How to Get Excel Certified: Tips and Courses

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Whether you’re a numbers enthusiast, a data analyst, or just someone looking to upskill, knowing how to navigate Microsoft Excel can be a game-changer. While many can use Excel, not everyone can claim expertise or even moderate proficiency. This is where Excel certification comes in.

Excel is not just for accountants and data analysts; it’s used across industries and job roles, making familiarity with the software a highly transferable skill. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to get Excel certified, highlighting the importance of the certification and tips to pass the certification exam successfully.

Excel certification comes in two levels: Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel Associate 2019 and the MOS Excel Expert 2019:

The certification is globally recognized in areas beyond finance and data analysis, such as project management, marketing, and technology. It verifies you have around 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with Excel. The exam format for each level varies, and you can retake the exam if you do not pass. The certification exam typically costs around $100.

Familiarize yourself with the prerequisites and skills measured in the exam. Evaluate your current proficiency in Excel to figure out which certification level is best for you.

Practicing and honing your Excel skills is crucial to your success. Your study methods should fit your learning style, budget, time constraints, and current skill level. You can go the traditional route and learn through a book such as Joan Lambert’s “MOS Study Guide for Microsoft Excel Exam” or use the many online resources available, such as those offered through platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or LinkedIn Learning. You can access practice tests for a price through websites such as GMETRIX and MeasureUp.

Microsoft also has a page dedicated to study and prep materials for the MOS exam, with course materials available for download in English, as well as German, Greek, Italian, Polish, and Spanish for their associate level exam. Dedicate time to study the material, practice, and cover all the topics listed in the certification exam objectives.

Depending on whether you are taking this as an academic or as a professional, schedule your certification exam through Certiport or Pearson VUE, the official provider for Microsoft certification exams. You can choose between in-person testing centers or online proctored exams.

On the scheduled date, arrive at the test center early or log in online. Make sure you have all necessary identification and materials. Upon completion, you will receive your score immediately. If you pass, you will receive a digital badge and certification from Microsoft, which you can download from your Certiport account.

If you don’t pass the Excel certification exam on your first attempt, you can retake the exam after a 24-hour waiting period for the second attempt. The wait period may vary for subsequent attempts. You can retake the exam as many times as necessary.

The MOS Excel certification does not require renewal or recertification. Once you have earned the MOS certification, it is valid indefinitely. Keep in mind that the relevance of your certification can diminish over time as new versions of Microsoft Office applications are released and updated.

When choosing an Excel course, consider factors such as the type of certification you need, the course content, language availability, cost, and time commitment. Above all, make sure the course covers the skills or areas you want to focus on.

These courses offer structured learning paths, practical assignments, and, in some cases, interactive elements like quizzes and forums to enhance your learning experience.

Ideal for beginners and business-focused learners, this comprehensive self-paced program from Coursera covers everything from Excel fundamentals to advanced data visualizations and business applications. This four-course program is estimated to take three months with 10 hours of dedicated study per week.

This self-paced, three-course program from the University of British Columbia through edX is estimated to take five months, with 3-5 hours of dedication each week. The courses focus on data analytics and are for beginners who want to analyze, clean, and visualize data using Excel. The program covers everything required to understand data analysis such as using formulas, datasets, pivot tables, and decision-making tools. Successful completion results in a professional certificate.

Udemy’s Microsoft Excel course provides a broad overview of Excel’s functionalities, suitable for beginners aiming to become proficient in Excel. The course includes 21 hours of video lectures, 55 downloadable resources, and a certificate upon completion. The course focuses on skills such as creating spreadsheets, managing data sets, learning how to use Macros.

Targeted at intermediate users and estimated to take one month with 10 hours of dedicated study time a week, this course emphasizes data manipulation and visualization. You will learn how to use advanced Excel functions and automation features, and create interactive dashboards to present in a digestible format to your audience.

This advanced course from Udemy is for people who are already comfortable with Excel and want to dive into Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming for automation and complex data handling. The course includes topics like objects and methods, conditional logic, and debugging. This course contains 18 hours of video lectures and assignments, and it offers a certificate of completion.