Office 365 Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in Office 365, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have many questions, such as, will a certificate help you get a job? Is there a difference between a certificate and a certification? How do I prepare for these credentials?This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward an Office 365 certification. Keep reading to find out more.

What is Office 365?

Office 365 (also known as Microsoft 365) is a cloud-based subscription service that includes Microsoft Office’s suite of programs along with other online services such as free cloud storage and web hosting. Since Office 365 functions with the cloud, users always have access to their documents so long as they have an internet connection. The service is compatible with PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones.

Microsoft Office is a popular suite of productivity programs that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. These programs are used worldwide by businesses across industries for their ease of use, accessibility, and collaboration features. The programs offer a variety of functions, such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, promotional material design, and team management. Office 365 combines these valuable programs into a single service that offers the advantages of online document sharing. Microsoft Office cloud services include Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange.

Read more about what Office 365 is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Office 365?

Office 365 gives users full access to Microsoft Office’s suite of programs. These include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. These programs allow users to create professional documents and reports, spreadsheets and databases, presentations, emails, and promotional materials. Office 365 also provides Microsoft Office cloud services, including Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange. Businesses worldwide use these programs for workplace productivity, team collaboration, and management. 

Office 365’s collaboration tools allow teammates to edit documents simultaneously in real-time online. Teammates can use the Teams app to text chat with one another and ask questions without leaving their computers. Documents can also be assigned to teammates as tasks and linked in their virtual calendar or Microsoft Planner, making them easily accessible and trackable in their workflow. Documents are shared easily with a link without downloading or emailing files. Office 365 is an essential business asset for facilitating collaboration within and across departments. 

As an online service, Office 365 offers several advantages. Users can access Office 365 from any device without needing the program installed. This enables users to work anywhere they like and prevents them from being chained to any singular device. Files and documents can also be stored online without taking up computer storage. Updates are applied automatically to the software without users needing to download them manually. The online features of Office 365 go a long way toward improving accessibility and usability.

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

“Certificate” and “certification” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different things, and there are different processes to attain them. To gain certification, you usually have to sit for an exam administered by a third party to demonstrate your mastery of a subject; certificates are generally completion-based programs. Certification is often standardized and issued by national organizations. Thus, they are more likely to be professionally recognized by a potential employer. However, attending a certificate program can still showcase your willingness to improve your skills and advance your career. 

Top Certifications & Certificates for Office 365

Microsoft has official certifications for various programs included within Office 365. These programs include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, SharePoint, and OneNote. Further exams are available to become officially recognized as Microsoft Office Specialists, Experts, or Masters. There are live online training courses in Microsoft Office programs, including certification exams upon completion.

Beyond gaining mastery in the use of individual Office 365 programs, Microsoft also offers official certification in various Office 365 skills. These skills include cybersecurity, application development, project management, UI design, and software engineering. These certifications are ideal for professionals who already know Office 365 and wish to advance their careers in specific fields.

Should I Get Certified in Office 365?

Whether certification in Microsoft Office or Office 365 benefits you will depend on your chosen career. Jobs in fields such as cybersecurity and software engineering typically require specific professional certifications; for others (Office Administrator, Data Entry Clerk), some certifications can be helpful but aren’t usually required to find work.

Although many businesses and organizations use Microsoft Office and Office 365 worldwide, certification is not required for many positions. However, many jobs will list requirements such as Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 proficiency. Even if the position you’re interested in doesn't require certification in Microsoft Office or Office 365, obtaining certification can give your resume and qualifications an edge against the competition.

How to Get Certified in Office 365

There are several options for professionals wishing to become certified in Office 365. If you are comfortable with your level of comprehension in Microsoft Office programs or Office 365, you can undergo an exam without additional training. Those needing to increase their skills may attend comprehensive live online training in Microsoft Office. Also available are Microsoft Office training courses with an official examination at the end. These courses differ depending on your desired level of certification; specialist, expert, or master. Microsoft Office examinations cost $100 for each individual exam (divided by program and level of certification).

Additionally, individuals can gain certification in Office 365 through Microsoft in areas of cybersecurity, application development, project management, UI design, and software engineering. 

For some professionals, their employer will be open to training them and paying for Microsoft Office certification exams. This relies heavily on individual businesses and organizations, however. Not every employee will have such opportunities and will need to pay for training and certification on their own. 

There are no prerequisites to take a Microsoft Office certification exam. If you feel you’re ready to prove your skills as a Microsoft Office Master, you don’t need to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist or Microsoft Office Expert exams first. You can jump straight to the exam that you feel your skills exemplify.

However, Office 365 certification exams do contain prerequisites that vary for each certificate. These prerequisites prove an individual’s level of skill before undertaking certification. Free online exam preparation is available through Microsoft for each certificate. 

Learn Office 365 with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online training in Office 365. Courses include training in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. You can choose between individual classes of various skill levels or bootcamps, which offer in-depth, comprehensive learning. When it comes to becoming an expert in a new skill, bootcamps are a fast and affordable alternative to college. Noble Desktop’s classes are small, taught by expert instructors, and include free retake options.

The Excel Bootcamp guides students from beginner to expert techniques. You’ll learn functions, formulas, Pivot Tables, macros, and additional expert tips and tricks. By the end of the course, you’ll be a true Excel master. The PowerPoint Bootcamp is a similar course that provides complete mastery of the program. You’ll start with the basics of customizing images, shapes, text, and animation before moving on to advanced techniques such as template creation, importing charts from Excel, and inserting multimedia. By the end of the course, you’ll be a wizard at creating professional and visually stunning presentations and slideshows.

If you like the idea of the comprehensive learning offered by bootcamps and are looking for further training in Office 365, NYIM is an affiliate school of Noble Desktop. It provides a Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp that covers the four major programs – Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook.

Key Insights

• Certification and certificates in Microsoft Office are not required for most job positions.
• However, more highly skilled positions in areas such as cybersecurity and application development within Office 365 will likely require certification. 
• Both certification programs and official Microsoft certificates are viable options to showcase your skills to potential employers.
• Courses exist for training in Microsoft Office that combines training and certification examination in one class.
• There are no required prerequisites to undergoing Microsoft Office Certification exams. However, each exam costs $100. 
• Office 365 exams in specialist areas also cost $100 but contain prerequisites.
• You can receive comprehensive Office 365 training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.