Microsoft Office Specialist certifications

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Hi Guys,
I have just started my MSC and noticed that they offer free MOS certifications (including free onsite examination) this is on condition that you can pass a mock test with a minimum pass score of 70%. The MOS certs on offer are:
Microsoft Office Word 2007
Microsoft Office Excel 2007
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
Microsoft Office Access 2007
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

Am I correct in thinking that these are 'Proper' certifications (not accreditations) that usually cost around £50-60 each? I'm Guessing that these don't really carry any weight in my line of work (Data Centre Operations Administrator) but if they are free, why not jump on it and add add these to the CV also!

TBH im guessing these will be really simple as they are sub MCP exams, has anyone done these and can comment on the skill level required? once completed is there any more advanced exams that i can complete in addition?

 

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I think they are proper certs - the MOS certs used to be MCAS Microsoft certified Application specialist or something like that.... I think certiport charges $125 US for those exams.

I think they are geared more for a business professional than for an IT pro but they might be helpful in getting a level 1 help desk role for someone looking for a first IT job. You would probably learn a good bit of useful stuff though

I don't really know much about it so you might want to google for some more info....

 

I had a look at some jobs that mentioned MOS and found some amusing roles, how about this for a desktop position: Linky
Desirable:
- MCSE in Window XP
- MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) Qualification
- ITIL Foundation

 

Personally I think anyone who has customer-facing responsibilities could benefit from passing the MOS exams in whichever version of Office their organization uses.

I have lost count of the number of times I have heard of questions that I think Helpdesks should be able to answer but can't.

I am an MS Office trainer, and when Microsoft upgraded our Microsoft Office Master Instructor certs I became an MCT (MS Certified Trainer).

Office 2003 had MOS exams for each of the individual apps. When 2007 came out the exams were initially called MCAS, but MS decided that it was too confusing and renamed them back in line with the 2003 MOS line, and the same name applies for Office 2010.

I'm guessing that they would seem fairly simple to anyone who has been a regular user of each program, but "sub-MCP" makes me uncomfortable as a description - they are a different line completely.

For example if you only use Word to knock out the odd letter, or Excel for very simple lists or tables you will face questions about features that you won't have discovered by just using the programs.

I would still recommend buying an MS Press step-by-step book or the Prodigy/Gmetrix (good value) or CertiPrep (pricier but highly-recommended by others) practice exams.

I believe that there are plans for Expert Level Word and Excel for both 2007 and 2010, and these will be much tougher if the 2003 versions are anything to go by.

HTH

 

They may mean a MCSE via the XP client exam (and may be via MCDST aswell) . I have seen an unceasing requirement for the MCSE for entry level positions, I must admit this unease's me

 

As you may have read I have pointed out those issues many a time in the forums, like yourself.

I have even posted examples of bad adverts that i have seen online. Like the geek squad store position requiring a MCSE and MS A+ (MS LOL)

Its a problem that will always be with us.