Earn College Credit with a Microsoft Business Certification

Pass a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification exam in one or more Microsoft Office programs, and you can earn one semester hour of college credit in lower-division classes on computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems.

Level:

N/A

Audience:

Students

Type:

Microsoft Certification

The American Council on Education (ACE) has reviewed and recommended college credit for Microsoft Business Certification credentials, including the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) on the 2007 Microsoft Office system, the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) on Office 2003, and the MOS on Office XP certifications. These certifications are eligible for one semester hour of college credit in lower-division bachelor's degree or associate degree classes on computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems.

ACE maintains a network of more than 1,500 cooperating, accredited colleges and universities. These institutions agree to consider your ACE college-credit recommendations. However, each has the discretion to accept credit for your recommendations as they see fit. Contact the institution you attend (or plan to attend) to inquire about its policy.

To qualify, students must pass an MCAS or MOS certification exam for one or more Microsoft Office programs, and their certification must be listed on an ACE transcript. Ultimately, the college or university you attend (or plan to attend) will independently decide whether to grant credit and waive associated tuition requirements.

Exam

ACE college credit recommendations

Microsoft Office Access 2007
Office Access 2003
Office Access 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems

Office Excel 2007
Office Excel 2003
Office Excel 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, computer information systems, or introduction to spreadsheets

Office Excel 2003 Expert
Office Excel 2002 Expert

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, computer information systems, or advanced spreadsheets.

Office Outlook 2007
Office Outlook 2003
Office Outlook 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems

Office PowerPoint 2007
Office PowerPoint 2003
Office PowerPoint 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems

Office Project 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in project management or business management

Office Word 2007
Office Word 2003
Office Word 2002

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems

Office Word 2003 Expert
Office Word 2002 Expert

In the lower division bachelor's/associate degree category, one semester hour in computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems

To provide the institution of your choice a record verifying your Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications, follow these steps:

  1. Enroll in the ACE Transcript Service
    An American Council on Education (ACE) transcript is a secure, universally accepted document with easy-to-read descriptions, ACE college credit recommendations, and suggested transfer areas. You can list all of your educational achievements, including certifications, on the transcript. It can be sent at any time to the college or university of your choice.

  2. Submit your exams for verification
    After you have registered with ACE, you will be able to search the ACE Course Catalog for the exams you have passed. Exams are listed under Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Certification program or Microsoft Office Specialist Certification program.

    Add the exams that you have passed to your ACE course list. You will need to enter the date that you received each certification. When you are finished adding exams to your course list, select Send Your Record for Review. Your information will be sent to Certiport (the third-party organization that administers MCAS and MOS exams) for verification.

    After your courses have been verified by Certiport, you will receive confirmation from ACE by e-mail. You can then access your updated ACE transcript.

  3. Send the ACE transcript to your school
    Submit a transcript request to ACE from the ACE Web site. You will need to log on by using the account you created when you registered. ACE will send your official ACE transcript to the college or university of your choice. You must pay a one-time fee (US$40) to activate your ACE transcript account; the fee covers the cost of your first transcript. Additional transcripts can be requested for a nominal fee.

 

View all answers

Q.  Will my school recognize the ACE credit recommendation?

A.

American Council on Education (ACE) recommends examinations for college credit to the ACE Cooperating College Network. Each cooperating college or university considers ACE credit recommendations but independently decides whether to award credit. While ACE cooperating colleges give considerable weight to ACE credit recommendations, each institution—and in many cases, each academic unit and/or department within an institution—sets its own policies for granting credit. If your college or university is not a member of the ACE cooperating college network, it still might award credit based on ACE credit recommendations.

If you currently hold or plan to pursue MCAS or MOS certification, contact the admissions office at the institution you attend (or plan to attend), and inquire about their policy regarding ACE college credit recommendations for these certifications. Institutions independently determine how much credit is appropriate to award, based on their academic program requirements.

Q.  Is an ACE transcript different from a MCAS or MOS digital transcript?

A.

Yes. Your MCAS or MOS digital transcript is an official record of your certification(s). However, ACE-affiliated colleges and universities usually require an official ACE transcript in order to consider your certification(s) for college credit.

Q.  Where can I find more information about the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service?