and newsgroups, courseware support, invitations to related Microsoft Certified Trainer events, and so much more. In addition, within two months time you will receive by mail a welcome packet from Microsoft containing an MCT pin, certificate, a wallet sized certificate card, MCT related DVDS, and more.

Are you interested? If so, read on for detailed information about launching your MCT training!

Posted in: MCT, MCT Certification on Thursday, March 1st, 2007 by Christina | No Comments

MCT Salary Survey 

If you are thinking of pursuing a Microsoft Certified Trainer certification, you may be wondering whether it will be worth the trouble and expense. Redmond’s 10th annual salary survey sheds some light on this. Although the survey covered IT professions in general, its findings are relevant to anyone entering the IT trainer field, including those considering pursuing MCT certification. 

Your first question may be, “How much do Microsoft Certified Trainers make?” In the 2006 salary survey, the respondents reported making an average of $76,000 or so. This was significantly more than the average wage of all trainers, who only reported an average of $57,197. Was the Microsoft Certified Trainer certification solely responsible for this salary increase of almost $20,000? It undoubtedly contributed. But also keep in mind that many people who are possess the MCT certification possess multiple certifications. So remember that although a Microsoft Certified Trainer certification can certainly help. In your pursuit of that “fat” trainer salary, Redmond’s 2005 IT salary survey revealed that the following would also be helpful: