University of Michigan - Flint

University of Michigan-Flint

UM-Flint Certification - Authorized Testing Center

Microsoft Office Specialist certification sets the first global standard for desktop productivity across Microsoft® Office applications. Tests are performance-based and individuals interact within the test environment to complete tasks.   The Microsoft Office Specialist program is the ONLY Microsoft approved certification program designed to measure and validate users’ skills with the Microsoft Office suite of desktop productivity applications (Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint®, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Outlook). 



UM-Flint is currently testing in the Office 2002 (XP) --AND-- Office 2003 exam environments. 

The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is available at three levels: Specialist, Expert, and Master.  For more information about the skill requirements for passing the exams, please consult Microsoft's MOS requirements:  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/requirements.asp#officeXP.

Cost

UM-Flint Faculty and Staff
 (includes retirees)
Current Students
and Alumni (with LAN account)		 UM-Flint Alumni
 (without LAN account)		 Others Vouchers
$60 per exam taken* $65 per exam taken* $70 per exam taken* $10 fee***

The preferred method of payment is by check payable to the University of Michigan-Flint.  ITS can also charge back to a University Department upon authorization**.

*An exam is any one of the following:  Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint or Word.  If an exam is taken and a 75% or better grade is not achieved, you will be required to pay the testing fee again when retaking the exam.

**Please submit a completed authorization form before your exam begins.

***Candidates who purchase a voucher will be charged a $10 exam administration fee.

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Test Format
The exams are performance-based, which means that the test software tasks measure real-world skills and abilities in a live-version simulation. These tasks require you, the test-taker, to demonstrate evidence of your knowledge and skills. Questions are displayed in an instruction window and the test is done on a live version of the application. You can close, move, and restore the instruction window as needed. The exams are timed and are 50 minutes in length and consist of between 14-18 questions.  The instruction window contains a clock showing the time remaining in the test and the number of the question you're on.

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Certification Levels for the MOS exams
 Master Certification: Candidates must successfully complete three required exams and one elective exam.

Required (all 3 exams):
Word Expert -and- Excel Expert -and- PowerPoint

Elective (choose one):
Access
-or-
Outlook

Expert Certification:  Candidates must successfully complete any one of the Expert exams: 

Word Expert
-or-
Excel Expert

Specialist Certification:  Candidates must successfully complete any one of the Specialists exams:

Word
-or- 
Excel
-or- 
PowerPoint
-or- 
Access
-or-
Outlook

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Tips and Strategies for Success

  • Go to Microsoft:

  • Go to Certiport:

  • Use the built-in Help feature in the Office XP program you are studying to be sure you can accomplish the objectives and skills listed in the exam requirements. 

  • Register for a non-credit online course:

  • UM-Flint faculty, staff, and students requiring assistance in Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint or Word may consult with the ITS Training staff to prepare for Microsoft Office Specialist exams.  Contact ITS Training Services at 810-762-3123 or by email.

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