The frantic pace of a technician’s 200 hours of brain-stretching study has caught the eye of a film crew from the USA.

Matt Waddell’s Herculean commitment and dedication of achieving five Microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) qualifications – in just six months – so impressed the Oregon-based tech training firm he used, CBT Nuggets, that they have filmed his efforts for a motivational short film for their students.

Matt, from Prestatyn, was spurred on by his former employer, Paul Crudge of Chester-based Pro-Networks Ltd, who challenged him to secure passes in every one of five demanding IT exams with the promise of a dream job as a ‘third line network engineer’ if he succeeded.

He said: “I like a challenge and I jumped at the chance. The role I have now is the support of the support teams. We’re the top of the ladder – kind of like the special forces of IT.”

The crew filmed at Pro-Networks; his home in Y Ffrith; Rhyl railway station; and even Rhuddlan castle – which didn’t make the final edit.

Matt, 35, said: “It was certainly weird being filmed. Being interviewed was hard enough but on top of that they took me to a castle that I certainly didn’t study in.

“I think they just wanted to a see a castle while they were here. It was a really good experience though.”

To cram so much study into just six months – while also maintaining a full-time IT management job in Altrincham – Matt made full use of a range of devices, including his smartphone tablet and laptop to ingest information while he commuted to work, waited for trains and even while washing the dishes.

He added: “I spent well over 200 hours studying for the exams online and it was almost six months to the day since Paul’s challenge that I passed.

“Continuous progression and keeping your eye on the ever-changing technology landscape is essential for any system engineers. Since completing that first MCSE, I’ve not taken my foot off the gas. I have a total of five MCSE and four Microsoft certified systems associate qualifications.”

Those impressive achievements have involved Matt passing 21 exams and clocking up more than 300 hours of studying time since 2016.

Mr Crudge said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Matt and his amazing commitment in achieving his goals. I knew he was more than capable of meeting my challenge.“