Microsoft Office certification programs provide specialized training in applications like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook, essential for careers in business, technology, and finance. Gaining proficiency through these certifications can significantly enhance productivity, streamline everyday professional tasks, and open pathways to new career opportunities.
Microsoft Office, now known as Microsoft 365, is a software bundle that the Microsoft Corporation created. Originally created in 1988 by Software Developer and Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, Office included three apps when it was created: PowerPoint, Word, and Excel. Over the course of the next few decades, Office continued to evolve and expand. New applications like OneNote, Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams were added. Currently, Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that provides users with access to core productivity applications, additional features and online services that promote collaboration and communication, and secure cloud storage.
Several Office apps remain widely used across industries and professions. This productivity suite is a staple for those who work in corporate offices, academic institutions, and even freelance agencies. Office training is an asset for those who work in technology, business, or finance. It’s also essential for computer-related jobs and overall computer literacy. Office users work with one or more of its apps to streamline a range of daily tasks. PowerPoint is a useful tool for creating engaging presentations that can be saved or shared. Excel allows users to organize, analyze, and visualize data. Outlook streamlines email communications and scheduling tasks. Word remains the most popular word-processing app worldwide and helps users design, edit, print, and share documents of all types. In addition to Office being a workplace staple, it also can help non-professionals with daily tasks like keeping track of bills or sending written correspondence.
Microsoft Office certification or certificate study are two ways to acquire the skills needed to boost your productivity as an employee or pursue an entirely new career path. There are several official Office 365 certifications currently available that test students in specific apps like Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Certification exams are also available for those who want to become a Specialist, Expert, or Master in Microsoft Office. Some people elect to take the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Certification, which was created to test students on foundational skills and cloud-based solutions for facilitating onsite collaboration and productivity. Learners who want to sit for this exam must be well-versed in how to work with Office apps for tasks like data security, reporting and analytics, application management, and automating OS deployment. Those who pass this exam demonstrate that they’ve mastered a range of Microsoft 365 skills and capabilities and can utilize this software as a service cloud model for everyday professional tasks.
Certificate programs and bootcamps are also available in Microsoft 365. These rigorous, hands-on programs are designed to help learners fully immerse in one or more Office applications. Students can enroll in in-person classes in Los Angeles or opt for live online instruction. Coursework is available on a full-time and part-time basis to accommodate scheduling needs. Students receive instruction in a small class environment from an expert instructor with industry experience using Microsoft 365. Not only does this provide students with a way to learn how to leverage apps like PowerPoint, Outlook, or Excel, but it also gives them the opportunity to complete their studies alongside other dedicated learners, which can foster a sense of community. If you want to learn Office but may not feel ready for a bootcamp or certificate, you can explore other coursework and beginner-friendly learning options using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to find Office classes in Los Angeles.
Microsoft Office certificate programs offer the benefit of a condensed form of study. Rather than spending four or more years on college coursework that includes Office training alongside other skills, certificate programs are much shorter and can typically be completed in 20 hours or less. The skills learned during certificate study can immediately be applied in the workplace. Price is another incentive for this type of learning. The average cost of college in the US is currently $36,000 a year. Certificate programs cost only a fraction of one year of college; most are available for between $200 and $2,000. These immersive classes offer more than hands-on training; many programs also include professional development incentives like career counseling, resume critiques, job interview prep, or one-on-one mentoring.
Enrolling in a Microsoft Office certificate program is an excellent way to master one or more core applications. Some of these hands-on programs focus exclusively on one Microsoft 365 app such as PowerPoint, Word, or Outlook, whereas others teach several apps as part of the same comprehensive program to ensure they can work with each other in a professional setting. Although the content of each certificate program varies, participants can expect to learn Office through real-world examples over the course of several weeks or months of intensive study. The following sections will take a closer look at some of the core topics you can expect to encounter during Microsoft Office certificate training such as how to work with Access, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel.
Microsoft Access is a data management application. It was created to help users efficiently analyze and manage vast amounts of data. Access has database functionality and programming capabilities that allow users to create forms that can be easily navigated. This app also provides options for saving, editing, and viewing data. Access continues to be popular because its drag-and-drop interface is easy to work with for tasks like creating tables, queries, forms, or reports, even for those who don’t come from a technical background. It includes customizable templates with applications for inventory management, product tracking, and customer management. Access also has a Query Designer who allows users to locate and retrieve information directly from tables by using predefined criteria. Like Word and Excel, Access also includes macros, which can automate common database tasks like opening forms or running queries. It can also integrate with other core Office apps like Excel and Word.
Microsoft Word remains the industry-standard tool for word-processing tasks. It’s commonly used to create basic and complex documents for professional, academic, and personal settings. This application provides users with options for cutting, copying, and pasting text within and between documents, as well as options for manipulating headers and footers. Users can opt to work with pre-designed templates when creating documents like envelopes or letters or make their own from scratch. Another core feature of Word is its capability to check for errors in spelling and usage. Word users can also import images and pictures from their hard drive or the internet and incorporate them into a Word document.
During certificate study in Office 365, you’re likely to encounter training in Microsoft PowerPoint. This widely used application was created to help users craft presentations of all sorts and lengths. This tool is commonly used as a visual aid that accompanies a presentation. It has features that assist with imparting information, opinions, sales pitches, or research to a target audience in an engaging, accessible format. Users can select from one of this app’s templates or design their own presentation from scratch. They can also add videos, images, text, or art into slides, as well as transitions or animation, which can make the presentation more memorable and enjoyable. Once a PowerPoint presentation is created, it can be saved for use at a later time, edited as needed, or shared with others.
When enrolling in an Office certificate program or bootcamp, you will likely encounter course offerings that teach Microsoft Outlook. Organizations of all types and sizes rely on this personal information manager application for task management, calendaring, and contact storage. It allows users to search for emails, flag them as needed, and color-code for better organization and retrieval. The calendar function in this app is useful for viewing meetings and appointments and corresponding with others via the shared calendar feature. Outlook can also be configured to send automatic email replies, alert users of new messages, and copy and paste text from prior emails into new threads. It provides users with other useful features as well such as reminders to attach files, ignore message commands, and capabilities for cleaning up conversations to streamline work correspondences.
Microsoft Excel is an industry-standard spreadsheet application. It was created 40 years ago to help users store, format, organize, and access the data contained in a spreadsheet. This versatile application has functions and features that help users perform common as well as advanced calculations. Professionals like Data Analysts who use this software to organize data can easily view the information in a worksheet or workbook and make any necessary changes or additions. Spreadsheets consist of cells that are arranged in numerical rows and lettered columns. Excel users can then transform the data contained in a spreadsheet into mathematical formulas. This app also provides users with features for data visualization that can transform numbers into visual representations like scatterplots, bar charts, graphs, or histograms. Excel remains very popular for those whose job revolves around finance-related tasks or scheduling.
Because Microsoft Office is used in most industries and career paths, training with this versatile productivity suite of applications can lead to many job opportunities for those who live in Los Angeles. The city is one of the world’s most culturally diverse locations, with residents from 140 countries who bring their unique cultural perspectives and skills. Its nearly 4 million residents draw from Microsoft 365 skills when they work in industries like tourism, bioscience, and entertainment. The following sections will take a closer look at each of these core LA industries, as well as the role Microsoft Office training plays in each.
Tourism is one of the main industries in Los Angeles. People from around the globe head to the city to enjoy its beautiful beaches, year-round sunny weather, diverse culinary scene, and range of diverse cultural and entertainment events. In 2022, over 46 million visitors came to the city, a number that’s expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The tourism industry contributes substantially to the city’s employment and economy. Tourism-related positions accounted for more than 528,000 jobs in 2022, generating $35 billion in sales.
Within the tourism industry, Microsoft Excel helps both small and mid-sized travel companies perform tasks like payroll, data analysis, invoicing, reporting, sales, and payroll. This versatile spreadsheet application can also assist those in tourism with organizing upcoming tasks or activities and tracking incoming customer requests. Excel can even help create vouchers with its voucher template, which automates a time-consuming process.
Los Angeles is known as the entertainment capital of the world. Since the 1930s, when the city became the epicenter of the film industry, actors have continued to relocate to LA to pursue Hollywood careers. In the years since, the actors and entertainment professionals who have flocked to the city have played an integral role in the city’s development, culture, and economy. Currently, some of the biggest players in the industry call Los Angeles Home such as Warner Brothers, Sony, and Paramount. Major awards ceremonies like the Academy Awards also significantly contribute to the city’s continued dominance in the entertainment industry.
Those who work in entertainment in Los Angeles rely on several Office applications to perform a range of tasks. Microsoft Word is an essential tool for drafting correspondence like letters, memos, and other documents. Excel has applications for budgeting or finance-related tasks such as keeping track of employees’ pay or contact information. Outlook is another valuable application that helps those who work in entertainment schedule meetings, communicate via email, and stay current on a film’s progress.
Los Angeles is also home to a vibrant bioscience community, which consists of both research and development endeavors. Many specialized research facilities and institutions are located in the city such as the UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Hospitals. Los Angeles remains one of California’s three hubs for biotech and pharmaceuticals. Those who are employed in bioscience work on various cutting-edge projects such as 3D dental imaging, robotic limbs, drug pumps, and HIV disease prevention. Within this industry, Microsoft Office provides professionals with many capabilities that can help them better serve patients, collaborate with others, and streamline administration tasks. Microsoft Word is a valuable tool for creating research reports, compiling literature reviews, and drafting grant proposals. Microsoft Teams is also widely used for remote meetings, where bioscience professionals can connect with others who live in different parts of the world.
If you’re a Los Angeles resident interested in finding a job that can put your Microsoft 365 skills to work, the good news is that plenty of career options are available in different industries. The following sections will briefly examine several popular career paths for Los Angeles residents such as Financial Analyst, Data Journalist, and Accountant, to explore the role Microsoft Office training plays in each.
Financial Analysts who work in Los Angeles study data to provide insights into investment opportunities and various financial outcomes for their employer. Most are hired by firms, the government, or corporations. They may work for private equity firms, public banks, venture capital, or investment banks. These professionals regularly communicate with executives, CFOs, and CEOs to perform daily tasks. To gain insights into sound investment decisions, Financial Analysts collect and study data, organize this information, compare historical results, and generate reports that offer predictions for potential future outcomes. They also attract new corporate clients and advise on which investments a specific client should purchase. Los Angeles-based Financial Analysts earn a yearly salary of $74,000 to $108,000.
Data journalism, also known as data-driven journalism, is a kind of journalism that requires filtering and analyzing vast datasets to craft or enhance a news story. Data Journalists work with digital information, numerical data, and online analytics to find new patterns and insights that can fuel the stories they create. These professionals rely on a strong background in writing, as well as various types of technology like Excel or Tableau, to create and incorporate data visualizations and infographics into their narratives. A significant portion of their time is devoted to filtering and analyzing data to create the most engaging, informative, and accurate piece possible with the information at hand. Depending on their training, industry of employment, and level of expertise, Data Journalists in Los Angeles can expect to make in the range of $62,000-$96,000 annually.
Accountants are hired to handle a company’s bookkeeping and financial documents. They’re often hired by accounting firms or multinational companies that operate in many industries. On a daily basis, Accountants perform tasks like compiling reports, finding answers to financial questions, working with Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, drafting emails, and putting together tax returns. In addition to a background working with Excel, most Accountants are skilled in bookkeeping, account management, financial reporting, and SEC reporting. They draw from written, interpersonal, and ledger skills. Most Accountants work with several clients at the same time, which means they must also be skilled multi-taskers who are highly organized and have an analytical mindset. Depending on their experience and training, Accountants in Los Angeles can expect to earn between $61,000 and $94,000 a year.
Those looking to learn one or more Microsoft Office applications can do so through a certificate program or pursue certification to demonstrate their knowledge. Certifications are exams that are offered by a third party. There are several Office 365 certifications offered.
Microsoft Office certification exams are available at the specialist, expert, and master level. Each test costs $100. These exams focus on one specific Office app such as Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, or Access. There are also additional Microsoft certifications offered in areas like software engineering, project management, UI design, application development, and cybersecurity. If you pass one of these, you earn an industry-recognized certification that shows that you’ve achieved expertise with that skill or application.
Certificate programs vary from certifications in that they’re completion-based programs that generally don’t require an exam at the end. These hands-on courses cover one or more Office apps and can usually be completed in 12-60 hours. Graduates can immediately put the skills they learn to use professionally. Most certificates cost less than $2,000, which makes them a cost-effective alternative to college or university study. In addition to providing students with comprehensive, live instruction, these courses also often include a range of professional development incentives such as career counseling, access to networking events, job interview prep sessions, or resume critiques. These programs also sometimes offer students the option of a free course retake for up to one full year after graduation.
One of the main differences between certificates and certifications in Office is their target audience. Certificates are usually beginner-friendly courses available to learners at all levels. Certifications are intended for those who have achieved a level of expertise in one or more Office applications and want to demonstrate this knowledge by passing an exam. Learners can decide how they wish to prepare for a certification exam. Some opt to rely on their prior workplace training or study independently, whereas others prefer to enroll in a certificate program to acquire the necessary skills. Some Office 365 certification exams require prerequisites, too, which learners should consider as they prepare.
Approximately 1.2 billion people from more than 140 countries currently use one or more Microsoft Office products to perform professional and personal tasks. Learning how to work with one or more of these applications such as Outlook or PowerPoint, can make you a more competitive job candidate in various professions such as publishing, healthcare, journalism, or academia. Certificate programs are an effective way to gain hands-on training in Microsoft 365, which can help you be a more productive employee and a more well-rounded job candidate. These comprehensive programs often include additional incentives beyond in-class training; some also provide learners with professional development incentives like career counseling or one-on-one career coaching. In the following sections, some current course listings for Office classes in Los Angeles will be explored so you can select a certificate program or bootcamp most suited to your learning needs. If you aren’t quite ready to enroll in a certificate, you can also use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to browse beginner-friendly Office classes in Los Angeles.
NYC Career Centers Microsoft Office Intermediate Bootcamp is intended for those who want to learn how to work with several core Office 365 applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. During the Excel class component, participants explore using PivotTables, writing VLOOKUP and other advanced functions, and automating tasks using macros. PowerPoint coursework teaches students how to create a reusable template, create consistent presentations that can be easily updated, record slideshows, and import Excel charts. During the Microsoft Word class component, learners explore how to write macros to save time, design custom styles and templates, and record tasks. In the Outlook class component, instruction is provided on configuring mail accounts, executing advanced searches, automating tasks with rules, and leveraging advanced calendar management tasks.
Tuition is $949. This fee includes the option of a free course retake for up to one full year. This bootcamp takes five days to complete. As a prerequisite, students should have knowledge of Microsoft 365 equivalent to that taught in Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp.
In Microsoft 365 Teamwork Bootcamp, participants learn the skills needed to pass the MS 300 Microsoft 365 Teamwork exam. This comprehensive class covers Teamwork components like OneDrive, Teams, and Sharepoint. Those enrolled learn how to configure SharePoint sites, sync the settings for OneDrive, and manage site collection. Instruction is also provided on optimizing workflow, deploying effective plans, working with data governance, managing user access, and employing best practices.
This program takes five days to complete. Instruction is available in-person in El Segundo, California, and live online. Tuition is $1,999 for this beginner-level program.
In General Assembly’s Excel Bootcamp, learners who already have a background in working with spreadsheets can take their Excel training to the next level. Those enrolled receive instruction on creating basic and intermediate charts, using PivotTables, and combining formulas. Coursework includes how to work with VLOOKUP, COUNTIF, and SUMIF, as well as how to work with relative and absolute references. Students can take this class live online or in Los Angeles. Tuition details are provided directly from General Assembly. As a prerequisite, those interested in enrolling should have basic spreadsheet knowledge such as how to navigate Excel and perform tasks like copying and pasting. Learners can work with their own raw data for class exercises if they wish to do so. This class is taught for PCs, but the functions and features covered will also apply to Macs; shortcuts for both systems will be provided.
Excel Intro Training is a beginner-friendly course that teaches students the core spreadsheet skills needed to increase their productivity with Microsoft Excel. This comprehensive program covers basic spreadsheet terminology and how to navigate shortcuts and work with Excel’s gallery commands and tool ribbons. Learners become familiar with using AutoFill for data entry and working with cell references to apply calculations accurately. Coursework covers how to work with styles and style galleries for fast cell formatting, as well as how conditional formatting rules can be used to enhance data visually. By the end of this training program, learners will be able to adjust sizing and margins in spreadsheets to ensure clean printing, as well as define which areas to exclude from a spreadsheet when printing.
As a prerequisite, those enrolled should have basic familiarity with Microsoft Windows. Tuition is $290 for this program. It takes learners six hours to complete coursework. This class is taught in-person in Sherman Oaks, California.
Those who are interested in learning how to leverage Microsoft Excel’s basic and advanced features can learn to do so in Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp. This program combines three shorter classes: Excel Fundamentals, Intermediate, and Advanced. On the first day of coursework, participants receive instruction on Excel essentials such as how to work with basic functions, perform calculations, format, and print. The intermediate-level portion of coursework covers more complex functions, like SUMIFS, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables. Students also become familiar with how to split and join text and sort and filter databases. Day three provides learners with advanced spreadsheet training in creating basic macros, working with database functions like MATCH and INDEX, and working with What-If Analysis for Goal Seek and Data Tables.
Tuition is $549. It takes learners 18 hours to complete this introductory-level bootcamp. Instruction is provided live online and in-person in New York City. A free course retake for up to one full year is included with tuition.
Those seeking advanced instruction in spreadsheets can acquire it in Excel Training: Intermediate and Advanced. This program prepares participants to perform complex Excel tasks like working with multiple sheets and workbooks, consolidating data, creating trend lines and sparklines, automating workflows with macros, and forecasting data.
All participants can retake this class for free for up to six months. Tuition is $495, which includes courseware. It takes two days to complete this program. Instruction is provided live online and in-person in Los Angeles.
During the Microsoft Excel Bootcamp Training Course, participants gain hands-on experience working with spreadsheets. Those enrolled begin with beginner-level concepts such as spreadsheet basics, charts, formulas, and hotkeys. During the intermediate portion of this class, learners acquire training in LOOKUPs, data validation, and PivotTables. The advanced part of this class builds on the prior course content and covers macros and advanced functions like INDEX-MATCH.
This program takes three days to complete. Tuition is $999. This course is available in-person in El Segundo, California, as well as live online.
Microsoft Excel Series is open to learners at all levels who want to master the skills needed to create data presentations and spreadsheets. Those enrolled receive comprehensive Excel instruction on skills like data entry, basic navigation, and functions and formulas. Instruction is also provided on entry techniques, charts and graphs, basic database operations, and working with settings and command groups. By course completion, those enrolled will have obtained a practical overview of how Excel can be used to perform a range of professional tasks.
This two-day program takes 12 hours to complete. Tuition is $169. A series discount is available for those who want to take Excel Level 1 and 2 together. This program is taught in-person in Los Angeles.
In NYIM Training’s Excel Expert Certification, students receive hands-on training to prepare for the Excel 2016 Expert exam. This class teaches spreadsheet core topics and skills that are covered on the exam such as how to work with PivotTables and charts, as well as basic formulas and functions. In addition to beginner, intermediate, and advanced Excel training, this certification program provides participants lifetime access to a suite of Excel educational videos.
Tuition is $1,099 and is due upfront. This includes the option of a free course retake for all students. All participants also receive four hours of private training. The cost of this program includes the fee for the Microsoft Excel Expert Exam, a free exam retake, and exam proctoring. Students can decide whether they wish to complete this program live online or in-person in New York City.
PowerPoint Beyond the Basics is available for those who want to learn how to create and deliver captivating PowerPoint presentations. This program teaches students various advanced techniques and tools that have applications for effective collaboration and content distribution. Students become familiar with how to customize design templates and add multimedia elements to the slides they create. They also explore how to incorporate math equations and SmartArt into a presentation. This program is intended for those with a basic understanding of PowerPoint who want to fully leverage this app’s security, distribution, and collaboration features.
Tuition is $295. This class is taught in the live online environment. Students can study from their own space or use the computer lab that’s provided in Santa Monica. As a prerequisite, students should have introductory-level PowerPoint knowledge and be familiar with skills like creating, editing, and delivering presentations using this app. This class is intended for those who use PowerPoint 365,2016, or 2019.
Microsoft Excel Level 4: Macros & VBA is an advanced spreadsheet course that teaches students to write and debug VBA code capable of automating various Excel tasks. Instruction is provided on basic VBA concepts such as object properties, events, and methods, as well as the object model hierarchy. Students receive instruction on debugging and error handling, macros security options, and how to work with the Macro Recorder. Coursework covers decision structures and looping, storing data with variables, and dialog box types. By the end of this program, participants will be familiar with how to use VBA’s user-defined functions to execute custom calculations.
Tuition is $450. This fee includes a free course repeat. Those interested in enrolling should have completed Excel Advanced or have an equivalent level of spreadsheet knowledge. This program takes a full day to complete. Instruction is provided in-person in Los Angeles.
Access 2016: Part 3 is intended for those who want to move beyond the basics of Microsoft Office Access 2016. This program covers advanced Access features such as encrypting a database, managing a database, and preparing a database for access from multiple users. During this class, participants will become familiar with how to share data across applications, customize form layouts, and work with VBA and macros. Instruction is provided on how to organize data into tables to minimize redundancy and lock down and prepare a database to be distributed. By course completion, participants will be able to create and modify database switchboards and establish startup options.
This class is intended for aspiring Database Administrators with a background working with Access 2016 who want to take their skills to the next level. As a prerequisite, participants should have prior experience working with Access 2016, including knowledge of how databases are created. They are also expected to be familiar with report design and creation, table relationships, and database querying. This class is taught in-person in Costa Mesa, California. Tuition is $350.
Microsoft Excel Level 3—Advanced is an advanced-level class intended for those who already have a strong background working with Excel and want to take their spreadsheet knowledge to the next level. Instruction is provided on how to create IF statements, work with circular references, transport data, leverage advanced functions and cell referencing, create drop-down menus, and use VLOOKUPs.
This advanced-level program takes eight hours to complete. All graduates are given a certificate for completing this program. Instruction is provided in-person in Los Angeles. Tuition details are provided directly from Intelquest Computer Training.
In Training Connection’s Microsoft Excel Level 3, participants receive hands-on training in core spreadsheet skills and functions. Those enrolled study topics include how to use the PowerPivot data model to import and export data, perform What-If analysis, and automate tasks using macros. Students explore array functions, formula options, and error trapping. Instruction is provided on statistical, financial, and text functions, data calculations, and Goal Seek. By course completion, those enrolled will know how to record and run macros, as well as use forms to record input.
As a prerequisite, participants are expected to have intermediate-level Excel training. Tuition is $350. Coursework is available in-person in Los Angeles. It takes learners a full day to complete this class.
Advanced Excel Training, which is available from General Assembly, is intended for those who want to learn how Excel can be used to analyze data. Those enrolled in this program explore topics like how to work with charts and PivotTables, use INDEX and MATCH, employ VLOOKUPs and HLOOKUPs, and record macros. By course completion, those enrolled will have acquired time-saving shortcuts to ensure they will be more efficient when working with spreadsheets.
As a prerequisite, students should have a strong foundation in Excel. This includes knowledge of nested formulas, relative and absolute cell references, and formatting. All participants should also come to class with a computer in which Excel is loaded. Students can opt to work with Google Sheets if they prefer, but it’s suggested that they use Excel. Tuition details are available directly from the provider. This class requires three hours to complete. It is taught in-person in Los Angeles.
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