MS Excel Certification Program
NOTE:
During spring 2008, only TLU students, faculty, and staff are eligible to participate in this program.
We expect to open the program to the community later in the year.
Texas Lutheran University is now offering a program in Microsoft Excel Certification through the Center for Professional Development (CPD). The program consists of a practice exam and a Microsoft Office Specialist exam in Excel 2003.
Microsoft Office Specialist (formerly also known as MOUS) exams use “live” or real applications to provide the most authentic evaluation of your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Microsoft Office Specialist is the official Microsoft Office certification for desktop productivity. TLU is offering students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to become certified in MS Excel.
Business Administration students pursuing a specialization in Accounting, Management, or Marketing may meet one of the supporting course requirements by earning Microsoft certification in Excel instead of taking ISYS 133 (Applications Software).
TLU is using the Certiport performance-based testing that makes use of specialized examination software while simultaneously running the actual Office programs. You can prepare for your certification exam by using an officially licensed Microsoft Office practice test. You can take the practice test in two modes:
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Training exam mode allows you to complete each of the 50 multi-part tasks independently, with step-by-step guidance, or after completing an interactive tutorial on the task. The training exam mode is not timed.
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Testing exam mode simulates the actual exam. It has 29 multi-part tasks and is timed (one hour). You must score 80% on this to register to take the actual exam.
Steps to Becoming a Certified Microsoft Excel Specialist
1. Determine if you are ready to take the practice exam.
b. If you do not have basic Excel skills, you may purchase self-instructional training manuals, take an online course through the Center for Professional Development, or sign up for e-learning with Microsoft.
2. When you are ready to take the practice exam, download and complete the application form. 3. Bring the completed application and your payment of $150 to the Center for Professional Development, Tschoepe Hall, Room 125. You may pay by personal check, money order, or credit card.
4. You may take as much time as you need to complete the computer-based practice exam. Depending on your skill level, you may need only a few hours or you may need several sessions.
5. During spring 2008, practice exams are available in the Blumberg Library computer laboratory on the following Sunday afternoons from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
February 17 and 24
March 2, 9, and 30
April 6, 13, 20, and 27
Users may attend as few or as many sessions as they need to prepare for and pass the exam.
6. When you go to the lab, present your student ID to the proctor and sign in.
7. You must earn 80% or better on the practice exam before you can take the actual exam.
8. If you are not successful on the practice exam, you need to spend more time studying. You may purchase self-instructional training manuals, take an online course through the Center for Professional Development, or sign up for e-learning with Microsoft.
9. When you have passed the practice exam, schedule the actual exam with the proctor.
10. When you take the actual exam, you will need to show your TLU ID.
11. During the exam,
a. you may not use any recording devices including paper, pens, pencils, cameras, cell phones, PDAs, or other such devices.
b. you may take a break to use the restroom but the testing clock cannot be stopped and you may not compromise exam security.
c. the proctor may answer questions about how the exam software functions, but may not answer questions about the exam content.
d. if the proctor observes what appears to be cheating, your exam will be terminated immediately. Your results will be nullified and you will not receive a refund or certificate.
12. Upon successfully passing the exam, you will receive two certificates:
a. Microsoft Office Specialist in Excel from Microsoft
b. TLU Certificate
13. If you do not pass the exam the first time, you may retake it once without restriction in terms of time between exams. You can retake the exam once without additional costs.
14. If you do not pass the first retake exam, you must wait a minimum of seven days before retaking the exam. Each retake after the first retake will cost $75.00.
15. If you are not successful in passing the exam, continue to study on your own or take a course.
