Is VBA a Hard Class?

VBA is considered to be one of the easiest programming languages to learn, but that doesn’t mean everyone is going to breeze through a VBA class. How hard a VBA class is for an individual depends on several factors, including whether or not a person has previous experience with coding/programming and how much knowledge they have of Microsoft Office applications, typically Excel. Although, learning VBA can be achieved by anyone, including beginners, if they are dedicated.

What is Hard about Learning VBA?

Compared to other programming languages, VBA is considered to be a beginner-friendly language, and foundational knowledge can be learned in a few hours to a few weeks. When it comes to advanced skills, these can take months to master. There are several aspects of VBA that some may find make learning this skill challenging, and these including the following:

The Microsoft Dictionary

VBA uses Collections and Arrays to store groups of values, and it’s possible to create a Dictionary, which is similar to a Collection. As a top-level object in the Microsoft Scripting Runtime library, Dictionaries can link keys to items so that they can be recalled later by calling the key by name. For many, VBA Dictionaries are a tough concept to understand.

Function Differences

Another challenge to working with VBA is that this language doesn’t support delegates and doesn’t treat functions as vital as they are treated in other languages. For example, when using VBA, users can’t pass a function from one procedure to another. Instead, you must pass the result of that function. This can make it challenging to implement VBA. This is just one reason that it can be difficult to learn VBA functions on your own without the support of a structured course.

Finding and Fixing Errors

Another aspect that some find challenging when learning VBA is debugging. If there is an issue with your code, that’s going to have an impact on everything, and it can be time consuming and frustrating to go through lines of code to find the issue. Finding and fixing code is an integral process of learning VBA and other programming languages, and with time and patience, it can become less tedious.

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Yet another challenge that someone might face is not having foundational knowledge in Microsoft Office products before learning VBA. While it’s not necessary to be a professional user of Excel, it could make it much easier to learn VBA if you know the nuances of MS Office products. Thankfully, there are classes that can transition you from being an Excel beginner to a pro in a few hours.

How Can I Make Learning VBA Easier?

Learning VBA isn’t a long process, and you can learn a lot in three months or less. However, what you learn in that time will depend on the type of class you take and how much time you dedicate to your studies. If you attend classes full-time, you’ll learn VBA a lot faster than if you take a class occasionally. 

Even with a busy schedule and only dedicating part of your time to learning VBA, you can still obtain some skills within a short amount of time. In fact, it’s possible to finish a bootcamp in as little as 12 hours.

if you’re really trying to fast-track this process, then there are some different options you can consider, including the following:

Free Resources

Should you find that you want or need to learn the basics of VBA, then turning to free resources will be the fastest way for you to get your information. When it comes to learning VBA, you can access free videos on YouTube that will walk you through using this feature, and you can even get information from Microsoft articles or forums about how to use VBA. There are even some free basic courses available from online sites, including Noble Desktop, that will give you a sample of their classes that will teach you how to use VBA.

Posting on Microsoft forums could be an incredibly fast way for you to connect with other VBA users, including industry experts, and get answers to your questions. For other free resources to learn the fundamentals about VBA, check out your local library. You may also be able to access free books online.

On-Demand Courses

Taking an on-demand VBA course could lead to a variety of different results. Depending on exactly what you want to learn, this could be the fastest way to learn VBA, or it could take you a really long time. On-demand courses are designed for you to learn at your own pace, so if you’re motivated, you could get through the lessons in a record amount of time and be ready to start a new job in a few hours or even days. However, if you get distracted easily or don’t have a lot of self-motivation, then an on-demand class could take a long time to complete.

More often than not, on-demand classes are for individuals who are beginners or have some VBA knowledge and need to learn a specific skill. If you have some background in Microsoft Office and programming, then an on-demand class may be just what you need to learn a few skills quickly (if you have the right motivation). Keep in mind that most on-demand courses don’t have a live person to talk to, so if you have questions or issues, you may not have anyone you can turn to for answers.

Introductory Classes

Introductory classes still focus heavily on the basics, but you may learn a few more skills that pertain specifically to VBA and its advanced features relatively quickly. Introductory classes are generally fairly short and are flexible when it comes to enrollment and scheduling. To get the most out of an introductory class for VBA, you may only need to block out a few hours or at most a day.

Introductory classes will more than likely be a bit more technical than a free resource, but you may still need to spend some time exploring VBA yourself to really understand all of its capabilities and to use it effectively.

Certificate Programs

Enrolling in a certificate program may not be the fastest way to learn VBA, but it will provide you with more skills and knowledge that can be applied to your current or a new career. Depending on the type of certificate program you sign up for, you may be able to finish in a few hours or a few weeks—which is still learning VBA faster than attending a college or university.

One of the nice things about a certificate program is that you get proof that you attended the class. This can be beneficial when proving to employers that you know what you’re doing and have taken the time to invest in yourself. Certificate programs are geared toward professionals and individuals who want to further their career, so the information you learn will be the basics and more nuanced information about how to use VBA.

Best Ways to Learn VBA Without Difficulty

Live or online classes are a great option when it comes to learning VBA because you’ll have direct access to an instructor. Not only is it beneficial to ask questions should they arise, but getting feedback on assignments is helpful as well. These classes may not be as flexible as some other options, but you may get more out of them because you’re working with an industry professional who has the goal of making sure you are successful in learning VBA.

A lot of live and online courses, including those provided by Noble Desktop, are designed with professionals in mind. That means that if you’re looking to start a new career or add new skills to your resume, a live or online class can help you achieve your goals. You’ll be taught VBA skills that are useful in real-world situations that can be applied to your current position or allow you to apply for a new job.

It’s no secret that education can be incredibly expensive, and while many live and online classes cost, they are usually more affordable than attending a college or university—they also take less time to complete. Should you find that you’re having a hard time learning certain aspects of VBA, many classes offer the option of re-enrolling to ensure you have the knowledge you need to be successful in your endeavors. That alone could make the investment in live or online classes worth it.

If you’ve decided to learn VBA to advance your career, then a live or online class is a good option. Certificate and professional training programs are created specifically with professionals in mind, so you’ll learn skills that can be used in the workplace. Live and online classes also give you the opportunity to collaborate with others, including classmates and the instructor. 

More often than not, instructors of live and online classes are industry experts, so not only are you learning from a professional, but they can also help you network. You’ll also be able to create connections with classmates, and this could help make learning VBA easier, as you can create study groups and work to overcome any issues that might arise.

Learn VBA with Noble Desktop

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.