Past blogs (under the certifications category) covered the range of user certifications, you might have realised I’ve had the most experience with MOS, and here are a few things didn’t know…
A History of the Name
Did you know that the name has changed a little bit over the years?
MOUS – Microsoft Office User Specialist (Office 97)
MOS – Microsoft Office Specialist (Office 2000, 2002 (XP), 2003)
MCAS – Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (Office 2007)
MOS – Microsoft Office Specialist (again) (Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019/365)
Applications Covered
Unlike the other certificates, these exams are not only specific to the Microsoft application, but also the version.
Your passed exams don’t expire.
However, to stay up to date you need to take the newest version each time it’s released.
Core Applications
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Access
Did you know – Outlook wasn’t in of Office 97 exams? In Office 2000 it became a core exam.
Version Specific Programs
Did you know that Office 2010 had two additional exams?
We don’t know why they were only available for Office 2010 but they haven’t been seen again.
- OneNote 2010
- SharePoint 2010
Knowledge Levels
There have always been two levels that you can choose from, although the name and options have evolved.
For Office 97 – they were Proficient and Expert
In Office 2000 – they dropped proficient and became ‘standard’ (no specific name) and Expert
This continued into Office 2002 (XP) and officially through to today with Microsoft 365.
Unofficially they are known as Core and Expert.
However for M365 they are now Associate and Expert.
MOS Expert Exams
Expert has always been a way to show that you know more about the Microsoft application.
You can take the extra exam(s) (for Word and Excel) giving you the Master level.
With Office 2013 Microsoft changed the Expert Exams, splitting the original exam into – Part 1 and Part 2.
Now, you had to pass both parts to achieve the Expert Level.
Fortunately for Office 2016 and 365, they recombined into a single expert exam.
Testing Method
As the technology has improved (not just the applications) the method to test your knowledge has adapted as well.
The original method was question and multiple choice answers – fairly easy to work through.
But it only really lasted for the first version (Office 97).
The next update used the applications – performing a number of individual tasks.
Of course there was that only a couple of methods that were accepted as ‘right’ – we all know that Microsoft gives us at least 3 ways to perform a function.
With Office 2010 the exams were changed into projects.
Now you are given a number of projects to complete – each with a number of tasks that need to be completed.
Microsoft is now using this method as standard on the current Microsoft 365 exams.
Which of these surprised you about the history of MOS?
Read the full blog about these certifications: Prove you know – Microsoft Office
Related Posts
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Continuing the series around computer qualifications, we move onto CLAiT. An entry level certification about computers and programs. - Prove you know Computers – ECDL/ICDL
Introducing ECDL / ICDL Certificate, focused on computer skills, rather than specific software. Covering a range of skills from computer basics to software. - Prove you know Computers – IC3
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What certifications are available for everyone to take? Let’s start with Google Certificate for their Google Workspace suite.