Microsoft Office Microsoft Office Specialist Specialist

CertificationCertification

presented by Chuck ElliottMicrosoft Office Specialist: Outlook 2002

Microsoft Office Specialist Expert: Excel 2002

this presentation available online at http://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/mos.ppt

or by sending e-mail request to celliott@marshall.edu

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

AgendaAgenda

What is the Microsoft Office Specialist What is the Microsoft Office Specialist Program?Program?

Certification TracksCertification Tracks Benefits and CostsBenefits and Costs PreparationPreparation Exam FormatExam Format My Personal ExperienceMy Personal Experience Ideas For Continuing Professional Ideas For Continuing Professional

DevelopmentDevelopment Online ResourcesOnline Resources

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

What is the Microsoft Office What is the Microsoft Office Specialist Program?Specialist Program?

Microsoft Office Specialist Microsoft Office Specialist certification is the globally certification is the globally recognized standard for validating recognized standard for validating expertise with the Microsoft Office expertise with the Microsoft Office suite of business productivity suite of business productivity programs.programs.

It’s also the only standard It’s also the only standard

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Three Certification Three Certification TracksTracks

for Office 2000/XP/2003for Office 2000/XP/2003 Specialist CertificationSpecialist Certification

Must successfully complete any one of the Must successfully complete any one of the following Specialist exams: Word, Excel, following Specialist exams: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook.PowerPoint, Access, Outlook.

Expert CertificationExpert Certification Must successfully complete any one of the two Must successfully complete any one of the two

Expert exams: Word, Excel.Expert exams: Word, Excel. Master CertificationMaster Certification

Must successfully complete the two Expert Must successfully complete the two Expert exams (Word and Excel), the PowerPoint exams (Word and Excel), the PowerPoint exam, and either the Access OR the Outlook exam, and either the Access OR the Outlook exam.exam.

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Benefits to IndividualsBenefits to Individuals Earning Office Specialist certification acknowledges Earning Office Specialist certification acknowledges

your expertise to work with Microsoft Office programs. your expertise to work with Microsoft Office programs. Office Specialist-certified individuals report increased Office Specialist-certified individuals report increased

competence and productivity with Microsoft Office competence and productivity with Microsoft Office programs as well as increased credibility with their programs as well as increased credibility with their employers, co-workers, and clients. employers, co-workers, and clients.

Office Specialist certification sets you apart in today’s Office Specialist certification sets you apart in today’s competitive job market, bringing employment competitive job market, bringing employment opportunities, greater earning potential and career opportunities, greater earning potential and career advancement, in addition to increased job satisfaction. advancement, in addition to increased job satisfaction.

Microsoft Office Specialist certifications have been Microsoft Office Specialist certifications have been recommended by the American Council on Education recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college credit. Candidates who achieve (ACE) for college credit. Candidates who achieve certification can apply for college credit through certification can apply for college credit through participating ACE member institutions. participating ACE member institutions.

Often earn extra $ when teachingOften earn extra $ when teaching

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Benefits to BusinessesBenefits to Businesses Up to 87 percent of employers observe increased Up to 87 percent of employers observe increased

competency in their Office Specialist-certified competency in their Office Specialist-certified employees. employees.

Up to 83 percent of employers feel their Office Up to 83 percent of employers feel their Office Specialist-certified employees are more productive. Specialist-certified employees are more productive.

Up to 77 percent of employers feel Office Specialist Up to 77 percent of employers feel Office Specialist certification has a positive effect on employee certification has a positive effect on employee credibility among co-workers. credibility among co-workers.

Up to 74 percent of employers feel Office Specialist Up to 74 percent of employers feel Office Specialist certification has a positive effect on employee certification has a positive effect on employee credibility with customers and clients. credibility with customers and clients.

Up to 82 percent of employers believe Office Up to 82 percent of employers believe Office Specialist certification directly benefits an Specialist certification directly benefits an organization. organization.

Up to 67 percent of employers feel Office Specialist Up to 67 percent of employers feel Office Specialist simplifies hiring and advancement decisions. simplifies hiring and advancement decisions.

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

CoCo$$tt$$

The suggested retail price for each The suggested retail price for each Office Specialist exam is $75Office Specialist exam is $75

Time studying and preparingTime studying and preparing Cost of study materialsCost of study materials Travel and testing timeTravel and testing time

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

PreparationPreparation

Microsoft Office Step-By-Step Training: Microsoft Office Step-By-Step Training: available free to MU faculty/staff and - available free to MU faculty/staff and - via the UCF image - studentsvia the UCF image - students

Third-party training materials (books, Third-party training materials (books, CBT, etc.)CBT, etc.) Course TechnologyCourse Technology Certiport, othersCertiport, others

Commercial training vendorsCommercial training vendors Plenty of free resources on the InternetPlenty of free resources on the Internet

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Exam FormatExam Formatusing PowerPoint 2002 as exampleusing PowerPoint 2002 as example

Performance-basedPerformance-basedThis Microsoft Office Specialist exam is performance-This Microsoft Office Specialist exam is performance-based, requiring you to perform a series of tasks using the based, requiring you to perform a series of tasks using the Microsoft Office application. Microsoft Office application.

Scenario- basedScenario- basedMany of the questions in Microsoft Office Specialist exams Many of the questions in Microsoft Office Specialist exams require you to complete a series of tasks to create or require you to complete a series of tasks to create or modify a typical business document.modify a typical business document.

For example, on the PowerPoint exam you might be For example, on the PowerPoint exam you might be instructed to…instructed to…Modify the presentation as follows:Modify the presentation as follows: On slide 4, On slide 4, Sales Report, Sales Report, insert the image named insert the image named Sales Chart Sales Chart

located in the My Pictures folderlocated in the My Pictures folder.. Apply the Spin animation scheme to all slides in the Apply the Spin animation scheme to all slides in the

presentation. presentation.

How hard can it be ? How hard can it be ?

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

A Score Report is available

immediately

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

The official

certificate arrives within

about 2 weeks

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

My Personal ExperienceMy Personal Experience

After 6 months of moderately paced After 6 months of moderately paced study…failed my first teststudy…failed my first test

Inspired by images of that smiling 5 year Inspired by images of that smiling 5 year old kidold kid

Confidence comes with practice, studying Confidence comes with practice, studying weaknesses, and putting new skills to useweaknesses, and putting new skills to use

Certification is just the beginningCertification is just the beginning Teaching a subject to others will improve Teaching a subject to others will improve

your proficiencyyour proficiency

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Ideas For Continuing Ideas For Continuing Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development

Let others know you’re available to helpLet others know you’re available to help Seek ways to use what you have learnedSeek ways to use what you have learned TeachTeach Subscribe to magazines and electronic Subscribe to magazines and electronic

newslettersnewsletters Woody’s Office Watch newsletterWoody’s Office Watch newsletter Microsoft’s “Inside Office” newsletterMicrosoft’s “Inside Office” newsletter

presented Nov 19, 2003 Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

Online ResourcesOnline ResourcesMicrosoft Office Specialist Certification InformationMicrosoft Office Specialist Certification Information

Microsoft’s Office Specialist Certification siteMicrosoft’s Office Specialist Certification site Microsoft’s FAQ for Office Specialist CertificationMicrosoft’s FAQ for Office Specialist Certification Certiport’sCertiport’s Office Specialist Certification site Office Specialist Certification site Find a testing centerFind a testing center CramSessionCramSession CertCitiesCertCities Microsoft Office Specialist Exam Reviews Microsoft Office Specialist Exam Reviews Exam Fee Reimbursement for Military and VeteransExam Fee Reimbursement for Military and Veterans

Resources For Learning Microsoft Office ApplicationsResources For Learning Microsoft Office Applications PC Magazine’s Office SolutionsPC Magazine’s Office Solutions PC World’s Application TipsPC World’s Application Tips Chuck Elliott’s Microsoft Office Resource PageChuck Elliott’s Microsoft Office Resource Page Recommended textbooks and practice testsRecommended textbooks and practice tests

Course TechnologyCourse Technology Microsoft PressMicrosoft Press Study GuidesStudy Guides Practice TestsPractice Tests

Recommended Recommended freefree Newsletters Newsletters Woody’s Office WatchWoody’s Office Watch Microsoft’s “Inside Office” newsletterMicrosoft’s “Inside Office” newsletter TechRepublic’s Office Suite newsletterTechRepublic’s Office Suite newsletter Certiport NewslettersCertiport Newsletters

Thank You!Thank You!

?? Questions ???? Questions ??

this presentation available online at http://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/mos.ppt

or by sending e-mail request to celliott@marshall.edu