The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS Certification), is a certification that benefits everyone looking for a job. It covers all aspects of Microsoft Office, which is a necessity in almost all job fields. However, this certification also benefits companies and organizations.
What is a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification?
A Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification is an exam that tests the candidate’s knowledge on Microsoft Office. Microsoft offers the specialist certification for their Office 2016. For Office 365 you can pursue MCSA Office 365.
Some certifications will be easier to prepare for, especially if you have received a college degree in computer technology or business administration.
There are five tests in this certification program. However, it is possible to become a specialist in specific parts of Microsoft Office. Companies can benefit from an MOS Certification if they identify which Office programs they use, and make sure their employees are certified for those.
What Information is tested?
There are five exams you must pass to receive an MOS Certification. They cover each part of Office 2016, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint.
In particular:
- Exam 77-725 (Word 2016: Core Document Creation, Collaboration, and Communication)
- Exam 77-727 (Excel 2016: Core Data Analysis, Manipulation, and Presentation)
- Exam 77-729 (Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2016)
- Exam 77-730 (Microsoft Office Access 2016)
- Exam 77-731 (Microsoft Outlook 2016)
The exams are designed to help everyone make progress in career advancement.
Each MOS Certification test should take no more than four hours, and you must take it at an authorized center. They are performance based, and each question is assigned a point value.
MOS Certification Upgrade
Once you achieve the MOS Office Specialist certification, the next step is to pass another exam to become an MTA professional and then choose one of the advanced Microsoft Office Certifications.
How Do MOS Certifications Benefit Individuals?
People should look at getting an MOS Certification, even if their employers do not recommend it. It gives your resume a boost, and you will increase your potential income. It is also the first step necessary to becoming an MOS Expert or MOS Master.
Roughly, 80-percent of employers and recruiters will look for candidates who have experience with Microsoft Office. If you already have a certification, they will be able to see the level of your knowledge before interviewing you. This will help your application make it through the first round of the hiring process.
After receiving the MOS Certification, you can further your career by becoming an MOS Expert or Master. There are only a few tests necessary to go from the basic certification to the Master certification. The higher credentials make you more attractive to companies.
How Do MOS Certifications Benefit the Education Industry?
From students to administrators, the education industry is behind in preparing students for success in college or the workplace. An MOS Certification makes sure that the curriculum and course effectiveness is optimized. Students are able to focus on the content, while teachers and administrators can help increase the student’s education.
More students are coming to class with laptops in hand, so having a classroom that is interactive will benefit them. Using PowerPoint and other Microsoft Office tools, you can make sure that the students have resources necessary to fully prepare them for the workplace.
It is vital that teachers and administration remain up-to-date on technology in order to keep the effectiveness of the education on par for the workplace.
How Do MOS Certifications Benefit Corporations?
When people at any level of an organization are not proficient with Microsoft Office, the productivity of the company is decreased. An MOS Certification for employees and management benefit the company by maximizing the productivity levels, but also assist with keeping documentation organized. In addition, it decreases the amount of time, and money spent training individuals on the technology the company uses.
Businesses have a greater chance to grow if they stay ahead of the competition with their technology. When the company has MOS Certified employees, they will be able to meet the demands of consumers and put them at a position to acquire other companies.
How Do MOS Certifications Benefit Governmental Job?
It is vital that people in government jobs know how to properly use the Microsoft Office suite. With the MOS Certification, employees will have skills that every employer needs, allowing them to meet the goals of the company. The executives will also know that their employees possess the skills necessary to optimize the productivity and require minimal training.
Microsoft offers governments the ability to create presentations and slide shows that can be used to work with the public. Extensive knowledge on using spreadsheets and email is necessary when collecting information from the constituents, especially when issuing food stamps, cash assistance, and other governmentally funded programs.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Office Specialist Certification is a guarantee that every level of personnel in a company is fully capable of working with Microsoft Office. The more employees the company has that have an MOS Certification, Microsoft rewards the company by collaborating with them. The trust that is put into Microsoft transfers to the companies they collaborate with.