Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

1. Microsoft Office Specialist Certification presented by Chuck ElliottMicrosoft Office Specialist: Outlook 2002Microsoft Office Specialist Expert: Excel 2002 this presentation available online athttp://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/mos.pptor by sending e-mail request tocelliott@marshall.edu

2. Agenda • What is the Microsoft Office Specialist Program? • Certification Tracks • Benefits and Costs • Preparation • Exam Format • My Personal Experience • Ideas For Continuing Professional Development • Online Resources Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

3. What is the Microsoft Office Specialist Program? • Microsoft Office Specialist certification is the globally recognized standard for validating expertise with the Microsoft Office suite of business productivity programs. • It’s also the only standard Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

4. Three Certification Tracksfor Office 2000/XP/2003 • Specialist Certification • Must successfully complete any one of the following Specialist exams: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook. • Expert Certification • Must successfully complete any one of the two Expert exams: Word, Excel. • Master Certification • Must successfully complete the two Expert exams (Word and Excel), the PowerPoint exam, and either the Access OR the Outlook exam. Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

5. Benefits to Individuals • Earning Office Specialist certification acknowledges your expertise to work with Microsoft Office programs. • Office Specialist-certified individuals report increased competence and productivity with Microsoft Office programs as well as increased credibility with their employers, co-workers, and clients. • Office Specialist certification sets you apart in today’s competitive job market, bringing employment opportunities, greater earning potential and career advancement, in addition to increased job satisfaction. • Microsoft Office Specialist certifications have been recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college credit. Candidates who achieve certification can apply for college credit through participating ACE member institutions. • Often earn extra $ when teaching Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

6. Benefits to Businesses • Up to 87 percent of employers observe increased competency in their Office Specialist-certified employees. • Up to 83 percent of employers feel their Office Specialist-certified employees are more productive. • Up to 77 percent of employers feel Office Specialist certification has a positive effect on employee credibility among co-workers. • Up to 74 percent of employers feel Office Specialist certification has a positive effect on employee credibility with customers and clients. • Up to 82 percent of employers believe Office Specialist certification directly benefits an organization. • Up to 67 percent of employers feel Office Specialist simplifies hiring and advancement decisions. Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

7. Co$t$ • The suggested retail price for each Office Specialist exam is $75 • Time studying and preparing • Cost of study materials • Travel and testing time Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

8. Preparation • Microsoft Office Step-By-Step Training: available free to MU faculty/staff and - via the UCF image - students • Third-party training materials (books, CBT, etc.) • Course Technology • Certiport, others • Commercial training vendors • Plenty of free resources on the Internet Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

9. Exam Formatusing PowerPoint 2002 as example • Performance-basedThis Microsoft Office Specialist exam is performance-based, requiring you to perform a series of tasks using the Microsoft Office application. • Scenario- basedMany of the questions in Microsoft Office Specialist exams require you to complete a series of tasks to create or modify a typical business document. • For example, on the PowerPoint exam you might be instructed to…Modify the presentation as follows: • On slide 4, Sales Report, insert the image named Sales Chart located in the My Pictures folder. • Apply the Spin animation scheme to all slides in the presentation. • How hard can it be ? Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

10. A Score Report is available immediately Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

11. The official certificate arrives within about 2 weeks Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

12. My Personal Experience • After 6 months of moderately paced study…failed my first test • Inspired by images of that smiling 5 year old kid • Confidence comes with practice, studying weaknesses, and putting new skills to use • Certification is just the beginning • Teaching a subject to others will improve your proficiency Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

13. Ideas For Continuing Professional Development • Let others know you’re available to help • Seek ways to use what you have learned • Teach • Subscribe to magazines and electronic newsletters • Woody’s Office Watch newsletter • Microsoft’s “Inside Office” newsletter Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

14. Online Resources Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Information • Microsoft’s Office Specialist Certification site • Microsoft’s FAQ for Office Specialist Certification • Certiport’s Office Specialist Certification site • Find a testing center • CramSession • CertCities Microsoft Office Specialist Exam Reviews • Exam Fee Reimbursement for Military and Veterans Resources For Learning Microsoft Office Applications • PC Magazine’s Office Solutions • PC World’s Application Tips • Chuck Elliott’s Microsoft Office Resource Page • Recommended textbooks and practice tests • Course Technology • Microsoft Press • Study Guides • Practice Tests • Recommended free Newsletters • Woody’s Office Watch • Microsoft’s “Inside Office” newsletter • TechRepublic’s Office Suite newsletter • Certiport Newsletters Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program

15. Thank You!?? Questions ?? this presentation available online athttp://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/mos.pptor by sending e-mail request tocelliott@marshall.edu