Microsoft Office Certificates Virginia

While Microsoft Office is now known as Microsoft 365, many people still call it Office. After all, it’s been over 30 years since Microsoft Office’s debut on November 19,1990. It initially came packaged with Windows 2.0 for free, though its multiple programs were available as separate tools in MS-DOS. Since then, the software included in this suite has mostly stayed fundamentally the same. These days, Windows operating systems don’t include it for free.

Over the years, Office has heavily taken over the market and remains the most heavily used office software available today. That said, StarWriter actually predates it by several years and open-source alternatives like OpenOffice and LibreOffice appeal to many individuals who don’t have a large budget. Most of these programs follow the layout and design created by Office, so getting certified with this suite should translate to these other options quite easily.

Virginia remains one of the largest and most important states economically on the Atlantic coast. For example, there are many office-related careers in the state that help its various markets stay strong and solvent. Thankfully, programs like Microsoft Office provide multiple apps that make these jobs easier. While most of its tools shouldn’t be too hard to master, getting a Microsoft Office certificate or certification is a smart idea for many careers.

In this article, we’ll discuss Microsoft Office, analyze its history, highlight the importance of certification, discuss some skills you may learn while getting certified, point out jobs and industries that use this program, analyze their roles and earning levels, and provide information about multiple training options. In this way, you can walk away with a comprehensive grasp of Microsoft Office and transition into training more quickly and efficiently.

Why Become Certified in Microsoft Office?

Office remains heavily in use among Virginia businesses due to its diverse functions, strong and consistent support from Microsoft, and easy adaptability with other programs. Despite this heavy usage, certification might seem excessive. After all, many people have likely used Office at various points in their education or career. What benefits would training and certification provide? More than you might think, as both help you stand out when looking for a job.

Let’s look at this situation logically by examining a potential hiring situation. You apply to a secretarial job with a strong resume featuring specialized training and experience as a secretary for your family firm. However, you don’t have Microsoft Office certification or training. You’ve used it regularly but haven’t received specialized education or an official certification that highlights your abilities. Unfortunately for you, a few other applicants do have Office certs.

These applicants have a resume very comparable to yours and only stand out because they took the time to officially master Microsoft Office. That extra qualification gives them the edge they need to stand out and get their resume considered. This frustrating situation happens all the time to people who assume experience alone ensures job success. Certifications and certificates can help take your job search to the next level and improve your success rate.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Microsoft Office Certified

When you earn a Microsoft certification or certificate, you’ll practice multiple skills and programs. This unique and sweeping software suite includes many apps that can improve your career and make you a more effective employee. Typically, your training focuses on helping you master each of these programs and avoiding operational mistakes. Even if you can try to learn these skills yourself, trying them out through certification ensures a higher knowledge base.

Word

Microsoft Word provides Office users with an adaptable and powerful word-processing program. You can type various documents, set your margins, adjust the page size, insert images and graphs, and produce multiple types of projects. For example, you’ll likely use Word when producing reports for your job. Furthermore, you can sync Word with other Office software to share information in databases, spreadsheets, and even presentations.

PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is such a big name in presentation software that most people use the term “PowerPoint presentation” even when using competing programs. PowerPoint remains a strong option with a diverse and effective layout, and its competitors mostly follow its example and use similar tools and features. That said, PowerPoint remains the industry leader due to its simplicity paired with an adaptable interface with a surprisingly deep array of control choices.

Teams

Microsoft Teams provides a simple and effective tool for business collaboration. It includes a simple chat system, video calls, audio chats, and meeting options that streamline remote work. While competitors like Zoom and even Google Teams are likely more popular, Microsoft Teams is useful if your employer prefers Microsoft Office or installs it on all work computers. It basically helps to streamline your remote team and improve teamwork.

OneNote and OneDrive

Microsoft OneNote and OneDrive provide notebook and cloud storage solutions, respectively. OneNote lets you take notes, build lists, analyze your supplies, handle sales reports, manage your contacts, and much more. OneDrive provides cloud-based storage and sharing opportunities that let you sync your team’s documents, work training, and much more in a protected folder. Both may require a little training to properly master.

Excel

Spreadsheets help you track important financial data and other information in a streamlined and efficient way. Microsoft Excel leads this industry with simple coding options, effective menu layouts, adaptable commands, and constant updates from Microsoft. Even better, since other spreadsheet options are available on the market, Microsoft Office certification or certificates should make mastering this and other spreadsheet options much easier for you.

Microsoft Office Industries in Virginia

Over the years, Virginia’s market has expanded exponentially to include many office-based industries. These include low- and high-tech operations that use Microsoft Office programs almost daily. In fact, there are few modern fields that don’t utilize this suite in some fashion. Just a few Virginia markets that may require you to use Microsoft Office regularly include:

• Education: Virginia’s educational market remains strong, vibrant, and very competitive. There are many universities, colleges, and primary schools that need people with Microsoft Office skills. For example, you may use PowerPoint regularly when setting up presentations for your students, Excel for tracking grades and problem students, or Word when typing up reports.
• Human Resources: Most Virginia HR teams need employees with strong Microsoft Office skills to handle reports, share important payment information, prepare disciplinary actions for teammates, and much more. The diverse range of programs in Office provide you with a strong platform on which to build your career, especially if human resources appeals to you.
• Marketing: While the Virginia marketing industry isn’t necessarily huge, there are many firms in the state that may employ you. Most will focus on people with advanced marketing training and certification, though a cert in Microsoft Office certainly won’t hurt. After all, you’ll likely use Word to write marketing copy, PowerPoint for presentations, and Excel for marketing budgets.
• Software Development: Though you might not think Virginia’s many software teams would regularly use Microsoft Office, you’re wrong. After all, you may use Word to type up basic coding syntax and edit it before pasting into a programming window. You may also use OneDrive to share coding data and projects and PowerPoint to highlight development progress.
• Finance: As one of the biggest centers of finance on the Atlantic coast, Virginia’s many banking and lending firms need people with Microsoft Office skills. You’ll likely work on financial reports, create important databases, and handle other critical tasks using Office. Just as importantly, you’ll probably share sensitive information in the protected OneDrive cloud environment.

Microsoft Office Careers in Virginia

Within the industries mentioned above, there are many potential careers and positions in Virginia that may use Microsoft Office daily. These include some entry-level jobs, as well as high-earning positions that may interest you. Just a few to consider here include:

• Web Developer: As a Web Developer in Virginia, you’ll likely use Microsoft Office when planning websites, creating marketing campaigns, and much more. Expect to earn between $59,000 and $81,000 in this career or an average of $76,000 in Virginia.
• English Professor: When you get a job as an English Professor, you’ll likely earn between $63,000 and $216,000 in Virginia, though you may also earn a median of $99,000. Microsoft Office can help with many of your day-to-day tasks such as collecting student data.
• Software Engineer: The job roles of a Software Engineer may include using Microsoft Office to plan software, collect bug information, and analyze development progress in Excel. You’ll earn between $64,000 and $91,000 in this career in Virginia, with an average salary of $77,000.
• Financial Analyst: In the role of a Financial Analyst, you’ll earn between $57,000 and $74,000 in Virginia for a median of $66,000. You’ll likely use Microsoft Office or similar programs every day to handle word processing, presentation creation, and account tracking.
• Database Administrator: You might not think you’d use Microsoft Office as a Database Administrator but Excel, Word, OneDrive, and even PowerPoint are very useful in this career. Expect a salary between $88,000 and $112,000 or a median of $100,000 in Virginia.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

First, it’s important to know that a certificate and a certification are not the same thing. A certificate is something you earn after completing a beginner-level training course. For example, the classes mentioned in the next section all provide you with a completion certificate. You can use this certificate when applying to jobs, starting further education, or even applying for certification. Each program should help you gain strong core competencies in Office.

Certifications couldn’t be much different. They verify an expert-level knowledge base earned through years of experience with a skill. You qualify for this exam by earning a specific amount of industry experience, either through education or work. What is interesting is that many people take certificate courses to prepare for their certification exam. Otherwise, you receive no extra training for your cert but can retake it if you fail, paying the testing fee with each attempt.

Top Microsoft Office Certificate Programs in Virginia

If you’re ready to earn a Microsoft Office certificate or certification, there are many classes that may appeal to you! Virginia provides training through community colleges and private facilities to create a coherent and engaging educational program. If you’re not ready for a college education or feel uncomfortable with spending a lot of money, Noble Desktop provides multiple Microsoft Office courses that can prepare you for using this software effectively in your career.

Microsoft Office (213)

North Virginia Community College is part of the Virginia Community College system and provides the NOVA training program for continuing education. It includes a myriad of different unique courses that can streamline your training and get you prepared for a new career. Microsoft Office (213) includes six courses (all mandatory) with a passing grade needed to finish. The whole course costs $1,314 and covers a multitude of different topics.

The lessons you’ll study include introductory and intermediate courses in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. You’ll get hands-on training that includes working with each program in real-world scenarios. Even better, you’ll learn common tips and tricks to improve your knowledge, including how to write spreadsheet formulas and change colors in spreadsheets. In this way, you should feel confident using any of these programs moving forward in your career.

Microsoft Office Certificate

Available from Richmond Community College, the Microsoft Office Certificate is a three-semester course that includes six total classes for 18 credit hours. It’s not quite an associate’s degree, but takes a year and a half to finish. No summer courses are available, which means you must take them in the spring, fall, and spring (in that order). Financial aid options are available, thankfully, which can cut back on the costs and help you more easily afford attending this course.

In this class, you start with a word processing class in the first semester and move on to spreadsheet, office application, and advanced word processing skills in the second semester. During each class, you’ll work in a hands-on environment with your training team, explore the unique benefits of each of these programs, and improve your overall experience. Just as importantly, you should feel more comfortable transitioning to other Office software.

Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp

Though NYC Career Centers is located in New York City, it provides online training courses that can help you master various unique skills. These include Microsoft Excel, data analytics, Microsoft Office, design, and accounting classes that prepare for unique careers. In its 54-hour, $1,725 Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp course, you’ll spend nine days mastering Microsoft Office and go from little-to-no experience to professional competency in multiple apps.

For example, you’ll start by studying basic skills such as opening a new document, understanding what each program does, and trying out their unique functions in a variety of hands-on activities. Then, you’ll progress to mastering Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and other important programs. By the time you’re done, you should feel more than comfortable handling all of this software like a pro in whatever career that you pursue.

Deluxe Data Analytics Track

Skillspire is a Washington-based training team that provides accessible courses primarily to minorities and immigrants looking to make an important impact on the nation in a tech-related career. Here, you can study a myriad of subjects including web and app development, cybersecurity, and even coding. Thankfully, it also provides Deluxe Data Analytics, a class that covers multiple Microsoft Office courses in a coherent and reasonable manner.

You’ll spend $5,000 or so and spend 12 weeks in 12-hour weeks studying introductory and advanced data analytics subjects. You’ll not only study Excel but also learn how to use spreadsheets to share information in SQL, Python, and other coding languages. That makes this a more advanced course that includes data visualization and optimization. Try this option if you’re interested in using Excel and Microsoft Office in a data-focused career field.

Excel Bootcamp

If you’re interested in learning about Microsoft Office but don’t have months and thousands of dollars to spend, try out the Excel Bootcamp available from Noble Desktop. This training team (located in New York City) provides online training options that may appeal to you. Their unique educational program includes benefits like small class sizes, one-on-one training, dynamic, live courses and hands-on bootcamps that provide you with the learning support you need.

Taking 18 hours and costing $549 to complete, Excel Bootcamp will immerse you quickly in a unique and fast-paced environment. You’ll learn about a myriad of different topics that will make your learning much easier. For example, you’ll learn about basic Excel operations, including how to start new documents, save your work, export files, and import graphs. You’ll also learn about more advanced topics that should advance your career and improve your knowledge.

Later in the class, you’ll learn about Pivot Tables, Macros, formulas, and hands-on Excel skills that will take your career to the next level. The best thing about his course is its fast-paced nature, which will work well for people who learn quickly and who want to master Excel’s general use. When you’re done, you get a completion certificate that you can share on your online resume, including LinkedIn, to highlight your skills and abilities as much as possible.