Advance your Excel expertise through lessons in formulas, PivotTables, and automation. These courses help you work faster, visualize data clearly, and improve decision-making.
Become proficient in Microsoft Excel and go from beginner to pro with our hands-on Excel Bootcamp. Learn functions, formulas, Pivot Tables, macros, and time-saving techniques to conquer all the key skills needed to excel in Excel.
Join us for a beginner Excel workshop where you'll learn the essentials of Microsoft Excel, including calculations, basic functions, graphs, formatting, and printing. This comprehensive course is perfect for those with limited experience looking to expand their proficiency.
Learn intermediate Excel functions like VLOOKUP and SUMIFS, and how to summarize data with Pivot Tables, Sort & Filter databases, and split and join text. Gain the skills needed to utilize complex Excel functions and prepare for more advanced training.
Learn advanced Excel functions, macros, and data analysis to improve efficiency and manage complex data in any job setting. This advanced course is ideal for Excel power-users.
In this hands-on course, learn how to automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Excel using VBA programming. Develop macros, custom commands, and new worksheet functions to streamline your Excel workflow and increase productivity.
Boost your resume with a Microsoft Excel Certification. Our program offers three courses, private training, the Specialist Exam fee with free retake, lifetime access to Excel video courses, and free exam proctoring.
Microsoft Excel has been the primary spreadsheet tool for most computer users since the 1990s. If you have to work with spreadsheets for home or business projects, chances are you have some familiarity with Excel.
Microsoft introduced the software as Multiplan in 1982, but it soon evolved into the much more sophisticated Excel program we know now. Today, Excel is part of the powerful Microsoft Office 365 Suite, available through subscription services for small businesses, enterprise organizations, and individual users.
With its numerous formulas and functions, Excel integrates seamlessly with essential programming languages like Python and JavaScript, making it one of the most valuable programs to know for tech professionals across all fields. While you cannot make a living from Excel alone, the software is crucial to many positions. Read on to learn more about this versatile spreadsheet editor.
Once the basic spreadsheet program for businesses with a single administrator, Excel has evolved into one of the most essential Microsoft Office tools for organizations of all kinds. Excel training is helpful if you want to track items at home, such as a list of stocks you own or an informal database of companies where you have applied for work.
However, Excel is essential for many workplace functions, and professionals from Administrative Assistants to Data Analysts often use the program for daily tasks. Consider some of the following projects that require Excel proficiency.
Office Administration—You need Excel skills as an Office Administrator, Administrative Assistant, or Office Manager. Day-to-day responsibilities like invoicing clients, paying bills, and recordkeeping can fall to many office workers, and Excel is the preferred method for many of these professionals. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a Certified Public Accountant to use Excel for such tasks.
Data Visualization—Although some tech professionals use advanced tools like Power BI or Tableau to create charts and graphs, Excel is the default data visualization tool for many others. Most Tableau and Power BI users learn Excel first. You can create data visualizations with Excel and upload Excel data into Tableau or Power BI Desktop, an essential benefit for Business Analysts, Data Analysts, and Financial Analysts.
Inventory Management—Whether you run an ecommerce site or a physical location, inventory management can be an essential part of your work. Excel inventory management utilizes features such as its built-in formulas and a fixed asset depreciation calculator. Professionals who use Excel for inventory management include positions like Inventory Control Clerk, Inventory Manager, or Purchasing Inventory Specialist.
Other projects you can do with Excel include creating budgets, forecasting models, and interactive dashboards, to name a few.
Most Excel fundamentals classes cover topics like functions, formulas, and formatting. You might also gain insights into how to use Excel with other Microsoft programs, like Word, or even how to create data visualizations with Excel, like charts or graphs. Consider some of the most likely topics in an Excel fundamentals course:
Formatting is a big part of Excel training. You will learn to format cells, rows, and columns, whether you need to create basic spreadsheets to track tasks or a database with formulas and other formatting. The Excel main menu bar is similar to the Microsoft Word menu bar, making it easy to learn if you are familiar with the Word interface.
Conditional formatting allows an Excel user to add conditions to your queries. For example, if one thing is true and another is true, another will be false. Or if one thing is true and another is false, another will be true. Excel allows for endless permutations of these conditional statements, so consider limiting them to a few—typically AND, OR, and IF statements. A good Excel fundamentals course will cover formatting, including conditional formatting.
VLOOKUP is one of the Excel functions you will typically learn in a class that features intermediate or basic Excel fundamentals. Some courses cover the XLOOKUP function, an improved version of VLOOKUP, and others will focus on how to use VLOOKUP to organize data. Once you have mastered the Excel interface and know how to work with cells, rows, and columns, you will likely have to look up values. VLOOKUP can help with these tasks. You may also learn how to build the VLOOKUP syntax in advanced Excel classes.
The SUM function in Excel adds values and the SUMIF function will add values in a range you specify. For example, if you create a column with three items worth $10,000 each, you can add them with the SUM function. However, if you specify additional criteria for the sums, then the SUMIF function will help you define your terms and search through data to find answers that meet your criteria. While AutoSum or SUM may be part of a basic Excel program, you will not likely encounter SUMIF unless your class is an intermediate or advanced course.
COUNTIF is one of the many statistical functions you can use in Excel. This function allows you to count the number of cells within a range that meets your predetermined criteria. Excel provides multiple variations on the COUNT function, including COUNTA and COUNTBLANK. When you want to find something like the number of times a particular city appears in a customer list, you can use the COUNTIF function. Variants like COUNTA and COUNTBLANK are more relevant to counting cells that are empty (or not empty). Like SUMIF, COUNTIF is typically part of intermediate Excel training.
Depending on the Excel class, you might learn advanced formulas and functions beyond the best-known ones. For example, though many online articles list VLOOKUP and SUMIF as advanced, they are among the most common intermediate functions. Advanced Excel users like Financial Analysts and Business Analysts may benefit from knowing formulas like INDEX MATCH, TRIM, and CHOOSE, to name a few. Check the course syllabus of any Excel training you plan to take, and you can get a better idea of what formulas and functions it will cover.
Although you will not necessarily learn soft skills in an Excel class, you need several to succeed in the workplace. Jobs requiring intensive Excel use appeal to people with logic, organizational, and analytical skills. Among the most essential attributes you must bring to the table is your ability to be detail-oriented. Ideally, you can emphasize that you always pay great attention to detail when recruiters or hiring managers interview you. However, your close attention to Excel training will benefit you during and after the course.
The challenge of learning Excel depends on several factors. If a student has some experience with Excel, it can benefit them, but they may need to unlearn a few things. If someone attends Excel training with no prior experience, the software’s complexity may come as a surprise. However, there is a difference between becoming familiar with a skill and becoming an expert in it.
Students with a strong mathematics or statistics background may benefit when taking those skills into Excel training. If someone has experience with other Microsoft programs like Word, familiarity with the interface can also help. The main menu bar, which Microsoft calls the Ribbon, has similar icons in Excel and Word. Whatever experience a student brings to Excel, learning fundamentals is not difficult and prepares them for intermediate and advanced training.
One of the most challenging aspects of learning Excel is distinguishing between functions and formulas. That should be an essential piece of your initial training. Your instructor may give the class plenty of information to differentiate between them, but many online articles use the terms formula and function interchangeably. On a basic level, a function is a predefined Excel formula. Excel has hundreds of predefined formulas. However, you can also use formulas with or without functions. Learning to tell the difference and using functions and formulas properly is one of the first challenges for new Excel users to master.
Experimenting with Microsoft Excel is easy if you have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription. However, acquiring Excel expertise takes more than an hour or two. A full-day bootcamp may be enough to learn the basics, but consider enrolling in beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level courses to be proficient in this essential software. Examples include the Excel Level I: Fundamentals, Excel Level II: Intermediate, and Excel Level III: Advanced courses from Noble Desktop. You can also save by taking all three as part of their immersive 3-day Excel Bootcamp.
The skills and tools you learn alongside Excel may depend on how and where you plan to use the knowledge you gain. Some skills commonly complement Excel, whereas others will come to mind only if you know them as part of a broader curriculum.
For example, if you plan to work in data analytics, you might start learning Excel through a program like the Data Analytics Certificate from Noble Desktop. This immersive course begins with an Excel for Data Analytics course, followed by related topics such as Python, SQL, and Tableau.
However, if your specific area of expertise is financial modeling or analysis, then you might prefer to learn Excel through a course like Noble’s Financial Analyst Training Program. The program combines fundamental and intermediate Excel with a Financial Modeling Bootcamp in a targeted, beginner-friendly package.
Lastly, you might prepare to sit for the Microsoft Excel Certification. In that case, consider options like the Excel Specialist Certification Program. This course combines the three Excel units (Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced) and adds private training, the Microsoft Excel Specialist exam, and proctoring for the exam. Graduates can retake any or all units for up to a year at no additional charge.
These are among the many Microsoft Excel training options, and different career paths require different skills and knowledge besides Excel. If you work in finance, healthcare, or manufacturing, you may need to learn Excel VBA and macros. If your role is data analysis or business analysis, you might need to master SQL, Python, Tableau, or JavaScript. Check listings in your industry for the most common job requirements.
The Atlanta metropolitan area is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, and United Parcel Service (UPS). Atlanta is also a growing, vibrant city with multiple industries that lead the region. Its essential industries encompass successful national and international businesses, from clean technology to advanced manufacturing. If you plan to live or work in Atlanta, consider some of the following top sectors that may require proficiency in Excel, among other skills and tools.
Atlanta is a top city for clean energy, with battery manufacturing and recycling, green office space, solar energy, and electric vehicle production leading the way. According to the Atlanta Metro Chamber, Georgia is the seventh-largest state in the country for solar energy production. Many companies in this sector need multiple Excel-proficient workers, from Administrative Assistants to Accountants. Most positions in front offices require Microsoft Office skills, especially Excel. If you plan to work in CleanTech, consider Excel among the top priorities before you apply to positions here.
Atlanta is one of the best-known creative hubs in the American Southeast. Georgia is the number one state for film production, and Atlanta boasts the largest film production studio in the country, Tyler Perry Studios.
Creative positions in TV and film production are numerous, but these companies also require employees with experience in accounting, marketing, and administration. Many such positions require Microsoft Office Suite proficiency: Excel, Word, Outlook, and Access, among others. Media and publishing companies also need marketing and advertising producers, and some of these roles also demand Excel expertise for managing production deadlines, scheduling, and other essential functions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is among the many Atlanta healthcare and life sciences organizations. The CDC is also one of Atlanta’s biggest employers, with about 15,000 employees. However, the CDC represents one aspect of healthcare here. The Atlanta metro area is home to top medical universities and hundreds of digital health companies, including Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as innovators such as Alcon and Sharecare.
Excel plays an essential role in numerous healthcare and life sciences roles. Chemistry Lab Technicians, Inventory Specialists, and Administrative Assistants are among the positions that can require Excel expertise. Search online for Excel jobs in Atlanta, and you will find many healthcare-related roles that specify Excel in the job description.
Atlanta is an essential American transportation hub, with an importance reaching well beyond the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As a supply chain giant, Atlanta has railroads, highways, and ports crucial to companies like Amazon, Home Depot, and UPS, to name a few.
Work in the supply chain comes in numerous forms: Vendor Relations Specialists, Production Managers, Inventory Managers, and Procurement Contract Specialists are among the many positions required within such massive organizations. Most of these roles demand Microsoft Office Suite proficiency, particularly Excel. Spreadsheets, data analysis, and visualization are among the top Excel uses in the supply chain.
The same holds for advanced manufacturing. Production Supervisors, Quality Control Engineers, and even Assembly Technicians may need Excel proficiency to qualify for a position, including those that require only a high school diploma. Microsoft Office skills remain a high priority, especially in supply chain and advanced manufacturing roles.
Besides the CleanTech sector, technology in Atlanta is another leading industry. Tech giants like Microsoft and Alphabet (Google) have opened permanent Atlanta locations, but the importance of technological innovation here goes far beyond the well-known multinational corporations. The Atlanta region also hosts The Georgia Institute of Technology, a.k.a. Georgia Tech. Top FinTech companies with an Atlanta presence include Global Payments, Inc., Greenlight, and NCR Corporation.
Excel is essential for tech companies worldwide in FinTech and other tech positions. From e-commerce Marketing Analysts to Systems Support Technicians, tech workers may need intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Teams, and Access, not to mention other tools like Azure Cloud or Amazon Web Services (AWS).
While these sectors are among the most essential in Atlanta, you can seek plenty of other opportunities to use your Excel expertise here. Run a quick Google search for Excel jobs in Atlanta, and you will find everything from trucking companies to design services, real estate investment trusts, and insurance agencies. As long as there is office work, you can count on Excel, Word, and popular Microsoft-owned subsidiaries like GitHub and Skype to be essential to the office space.
Microsoft Excel has become an indispensable tool for businesses in Atlanta, from emerging startups to established corporations. Companies like Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and Home Depot rely on Excel for a multitude of functions, from data analysis and inventory management to budgeting and financial forecasting. Whether you’re an office administrator at UPS managing daily operations or a data analyst at Mailchimp visualizing client statistics, proficiency in Excel streamlines tasks and enhances productivity. In a city known for its diverse economy and innovation, learning Excel can be a game-changer for both individual professionals and teams in their pursuit of efficiency and success.
An Executive Assistant position typically pays much better than an Administrative Assistant or Administrative Coordinator role. These skilled professionals may need Excel certification to get hired, and many have years of experience working directly with executives. They must have proficiency in additional tools like Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and the company’s social media platforms. An Executive Assistant in the Atlanta metro area can expect to earn an annual salary between $62,000 and $94,000, with an average estimated total pay of around $76,000.
You might expect the Production Supervisor role to pay more than jobs with titles like Data Analyst or Business Analyst, but this is only sometimes the case. In the Atlanta metro area, the average annual salary for this position is between $64,000 and $103,000, with an estimated total pay of about $81,000. However, in companies where the production management career path runs Production Supervisor I, II, and III, the difference between one level and the next can be substantial. These positions often require everything from setting up production teams to managing product quality and delivery. Check job postings in your industry to get a more specific salary range if you plan to launch a career in production.
Data Analysts may use Tableau or Power BI more than Excel for their data analytics and visualization needs. However, many companies require Microsoft Office proficiency, including Excel and PowerPoint. Data Analysts share charts, tables, and other graphics with management to make recommendations that can move an organization forward. A Senior Data Analyst may need intermediate to advanced Excel expertise, leadership skills, and data mining and storage skills. While an Atlanta metro area Data Analyst can expect to earn about $73,000—$116,000 annually, their estimated total pay is around $91,000.
Like Data Analysts, Business Analysts can qualify for positions in varying industries. They use data to analyze challenges and propose solutions. While some organizations use the titles interchangeably, these roles differ as Data Analysts tend to work with data more than Business Analysts. The Business Analyst role can also require more analysis of IT structures or production processes. In Atlanta, a Business Analyst can anticipate earning an annual salary between $78,000 and $120,000, with an estimated total pay of around $97,000. Other titles for Business Analyst may include Revenue Operations Analyst, Sales & Operations Analyst, or Business Process Analyst, to name a few.
The Financial Analyst role typically falls more into finance than the Business or Data Analyst role. Many specialize in financial planning, but others help organizations manage budgets, cut costs, and provide forecasts. Senior Financial Analysts may need Excel and other Microsoft programs. A Financial Analyst in Atlanta can expect an average annual salary from about $84,000 to as much as $118,000, with an average estimated total pay of around $99,000. Depending on the type of position, additional compensation can come through bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.
A Quality Control Engineer or Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for strategic planning to improve product quality while increasing productivity. Like the Production Supervisor role, the salary for a Quality Control Engineer position can be substantially higher if the career path runs Quality Control Engineer I, II, and III. These skilled professionals often hold advanced degrees and have expertise in everything from the Microsoft Office Suite to specialized manufacturing tools and skills. An Atlanta-area Quality Control Engineer can expect to make from $80,000 annually to as high as $133,000, with an estimated total pay of around $103,000.
These positions represent a small percentage of the many jobs that require Excel proficiency, whether in Atlanta or elsewhere in the United States. Many roles like those above require advanced Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio skills, and some demand expertise in programming languages ranging from Python to JavaScript.
Finance-related Excel roles require accounting software knowledge, like Intuit QuickBooks or NetSuite, and data analytics positions may require expertise in Tableau, Power BI, or another data visualization tool. Many of the best-paying roles that require Excel proficiency also demand familiarity with a customer relationship management (CRM) platform like Salesforce, Zoho, or HubSpot. While Excel is essential in many careers, it is one of many tools and skills you will need to succeed.
While many traditional classes are held in-person, opting for a virtual format can provide you with the flexibility to learn from anywhere in Atlanta, including the comfort of your home. You can find a variety of engaging live online Excel training programs that cater to different skill levels, allowing you to connect with instructors and other learners in real-time. This option not only saves on commuting time but also opens up a wider range of classes, making it easier to find the perfect fit for your schedule and learning needs. Explore the many virtual Excel courses available and take the next step in your skill development.
Noble Desktop offers a comprehensive Excel Specialist Certification Program that caters to both novices and experienced users of Excel. While most units can be taken separately, the immersive program is ideal for students with a clear objective. This program encompasses all three units from the Excel Bootcamp: Excel Level I: Fundamentals, Excel Level II: Intermediate, and Excel Level III: Advanced, and it includes an additional two hours of private training. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the Microsoft Excel Specialist exam, and they have the added benefit of being able to retake the program free of charge for up to one year after graduation. Another option available is the Excel for Data Analytics class, which takes a unique approach to using Excel for data-related tasks such as sorting, filtering, and summarizing data through PivotTables. This three-day course features a beginner-friendly curriculum, essential formulas and functions, and advanced techniques, all taught by an experienced instructor. Similar to the Excel Specialist Certification Program, students can retake the Excel for Data Analytics course for up to a year at no additional cost, or they can save on tuition by enrolling in it as part of Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate program.
Would your employees benefit from expanding their Excel knowledge base? If so, consider onsite and corporate Excel training from Noble Desktop. Noble provides multiple training alternatives and can tailor a program to your needs and preferences. Corporate and onsite training is available live online via teleconferencing, and expert Noble Desktop instructors can even conduct training at your location.
If you want your team to have more flexibility with their Excel training, Noble offers discounted vouchers for its open-enrollment courses. Employers get a discount when they purchase the vouchers in bulk, providing a convenient option so an organization can select the training format that best suits its needs. Classes include basic, intermediate, and advanced Excel, Excel Programming with VBA, and multiple bootcamps and certificate programs.
Want to learn more about the different Excel training alternatives Noble Desktop can provide for your team? Contact them today for additional information and a no-obligation consultation.
Atlanta’s professional scene is diverse and powerful, making it perfect for anyone looking to expand their skills in tech, design, business, or data. As one of the Southeast’s most important hubs for companies, the city brings together industries like finance, media, technology, and logistics. Through Noble Desktop’s network of experienced instructors, Atlanta-based professionals can access training from experts who truly understand the local job market.
These instructors have spent years in their fields and have developed a sense of pride in imparting their knowledge to others. This is a surefire way for students to turn their interests into real-world, applicable skills. Additionally, Noble Desktop's Atlanta Excel instructors specialize in teaching practical workflows that professionals use every day. They guide students through formulas, data tools, and time-saving techniques that immediately improve productivity.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Willie Morris is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 30 years of experience leading initiatives across government, aviation, and transportation industries. Willie, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran, has also held roles with the Department of Homeland Security and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. He has served as a Registered Educational Provider with the Project Management Institute and an Authorized Training Partner with Rita Mulcahy Learning Solutions. Drawing on his background of teaching PMP Exam Prep Certification courses, Willie now instructs professionals in Atlanta and nationwide, helping teams in federal industries strengthen their leadership and project management skills.
Kimberly Peppers dedicated 37 years to federal service, building her career through a range of audit, budget, and program analysis roles. Over the course of those decades, she rose to senior leadership positions, including Regional Inspector General and Audit Director across different federal agencies. She earned her Doctorate in Business Administration while simultaneously working on audit and investigative assignments in the Middle East. After retiring from federal service, Kim continued work in the public sector by moving into the federal consulting field. She is also an instructor at Graduate School USA, teaching mainly finance and accounting classes.
With more than 20 years of both personal and professional involvement in government HR, Ashley is an experienced human resources professional and educator. She currently works as an instructor at Graduate School USA, where she earned a reputation for delivering comprehensive marketing, project management, and HR concepts in a clear, understandable way. Drawing on her extensive experience, Ashley brings a unique twist to her courses through real-life, practical examples that help students bridge the gap between theory and actual application of the skills. Ashley holds a Master’s in Public Administration and remains dedicated to strengthening the public service sector through professional development and advanced education.