Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Certify your future

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) is an industry-recognized certification program that validates skills in Microsoft Office applications. With over 3.9 million jobs every year requesting Microsoft Office skills (in the United States alone), those who take and pass MOS certifications are empowered to stand out in the competitive job market, while simplifying daily tasks and fostering career growth.

MOS is the only Microsoft-endorsed certification program that validates Microsoft Office skills. It offers three certification versions, including Microsoft Office Specialist – Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft Office Specialist – Microsoft Office 2019, and Microsoft Office Specialist – Microsoft Office 2016

The impact of Microsoft Office Specialist certification

MOS certification gives individuals the ability to achieve professional success in diverse professional environments, including business and finance, healthcare, computer science and IT, engineering, and more. It also empowers educators, employers, and the overall job industry.

  • For students: It boosts academic performance, prepares them for the demands of higher education, and opens doors to internship and career opportunities.
  • For educators: It provides a more engaged student body, increases their effectiveness, and supports meeting academic standards. 
  • For administrators: It lowers the number of dropouts and disciplinary cases, increases diplomas and degrees, as well as supports higher GPAs. 
  • For employers: It ensures a knowledgeable workforce, promotes quality and consistency, and demonstrates a commitment to excellence, ultimately driving competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and business success.

Tried and true: pathway to success

Through Certiport’s full pathway solution you can prepare your students for the MOS certification with tailored learning materials, practice tests, and a performance-based certification exams officially endorsed by Microsoft. Adding these materials into your curriculum is easy and seamless.

Learn

Pathway to certification success

Practice

Increase confidence towards certification exams

Exam

To affirm your expertise in MOS

Learning materials for Microsoft Office Specialist certifications

The pathway to certification success

Preparing your students for certification is a big responsibility, so let Certiport make your job easier and more effective with specially-selected course materials and practice tests.

Watch this brief video to see how learning products can work for you.

For over 20 years, B.E. Publishing has made CTE (Career & Technical Education) its passion. B.E. Publishing’s mission is to provide a seamless classroom experience, helping teachers teach and learners learn. Their courseware is 100% aligned to the skills assessed in the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification exams and includes hands-on lessons delivered via digital and print format.

BrainBuffet Microsoft Office tutorials are created by Jennifer Stubblefield, the 2019 Certiport Educator of the Year. Jennifer has been a leader in Microsoft Office Specialist Certification training for students, teachers, and businesses for years, and now you can have Jennifer present her award-winning lessons to your students one-on-one through BrainBuffet video tutorials! This is the best way to kick-start your curriculum with BrainBuffet’s signature student-friendly delivery and engaging lessons!

CCI Learning is a leader in the Global EdTech space specializing in interactive courseware, books (print and e-book), certification guides, and resources for instructors and learners. XperienceED, their cutting-edge kinesthetic learning platform, offers a live in-app learning experience for the Entrepreneurship and Small Business certifications It’s mapped to Certiport’s exam objectives and prepares learners to be certification ready.

ENI is a leader in instructor-led IT training. With over 41 years of experience, they provide content for the Microsoft Office Specialist certification titles. This product includes eBooks, videos, exercises, as well as translations. To assist educators, learner tracking tools and detailed reports are provided. ENI products are available in English, French, German, Dutch and Spanish.

LearnKey video courseware enhances the learning experience and increases certification exam success. It provides self-paced on-demand video learning material for Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist Program. These expert learning solutions are easy to use and interactive, and help prepare students for certification success.

  • Video-based e-learning courseware
  • Interactive labs
  • Prescriptive study guides

The MSi curriculum is designed to address the needs of the K-12 and higher-ed classrooms. The curriculum aligns to industry certification exam objectives and can be cross-walked to your State course frameworks. The curriculum is:

  • Engaging
  • Hands-on
  • User-friendly

Teachers can be up and running quickly. Students are assessed every step of the way reducing exam day surprise. Grades can be exported from the LMS into your school district or institution grade book. The courses are delivered through our Learning Management System (LMS). The curriculum lives in the cloud, so teachers can assign homework to students’ even if they don’t have the course software on their home computers.

Pearson provides quality Career & Technical Education curriculum solutions that prepare students for career and college success. Pearson programs are aimed at helping learners prepare for, and discover, greater education and employment opportunities. We are dedicated to creating learning materials that provide relevance, real-world application, and the highest quality content. Our materials align to state standards, incorporate career exploration and 21st Century Skills, and include strong instructional support to ensure your learners meet desired course outcomes. Many of our programs prepare learners for industry-recognized certifications.

Practice tests for Microsoft Office Specialist certifications

CertPREP Practice Tests, powered by GMetrix

These performance-based assessment and test preparation tools help individuals achieve certification credentials. Many of your students will be anxious to assess their knowledge of applications prior to taking the certification exams. Additionally, we recognize the need for educators to properly assess an individual’s knowledge. Certiport provides CertPREP Practice Tests that are powered by GMetrix. These tests, with included reporting and insight features, ensure your students are adequately prepared to take their certification exam.

Why CertPREP Practice Tests?

  • Enhance learning through self-paced practice questions
  • Build familiarity with the testing environment
  • Increase confidence towards certification exams
  • Better prepare students to pass certification exams

CertPREP Practice Tests are customizable

CertPREP Practice Tests are customizable, allowing you to create a highly-effective environment conducive to student-centered learning. CertPREP Practice Tests offer two different modes:

Testing mode:

  • Students experience what the certification exams will be like
  • Timed practice tests present scenarios to perform just like the actual certification exam

Training mode:

  • Students work at their own pace as they receive feedback and step-by-step instructions for each question

Practice tests available for:

  • Word (Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • Word Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • Excel Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • Outlook (Office 2019, MOS 2016)
  • Access (Office 2019, MOS 2016)

Microsoft Office Specialist impact

Why are Microsoft Office Specialist certifications so valuable for students, teachers, and school systems?

Empowering students and educators

  • For students, Microsoft Office Specialist boosts academic performance and preps them for college and career.
  • For educators, Microsoft Office Specialist courses provide targeted training and support every step of the way.
  • For Administrators, Microsoft Office Specialist improves institutional results.

 

Microsoft Office Specialist Productivity Study (PDF download)

Microsoft 365 Apps 

Microsoft 365 Apps is the latest version of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program. This updated certification program now encompasses the latest functionalities of Microsoft 365 Apps. 

These 50-minute certifications showcase Certiport’s ‘Live-in-the-Application’ (LITA) testing technology, offering multiple projects that reflect real-world scenarios. They are continuously updated to reflect the newest features of Microsoft 365 Apps, ensuring alignment with evolving standards and the dynamic workforce demands.

Available certifications 

Certifications available for Microsoft 365 Apps include: Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Word Expert, and Excel Expert.

Become a Microsoft Office Specialist Associate or Expert

Maximize your Microsoft Office proficiency with MOS Associate or Expert certifications, showcasing advanced skills through stacked credentials.

Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps) certification

Pass three of the following exams*:

  • Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365 Apps)
  • Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 Apps)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft 365 Apps)
  • Microsoft Outlook (Microsoft 365 Apps) – To be released
  • Microsoft Word (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Excel (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Outlook (Office 2019)

Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps) certification

Earn your Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate certification (outlined above) plus pass two of the following exams*: 

  • Microsoft Word Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps)
  • Microsoft Excel Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps)
  • Microsoft Word Expert (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Excel Expert (Office 2019)

*All exams must be in different programs and at least one exam must be a Microsoft 365 Apps exam. 

 

Microsoft Office 2019 

Microsoft Office 2019 is a previous version of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program that covers the updated features and tools introduced in the 2019 application. Like its predecessor, it provides “Live-in-the-Application” certification exams that validate knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Each certification exam is 50-minutes and provides multiple projects per exam, ensuring accurate skill validation and results. 

Available certifications

Certifications available for Microsoft 2019 include: Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Access Expert, Word Expert, and Excel Expert.

Become a Microsoft Office Specialist Associate or Expert

Maximize your Microsoft Office proficiency with MOS Associate or Expert certifications, showcasing advanced skills through stacked credentials.

Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 2019) certification 

Pass three of the following exams*:

  • Microsoft Word (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Excel (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Outlook (Office 2019)

Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 2019) certification 

Earn your Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate certification (outlined above) plus pass two of the following exams*: 

  • Microsoft Word Expert (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Excel Expert (Office 2019)
  • Microsoft Access Expert (Office 2019)

*All exams must be in different programs. 

Microsoft Office 2016

The Microsoft Office 2016 stands as the earliest Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification program that is currently available. It incorporates feedback from educators and experts to improve the certification exams to make them stronger tools for assessment and preparation that have been built upon in the later exams.

Each certification exam is 50-minutes and provides multiple projects per exam, ensuring accurate skill validation and results. It includes instructions that steer away from command and function names, requiring a deeper understanding of program functionality and other various enhancements. 

Available certifications

Certifications available for Microsoft Office 2016 include: Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Access Associate, Word Expert, and Excel Expert.

 

Become a Microsoft Office Specialist Master

Maximize your Microsoft Office proficiency with MOS Master certifications, showcasing advanced skills through stacked credentials.

Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Master (Office 2016) certification

Pass three of the following exams along with one of the elective exams:

Required

  • Microsoft Word Expert (Office 2016)
  • Microsoft Excel Expert (Office 2016)
  • Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2016)

Elective

  • Microsoft Access (Office 2016)
  • Microsoft Outlook (Office 2016)
 

Digital badges

Digital badges are web-enabled versions of a credential, certification or learning outcome. Representing your credential as a badge gives you the ability to share your skills online in a way that is simple, trusted and can be easily verified in real time.

Show off your success

Microsoft Office Specialist certified students have a lot to be proud of. Badges validate their skills and allow them to show the world what they’ve accomplished.

Flash your badge

Credly is the digital badging platform used by Certiport. It helps students move forward professionally by quickly establishing credibility for opportunities in higher education and the job market. Each badge contains verifiable data that tells employers and admission committees what you did, who says you did it, and why it matters. What does this mean for you? Watch the video to find out.

Do you want quality education that will prepare you for certification and impact you with the skill sets relevant to your career?

Innovation School exists to serve this purpose. Click here to check out our available certification programs.

Digital badges

Digital badges are web-enabled versions of a credential, certification, or learning outcome. Representing your credential as a badge gives you the ability to share your skills online in a way that is simple, trusted, and can be easily verified in real-time.

Show off your success

Microsoft Office Specialist certified students have a lot to be proud of. Badges validate their skills and allow them to show the world what they’ve accomplished.

Tried and true: pathway to success

Through Certiport’s full pathway solution you can prepare your students for the MOS certification with tailored learning materials, practice tests, and a performance-based certification exams officially endorsed by Microsoft. Adding these materials into your curriculum is easy and seamless.

Learn

Pathway to certification success

Practice

Increase confidence towards certification exams

Exam

To affirm your expertise in MOS

Microsoft Office Specialist impact

Why are Microsoft Office Specialist certifications so valuable for students, teachers, and school systems?

Empowering students and educators

  • For students, Microsoft Office Specialist boosts academic performance and preps them for college and career.
  • For educators, Microsoft Office Specialist courses provide targeted training and support every step of the way.
  • For Administrators, Microsoft Office Specialist improves institutional results.

Microsoft Office Specialist Productivity Study (PDF download)

See where a MOS credential can lead »

Microsoft Office Specialist Program New Microsoft 365 Apps exams launched October of 2022.Have you ever been stuck at a crossroad and were unsure of what path to take?With Microsoft Office Specialist Program the choice is easy!

No matter which path you take or which application you use in your classroom you will be lead back to the same Microsoft Office Specialist certifications!

The Microsoft Office Specialist certifications that will be available are Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Word Expert &
Excel Expert. Excel Associate launched Oct 25!!!

View launch dates for the remaining 365 Apps exams »

New Exams still include the performance-based format and are live-in-the-application.

The Microsoft 365 Apps exams include multiple, smaller projects to assess student skills within Microsoft Office. Students are tested on one project at a time, once that project is complete they will move onto the next within the Microsoft Office Specialist program. These small projects test their skills as they would in the real world and validate their understanding of the Microsoft Office program functionality.

What's New

Check out our updated Objective Domains for all of the upcoming exams

Microsoft 365 Apps Objective Domains

Looking to become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate or Expert?

The Microsoft Office Specialist Program has multiple levels: Associate and Expert Students still earn a certification for each exam they pass, however if a student earns any three of the four available associate certifications, as they become available, They will become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate and earn an additional certification for their accomplishment. If students would like to advance even further and earn their Associate certification and both of the expert certifications they will become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Expert and achieve the highest certification within the Microsoft Office Specialist Program.

To accommodate those that started their journey toward MOS Associate or Expert by taking the Office 2019 versions of the exams you can earn a MOS Associate or Expert by taking just one of your exams in the new Microsoft 365 Apps version. For example: if you passed Word Associate Exam and a PowerPoint Associate Exam in the Office 2019 version and now pass the Excel Associate Exam in the Microsoft Apps 365 version you will receive your Microsoft Office Specialist:
Associate certification in the 365 Apps version.

New Microsoft Office 2019 exams launched in July of 2019.

Have you ever been stuck at a crossroad and were unsure of what path to take?

With the new Office 2019 Microsoft Office Specialist Program the choice is easy!

No matter which path you take or which application you use in your classroom you will be lead back to the same Microsoft Office Specialist certifications!

The Microsoft Office Specialist certifications that are available are Word Associate, Excel Associate, PowerPoint Associate, Outlook Associate, Access Expert, Word Expert & Excel Expert.

New Exams still include the performance-based format and are live-in-the-application.

The Microsoft Office 2019 exams include multiple, smaller projects to assess student skills within Microsoft Office. Students are tested on one project at a time, once that project is complete they will move onto the next within the Microsoft Office Specialist program. These small projects test their skills as they would in the real world and validate their understanding of the Microsoft Office program functionality.

What’s New

Microsoft Office 2019 exams now include new Office features, such as:

  • 3D models
  • Morph Animations
  • Slide Zoom
  • New Excel Functions
  • Ink

Also, the Microsoft Office 2019 exams have been mapped to one set of revised objective domains to reflect the skills required in today’s modern workplace. So, students are tested on the same exam no matter which Office application is being used.

Looking to become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate or Expert?

The Microsoft Office Specialist Program now has multiple levels: Associate and Expert

Students still earn a certification for each exam they pass, however if a student earns any three of the four available associate certifications they will become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate and earn an additional certification for their accomplishment. If students would like to advance even further and earn their Associate certification and any two of the three available expert certifications they will become a Microsoft Office Specialist – Expert and achieve the highest certification within the Microsoft Office Specialist Program.*

*This is in lieu of the Microsoft Office Master credential.

The future belongs to those who do more

My MOS certifications made it easier and quicker to write papers and do presentations in college. I would absolutely 100% recommend them to everyone I know. They are industry recognized certifications that make you more appealing to employers, plus it really makes you feel good about yourself!

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) 2016 gives students a competitive edge in today’s academic and professional environments. This exam version validates learners experience and in-demand skills on Microsoft Office 2016, and includes exams covering:

  • Microsoft Office Word
  • Microsoft Office Excel
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Office Access
  • Microsoft Office Outlook

From single projects to multiple projects

By migrating from a single, large project for the certification exam to multiple, smaller projects, this version MOS is a powerful instrument for assessing skills.

Learners are able to devote more time to practicing and mastering on the specific skills tested in each smaller project. This improvement allows test candidates to focus their studies and enhance the learning process. It also allows the exams to test proficiency more broadly and deeply.

More enhancements

The certification exams include feedback from subject-matter advisors, industry experts, and teachers to make them stronger tools for assessment and ensure that they validate the most in-demand skills needed in college, workforce, and beyond. This includes:

  • Revised instructions to avoid command and function names, requiring a deeper understanding of program functionality
  • More objective domains incorporated across the different exam forms
  • Real-world context for exam content
  • Performance-based format for improved aptitude testing

Achieve higher levels of certification

There are three levels of certification: Specialist, Expert, and Master. Each certification level propels a student further on the path to greater achievements and advancement. Students can certify at all three levels and should try to obtain the highest level possible. The market demands, and caters to, those who possess the most education and skills.

Becoming a Specialist is good. Becoming an Expert is better. And becoming a Master is best.

With 21st-century skills being on the forethought of every school district right now,” says Martha Roettgen, a teacher at Green Hope High School in North Carolina, “having students have the opportunity to learn word processing, publishing, spreadsheets, and databases is absolutely critical.
  • SPECIALIST
    Become certified as a specialist in one of Microsoft’s premiere office technologies.
  • EXPERT
    Get a higher credential for two of the job market’s most in-demand technologies: Word and Excel.
  • MASTER
    Reach the highest level by passing PowerPoint, Access, or Outlook, and the two Expert exams.
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