Are VBA Bootcamps Worth It?

Having VBA knowledge can be incredibly beneficial if you work with Microsoft Office products on a daily basis—particularly Excel. Being able to automate tasks, create macros and analyze data, among others, can make your work life so much easier. When it comes to learning VBA, there are different routes you can take, including enrolling in a bootcamp. This article will help you determine if a VBA bootcamp is worth it for you.

What Is VBA?

VBA, also known as Visual Basics for Applications, is a computer programming language that was developed and is owned by Microsoft. It can be found in Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, Visio and Word. VBA can only be used in Microsoft Office products, it is not a stand-alone product.

Using VBA, you can create macros that automate repetitive data- and word-processing functions, as well as create custom reports, graphs and forms. In the world of programming languages, many people find that learning VBA is easy because it has straightforward syntax and is user friendly. Both beginners and individuals with experience in programming/coding languages could benefit from learning VBA.

What Can You Do with VBA?

The short answer to this question is that you can use VBA to make your life easier, especially when using MS Office products. The long answer is that you can use VBA to do the following:

Create Macros

If you work in an industry that deals with huge amounts of data, it could take you an incredibly long time to analyze that information and answer whatever question needs to be answered. However, with VBA, you can create macros that can help you analyze and adjust incredible amounts of data in a timely manner.

Update Data

Should you have data that changes frequently, such as in the financial world where trading and pricing can change on a daily basis, using VBA to update your data can save you a lot of time and effort, as well as reduce the potential for errors. Of course, the financial industry isn’t the only field where updating data is beneficial, and if you know how to use VBA, it can be applied to a variety of different jobs.

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Perform Scenario Analysis

There may be times when the outcome of a decision may not be clear or there may be different options. For some insight into what those outcomes might be based on different factors, you can use VBA to perform a scenario analysis. This can give you an idea of what to expect based on certain factors, which may help you plan for the future.

Organize Information

From organizing customer names to creating invoices to developing forms and charts to keeping scientific data straight, VBA can be used to organize information. Having organized data is a great way to ensure your business is running optimally.

Automate Mundane Tasks

VBA can be used to make mundane tasks a breeze. If you find you have to copy and paste values from one place to another or adjust styles across multiple pages, then using VBA to automate those processes can make your life easier and save you some time.

What Industries Currently Use VBA?

Learning VBA can be valuable for a variety of different professionals. For anyone in any industry that works with a lot of data and uses it to make decisions, learning VBA can be incredibly beneficial and save you time and effort while you do your job. Some industries where you might find VBA include the following:

Science and Engineering

Science and engineering are two broad industries that can be narrowed down into specific fields. Whether it’s research science or civil engineering, if there’s a lot of data involved, there’s probably going to be spreadsheets—and VBA will be necessary to keep that data from getting out of hand. VBA can help create charts, graphs and models for experiments and to better understand the outcomes of projected scenarios.

Analysis

“Analysts” come in a variety of shapes and forms, from business intelligence to marketing to human resources to financial analysts, and all of these can benefit from learning VBA. Having this skill will allow you to set metrics, create models and analyze data, which can make your job a lot easier.

Finance

VBA is used extensively throughout the financial world, as individuals in a variety of fields work with large datasets. Using VBA can help organize, clean and analyze data more effectively, as well as create custom functions for specific tasks. 

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is a world where complex processes are the norm. From the assembly line to shipping to accounting to ordering parts, and everything in between, there’s a lot going on. Using VBA to streamline the various processes and analyze data will ensure that every step along the way is done in an effective, efficient manner.

Healthcare

When you think about an industry with a lot of data, healthcare probably comes to mind. Many practices use Excel to keep track of patient data, and VBA can help with the management of that data, as well as creating patient charts, providing disease diagnoses and keeping track of insurance claims and payments, among others.

Why Learn VBA in a Bootcamp?

As mentioned, there are various class options to consider when it comes to learning VBA, but there are some advantages to enrolling in a bootcamp. VBA bootcamps are designed with the professional in mind, which means you’ll learn skills that can upskill your current career or help you transition into a new one. Bootcamps typically dive deeper into the nuances of VBA than an introductory course, so you’ll obtain knowledge that will make you a skilled and valuable employee.

Bootcamps vs. College

VBA is a programming language, and for many individuals who want to go into the computer programming field, they will attend a college or university to obtain specific skills. VBA could be one of the classes they take, but it won’t be the only one. Going to college will provide an individual with a lot of skills and knowledge about the technical world that will make them experts.

Enrolling in college is absolutely an option when it comes to learning VBA, but not everyone has the time or money to invest in this type of education. In addition, you don’t necessarily need a high level of programming knowledge to be able to use VBA. It’s an application that can be used by novices and pros alike.

Bootcamps, while technical, are a better option than college if you're looking to obtain VBA skills in a short amount of time for less money. These classes still cost, but instead of investing tens of thousands of dollars, you may only need to invest a couple hundred to a few thousand. You also won’t have to spend years learning VBA. Depending on the bootcamp, you can attain VBA knowledge in a week to a few months.

Bootcamps will provide you with hands-on experience, but it won’t be as in-depth as a college education. Plus, in a bootcamp, you’ll be focused on one specific skill. You may get a certificate at the end of the bootcamp that says you completed the course, but you won’t get a degree like you would if you attended college. However, if you want to be focused and learn VBA quickly, then a bootcamp might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Bootcamps vs. On-Demand Courses

On-demand courses are designed for individuals who are incredibly busy but still want to learn a new skill. If you enroll in an on-demand class, you are given access to pre-recorded lectures and other materials separated into modules that you work through to learn VBA. The price of on-demand classes can range from under $20 to less than $100. In some cases, depending on who uploaded the on-demand course (some colleges upload their on-demand VBA courses), you may pay more.

The amount of time it will take you to finish an on-demand course will vary. Some are designed to be completed in a few hours, while others may take months. Your motivation will also have an impact on how long it takes you to finish an on-demand course. If you are determined and access the materials every chance you get, you could be finished with the on-demand VBA course in a short amount of time. However, if you tend to procrastinate and aren’t driven, then it could take a long time to finish the on-demand course.

On-demand courses may be less expensive than bootcamps, but they also don’t offer interactions with other students or an instructor. If you have any questions, you may be able to message the instructor or post to a discussion forum, but it may take a while to get a response. 

Having a live instructor can be incredibly beneficial, especially when working with codes and programming. They’ll be able to help you determine what you’re typing in wrong and give feedback on how to fix it. Having access to classmates can also keep you accountable and expose you to new ideas and solutions that you may not have considered on your own.

A downside to bootcamps is that they typically aren’t flexible. You have to attend classes at a specific time each day. If you have a busy schedule, that might be hard to do. Although, a VBA bootcamp can usually be completed in about a week, which means you won’t have to uproot your schedule for too long, and when you’re done, you’ll have practical VBA knowledge that can be applied to everyday tasks.

Bootcamps vs. Free Resources

A lot of individuals will jump at the chance to learn VBA for free, and there are resources to help with this endeavor. However, it’s important to keep in mind that many of the free resources only cover the basics. If you have some experience in coding and/or programming, then using the free resources may be just what you need to learn VBA and add it to your resume. You may even become a pro through practice.

However, if you’re serious about learning VBA to advance your career, then attending a VBA bootcamp is going to be more beneficial than using free resources. Again, bootcamps are designed with professionals in mind, so you’ll learn exactly what you need to know to make VBA lucrative. The bootcamp may not be free, but you often get what you pay for, and you can get a lot out of attending a VBA bootcamp.

Learn VBA Skills with Noble Desktop

Enrolling in a VBA bootcamp may be worth it, especially if you want to use this skill to further your career. You’ll be required to make an investment in time and money, but the return might include an incredibly lucrative career.

When it comes to learning VBA, this is a skill that can be learned in just a few hours. Whether you’re a beginner looking to break into the coding/programming world or a professional that wants to add more skills to your resume, VBA classes from Noble Desktop can help you achieve your goals.

Noble Desktop offers online and in-person classes, ensuring there’s a class that fits into your budget and your schedule. You even have the option of enrolling in an introductory class, the Excel VBA and Macros Level I class, as well as an advanced class, the Advanced Excel VBA and Macros Level II class, to hone your VBA skills. Both of these classes can be completed in six hours each.

If it’s a bootcamp you’re looking for, then you’ll want to check out the Excel Programming with VBA class offered by Noble Desktop. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to automate repetitive tasks in Excel, as well as how to develop macros, new worksheet functions and custom commands to increase productivity and streamline Excel workflow. You’ll only need to invest 12 hours to complete this VBA bootcamp.

If you’re ready to learn VBA to start your career or take your current one to the next level, Noble Desktop has the classes and bootcamps you’re looking for.