Microsoft Office Certifications — Are They Worth It?

Microsoft offers some of the most popular tech products in the world. While many users might not be familiar with Azure, Microsoft Server, or SQL Server, they certainly know about Windows and the apps in the Microsoft Office suite. Applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are so typical that they are taken for granted.

Microsoft Office certifications are somewhat controversial because Office is a baseline technical competency for most office jobs. And for something so familiar, why get certified?

We'll explore that question, looking at what these certificates cover, who should earn them, and how they've been updated in recent years. 

Microsoft Office Certifications and Exams

There used to be three Microsoft Office certifications: Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), MOS Expert, and MOS Master. These certifications were intended to demonstrate increasing proficiency in using one or more of the five main Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook.

Now, however, things have changed. There are still Microsoft Office certifications, including Microsoft Office Specialist Associate and Microsoft Office Specialist Expert. But, these certifications are for the 2019 version of Office. That's because Microsoft was originally going to retire Office branding in favor of Microsoft 365—but then Microsoft pulled a reversal and released Office 2024, though it's intended for limited use. It's a roller coaster out there! 

However, there's also a Microsoft 365 Certified Fundamentals certification to consider. Let's explore what these certifications cover and whether they're worth it. 

Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate (Office 2019) 

To earn this certification, you'll need to pass three of the four exams on this list: 

• MO-100: Microsoft Word (Office 2019)

• MO-200: Microsoft Excel (Office 2019)

• MO-300: Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)

• MO-400: Microsoft Outlook (Office 2019)

This certification has no prerequisites and will show you are proficient in most Office tools. 

Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert (Office 2019) 

This is a step up from the Associate version of this exam. To earn a Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert certification, you'll need to: 

• Earn a Microsoft Office Specialist Associate certification by passing three of the four Associate exams

  • MO-100: Microsoft Word (Office 2019)

  • MO-200: Microsoft Excel (Office 2019)

  • MO-300: Microsoft PowerPoint (Office 2019)

  • MO-400: Microsoft Outlook (Office 2019)

• Pass any two of the following three Expert exams:

  • MO-101: Microsoft Word Expert (Office 2019)

  • MO-201: Microsoft Excel Expert (Office 2019)

  • MO-500: Microsoft Access Expert (Office 2019)

Getting this certification will demonstrate that you have the advanced skills needed to make the most out of Office, but only up to the 2019 version. 

Why It (Mostly) Doesn't Make Sense to Get Office Certified

Although most business and government organizations use the Office suite, the overwhelming majority of people use only a few of the apps. And from there, only a fraction of the features of each app. You may think you know Office, Excel, or PowerPoint. But you've probably only been scratching the surface.

You won't see many job listings that require an Office certification. Instead, you're more likely to see general requirements such as "must be proficient with all Microsoft Office; Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook."  

So should you do it? Perhaps a MOS Expert in Excel will help you land that coveted analyst slot in the Finance or Strategic Planning department that only uses Office 2019. However, there's a good chance you'll be better off going for a Microsoft 365 certification if you want to prove your proficiency with the Microsoft platform.

What Does the Microsoft 365 Certification Cover?

Microsoft 365 certifications have become more prominent in recent years, but they don't replace the MOS certifications directly. MOS certs remain relevant for those seeking proficiency in specific Office applications. Instead, the Microsoft 365 certification fundamentals certification focuses more broadly on cloud services, collaboration tools, and apps integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, which isn't exactly equivalent to MOS​. Getting this certification proves you: 

• Have knowledge of cloud-based solutions. 

• Understand how Microsoft 365 solutions improve productivity, collaboration, secure data, and facilitate compliance. 

• Can recommend solutions for a number of challenges including desktop virtualization, reporting, application management, and automated operations system demployement.

While this is a beginner certification, it targets people in more of an admin role, rather than entry level office workers who want to show off their skills in Excel or Powerpoint. 

Wrapping Up

Since Microsoft apps are in almost everyone's workspace, most people can benefit from some training. However, taking the next step to certification is an individual choice, and the Microsoft Office certifications are outdated in most situations. If you want to prove your skill in basic Microsoft Apps, consider a Microsoft 365 certification instead.  

Whether you want to improve your Microsoft Excel skills or earn a certification, CBT Nuggets offers plenty of training. Not a CBT Nuggets subscriber? Sign up for a free 7-day trial.