Microsoft Word Certifications and Certificates

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

What is Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a powerful word-processing software that offers tons of flexibility when it comes to creating professional reports, letters, contracts, and other documents. Its features are more robust than other word processors, allowing it to become an industry standard used by companies and entrepreneurs worldwide. These advanced features include mail marges, spellchecker, text formatting, tables, and page layout, among many others. Microsoft Word can also produce documents in various file types, making it compatible with many other programs. Its popularity means it’s also compatible with nearly any computer. 

Since its release in 1983, Microsoft Word has continued to evolve to the needs of its users. Modern integrations have allowed the use of Microsoft Word over mobile, the web, and the Cloud for collaborative document creation. Cloud-based sharing and permissions make it easy for colleagues to collaborate and maintain security. Though Microsoft Word has faced many competitors over the decades, it continues to stand the test of time. 

Read more about what Microsoft Word is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is primarily used as a word-processing program for creating professional-looking documents and reports. Authors use it to write novels, job seekers create resumes, and students write essays. In the workplace, Microsoft Word is used to create a host of documents, including letterheads, reports, templates, training manuals, calendars, invoices, and promotional materials, among others. Businesses also use the mail merge feature that outputs created documents to a mailing list or newsletter.

But Microsoft Word is more than a typing software. The program includes interactive elements such as fillable forms, checkboxes, and dropdown menus. It can easily convert documents into fillable PDFs or vice versa. Plain text documents are made more visually appealing with images, animations, or WordArt. Tables are also easily converted into visual graphs and charts. Microsoft Word can even transcribe audio files, transcribe live speech into text, and translate documents.

A particularly valuable feature of Microsoft Word is its collaboration tools for group projects. Professionals can easily share documents with others to work on. Changes such as comments and edits are tracked so the original owner of the document can decide what suggestions to make official. A history of changes to a document is also saved and can be reverted to at any time. Microsoft Word is a powerful tool for any business’ communications needs, whether internally or with customers or clients. 

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

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

Top Certifications & Certificates for Microsoft Word

Microsoft has official certifications for its programs. It costs $100 to take the Microsoft Word certification exam. Individuals interested in taking certification further and being officially recognized as Microsoft Office Specialists, Experts, or Masters can take further exams. Many live online training courses in Microsoft Word also include certification exams at the end.

Should I Get Certified in Microsoft Word?

Whether a Microsoft Word certification is beneficial to you will depend on your career. Jobs like Cybersecurity Analyst typically require specific professional certifications; for others (Graphic Designer, Video Editor), some certifications can be helpful but aren’t usually required to find work.

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

How to Get Certified in Microsoft Word

There are several options for professionals wishing to become Microsoft Word Certified. If you are comfortable with your level of comprehension in Microsoft Word, you can undergo an exam without additional training. Those needing to increase their skills may first attend comprehensive live online training in Microsoft Word. Courses are also available that include Microsoft Word training with an official examination at the end, such as the Word Specialist Certification Program or the Word Expert Certification Program.

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

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

Learn Microsoft Word with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

In today’s busy world, live online learning can be a fast, engaging, and comprehensive alternative to in-person classes. Noble Desktop offers live online classes in Microsoft Word that are hands-on and open to beginners. Classes are small, taught by expert instructors, and include free retake options.

Microsoft Word Level I is a one-day course that teaches all the Microsoft Word essentials. You’ll learn how to avoid common page formatting errors and prepare and send mass emails, letters, and labels with one click. You’ll also learn all the necessary shortcuts to shave hours off your time. Students who want to increase their Microsoft Word skills can attend the Microsoft Word Level II course.

Microsoft Word Level II is an advanced class that teaches next-level Microsoft Word skills. You’ll learn how to use automation to speed up your workflow, create custom document templates, use advanced formatting techniques, and build long documents. This is the ideal course for individuals wanting to become Microsoft Word experts. 

Noble Desktop also provides additional Microsoft Office classes, including Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. 

Key Insights

• Certification and certificates in Microsoft Word are not required for most job positions. 
• However, both are viable options to showcase your skills to potential employers.
• Microsoft offers official Microsoft Office examinations at specialist, expert, and master levels.
• Courses exist for training in Microsoft Word and a combination of training and certification examination.
• There are no required prerequisites to undergoing Microsoft Office Certification exams. However, each exam costs $100. 
• You can receive comprehensive Microsoft Word training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.