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Furnished by Vic Picinich

"Becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer"
  1. First things first: More than just the money
    1. Rewards: Sure, the rewards are great
      1. Microsoft Annual Salary Survey
        1. Yearly: $77,000
        2. Benefits: $13,000
    2. Achievement: working at the Top 1% in your chosen field
      1. Microsoft Statistics
        1. Less than 25,000 MCTs
        2. Even fewer are actively teaching
    3. Recognition:
      1. Help earn respect from your colleagues and superiors
  2. Commitment
    1. Dedication towards achieving a goal
      1. Staying the course
    2. Attitude
      1. You will become what you plan (and pray for!)
  3. Time
    1. Duration
      1. Six (6) to thirty-six (36) months
        1. Away from family, friends, and other interests
        2. any free time will be consumed by studying
  4. MCT Requirements
    1. for latest info, go to the source (Microsoft Certified Trainer)
    2. must submit a signed MCT application (downloaded from website)
    3. apply by fax for quickest (one week) turn-around time
    4. send all paperwork together (my application was 19 pages)
    5. you only need to fax pages that have initials or signatures
    6. include $200 fee (include your VISA card numbers)
    7. include copies (or faxes) of all certification exam results
    8. include a copy of your latest Microsoft transcript
    9. by December 31, 2000 you must also be an MCSE to be an MCT
    10. CTEC requirement:
      1. Must have attended a CTEC for one (1)course
      2. Must have passed its associated exam
    11. Include the CTEC certificate in application materials
    12. for each course you wish to teach
      1. submit a signed course preparation checklist
      2. pass the associated certification exam OR
      3. pass the trainer exam, if no certification exam is available yet
      4. as with MCP or MCSE, you will receive approval
        1. by e-mail
        2. by mail:
        3. "Welcome Kit"
          1. MCT agreement and guidelines
          2. certificate mechanically signed by Bill Gates
        4. also mailed separately:
          1. a lapel pin ($8 value)
          2. wallet ID card (priceless!)
  5. Training Centers: Places you will find work as an MCT
    1. Authorized Academic Training Partners (AATPs)
      1. Costs to students
        1. $6,000 to $12,000 for MCSE core and electives
      2. Time
        1. Six (6) to nine (9) month program
      3. MCT salaries
        1. $40 to $120/hour, depending on need & experience
      4. benefits
        1. ongoing education
          1. learn as you earn
          2. your increased knowledge helps your employer
        2. certifications
          1. get reimbursed as you pass new certifications
        3. study materials: books, CDs, DVDs
          1. relationships with publishers: getting "freebies"
            1. on the web
            2. on the phone
        4. equipment: laptops, networking equipment, and more
          1. borrow items for use in your home network
    2. Certified Technical Education Centers (CTECs)
      1. Costs to students
        1. $6,000 to $15,000 for MCSE core and electives
      2. Time
        1. One (1) to twelve (12) month program
        2. May offer "unlimited" refresher courses
      3. MCT salaries
        1. $300 to $1200/day, depending on need
      4. benefits
        1. same as AATPs (including flavored coffees!)
    3. Freelance training
      1. Costs to students
        1. you set the cost
      2. Time
        1. you set the pace
        2. "bootcamps" can be done in as few as ten (10) days
      3. MCT salaries
        1. your net profit is determined by arrangements
          1. training materials
          2. lodging
          3. meals
          4. PC lab setup and overhead
      4. benefits
        1. being your own boss
        2. full control of marketing costs vs. profits
  6. Finding a good Institution
    1. Background of the school
      1. other classes offered
        1. Novell
        2. Cisco
        3. A+ and Network+
        4. Associate's Degrees
      2. classroom/lab size and equipment
        1. more than adequate to fill the needs of each course
        2. PCs
        3. Overhead Monitor
    2. Background of the instructors
      1. teaching experience
      2. field experience
      3. certifications/degrees held
    3. Recommendations from Employees
      1. How do they like working there?
      2. How do they like their Director/Supervisor?
    4. Recommendations from students
      1. How was their learning experience?
      2. Are they truly "satisfied customers?"
      3. Are they now working in the field?
  7. Student Profiles
    1. "Too hot…too cold…just right!"
      1. "Super-Techies" (already experts with experience)
        1. get easily bored
        2. will challenge you at every step
        3. may drop out of class at the first break
        4. may never "get around to" become certified anyway
      2. "Newbies" (beginners)
        1. may be in over their heads
        2. will probably repeat the program, even if they make it
        3. take the longest to get certified
      3. "Career Changers" (best audience for a trainer)
        1. Need a change in their careers
        2. will most appreciate your instruction
        3. become certified with appropriate additional study
  8. Resources available to speed your progress
    1. Audiotapes (see their website at www.audiowhiz.com)
      1. Best value for your dollar
      2. Re-capture travel time as study time
      3. Critical difference in my passing "six for six" certification tests
    2. Books
      1. "Exam Cram" series (www.coriolis.com)
        1. matches objectives closely
        2. less accurate
        3. sample questions either too easy or too detailed
      2. "For Dummies" series (www.dummies.com)
        1. primer
        2. less accurate
        3. troublesome CDs
      3. O'Reilly's "In a Nutshell" series (www.oreilly.com)
        1. excellent foundation
        2. accurate
        3. limited, yet focused, materials
      4. "Microsoft Official Curriculum" series
        1. matches objectives very closely
        2. accurate and updated
        3. sample questions may be too detailed
        4. labs may not be related to skills needed by the exam
        5. should improve with Microsoft's latest restructuring
      5. Osborne/McGraw-Hill's "Certification Press" series
        1. Matches objectives well
        2. Very accurate
        3. Excellent questions
        4. Best choice for in-depth understanding
      6. Sybex Study Guides and Test Success (www.sybex.com)
        1. Matches objectives well
        2. Accurate
        3. Good questions
    3. "Braindumps"
      1. Notoriously inaccurate web postings
      2. Defeat the purpose of learning
      3. Violate Microsoft's confidentiality agreement
    4. Computer-based Training (CBT)
      1. "ViaGrafix" CDs (www.viagrafix.com)
        1. provide a choppy overview
        2. limited test questions
        3. expensive supplement in your studies
    5. Flashcards (best when hole-punched & put on a ring)
      1. "For Dummies" flashcards (www.
        1. similar to their book's questions
        2. questions seem either too simple or too obscure
      2. O'Reilly's flashcards (www.oreilly.com)
        1. nicely written "Definitions" format
    6. Microsoft's Certification & Training website (www.microsoft.com/train_cert)
      1. "The" source for all your MCT information
      2. Secure web sites available for MCPs, MCTs, and AATPs
    7. Practice Exams
      1. Beachfront Quizzer (www.beachfront.com)
        1. Liked by some students
      2. Self Test Software (www.selftestsoftware.com)
        1. Microsoft's official sponsored exam prep vendor
        2. Very accurate
        3. Excellent value (about $70)
      3. Transcender (www.transcender.com)
        1. Consistently rated well by MCP magazine
        2. Very accurate
        3. Expensive (about $150)
        4. like many prep tools, discounted "packages" available
    8. Study Guides
      1. "CramSession.com" study guides
        1. available *free* on the web (www.cramsession.com)
        2. useful information
      2. "Quick Access" study guides (www.rea.com)
        1. laminated pages with basic information
        2. good value and portability (about $6)
      3. "Troy Technologies USA" study guides (www.troytec.com)
        1. good value for "sample" test questions (about $35)
        2. similar to Braindumps
  9. Tips for being an excellent Microsoft Certified Trainer
    1. Like the Scout Motto: "Be Prepared"
      1. Practice every lab exercise
      2. Watch any included videos
    2. Arrive early; plan on staying late
    3. Control the room environment
      1. Temperature
      2. Layout
      3. Equipment
        1. Have a tech available for the first couple of classes
    4. Have a list of class attendees
    5. Get past introductions and facility logistics quickly
    6. Make students feel comfortable
    7. Handle problem students
    8. Pace yourself
    9. Answering questions: allow the audience to help
    10. Add real-life stories and humor when appropriate
    11. Never put down Microsoft, the training facility, or another person
    12. Smile and be enthusiastic!
  10. In Conclusion, becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer is
    1. challenging
    2. rewarding
    3. time-consuming, and
    4. ongoing--so start studying for your next exam!

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