What will you learn in the Excel VBA course?

In the Excel VBA course you learn how to automate common tasks in Excel using Visual Basic for Applications. You work with the VBA editor, write procedures and functions, use variables and program user forms. You also gain insight into the Excel object model and learn how to deal with error messages. Optionally, attention is given to Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

How long does the Excel VBA course take and in which delivery format is it given?

The Excel VBA course is offered as an open learning day. You spend a full course day working through the material at your own pace, with personal guidance from an experienced trainer. When you book, you indicate which version of Excel you use, so that you receive the right materials. You may also bring your own practical example to work on specific issues.

Do you need prior knowledge of Excel for the Excel VBA course?

Yes, the Excel VBA course requires advanced knowledge of Excel. You already work regularly with formulas, functions and preferably also with macros. Programming experience is not required. At the start of the day, the trainer discusses your starting level and adjusts the exercises accordingly, so that you work with VBA at your own level.

Do I receive a certificate after the Excel VBA course?

Yes, on completion of the Excel VBA course you will receive a certificate of participation. This certificate confirms that you have attended the course and have mastered the topics covered, such as working with the VBA editor, procedures, variables and Userforms. You can add the certificate to your CV or LinkedIn profile to demonstrate your Excel automation skills to employers.

Can you also take the Excel VBA course in-company?

Yes, the Excel VBA course is also available as an in-company course. You then follow the course with your own team at a location of your choice, for example at the office. The content is tailored to your practical situation, so that you work with examples from your own working environment. Request a quotation for the options and scheduling.

What course material do you receive with the Excel VBA course?

With the Excel VBA course you receive a complete course book that matches your version of Excel. When booking, you indicate which version you use, so that the material fits your working environment exactly. You can also bring an example from your own practice to apply directly to situations from your own work. Afterwards you keep the material as a reference work.

When do you opt for Excel VBA and when is a macro course enough?

A macro course is sufficient if you mainly want to record and play back actions, for example formatting a weekly report or filtering a fixed data set. You then work with the macro recorder and adjust small pieces of code at most. You choose Excel VBA as soon as you want to go beyond recording. You then write procedures yourself, use variables, work with loops and conditional logic, build your own functions and UserForms, and control the Excel object model directly. In practical terms this means: if you want to process several files at once, need error handling, or want to build forms for other users, VBA is the right choice. If you only work with separate, repetitive tasks in a single file, macros will often take you far enough. The Excel VBA course is aimed at the first group.

Is Excel VBA still relevant now that Copilot offers AI functions in Excel?

Yes, VBA remains relevant and in fact complements Copilot. Copilot in Excel is strong at ad-hoc analyses, generating formulas and summarising data based on a prompt. VBA is intended for repeatable, deterministic automation: procedures that do exactly the same thing every time, linked to buttons, events or automatic start-up. Think of reports that have to run identically every month, Userforms for data entry, or integration with the Excel object model. In the Excel VBA course you learn to write and adapt code in the VBA editor, build variables and functions, and handle error messages. Optionally, Excel with Copilot is also covered, so that you know when to use which tool. Choose VBA if you need control, repeatability and bespoke solutions; use Copilot for exploration and quick tasks.

How does Excel VBA compare with Python for data automation in the office?

VBA and Python are both suitable for automating Excel tasks, but they are used in different situations. VBA is built into Excel and has direct access to the Excel object model. You do not need any external installation and your macros run on any workstation with Office. That makes VBA ideal for automation within workbooks, forms, Userforms and tasks that colleagues need to be able to run themselves. Python is more powerful for heavy data analysis, machine learning and links with databases or web services, but it requires a separate installation and knowledge of libraries such as pandas or openpyxl. For most office processes in which Excel files are central, VBA is more practical and easier to share with colleagues. In this course you focus entirely on VBA within Excel, including the object model, variables, procedures and error handling.

What concrete time savings does VBA deliver compared with recording macros in Excel?

Recorded macros are fine for one-off, linear tasks, but they become slow and unwieldy as soon as you want to handle conditions, loops or multiple workbooks. With VBA you write code that works selectively: only rows that meet a condition, only sheets with a particular name, or only when a file opens for the first time. That often makes a difference of a factor of 10 to 100 in execution time, because you switch off screen updates and process arrays in memory instead of cell by cell. Maintenance is more realistic too: a recorded macro breaks with every layout change, whereas a VBA procedure with variables and error handling remains robust. In the Excel VBA course you learn exactly that step: from recorded code to reusable procedures, functions and UserForms. A macro course is sufficient if you never go beyond fixed buttons for fixed tasks.

Can I have VBA code reviewed during this course that I have written myself or inherited from a colleague?

Yes. You may bring your own VBA code to the open learning day and go through it with the trainer. This applies both to code you have written yourself and to macros or modules taken over from a colleague who has left the organisation. The trainer will look at structure, readability, error handling and the use of the Excel object model. You will receive concrete suggestions for improvement and an explanation of why certain constructions are more efficient. This works best if you indicate in advance which file you are bringing, so that the trainer can take it into account when planning the day. For full code audits of large VBA projects, a separate bespoke assignment is more appropriate than a regular course day.

Does this course also cover how to combine Excel VBA with Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Yes, optionally. During the Excel VBA course you can indicate that you also want to look at the interplay with Microsoft 365 Copilot, the AI assistant in Excel. The trainer will then show you how Copilot helps you explain existing VBA code, suggest formulas and summarise data, and where VBA retains its added value. VBA remains necessary for repeatable automation, event procedures, Userforms and links with other Office applications. Copilot is stronger at ad-hoc analyses and natural-language instructions. You learn when to choose which route and how to use both alongside each other. Whether this part is actually covered is agreed at the start of the open learning day, together with the other topics you want to address.

Excel VBA course (2 days)

Name: Excel VBA
Price: 1100.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 8.6 (10 reviews)

With VBA you take your Excel work to a higher level. You automate tasks, write your own functions and build smart forms. Optionally, you also look at Excel with Copilot, so that you learn to use AI and VBA alongside each other.

Description

In this Excel VBA course you work on automating common tasks in Excel using VBA code. You learn how to generate and adapt code via the VBA editor and how to use Excel's object model for smarter spreadsheets. You create procedures, work with variables and program your own functions and Userforms. Error handling and automatically starting procedures are also covered. The course optionally pays attention to working with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel, so that you also gain experience with AI support alongside VBA.

Topics

Insight into the Excel object model and the basic concepts of VBA
Working effectively with the VBA editor
Creating procedures and sub-procedures
Creating and using variables
Writing your own functions in VBA
Applying programming techniques for loops and conditions
Programming forms and UserForms
Procedures that start automatically
Handling error messages and debugging
Optional: using Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Result

After this course you can independently automate recurring tasks in Excel using VBA. You write and adapt code in the VBA editor, work with variables, procedures and custom functions, and build Userforms for data entry. You know how to handle error messages and how to start procedures automatically. The result: working with Excel faster and more enjoyably. If you have opted for the optional Copilot module, you can also use AI to speed up your VBA work in Excel.

Target audience

This course is intended for Excel users who work with macros on a regular basis and want to take their spreadsheets to a higher level with VBA. Think of staff in finance, controlling, data or analysis departments who want to automate recurring tasks and build their own bespoke solutions in Excel. Some experience with Excel and macros is a useful basis.

Teaching method

You follow this training course in our open learning format: one day on location, where you work in a small group with your own laptop and course material. The trainer walks around, answers your questions and helps you on your way as soon as you get stuck.

Because everyone works at their own pace, you decide what to focus on. Do you have an example from your own practice? Bring it along and you can work directly on an issue from your job. Would you optionally also like to get acquainted with Copilot in Excel? That is possible during the same course day.

Prior knowledge

You work with Excel regularly and know the basics of formulas and functions. Experience with macros is useful, but not essential. You do not need any programming experience yet. Would you like to get more out of your spreadsheets? Then this is the right place for you.

Comments

You follow the course in our open learning format: a single course day in which you work with VBA in Excel under the guidance of an experienced trainer. You work at your own pace and decide for yourself which topics receive extra attention. Feel free to bring along an example from your own practice, so that you can get to work on your own questions straight away. When booking, please indicate which version of Excel you use, so that our planners can arrange the right course material. Optionally, we also cover working with Copilot in Excel.

Course format

This training is offered on the basis of our Open Learning teaching method. This means that you work independently, with active guidance from our trainer, to master the material. That way you can achieve your learning objectives at your own pace, without being held back by fellow participants working faster or slower. The trainer makes sure that you stay on schedule and meet your learning objectives. This form of learning leaves room for a tailored approach. You have the opportunity to bring in examples from your own practice and IT environment, so that your learning is even more specific. more...

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.

Number of days:

2 days

Course times:

from 10 am to 5 pm

Study load:

14 hours

Education level:

This training is suitable for all levels.

Exemptions:

Exemptions do not apply to this course.

Preparation time:

No preparation time applies to this course.

Certificate:

At the end of the course, a certificate is issued as proof of participation.

The best training for you

At Learnit you will always find a course that takes you further. From (technical) IT skills to communication or personal leadership. You can also choose the training format that suits you best: a classroom course, a tailor-made course at your own office, an online course or an e-learning. We have the right course and the right format for everyone. Because learning in the way that suits you best delivers the best results.

Moving forward together

Taking a training course at Learnit means learning together. Together with your experienced trainer, together with your course group or together with your colleagues. And whether you take the training at home, at your office or at one of our training locations, we are always available to help you. To share our knowledge with you in a way that is genuinely useful to you. Getting further together through personal attention and understanding each other well; that is what we believe in.

Apply it directly in your work

Learning theory from a book that you can then hardly use in your work? Not at Learnit! Whichever training you take with us, you can put it to use at your workplace straight away. Because of the unique learning objectives you set together with the trainer at the start of the training. Because of the alternation between theory and (interactive) practical assignments. And by bringing the challenges you face in your daily work along to the training.