Microsoft Office certification courses equip professionals in Washington, D.C. with advanced skills in Excel spreadsheets, Word document creation, PowerPoint presentations, and collaborative tools like Teams and Outlook. These sought-after competencies enhance career opportunities in fields ranging from financial services and human resources to administrative support and accounting.
Key Insights
- Microsoft Office certification provides professionals with advanced expertise in widely used applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaborative tools such as Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive, significantly boosting employability in administrative, financial, and HR positions.
- Industries in Washington, D.C., such as financial services companies like Capital One and human resources consulting firms including TriNet and Smart HR, rely heavily on Microsoft Office applications for tasks including data management through Excel, document creation using Word, and effective team collaborations via Teams and Outlook.
- Careers utilizing Microsoft Office in Washington, D.C. include Administrative Assistants managing office scheduling and document creation with median salaries around $51,000 annually, Accountants performing financial analysis and reporting with typical earnings near $70,000, and Legal Assistants preparing documentation and presentations, earning approximately $63,000 per year.
Learn More About Washington, D.C. Microsoft Office Certificates
Microsoft 365, the current iteration of Microsoft's popular Office suite of productivity applications, offers users powerful tools for individuals, families, small and medium businesses, and larger enterprises. Office 365 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, and OneDrive.
Microsoft Office for Windows was released in 1990 and included only three applications: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. All three were first released individually for Mac OS, and the bundle was the first version for Windows. In 2013, Microsoft launched Office 365, a cloud-based version of the software collection, and Microsoft has continued to add safety and security features, mobile tools, and the ability to add users to a subscription.
In March 2024, Microsoft announced the addition of Copilot to Microsoft 365. Copilot is an AI assistant who can help draft emails, update a calendar, and manage chats, meetings, and contacts. Microsoft 365 is used by more than 145,000 companies and individuals in the US and is constantly updating. Signing up for a certification course is a great way to keep up with the changes.
Why Become Certified in Microsoft Office?
You may be familiar with the programs in Microsoft Office from school or home use, but earning a Microsoft Office Certification can help you find a job, start a new career, or boost your confidence. One reason to increase your Microsoft skills is that the programs are used all over the world for writing and editing, creating financial spreadsheets, managing databases, or collaborating with a team. Advanced Office skills can put you ahead of other applicants in the job pool, and a Microsoft Certification is an industry-recognized way to advance your career.
What You’ll Learn While Becoming Microsoft Office Certified
When you become certified in Microsoft Office, you will gain a deep understanding of the features of the individual components and what they can do. Whether you are using them to organize your own business and finances or working as an Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Accountant, or even a Data Analyst, a Microsoft Office Certification is a valuable addition to your resume.
You can take classes in the individual programs or in the collection as a whole. Here are some of the skills you will learn in a certification course.
Word
Word is one of the most commonly used Office applications. It lets you write and edit documents, check spelling and grammar, insert photos, and improve your writing with resources like Copilot AI assistant. Word comes with design templates you can use to create resumes, business cards, brochures, newsletters, and social media posts.
Excel
Excel is Microsoft's spreadsheet program. Enter data into cells, organize it into rows and columns, and then use the many formulas and functions to perform calculations and computations. Excel can analyze data and create tables, graphs, and charts to help explain trends and make predictions.
PowerPoint
Create presentations with Microsoft PowerPoint. You can choose from many templates or create a format from scratch. It's easy to add text, photos, drawings, or videos and then choose transitions or animation. It's easy to access your presentations when you save your files to OneDrive. Get your files from your computer, tablet, or phone, and share or collaborate with others.
Outlook
With Outlook, you can organize email, manage your calendar, share files, schedule meetings, and stay on top of business no matter where you are. Outlook can also help you stay focused with an Ignore feature and alert you to important messages if they come in.
Teams
Teams is a collaboration app that makes it easy to work together, hold meetings, and share files. Use the Whiteboard feature to work together with team members, bookmark messages to find them easily later, and take meetings on your phone or desktop.
OneNote
OneNote is like a digital notebook that lets you type or record notes from a computer, tablet, or phone. Notes are easy to organize, move, and access later. You can capture almost any kind of image on a note, including drawings.
OneDrive
OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage application. You can save all kinds of files to collaborate with colleagues or share with friends. Subscribers get 1 TB of OneDrive storage.
Microsoft Office Industries in Washington, D.C.
Businesses in many industries use Microsoft Office for everything from financial services to human resources. Any firm that needs to collect and organize data, produce documents, or work in teams can use the many applications in Microsoft Office.
Companies in the financial services industry use Excel to create spreadsheets and make calculations and predictions. Word is perfect for drafting emails, creating reports, and writing memos. Other Microsoft Office applications like Teams and PowerPoint can be used for collaboration and presentations. Some D.C.-based financial services companies include Range, OCC, Capital One, Fundrise, Trilogy Federal, Fannie Mae, and Capstone.
Human resources consulting firms use various parts of Microsoft Office for data collection, research, creating plans, and recruitment. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access help professionals communicate, keep track of clients, organize data, prepare presentations, and manage databases. Here are a few of the top HR firms in D.C.: The Segal Group, TriNet, Business Benefits Group, Smart HR, Inc., Edgeworth Analytics, Vault Consulting, and Proprouser Inc.
Microsoft Office Careers in Washington, D.C.
While few careers require only Microsoft Office skills, many job descriptions list experience with various Microsoft applications as essential. Some of the careers that frequently require Office skills include Administrative Assistants, Accountants, Legal Assistants, Teachers, and general office professionals.
Administrative Assistants stay on top of day-to-day office activities like scheduling appointments and managing a calendar with Outlook, creating documents using Microsoft Word, and maintaining a client list using Excel. Administrative Assistants are not required to have a college degree, though many hold associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. Administrative Assistants in the U.S. earn about $44,000 a year, and in Washington, D.C., they make around $51,000, with salaries typically ranging from $43,000 to $61,000.
Accountants use Excel for tasks such as logging income, tracking expenses, generating invoices, organizing accounts, and forecasting cash flow. You need a bachelor's degree in finance or business to work as an Accountant. In the U.S., Accountants earn a median income of $78,000 a year, while in Washington, D.C., the median wage is $70,000 annually, with salaries ranging from $60,000 to $81,000.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants regularly use Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access to manage legal documents and PowerPoint to prepare presentations. These roles typically require an associate’s degree, and median annual pay is $59,000. In Washington, D.C., a Legal Assistant makes $56,000 a year, with a typical range between $47,000 and $67,000.
Educators use Microsoft Office for lesson planning, taking attendance, recording grades, organizing data, and generating reports. High school teachers in the U.S. earn an average of $62,000 per year and typically need a bachelor's and sometimes a master's degree. Teachers in Washington, D.C., earn an average of $61,000, with salaries ranging from $47,000 to $79,000.
Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification
Whether you choose to pursue a certificate or certification depends on your goals. If you want to gain Microsoft Office skills to organize and run your own business, a certificate course can provide an introduction to Word, Excel, Outlook, and more. However, if you want more intensive exposure to Office applications to further your career or explore new opportunities, a certification course is what you are looking for.
Certification courses are also helpful if you plan to take certification exams like the Microsoft Office Specialist. This certification shows employers and clients who you can manage the fundamental functions of Excel, Word, Outlook, and more and use these programs in a work setting.
Top Microsoft Office Certificate Programs in Washington, D.C.
You Have a Choice Between In-person or Online Classes When You Sign up for a Microsoft Office Certificate Program in Washington, D.C. Some People Prefer In-person Classes for the Opportunity to Engage Directly with a Live Instructor and Interact with Fellow Students, and There Are Training Programs in D.C. That Offer That. Others Prefer Live Online Courses Because They Eliminate the Need to Commute. These Classes Run at the Same Time As an In-person Class, with Some Students Participating Through a Video Conferencing Platform. Live Online Courses Have a Real-time, Remote Instructor Who Can Answer Questions and Engage with Students in Real Time, Similar to an In-person Classroom Setting.
Office 365 Introduction Course, ONLC Training Centers
Learn the Basics of Cloud-based Microsoft Office 365 in This In-person Introductory Course from ONLC Training. This Course Provides an Overview of the Applications, How to Set up Office 365 and Navigate the Platform. Learn to Access Email, Track Tasks with Planner, Create Forms, and Collaborate with Your Team from Any Device, Anywhere.
Prerequisites: Participants Should Be Familiar with Microsoft Office and Windows.
Duration: This is a One-day Class.
Cost: This Course Costs $295.
Microsoft Office 365 501 – Microsoft 365 Teamwork Bootcamp, Ledet Training
Gain In-depth Knowledge of Using Office 365 to Collaborate with Teams in This In-person Class from Ledet Training. This Course is a Collection of Shorter SharePoint-focused Classes and Also Prepares Students for the Deploying Microsoft 365 Teamwork Exam. Topics Covered Include Configuring and Managing SharePoint, Deploying OneDrive for Business, Managing External Sharing in SharePoint and OneDrive, Conducting Online Meetings and Conference Calls with Teams, and Customizing Teams to Suit Your Organization’s Needs. This Office 365 Course is Available In-person in Washington, D.C., or Live Online.
Prerequisites: Participants Should Be Familiar with Microsoft Office and Windows.
Duration: This is a Five-day Class.
Cost: This Course Costs $1,999.
Access—Level 1, Certstaffix Training
This Introductory Access Course from Certstaffix Training in Washington, D.C., Equips Beginners with Foundational Skills Such As Building Databases with Templates, Creating Data Entry Forms, Generating Reports, and Importing Data from Various Sources.
Prerequisites: There Are No Formal Prerequisites for This Course.
Duration: This is a Two-day Class.
Cost: This Course Costs $550.
Office 365 for the End-User, NetCom Learning
This course takes information workers by using Microsoft Office 365 on a daily basis. Topics include Outlook Online, OneDrive for Business, Skype for Business, OneNote, and SharePoint Online. This is a live online class.
Prerequisites: Participants should be familiar with Microsoft Office and Windows.
Duration: This is a one-day class.
Cost: This course costs $675.
PowerPoint Level 1, Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop's introductory PowerPoint course covers the fundamental concepts of this popular presentation software. Learn how to create new presentations, choose slides and add content, insert and adjust pictures and graphics, use SmartArt, draw lines and shapes, align objects, insert tables and charts, apply transitions, and run the final presentation. This course is available in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere.
Prerequisites: No previous PowerPoint experience is necessary.
Duration: This is a six-hour class.
Cost: This course costs $249.
Excel Level 1: Fundamentals, Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop's introductory class covers the fundamental concepts of Microsoft Excel. This course covers how to perform calculations, create graphs, format worksheets, and print or share them in Microsoft Excel. Class assignments are designed to help you practice concepts based on real-world examples as you learn them. Students receive exclusive reference materials to support their learning throughout the course. This course is available in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Excel experience.
Duration: This is a three-day class.
Cost: This course costs $249.
Excel Bootcamp, Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop's three-day Excel Bootcamp is designed to take students from absolute beginners to proficient users in just a few days. The course starts with the basics like performing calculations, creating graphs, formatting, and printing. Students then advance to more complex functions, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and advanced database functions like INDEX and MATCH. This course is available in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Excel experience.
Duration: This is a three-day class.
Cost: This course costs $549.
Microsoft Word Level I, Noble Desktop
Microsoft Word is one of the world's most popular word-processing programs. This introductory course from Noble Desktop covers essential skills, including preparing and sending mass letters, labels, and emails, basic formatting, and time-saving shortcuts for routine tasks. This course is available in-person in NYC or live online from anywhere.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Word experience.
Duration: This is a one-day class.
Cost: This course costs $249.
Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp, NYIM Training
This beginner's class from NYIM Training covers the core concepts of Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Students will learn to use these applications to create spreadsheets, presentations, documents, and emails for business use.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Microsoft Office experience.
Duration: This is a four-day class.
Cost: This course costs $749.
Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp, NYIM Training
For students seeking comprehensive Microsoft Office training, this NYIM Training bootcamp offers an intensive curriculum across the core Office applications. The program includes three classes in Excel, two in PowerPoint, two in Word, and two in Outlook, helping students master the full suite of Microsoft Office tools.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Microsoft Office experience.
Duration: This is a nine-day class.
Cost: This course costs $1,725.
Microsoft Certification, NYIM Training
If you plan to take one of Microsoft's Office Specialist Certificate exams, sign up for one of NYIM Training's preparatory courses. Certification classes are available in Access, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. These classes are designed to help students pass the certification exam on the first attempt, and include a free retake if needed. The courses also include exam proctoring, and the Excel course includes private tutoring.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Excel experience.
Duration: This is a three-day class.
Cost: This course costs $249.
Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp, NYC Career Centers
Learn the main applications in Microsoft Office in this bootcamp course from NYC Career Centers. The course includes classes in Beginner Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint Level 1, Microsoft Word Level 1, and Microsoft Outlook Level 1. This course covers the basic concepts for creating spreadsheets, presentations, documents, and managing email. You receive a 15 percent discount by signing up for the bootcamp instead of taking the classes individually.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Microsoft Office experience.
Duration: This is a four-day class.
Cost: This course costs $749.
Beginner Microsoft Excel, NYC Career Centers
NYC Career Centers also offers a certification course in Excel for beginners live online. Learn Excel basics you will need for financial services or routine bookkeeping, like setting up a worksheet, performing calculations, creating charts and tables, adding and modifying text, and managing workbooks. This course will get you started with this powerful business tool.
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with computers but don't need previous Excel experience.
Duration: Choose between one seven-hour session or two three-hour sessions.
Cost: This course costs $249.
Washington, D.C.
Microsoft Office
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Upskill or reskill your workforce with our industry-leading corporate and onsite Microsoft Office training programs. Conduct the training onsite at your location or live online from anywhere. You can also purchase vouchers for our public enrollment Microsoft Office courses.
