Excel in Your Career: Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

Elevate your academic journey and advance toward professional success. The Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Certification is your edge in today’s competitive job market.

  1. Albers Schools of Business & Economics
  2. Undergraduate Programs
  3. Excel Certification
Woman looking at laptop

Enhance your career prospects by obtaining a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification. It's essential for Albers undergrads to pass the Excel 2019 Associate Certification (MO-200 exam) to advance in your BABA or BAE degree.

Starting Fall 2019, new candidates must take the Excel 2016 or 365/2019 exam. Certifications for Excel 2013 are valid if obtained before September 1, 2019. However, certifications for Excel 2010 or earlier are not accepted.

Discover more about the certification process and exam preparation on Microsoft's Exam Details page.

Typically, students register in a scheduled exam session linked to their BUAN 3150 (formerly IS 3150) course or select from open sessions on our Eventbrite page. Those needing ADA accommodations should apply through Certiport and once approved, coordinate with the Excel Proctor for an exam time.

Remember, registration with Certiport is necessary to take any Microsoft Certification Exam.

Currently we're offering only in-person Excel exams in Pigott 328. This setting offers a premium exam experience with larger screens and more control over the exam computers. If you are unable to take the exam in-person, the King County Library System is still offering remote exams.

Exam Details for New Candidates:

  • Exam Attempts: You can take the Excel certification exam multiple times until you pass. Each paid exam session includes one free retake.
  • Waiting Period: You must wait 24 hours after your first attempt and 48 hours after subsequent attempts before retaking the exam.
  • Passing Score: You need a minimum of 700 out of 1000 to pass.
  • Exam Cost: The fee is $35, covering the cost of Certiport and GMetrix site licenses and Albers' administrative costs.

Your Certificate

A printed certificate is only mailed to you if you take the exam using a voucher (at a cost of about $100). You can order a printed certificate for $10 (plus shipping) from Certiport by signing in to the website and clicking My Transcript; or click the orange PDF link on My Transcript to download the certificate and print it yourself.

  1. Study for the Exam
  2. Exam Registration and Accommodations
  3. Register for an exam session
  1. 1

    Study for the Exam

    There are many resources available to prepare for the exam. We highly recommend GMetrix CertPrep practice tests because they simulate the official exam environment.

    GMetrix can be accessed on Redhawk Labs or in any computer lab on campus. Students with a Windows computer and Office 365 or Office 2019 installed can also download the exam software to their own computers from GMetrix.net. If you use a Mac or do not have Office 365 or Office 2019 on your own computer, you can only access GMetrix via Redhawk Labs or campus computer labs.

    You will need a GMetrix access code to take a full length practice test. Email ExcelTest@seattleu.edu from your SeattleU email account withe the subject line #gmetrixexcelrequest to get an access code emailed to you. Please make sure there are no spaces before or after the text in the subject line. The code is good for 100 practice test sessions per person.

    More information about GMetrix as well as other study resources is available in the Study Resources section.

    Create a GMetrix Account

    GMetrix CertPrep practice tests are the most important study resource to use when preparing for the Excel exam.

    Register Now
  2. 2

    Exam Registration and Accommodations

    Before your upcoming exam, follow these essential steps to ensure a smooth experience:

    1. Certiport Registration:
      Register with Certiport before your test date.
      Input your Seattle U ID in the "Student/Employee ID" field during registration.
      Complete the Microsoft registration at the end of the process.
      No need for vouchers at SU; disregard any voucher-related notices.
    2. Exam Group ID (IS-3150):
      If you're taking the exam for credit in IS-3150, log in to Certiport.com and register the exam group ID for your class.
    3. Accommodations for Disabilities:
      If you have a disability that might impact your performance, apply for accommodations with Certiport.
      Make sure to use the same username for both Certiport registration and the accommodations application.
      Approval may take up to two weeks (or longer if additional documentation is requested).
      For extended testing time, contact ExcelTest@seattleu.edu to schedule your exam session.

    Certiport Testing Accommodations

    Accommodations can be requested online using the Reasonable Adjustments Request System (RARS). This is a secure, online system for requesting accommodations and submitting your supporting documentation.

    Info and Application
  3. 3

    Register for an exam session

    If you're currently part of an IS-3150 class, your instructor will provide a custom registration link for your class. If not, visit Albers’ Eventbrite page to register and pay for your exam session.

    The cost is $50, covering both the Certiport exam fee and Albers’ administrative expenses.

    Free retake promo code: If you don't pass on your first attempt, you will receive an email with a promo code for one free retake. If you require another retake you will have to pay the additional fee.

    Certiport Retake Policies

    After your first exam attempt you must wait 24 hours before taking the Excel exam again. After your second and any subsequent attempts, you must wait 48 hours before taking the same exam again.

Microsoft Office Specialist National Championship

Students between the ages of 13 and 22 (as of December 31, 2024) must earn the highest score in their state to be invited to the National Championship.

There are two qualifying periods:

  • June 16, 2023 - December 15, 2023
  • December 16, 2023 - May 3, 2024

You can enter the contest before you start your exam, or you can enter your score after you have finished the exam by clicking the "World Championship - Register Exam" banner on the Certiport Welcome page after signing in.

Study Resources

GMetrix Skills Management System is an application simulates the exam environment, however it is not exactly the same the official exam. You must use the GMetrix SMS software to run Office practice exams, they cannot be run from the Gmetrix website. GMetrix version 7 is recommended for Office 2019 practice tests.

GMetrix can be accessed on Redhawk Labs or in any computer lab on campus. Students with a Windows computer and Office 365 or Office 2019 installed can also download the exam software to their own computers from GMetrix.net. If you use a Mac or do not have Office 365 or Office 2019 on your own computer, you can only access GMetrix via Redhawk Labs or a campus computer lab.

You will need to create your own account with GMetrix. You can create an account from within the software (using the "Sign up now" link in the lower right corner) or at gmetrix.net. 

As stated above, you will need a GMetrix access code to take a full length practice test. Email ExcelTest@seattleu.edu from your SeattleU email account withe the subject line #gmetrixexcelrequest to request an access code.

GMetrix includes two CertPrep Official Certiport Practice Tests which are available in two modes, Testing or Training:

  • Testing mode is the closest approximation of Microsoft's Excel certification exam, it is a timed test and no feedback is given until the test is finished and submitted. After the practice test is completed your results are displayed with a score for each of the major topic areas (listed below). Use these results as guideline to which areas you should focus on.
  • Training mode gives feedback immediately after each project is submitted, indicating which tasks were incorrect. It also includes a light bulb icon that will display the instructions for each task.

You may take either of the practice tests as many times as you want, it is recommended that students complete both practice tests at least once. Students who pass both practice tests in testing mode are usually successful on their first attempt to pass the official exam.

LinkedIn Learning provides video-based tutorials with downloadable exercise files for you to follow along and perform the same tasks demonstrated in the videos. Seattle University students can use their Seattle Public Library card to access LinkedIn Learning, if you do not have a Seattle Public Library card you can apply online. Then visit the LinkedIn learning Library login to get access.

The course titled "Cert Prep: Excel Associate - Microsoft Office Specialist for Office 2019" is specifically targeted at preparing for the MO-200 Excel Associate Exam. You can also search for "Excel 2019" to see all available Excel 2019 courses and locate specific topics (Formulas and Functions, Formatting, Charts, etc.)

The Seattle U Campus Store carries the MOS Study Guide for Microsoft Excel Exam MO-200 (ISBN 9780136627159), which is also available online in both hard copy and digital formats.

Microsoft offers an extensive library of training videos arranged by topic on the Office Support website. Links to specific videos and articles are also provided in the list of Skills Measured.