Microsoft Office Specialist: How Do I Become Certified?

A Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification can expedite the hiring process and help you stand out when applying for jobs. Read to learn about the steps that can help you get your Microsoft certification.

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Avg. Wages For Related Jobs
$20000$30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000
Office machine operators, except computer
Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
Computer specialists, all other
Computer support specialists
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Microsoft Office Specialist Certification: Essential Info
There are several steps to earning a certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist.

First, you must have computer skills necessary to complete advanced courses in Microsoft Office.
Second, you have to enroll in and complete these courses.
Third, you must choose a Microsoft Office Specialist certification program.
Finally, you need to pepare for and complete certification exams.
Microsoft Office certifications are generally optional credentials that can demonstrate specialized competence in one or more Microsoft Office programs. Workers can prove their skills and proficiency with Microsoft computer programs by earning the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification. Individuals can elect to earn certification in one or more Microsoft programs, such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint. Before taking the exam, individuals have the option of self-guided training or participating in formal computer courses and workshops. There are no degree requirements to take the MOS certification exams. Let’s take a look at the steps to becoming a MOS.

A Microsoft Office Specialist needs to work with Microsoft computer programs, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Excel is a spreadsheet software program that allows users to store data and compute results. PowerPoint is software specialized for designing and animating slideshow presentations. Microsoft Word is a word processing software used for generating and editing text documents. This software is commonly used for writing essays, letters, novels, and other documents. The certification you receive after passing an MOS exam proves that you are an expert in the complexities of the advanced features that these programs provide.

Degree Level None to take the exam; position requirements may vary
Training Windows training and Microsoft Office training for the product of your choice
Experience None required for certification
Key Skills Basic computer skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office products
Testing Details Tests take approximately 90 minutes and results are available immediately; must be taken at an authorized Microsoft Test site
Average Annual Salary (2019) $39,950 (for secretaries and administrative assistants)*
$51,740 (for paralegals and legal assistants)*
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

How to Become a Microsoft Office Specialist
Step 1: Obtain Basic Computer Skills
Before becoming a certified Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), individuals must obtain basic computer skills. MOS certification specifically requires training in Microsoft programs and operating systems. Students may enroll in a basic computer program if they have little or no computer skills, or they can enroll in a program that allows them to learn a specific skill, such as how to use the Internet. Here are some of the basic computer skills you will need before enrolling in Microsoft Office Courses:

Using a mouse and keyboard to navigate the computer
Turning on a computer and using the operating system to perform basic functions
Accessing the Internet
Creating and saving files
Organizing files within folders
Step 2: Enroll in Microsoft Office Courses
The next step is to enroll in Microsoft Office courses. Although individuals can teach themselves how to use Microsoft Office programs, college-level courses and workshops offer professional training that can teach a student about the proper way to use all the features of a program, which is information that is usually covered on certification tests. Colleges and universities typically offer courses under different skill levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. Each class usually covers only one Microsoft Office software program, such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook or PowerPoint.

Step 3: Choose a MOS Certification Program
To achieve MOS certification, the next step is to choose a software program to become certified in. Individuals can obtain certification for all Microsoft Office programs, but certification for each software program requires passing a different exam.

Workers who create and update documents, such as newsletters, invitations, press releases or manuals, would benefit most by obtaining MOS Word certification. Those workers in charge of managing and creating databases might consider earning a MOS Access certification. For professionals who frequently give presentations, MOS PowerPoint certification would be a good choice. MOS Outlook certification may be useful for a professional who works in a company that uses Microsoft Outlook as a closed and secure e-mail system.

Step 4: Prepare for and Pass MOS Certification Exams
The final step is to take the certification exam or exams. MOS certification exams are only administered through testing centers authorized by Microsoft. Each certification exam takes about 90 minutes to complete. Exam questions ask applicants to complete a task using the appropriate tools within the software program. For example, the MOS PowerPoint certification exam might ask exam takers to make a slideshow with embedded video links.

Test takers are able to immediately view their results after completing the exam. Those who pass the exam are recognized as officially certified and will receive an MOS certification certificate through the mail. Those who do not pass the exam have the opportunity to challenge answers marked incorrect or retake the exam.

Career and Salary Info for MOS
Many jobs require Microsoft Office Specialist certification, and MOS certification can also boost an applicant’s employment potential. Examples of jobs for which this certification can be helpful include paralegal, secretary/administrative assistant, office manager, IT support technician, and database specialist. Paralegals and legal assistants earned a mean annual salary of $51,740, according to May 2019 salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Secretaries and administrative assistants earned an average of $39,850 as of the same year, also per the bureau. According to the same BLS dataset from May 2019, administrative or office managers had a median salary of $96,940, computer and IT support specialists earned a median salary of $54,760, and database administrators or specialists earned a median of $132,500.

The BLS also predicts that, from 2019 to 2029, paralegal jobs will grow by 10%, administrative assistant jobs will decline by 9%, office manager jobs will grow by 6%, IT specialist jobs will grow by 8%, and database administrator jobs will grow by 10%. The table below summarizes salary information and job outlook for jobs that use MOS certification.

Job Median Salary % Growth or Decline
Paralegal $51,740 10%
Administrative Assistant $39,850 -9% (decline)
Office Manager $96,940 6%
IT Support Technician $54,760 8%
Database Specialist $132,500 10%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Expert Contributor: Allesha Fogle Allesha has graduate degrees in software engineering and computer science. She has over 15 years’ experience in software and application development.

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