The most important certification for validating desktop skills with Microsoft Office 2007 programs is the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist credential.

This certification provides a globally recognized standard for individuals seeking to advance their careers. These certifications include software applications from the Microsoft Office 2007 suite:  Word 2007, Excel 2007, Access 2007, PowerPoint 2007, and Outlook 2007.

Prepare to become certified at Howard Community College as a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist in the Office 2007 Suite track. 

Note:  HCC no longer offers courses to prepare students for the Microsoft Office Specialist exams that use Microsoft Office 2003 software.

Identify your goals

The Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification includes exams in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook. The certification provides a reliable measure of proficiency by evaluating your comprehension of Microsoft Office programs. To receive Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification, you must pass one or more certification exams. Go to the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist site to obtain the latest information on certification from Microsoft. Find out more about what the certification provides to individuals and businesses on the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Benefits page. After reading the material, you may have some questions about the certification—some answers may be found on the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Frequently Asked Questions page.

Prepare

At Howard Community College, courses are offered in Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word to help you prepare for the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exams. The table below lists the courses HCC offers to help you prepare for the exams, links to the course descriptions, whom to contact for more information, and links to Microsoft sites about the exams. To see a course description, click the name of the course. If you would like additional information about a course, please send an email to the address below.

All courses are offered for credit.  Microsoft Certified Application Specialist courses are presented in two formats.

• Open entry:  You may start most days during the school year and end a class anytime within a 14-week period (summer session has a shorter week schedule). You may accelerate your pace so that you may finish the course in fewer than 14 weeks. The advantage to you is that you don’t have to wait until the next semester to start a new course. You may complete all of the work (except tests) for these courses outside of class, in class, or a combination of both. You are welcome to come to the Office Technology Classroom to do classwork and/or to receive individualized help when you need it.  An instructor will work with you one on one, explaining a concept or showing you how to complete a task on the computer. To find out more about open-entry classes, visit the Office Technology Open Entry Courses page.  Read more about the course objectives on the course outlines page.
  
• Online:  This format is the same as the above format, except that there is no open-entry option.  Classes are offered twice a year, with classes beginning on the first day of the fall semester and on the first day of the spring semester. Everything else is the same:  you may finish the course in fewer than 14 weeks and receive individualized help. 

Office Technology Classroom

The open-entry and online courses that prepare you for the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification are offered in the Office Technology Classroom. You may attend class during the day or evening, vary your hours from week to week, and attend class as often as you wish. The classroom is divided into three areas.  The first room, a well-equipped computer lab with the latest software, is where you will receive one-on-one instruction and work on the hands-on computer lessons required for each course. The second room is where you will take the theory or written tests for the course. The third room is where you will take the computer tests.   

Textbooks 

For textbook information, please visit HCC’s Online Bookstore. 

Take and Pass an Exam

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exams evaluate your overall comprehension of Microsoft Office applications, your ability to use their advanced features, and your capability to integrate them with other software applications. To find how to earn the certification, go to the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Requirements page.

To schedule a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam, go to HCC’s Test Center or call 410-772-4853. A fee will be charged to take an exam at the test center. 

Start or Advance Your Career

Some Microsoft Certified Application Specialist courses can also be applied toward a letter of recognition, a certificate, or an associate degree at HCC. To find out more about these programs, go to Office Technology Programs of Study.   

Some career options are:  help desk personnel, administrative assistant, software trainer, word processing specialist, and computer tutor.