A certification course is not a standard programme. At least, not the way I do it.
Yes, the exam objectives are fixed. The material is defined by Microsoft. But how that material lands depends on who's in the room. That's something I steer myself.
It starts with an intake
Before we begin anything, I want to know who the participants are. What's their background? How much experience do they have with the subject? And above all: what's the challenge they face in their day-to-day work?
That intake is not a formality. It's the foundation of everything that follows. I use that information to give the training a recognisable starting point, so participants don't open with an abstract slide, but with something they actually know.
Sometimes that intake even becomes the training's opening itself: "Does this look familiar? That's exactly what we'll be working on today."
Fixed structure, personal delivery
Every certification course follows the learning objectives as Microsoft has defined them. It has to — the exam tests that knowledge. But within that structure, there's room for how I deliver it.
I connect each topic to the participants' reality. Where possible, we work with their own data or recognisable scenarios. Not: "here's how it works in theory." But: "here's how you'll actually use this."
The goal is not just passing the exam. It's understanding why things work the way they do, so it sticks beyond the exam room.
Microsoft Certified Trainer
I'm certified as a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT). That means I'm officially authorised by Microsoft to use their training materials and prepare participants for the corresponding exams.
A requirement of the MCT programme is that you hold the certifications yourself for the courses you teach. Makes sense: you can only explain well what you've actually done. Knowing the theory and sitting the exam are two different things.
On top of that, Microsoft expects MCTs to stay current. New versions, changed exam objectives, platform updates: I actively track these and work them into my training.
Certifications I deliver
I currently deliver training for the following Microsoft certifications:
- PL-300 — Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- DP-600 — Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
- DP-900 — Azure Data Fundamentals
- AZ-900 — Azure Fundamentals
- MB-280 — Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst
I hold each of these certifications myself. That's the baseline: without the certificate, you simply aren't allowed to deliver the training. But it's also my conviction. You can only properly explain what you've gone through yourself.
How this translates to my approach
The way of working I apply across all my training applies here too: intake, alignment, room for questions. The only difference is that the end goal is more clearly defined. You leave with the knowledge and confidence to pass the exam.
Curious whether it's a good fit for your team? Tell me what's going on and I'll think along about the best setup.
Or browse the full overview of trainings and workshops if you'd like a broader look.