Microsoft Business Certification FAQ

As the next evolution of the Microsoft Office Specialist certification, Microsoft announces the new Microsoft business certification program to support the new 2007 Microsoft Office system and Vista operating system. Certiport has been named the launch partner in the development and delivery of the new program in continuance of its long-standing role as the global provider of the Microsoft Office Specialist and IT Academy programs.

This FAQ will help you become familiar with the new program and the specifics surrounding it.

On this Page

1. Microsoft Business Certification Overview
2. Certiport's Role in the New Program
3. Program Specifics and Availability Dates
4. Comparisons with Microsoft Office Specialist
5. General Information Regarding 2007 Microsoft Office
6. Additional Resources from Microsoft Learning

Microsoft Business Certification Overview

Q: Why do we need a new certification?

A: The 2007 Microsoft Office system and Vista operating system present exciting new opportunities for businesses to work more efficiently, with greater collaboration, across boundaries. Mapping to the new system, the Microsoft business certification credentials were developed using business and information worker feedback to meet performance requirements businesses demand.

The Microsoft business certification program reflects the new and enhanced system for skills assessment, learning, and validation. For organizations, the new certification program provides better skills verification tools that help with assessing not only in-demand skills on specific Microsoft business software programs, but also the ability to quickly complete on-the-job tasks using the 2007 Microsoft Office system. Individuals will find it easier to identify and work towards the certification credential that meets their personal and professional goals.

Q: Why change the program?

A: Mapping to the new 2007 Microsoft Office system and Vista operating system, Microsoft wants to expand the business reach of its certifications for information workers to include a pre-test, specialist, and professional-level credentials, which will all reside under the new Microsoft business certification program. Microsoft Office Specialist certification will continue as the global standard for desktop productivity skills for existing versions of Microsoft Office (i.e. 2003, XP, and 2000).

These changes are driven by feedback from the business world to emphasize the way information workers learn and do their jobs. Similar to enhancements prevalent in the new 2007 Microsoft Office and Vista operating system, the new program reflects a pervasive corporate necessity to translate computing technology and skill into successful business outcomes.

Q: Is the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) program going away?

A: No. The Microsoft Office Specialist program, based on Office 2003, XP, and 2000, is still a valued credential by Microsoft and Certiport. The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) program will continue to support these existing versions of the Microsoft Office system through their complete life cycle.

Q: What is the release date for the new program?

A: New exams for the Microsoft business certification program will launch by the end of February 2007.

Certiport's Role in the New Program

Q: Is this an exclusive agreement?

A: Certiport has been named the exclusive beta programmer and launch partner for the new program resulting from expertise in the industry that has grown from a seven-year partnership with Microsoft and its customers. Certiport will develop the certification exams for the new 2007 Microsoft Office system and Vista operating system. With more than 11,000 testing centers worldwide, Certiport is strongly positioned to provide Microsoft users with easy access to training and test-taking for the new Microsoft business certifications.

Q: What is Certiport's role in the new program?

A: Certiport's role in the new program will be as:

1. Beta Tester
2. Launch Partner
3. Exam Developer
4. Worldwide Exam Delivery Provider (EDP)

Q: What will this mean to Certiport's growth?

A: Certiport, with its global network of more than 10,000 testing partners, recently delivered its four-millionth certification exam. This new agreement between Microsoft and Certiport to develop and deliver the business certification program demonstrates Microsoft's long-term commitment to Certiport and will accelerate Certiport's growth worldwide.

Program Specifics and Availability Dates

Q: What specific credentials make up the new Microsoft business certification program?

A:

1. Microsoft Official Pre-Test
2. Microsoft Certified Application Specialist
3. Microsoft Certified Application Professional

Q: What is the Microsoft Official Pre-Test?

A: The Microsoft Official Pre-Test provides a simple, low-cost way for individuals to identify their computing skill level. Pre-Tests are taken online, making the first step towards certification easy and convenient. Through the Pre-Test, individuals can receive a custom learning path with recommended training, Microsoft E-Learning, and official Microsoft courseware to provide step-by-step preparation for the certification exams.

Q: What is the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist series?

A: The core Microsoft Office Specialist credential has been upgraded to validate skills with the 2007 Microsoft Office system as well as the new Windows Vista operating system. The Application Specialist certification targets information workers and covers the world's most popular business applications such as Word 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Excel 2007, Access 2007 and Outlook® 2007.

Q: What is the Microsoft Certified Application Professional series?

A: The new Microsoft Certified Application Professional certification is designed to meet the needs of workers utilizing the 2007 Microsoft Office suite to deliver on specific projects and tasks within their job function. This certification credential demonstrates advanced, industry computing skills and collaboration capabilities. Focus areas include managing budgets, creating presentations, content collaboration, and organizational support.

Q: What is the exam delivery schedule for the Microsoft business certification program?*

A:

*English language release estimates only. Updates on various other language releases will be released as they become available.

Comparisons with Microsoft Office Specialist

Q: Which of the three levels of the Microsoft business certification program is most similar to the current Microsoft Office Specialist program?

A: Within the overall program, the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Series includes six certification exams (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Windows Vista) that most closely resemble the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams.

As you may know, the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam included four levels of knowledge and skill: core, expert, master, master instructor. The new Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exams bear a resemblance to a combination of the “core” and “expert” material in the Microsoft Office Specialist 2003 series.

Q: What is the same when comparing the Microsoft Office Specialist program and the new Microsoft Certified Application Specialist series?

A: As with the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam, the test-taking environment is conducted within the actual application itself. The length of the exam is the same: 45-50 minutes. And the number of questions is also approximately the same: 30-35 questions.

Q: Is there a "conversion" certificate for individuals who have been certified in prior versions of the Microsoft Office software?

A: No. Anyone interested in preparing for and certifying in the 2007 Microsoft Office system or Windows Vista must take and certify their skills in one of the Microsoft business certification exams.

Q: Does one need to “retake” the certification exams?

A: Anyone having earned a Microsoft Office Specialist certification credential in Office 2003 (or other version) continues to retain all the prestige, rights, and privileges associated with this certification. Those interested in verifying their computing proficiency in 2007 Microsoft Office system or Windows Vista will need to take and pass a Microsoft business certification exam.

Q: Why doesn't my current Microsoft Office Specialist certification “transfer over” to the new Microsoft business certifications?

A: The new Microsoft business certification is exclusively based on computing skills found only in the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Vista operating system. Windows Vista and the latest version of Microsoft Office represent the most significant changes to the product features and User Interface in Microsoft products over the last 12 years. Because the Microsoft Office Specialist certification is foundationally based on the Office 2003 business suite (along with previous versions), the new Microsoft business credentials stand alone and apart from Microsoft Office Specialist.

Q: Is the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam just one exam that includes questions on all the 2007 Office system software programs?

A: No. As with the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam, each software program in the 2007 Office system, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, have their own unique certification exam.

Q: Are the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exams similar in length to the Microsoft Office Specialist exams?

A: Yes. Each exam is approximately 50 minutes and includes approximately 30-35 questions.

Q: Is the actual test experience the same or different from the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams?

A: Although the testing environment for the Microsoft business certifications will occur solely on the 2007 Microsoft Office and Windows Vista platforms, the testing experience on a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist exam is similar to what a Test Candidate would encounter in a Microsoft Office Specialist exam.

Q: What is the level of difficulty for the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification exams compared to the Microsoft Office Specialist certification on Word 2003 or Excel 2003 “core” exams?

A: Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification exams represent a level of difficulty commiserate between the “core” and the “expert” level of Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams. In other words, the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification exams are more difficult than the existing Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams.

Q: How difficult are the Microsoft Certified Application Professional certification exams?

A: Based on the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist certification exams, the Application Professional series represents the same level of exam difficulty. However, a single certification exam in the Professional series covers computing skills proficiency on at least three 2007 Microsoft Office system applications. The specific software programs in which the exam questions are based in each Application Professional certification exam is specifically called out in an overview of the program. The certification exams in the Application Professional series are:

1. Managing Budgets
2. Creating and Managing Presentations
3. Managing Team Collaboration
4. Supporting Organizations

Q: Are there any similarities between the Microsoft Office Specialist Master level and the Microsoft Certified Application Professional series?

A: Both programs indicate the top level of mastery and highly advanced computing skills in the majority of Microsoft Office software programs. Microsoft Certified Application Professional Series certification credential is based on an individual's mastery of the intense collaborative, in-depth use of 2007 Microsoft Office system software programs to increase their performance to accomplish tasks and projects directly associated with their present job function. The individuals most appropriate for this certification credential currently work in an office setting in which they use Microsoft Office software program or program(s) at least 50% of their day to get their core job functions accomplished.

The program is specifically designed to verify foundational computing skills proficiency to demonstrate deep and seamless collaboration between three or more 2007 Microsoft Office system software programs used to achieve specific job functions and/or requirements.

General Information Regarding 2007 Microsoft Office

Q: What is the 2007 Microsoft Office system?

A: The Microsoft Office system has evolved from a suite of personal productivity products to a more comprehensive and integrated system. Building on the familiar tools that many already know, the latest Microsoft Office system includes programs, servers, services, and solutions designed to work together to help address a broad array of business problems.

At the core of the Microsoft Office system are the Microsoft Office suites, which deliver the core desktop productivity tools. New features in these programs enhance how employees can work with one another, partners, and customers, and how organizations capture and use information. In addition to the core desktop editions, the 2007 release includes new programs, servers, and services that build on the productivity software skills your employees already possess. Used together, the Microsoft Office system can help you address business needs ranging from personal productivity management to complex project management.

Q: Is the 2007 Microsoft Office system a single offering?

A: No. The Microsoft Office system is a portfolio of products and services that provide the building blocks to create solutions to business needs. Those building blocks will continue to be available separately, along with newer additions.

Q: What's new in the 2007 Microsoft Office system?

A: The 2007 release presents newly designed menus and toolbars as well as new features that businesses and individual computer users can use to complete tasks more quickly and easily.

Q: What is the new Microsoft Office User Interface?

A: The way users interact with Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, and Outlook has been redesigned with the 2007 release to make it easier for users to find and use program capabilities. The overall look and feel of these applications has been streamlined and new technologies introduced that present users with selections of potential results they can simply “browse, pick, and click” rather than complicated dialog boxes.

Q: What are the key benefits of the new Microsoft Office User Interface (UI)?

A: The new Microsoft Office UI will make it easier and quicker for user's to get the results they want. In addition, because they new UI makes it easier to take advantage of the application's rich feature sets, users will be able to produce better results faster.

Q: Will all the Microsoft Office applications utilize the new Microsoft Office UI?

A: In the 2007 Microsoft Office release, Microsoft Office Word 2007, Office Excel 2007, Office Access 2007, and Office PowerPoint 2007 will have the new Microsoft Office UI. In addition, the new interface will be used in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 when composing e-mail messages, creating tasks or contacts, and setting up meetings.

Q: Why did Microsoft decided a new UI was needed? Why now?

A: As Microsoft has added more and more features and functionality to the applications over time, it's become harder for people to find the things they want to do with the products. For example, Microsoft Word 1.0 only had about 100 commands, and by using the menus you could see everything you could do. Today, Microsoft Office Word 2003 has over 1,500 commands, many of which can be difficult to find. That element of discoverability is just one of the key issues addressed by the new UI.

Q: When can I try out the new Microsoft Office UI?

A: You can test drive the new user interface online at:
http://office.microsoft.com/enus/products/HA101687261033.aspx
or visit the interface demo at:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679471033.aspx.

Q: What were the design goals of the new menus, and how where they determined to be top priorities?

A: Microsoft wanted to deliver new capabilities that empower people to get the results they want, faster. We had four major design goals:

1. Make it easier to find and use product features.
2. Reduce design clutter and interruptions.
3. Make it easier to discover needed capabilities.
4. Support the creation of great-looking documents.

Q: Which software applications get the new menus and toolbars?

A: Office Access 2007, Office Excel 2007, Office PowerPoint 2007, and Office Word 2007 will have the new look. Specific parts of Office Outlook 2007, such as e-mail message authoring, will also use the new menus and toolbars.

Q: What's new in Office Word 2007?

A: Office Word 2007 includes new tools that help you create more professional-looking documents in less time, build documents more easily from frequently used content, and produce professional-looking letters, proposals, datasheets, and other documents fast. Quick formatting capabilities help you rapidly apply a new look and feel to your documents, and the new Live Preview capabilities give you a quick look at any changes you make.

Q: What are some of the new e-mail management features?

A: Office Outlook 2007 includes a new category coloring feature that helps you locate, manage, prioritize, and respond to e-mail messages more easily. Office Outlook 2007 also provides improved junk mail and anti-phishing technologies that help you filter out undesirable items.

Q: How can Office Outlook 2007 help manage marketing efforts?

A: Office Outlook 2007 with Business Contact Manager can help you manage your marketing efforts more efficiently. For example, you can use it to create custom mailing lists and personalize print or online marketing materials created in Office Publisher 2007 or Office Word 2007. You can also use Office Outlook 2007 to track customer responses and assess the overall effectiveness of your marketing campaigns to help plan future campaigns.

Q: How can I take a tour of the new Office system?

A: See the new 2007 Microsoft Office system in action:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101679481033.aspx?pid=CL100796341033

Q: Can I open the file formats new to Microsoft Office Word 2007, Office Excel 2007, and Office PowerPoint 2007 in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2000, XP, or 2003?

A: Yes. The Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 file formats allows Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2000, XP, or 2003 to open the supported formats new to Office Word 2007, Office Excel 2007, and Office PowerPoint 2007. Download the compatibility pack here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101686761033.aspx.

Q: How much does the new Microsoft Office system cost?

A: Find pricing and licensing information on the 2007 Microsoft Office System Pricing page:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX101754511033.aspx.

Q: How will I be able to acquire the new Microsoft Office system when it is available?

A: The 2007 release will be available through a variety of resellers and distributors.

Q: Will upgrade pricing be offered for the Microsoft Office system?

A: Yes. The Microsoft Office system will be available in both upgrade and new-user versions. The upgrade version will require that you own a qualifying prior version of the Microsoft Office system.

Q: What are the technical specs for installing and using the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Vista?

A: You can find the technical requirements for 2007 Microsoft Office here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101668651033.aspx?pid=CL100796341033.
Go to the following URL for system requirements regarding Windows Vista:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/capable.mspx.

Additional Resources from Microsoft Learning

Q: What are the key web resources to support the Microsoft business certification program launch on the Microsoft Learning Web site?

A:

To locate a courseware vendor:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/officespecialist_materials.mspx

A list of recently released exams:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcpexams/status/new.mspx

Microsoft Press Books about Microsoft Office:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/books/office/default.mspx

Information for Educators:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/educator/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/education/default.mspx

Microsoft events for Education
http://www.microsoft.com/education/events.mspx

Information for Human Resources:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/workessentials/FX101249271033.aspx

Work Essentials webcasts
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/workessentials/HA101950111033.aspx

Information for Teachers:
http://www.microsoft.com/education/officeoverview.mspx

“Measuring the ROI of your recruiting program” article:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/workessentials/HA012226591033.aspx

Microsoft Learning Academic Instructor Resource Center:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/educator/irc/default.mspx

Downloads for the 2007 Microsoft Office system
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD100602001033.aspx

Office Online
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=5890374

Offers Page
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/msbc/