Certifications & exams > MOS
Demonstrate that you have the skills needed to get the most out of Office by earning a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification in a specific Office program. Holding a MOS certification can earn an entry-level business employee as much as $16,000 more in annual salary than uncertified peers.*
If you are pursuing the higher level Microsoft Office Specialist Expert and Microsoft Office Specialist Master certifications, becoming a certified Microsoft Office Specialist is a great entry point.
- Microsoft Office Specialist on Microsoft Office 2013
Office 2013 combines cloud and web technologies to extend the way you create and consume information and introduces a new cloud app model for you to build secure and flexible apps—all discoverable from the familiar Office interface.
Certification title Required exam MOS: Microsoft Office Word 2013 418 MOS: Microsoft Office Excel 2013 420 MOS: Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2013 422 MOS: Microsoft Office Outlook 2013 423 MOS: Microsoft Office Access 2013 424 MOS: Microsoft SharePoint 2013 419 MOS: Microsoft Office OneNote 2013 421 - Microsoft Office Specialist on Microsoft Office 2010
Certification title Required exam MOS: Word 2010 881 MOS: Excel 2010 882 MOS: PowerPoint 2010 883 MOS: Outlook 2010 884 MOS: Access 2010 885 MOS: SharePoint 2010 886 MOS: OneNote 2010 853 - Microsoft Office Specialist for the 2007 Microsoft Office System
Certification title Required exam MOS: Word 2007 601 MOS: Excel 2007 602 MOS: PowerPoint 2007 603 MOS: Outlook 2007 604 MOS: Access 2007 605 Note For information about Microsoft Project certifications, visit the following page:
* Anderson, Cushing, and John F. Gantz. Skills Requirements for Tomorrow’s Best Jobs: Helping Educators Provide Students with Skills and Tools They Need. IDC/Microsoft. October 2013. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/download/presskits/education/docs/IDC_101513.pdf
Frequently asked questions
The following questions specifically address MOS certifications. Visit the Certification overview or Exam policies and FAQ pages for answers to general questions regarding Microsoft Certification or the exams.
- What is the exam format?
Exams are primarily performance-based and conducted in a "live," or simulated, environment. Exam candidates taking exams for MOS 2007 or 2010 are asked to perform a series of tasks to clearly demonstrate their skills. For example, a Word exam might ask a user to balance newspaper column lengths or to keep text together in columns. MOS 2013 presents the candidate with a project to build, with tasks and steps that build on each other.
- How is the MOS 2013 format different from previous MOS exams?
A.MOS 2010 and earlier versions provide a variety of brief tasks to complete using Office application tools and functions. The new exam format for MOS 2013 presents a short project that the candidate must complete, using the specifications provided. This creates a real-world testing experience for candidates. For more information, check out the View the MOS 2013 demo video.
- How long does a typical exam take?
A typical exam takes up to 90 minutes.
- Where can I take a MOS exam?
All Microsoft Office Specialist exams are administered by Certiport. Direct your questions about exam schedules and pre-registration to the Certiport location where you intend to take the exam.
- Are MOS exams available in different languages?
Yes, Microsoft offers localized exams for the MOS certification.
- Where can I find my exam results?
Exam results are displayed on your screen immediately after you complete an exam. Those who pass will receive (by mail) an official certificate within approximately two to three weeks.
Learn the benefits of certification
"The new MOS exams have been designed to test a candidate's ability to use an Office application in a way that's more closely aligned with how they would use it every day."
Sinead Hogan | Certiport
