Certiport releases official Microsoft Office Specialist 2016 certification

New performance-based MOS 2016 exams measure aptitude in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Salt Lake City, UTAH – June 22, 2016

Microsoft Office Specialist

Certiport (www.certiport.com), a Pearson VUE business, the leading test delivery solution provider for the global workforce and academic markets, today announced the availability of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) 2016 certification, the official standards-based credential for validating Microsoft Office 2016 skills.

MOS certification is offered by Certiport and recognized globally as the premier credential for individuals seeking to validate their Microsoft Office skills. With more than x exams taken annually, MOS leads the IT industry in performance-based testing. The new MOS 2016 exams improve upon the previous versions by migrating from a single, large project to multiple, smaller projects. The new format allows teachers to devote more time to practicing and mastering the specific skills tested in each smaller project.

"Technology changes rapidly, and it is important for schools to use the great products like Microsoft Office 2016 suite to enhance their productivity and acquire the updated skills academia and businesses are seeking," said Anneleen Vaandrager, senior director of Worldwide Public Sector – Education at Microsoft. "We work closely with Certiport to ensure the MOS exams are a true measure of how individuals will perform in real life and the MOS 2016 exams require a deep understanding of program functionality in a real-world context.”

The MOS 2016 exams enable individuals to tap into the full features and functionality of the Microsoft Office 2016 suite, resulting in increased confidence, credibility and differentiation. More objective domains are integrated to ensure students have a deep understanding of Microsoft Office 2016.

“We incorporated feedback from expert advisors and teachers to improve the MOS 2016 certification exams and make them stronger tools for assessment and preparation,” said Aaron Osmond, general manager, Certiport, a Pearson VUE business. “We continue to see a great demand in the workplace for individuals with Microsoft Office skills and we are pleased to offer the only official certification for Microsoft Office. MOS 2016 certification gives students a commanding competitive edge in both academics and the job market.”

The MOS 2016 library of learning aids has also been updated and digital badging from Acclaim is available immediately to provide convenient credentials for students seeking higher education or jobs. Certiport delivers MOS 2016 exams through an expansive network of more than 13,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. Students can begin taking MOS 2016 Word and Excel exams in English beginning June 22, 2016, with additional languages and exams to follow.

About Certiport

Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, is the leading provider of certification exam development, delivery and program management services delivered through an expansive network of over 14,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. Certiport manages a sophisticated portfolio of leading certification programs including: the official Microsoft Office Specialist certification program, the Microsoft Technology Associate certification program, the Microsoft Certified Educator program, the Adobe® Certified Associate certification program, the Autodesk Certified User and Autodesk Certified Professional certification programs, the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User certification program, and the IC3 Digital Literacy certification. Certiport reliably delivers over three million tests each year throughout the secondary, post-secondary, workforce, and corporate technology markets in 148 countries and 26 languages worldwide. For more information, www.certiport.com or follow Certiport on Twitter at www.twitter.com/certiport.

"Certiport" and "MOS" are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Press Contact:

Allison Yrungaray
+1-626-841-1640
allison.yrungaray@pearson.com

“Technology changes rapidly, and it is important for schools to use the great products like Microsoft Office 2016 suite to enhance their productivity and acquire the updated skills academia and businesses are seeking.”
Anneleen Vaandrager, Senior Director of Worldwide Public Sector – Education, Microsoft