Excel automation: macros, VBA, UserForms, events, error handling.
Before starting, we run a 1-minute tech check — microphone, ambient noise, connection. If your setup isn't good enough, the test is fully refunded.
Prove your Excel VBA skills in 15 minutes: robust macros, UserForms, error handling, and multi-tool integration — not just the macro recorder.
The Plume Excel VBA & Macros badge certifies your ability to automate Excel at a professional level: writing structured macros, designing event-driven UserForms, handling errors properly with Err.Raise and custom error numbers, and connecting to external sources via ADO or REST APIs. The 15-minute oral exam is run by an AI examiner (OpenAI Realtime) that covers eight calibrated themes — from refactoring legacy code to VBA vs. Power Automate trade-offs — then a second model (Claude Opus) reads the full transcript and produces a 0-100 score with a certified proficiency level.
Unlike a self-declared "Advanced VBA" skill on LinkedIn, this badge draws a real line between someone who relies on the macro recorder and someone who writes clean, object-based code without Select/Activate, structures projects across modules and classes, handles resources correctly, and knows when VBA is the wrong tool for the job. The AI pushes on concrete situations: a recurring report handed off to non-technical users, undocumented legacy code taken over and refactored, a complex UserForm with real-time validation.
This badge is for financial analysts, management accountants, data analysts, consultants, and Office developers who use Excel VBA in production and want to prove it objectively. It's equally relevant for anyone navigating the shift toward Office Scripts, Python in Excel, and Power Automate, and who wants to show they can argue the right tool for the right context.
Here are the concrete dimensions the AI examines during the 15-minute oral.
Solid command of VBA syntax: loops, collections, dynamic arrays, procedures and functions, and direct object manipulation on Range and Worksheet without Select or Activate.
Ability to take over poorly documented VBA, eliminate anti-patterns (Select, ActiveCell, untyped variables), and restructure into coherent modules without breaking existing functionality.
Designing complex VBA forms: handling Initialize, Change, and BeforeUpdate events, validating inputs on the form side, and reliably syncing data back to the underlying workbook.
Going beyond On Error Resume Next: using Err.Raise with custom error numbers, applying resource cleanup patterns (Close, Nothing), and logging errors in production environments.
Connecting to external sources from VBA: SQL queries via ADO/DAO, driving Outlook or Word via OLE Automation, calling REST APIs with WinHTTP, and interacting with Power Query.
Structuring a project across standard modules, class modules, ThisWorkbook, and sheet-level code: naming conventions, encapsulation, and parameterizing via named constants or config sheets.
Identifying VBA's limits (no multi-threading, desktop dependency, macro security) and making a clear case for Power Automate, Office Scripts, Python in Excel, or a dedicated app depending on context.
Practices that make code last: systematic Option Explicit, strong typing, targeted comments, structured manual testing, and documentation that lets someone else pick up the project without guesswork.
Final scoring is performed by Claude (Anthropic), which reads back the full transcript and applies this weighted criteria grid.
Depth and quality of the code you describe: handling Excel objects (Range, Worksheet, Workbook), advanced control structures, class modules, and consistent avoidance of anti-patterns. This is the most differentiating criterion.
Ability to structure a VBA project for readability and long-term maintainability: module breakdown, encapsulation, parameter management, and separation of business logic from the presentation layer.
Code reliability in real-world conditions: error handling beyond the basics, resource cleanup, and graceful behavior when data is missing, files are locked, or unexpected inputs arrive.
Knowledge of VBA bridges into the Office ecosystem (ADO, Outlook Automation, Power Query) and ability to make a reasoned argument for or against VBA compared to modern alternatives.
Ability to explain complex technical concepts in a structured way, provide context for your choices, and calibrate the level of detail to match the question being asked.
A Plume session takes about 20 minutes, from tech check to badge delivery.
The AI confirms your mic is working and the audio connection is stable. No screen sharing or live coding required — the entire exam is conversational.
You give a quick overview of your background and walk through your most significant VBA project: the problem you solved, the scale of the code (modules, lines, users), and what made it technically interesting.
The AI asks 5 to 6 calibrated questions on concrete themes: refactoring legacy code, UserForm design, advanced error handling, ADO or Outlook integration, and the VBA vs. alternatives trade-off. It adapts based on your answers to probe where it matters.
The AI asks for your take on VBA's future in 2024 alongside Office Scripts and Python in Excel, and which project types you'd still recommend it for — an open question designed to reveal your level of strategic perspective.
Claude Opus analyzes the full transcript and delivers a 0-100 score, a certified level (Novice to Expert), and a detailed point-by-point report. Your badge is immediately available on your Plume profile.
Your score out of 100 translates into a level a recruiter can grasp at a glance.
You rely mainly on the macro recorder and make minor edits to existing scripts. Your code contains frequent Select and ActiveCell calls, error handling is absent or limited to On Error Resume Next, and you work in a single module without any deliberate structure.
You write VBA from scratch without the recorder, work directly with Range and Worksheet objects, and organize code across multiple procedures. You can build simple UserForms and handle errors with On Error GoTo. You've shipped automated tools to colleagues in a real work context.
You design multi-module projects with class modules, handle Workbook and Worksheet events, and connect Excel to external sources via ADO or OLE Automation. You use Err.Raise with custom error numbers and can refactor legacy code cleanly without regressions.
You architect full Excel applications with layered separation (data, logic, presentation), integrate REST APIs via WinHTTP, drive Word or Outlook through Automation, and advise objectively on the VBA/Power Automate/Office Scripts/Python in Excel boundary depending on the client's constraints.
No degree or years of experience required to take the badge. Here are the profiles it makes the most sense for.
You build automated Excel reports and want to prove your VBA is production-grade and maintainable — not just "works on my machine" — to land more technical roles or consulting engagements.
You combine Power Query, Power Pivot, and VBA to deliver dashboards to business users. This badge certifies the VBA layer of your skill set and sets you apart from pure BI or Python-only profiles.
You build turnkey Excel tools for clients and need to justify your technology choices against Power Apps or Python. The badge shows you have a principled view of where VBA fits and where it doesn't.
You want to break into Office automation roles and prove you go beyond recorded scripts. The Plume badge gives you an objective credential to stand out against more experienced candidates.
You build custom VBA solutions for multiple clients and need a credible certification to share on LinkedIn or your website, without committing to a long and expensive training program.
Where and how your Excel VBA & Macros badge will help you day to day.
A recruiter sees 'Advanced VBA' on your resume but can't verify it. You share your Plume badge URL: they access your score, certified level, and detailed report, turning a self-declaration into hard evidence.
A client is looking for a consultant to overhaul their monthly reporting macros. You attach your Excel VBA badge to your proposal to show you know how to refactor legacy code and deliver something maintainable.
You're moving from a finance role to a Power User or Business Analyst position. The badge certifies your VBA skills and backs up your request for internal mobility with your manager and HR.
You add the Plume badge to your LinkedIn Licenses & Certifications section. Keywords like VBA, UserForms, ADO, and Excel automation appear in the public report, boosting your visibility to recruiters searching on those terms.
You're weighing whether to invest time in learning Office Scripts or Python in Excel. The badge report pinpoints your exact VBA gaps (often error handling or architecture) so you can choose the most useful next step.
A CTO wants technical references before handing over a critical Excel tool for rebuilding. You share your badge to add credibility to your proposal without exposing confidential client code.
A few minutes to check you have everything you need.
At the end of your session you don't just get a score — here's everything that awaits you.
You get a precise numerical score and an official proficiency level (Novice, Proficient, Advanced, or Expert) that accurately reflects your real VBA mastery, from project architecture to error handling patterns.
Claude Opus produces a written report broken down by criterion (VBA technique, architecture, robustness, integration, clarity), identifying your strengths and specific areas to work on based on your actual answers.
The recording of your 15-minute session is accessible only from your account. Replay it to spot the moments where your explanations of ADO, UserForms, or error handling were less precise than you'd like.
You get a unique public URL showing your score, level, and summary report. Add it to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or client proposal to prove your VBA skills without any unverifiable self-declaration.
Discover related skills you can validate with Plume.
A 15-min oral exam with an AI, a shareable badge for your recruiters.
Choose this badge · €19.99
