Microsoft Business Certifications

Description:

It all started with the MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) then transformed into the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), and now goes by the name of Microsoft Business Certification. These ever-improving certifications are based on the the Microsoft Office suite of products. As the user base continues to grow, so does the demand for a certification program, and like all Microsoft projects, this one is constantly reinventing itself.

Levels of Certification:

There are two levels of certification: the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) and Microsoft Certified Application Professional (MCAP).

Intended Audience:

The MCAS certification is for users who work with Office 2007 products: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access, Outlook, and Vista. The MCAS is designed to target specific skills with each product.

MCAS Requirements

The MCAP certification is a project and task oriented certification for workers who use Office 2007 products. Focus areas include managing budgets, managing presentations, and managing team collaboration.

MCAP Requirements Guide

Costs:

Exams are $125 each. The Application Specialist level requires from one to three exams.

MOUS and MOS:

The MOUS program has expired but the MOS certifications are still valid and exams continue to be offered. Check with Microsoft's website to stay updated on the exams.