Hey all,

I know it isn’t it’s own category on the site, but I’m wondering if anyone on here knows about the Microsoft Certifications and/or offers courses for them?

I know how to use the programs rather well, but I don’t know much about the certification process itself, and the Microsoft website seems to be really helpful for certain tests and rather un-helpful for others. I’m particularly interested in the Microsoft Office programs ones, but other people might be interested in others.

Thanks,
_{Sarah W}

Hi Sarah!

My name is Ron Smith and I am a tutor here on eduFire. I am an avid office user and I program construction related programing using MS Excel, Word, and Access 2007.

I originally came to eduFire with the hopes of learning how to program VBA in light of the new Ribbon Interface that is part of the 2007 edition. I ultimately decided against starting my classes teaching Excel 2007 programming due to a lack of interest here on eduFire at the time. However, I am slowly coming to realize that eduFire is moving slowly from a language learning site to what I like to call a life learning site. This, along with Microsoft’s decision to make an edition of Excel and Word 2010 available free on the internet will make its popularity increase.

At the present time I am planning on creating courses in Excel and Word that are designed to teach the skills required to pass the MOUS Exam in these two areas. These classes are going to start in late Novemeber. I am also planning for a more intensive course in programming Excel spreadsheets about the same time. In this class we will be working on building a Twitter application which will allow one to read twitter ‘tweets’ and send private messages via the Excel interface.

Hope these types of classes are of interest to you.

Ron

@sarah, i do teach Microsoft office 2003 {word, access, excel, PowerPoint}, if you need any help, i am ready. i actually started my courses and i have few students there {no big differences between 2003 and 2007}. but i would love to try MS 2010. welcome all.
here are the classes i am offering;
http://edufire.com/classes/9315-how-to-create-power-point-presentation-microsoft-power-point-2003
http://edufire.com/classes/9316-how-to-create-a-professional-word-document-microsoft-word-2003
http://edufire.com/classes/9317-how-to-use-excel-professionally-microsoft-excel-2003
http://edufire.com/classes/9318-how-to-use-access-database-microsoft-access-2003

@Ron – eduFire as Life Learning site. I LIKE that, and I bet the admin will, too. Just had to comment on it!

Also on the Microsoft certification, how “valuable” is it? What clout does it have? I haven’t a sense of it so, anyone, enlighten me please :)

some corporations in USA won’t employ anyone without Microsoft certification, that is my knowledge, but if any other enlightenment, i would appreciate it.

@TheWhitePrince, I’m pretty well familiar with the programs, and will be teaching them myself, actually. It’s the certification exam itself that I don’t know much about (format, preparation, specific material covered, etc). Are you familiar with the exam(s) at all and would this be covered in those classes?

@Ron, I’ll keep an eye out for that next month, thanks.

@Wren, Mostly, it just improves your marketability to employers, because it’s a formal certification that you can list on your resume. Certain kinds of jobs do require them (usually those in IT, and occasionally those in clerical work). Even for those that don’t, though, many will recognize the additional certification with a raise in pay grade.

Also as a note, for anyone else who might be interested, Microsoft is currently offering a promotion to K-12 and University students to get their first certification for free. You can choose any of their certifications, including those for MS Office and those for Networking/Programming/IT.

First let me apologize for an error in my last posting. The MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) exam and certification was replaced in 2007 with the MCAS (Microsoft Certified Application Specialist) exam and certification. I have always referred to the certification process as MOUS and sometimes neglect to recall changes. Not to mention responding to forum postings right before going to bed can often lead to slight errors! LOL

@The White Prince – This is actually a first, my friend! I have never had any type of disagreement with anything you have posted but there is one slight difference that I have with your statement that there are no big differences betwee 2003 and 2007 (Office Versions).

On the surface you are absolutely correct. The program works in almost the same manner, with the differences in additional file types and the Ribbon Interface. However, the differences between the Ribbon Interface and the former Menu Driven Interface used in all former versions of MS Office editions is an important element that must be dealt with in light of MCAS Certification.

The reason it makes such a major difference is that the MCAS Exam measures not only knowledge of the program, but also how profficeint one is at using the software. Each test is 50 minutes in length. Therefore, if one is not knowledgeable of how to get somewhere in the new ribbon interface they will be extremely handicapped at passing the exam. The new Ribbon Interface does not support the old shortcuts in most instances.

However, let me say that if anyone is new at MS Office and looking to learn how to use the program your classes look extremely interesting and I recommend everyone who is interested to take advantage of them!

@Wren – Thanks for the Kudos! Also, in addition to the information Sarah gave in referrence to the importance of the MCAS, let me just add that despite the emergence of alternative Office related programs such as Google Docs and Spreadsheets and open software, the fact that most major business documents will use MS Office is a fact at least for the next several years. That is not a statement against such programs as Google Docs and Spreadsheets – they are actually great products, as are many of the open source programs available. But MS Office is almost chiseled in stone when it comes to Office Software. Plus, when you factor in the fact that Google is in the advertising business and offers most of their additional products as a way of getting more “eyes” to see the advertising they sell, it is questionable if any major businesses that will require the use of software certification will be turning to such products in the near future.

@Sarah – You are right about Microsoft offering the first certification for free. But one thing that a lot of people do not know is that the Software Giant offers major discounts on their software to currently enrolled students on K – 12 and Colleges and Universities as well. For example, a full, professional version of MS Office Professional costs anywhere between $600 – $750 US dollars. However, students who can prove their current enrollment can buy this same software for $59.00.

I wonder if eduFire could work something out in regards to being eligible to be part of that program.

Dear Sarah,

I can see Ron’s reply is very informative already. Just want to bring up a subnote regarding MCAS. You can take a exam for any application of the office, for instance, Word 2007, Excel 2007, etc. Once you passed, you become a MCAS of that application. When you completed 4 of them, you become a Office Master.

FYI

North