Is Becoming an MS Certified Office Professional Worth It?

Have you thought about taking the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification test? Before you do, find out what it's really all about and whether or not it's right for you.

So what is a Microsoft Office Specialist?

Microsoft defines it as a person who has passed an exam administered through an authorized testing center on one of the Microsoft Office 2003, Microsoft Office XP, or Microsoft Office XP products. You're tested in Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, Outlook or Project. Expert levels are also offered for Word and Excel products.

Benefits:

• ComputerCoach.com suggests that individuals experience increased credibility with co-workers, employers and clients.
• Certiport.com states that certified Office Specialists earn an average of 12% more than individuals who are not certified.
• 88% of managers polled reported Microsoft Office Certification gives an employee an advantage in hiring and promotion.
• Additional education often leads to increased job satisfaction.
• You may experience an increase in competency and productivity.

It can help build your reputation as a desktop computing expert in your organization.

So what's it all about?

If you've decided to become a Certified Office Specialist, there are a number of options available to you. You can take one or all the exams on the Office products. You will be tested on everyday activities that an Office Specialist should be able to do.

Word Specialists should be able to:

• Format text and paragraphs
• Create tables and columns
• Manage files
• Work with pictures and charts

An Excel Specialist should be able to:

• Format cells and worksheets
• Enter formulas and basic functions
• Work with multiple worksheets
• Create charts
• Insert objects

Exams

It's important to be prepared for each exam as they aren't free and ideally, you would like to pass the first time. There is no limit to the amount of times you can take the exam, but being prepared the first time will cut down on the cost associated with taking multiple exams. You can easily find a Microsoft partner to administer the exam by visiting Certipro.com.

Resources 

There are a number of resources to help you prepare for the exam:

• Microsoft Office Specialist book 2003 edition
• Microsoft Learning Resources - for the exam of your choice
• Demo exam Word 2002 - interactive example of what the Word test will be like
• Demo exam Excel 2002 - interactive example of what the Excel test will be like

Training 

Training that prepares you for the exams are available for the following:

• Word 2003
• Excel 2003
• PowerPoint 2003
• Access 2003
• Outlook 2003

While these certifications are the standard among office professionals, there are other certifications that hold value in our careers. Becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) is another great choice for increasing your knowledge base of Microsoft products. The MCP program offers several certifications based on an area of expertise. To become a Certified Professional requires you to pass a series of exams that apply to the area of expertise that you choose. While these certifications tend to more technical, it's a great way to create a well-rounded technical and professional resume. Programs most appropriate to office professionals include:

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

Enables you to target specific technologies like: Office specializations, .NET Framework Specializations, SQL Server Specializations, Business Intelligence Specializations and Windows Specializations.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

We often find ourselves in the roll of IT support whether it's in our job descriptions or not, so why not take advantage? This program focuses on 9 areas designed for IT administrators and support:

• Business Intelligence Developer
• Consumer Support Technician
• Database Developer
• Database Administrator
• Enterprise Messaging Administrator
• Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
• Enterprise Support Technician
• Server Administrator
• Enterprise Administrator

MCP exams usually cost about $150 a piece and can be taken online through Prometric.com.

Measureup.com offers a variety of training tools and practice exams. You can create lesson plans as well as take online courses to prepare for exam day. These MCP training services are offered at a fee, but are highly regarded as necessary for preparation.

Microsoft Certifications are undoubtedly a great way to advance in our careers. In many cases, an employer you're already with will invest in the opportunity to have such a skilled individual on his/her staff. Be sure to ask about reimbursement opportunities or any raises that may compensate your new skills.

If you're looking for a job and in the meantime secure a Microsoft Certification, be sure to include it in your resume. Don't use the acronym at the bottom of your resume. Spell it out and even mention it in your cover letter. This certification means you are ready to be productive from day one (an asset for any organization).

If you're looking to expand your skills and build your career, visit the OfficeArrow Career and Education Services section.

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