Business and Industry - John Wood Community College

This step-by-step guide will walk you through the certification process.

Identify Your Goals
The first step is to identify your personal goals for certification. For example, do you want to take one exam to demonstrate a strong knowledge of the word processing tools in Microsoft Word, or do you want to set a long-term goal to become Office Specialist certified at the master level by successfully completing a series of Microsoft Office exams?

Assess Your Skills
The second step toward certification is to assess your existing knowledge of the desktop program based on experience, training, and personal needs. In selecting the appropriate Office Specialist certification exam, consider the following:

The amount of time you have used the Microsoft Office program.
The frequency and depth of your experience with the program.
The version of the program with which you are most familiar.

Specialist-level certification exams test your ability to complete a wide range of standard business tasks with ease. Expert-level certification exams test your ability to complete complex assignments requiring advanced formatting and functionality, in addition to standard business tasks.

Prepare for the Exams
The third step is to prepare for the exam. You may want to supplement practice with training. John Wood Community College Office for Business and Industry Programs offers a full schedule of courses to help you prepare for the exam. See our list of course offerings under JWCC/Microsoft Certificate of Completion Program or call 217-641-4971 to request a brochure.

Take the Exams
The fourth step is to take the exams to become certified. To schedule an appointment for an exam, call 217-641-4971 or 217-641-4970.