Pearson wins three-year contract to deliver Microsoft Office Specialist exams

Over 2 million MOS exams delivered annually in 148 countries and 26 languages

Salt Lake City, UTAH – August 16, 2016

Microsoft Office Specialist

Microsoft has renewed a contract with Pearson VUE for the development and delivery of the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams for a period of three years. Over 2 million MOS exams are delivered through Pearson VUE and Certiport Authorized Testing Centers in 148 countries and 26 languages, and the agreement continues the investment in driving student outcomes for individuals and education systems.

“Working with Pearson balances our strategic goals to grow and increase adoption of Microsoft technologies with our high expectations for quality and customer support for our MOS certification program,” said Alison Cunard, General Manager, Microsoft. “Pearson VUE’s Certiport business has been delivering the MOS exams for more than 15 years and through that relationship the program has grown exponentially. At Microsoft, we are committed to helping students achieve their potential, and when a student is certified on Microsoft Office skills, they have a great start to succeeding in both academics and career.”

With one billion users, Microsoft Office is the global standard for business communication. MOS certification prepares students for college and career by proving they are competent and ready for the workforce. MOS certified students go on to pursue a wide variety of careers and educational opportunities since the Microsoft Office suite is used in almost every career path today.

“This partnership is made possible through the dedication of individuals on both the Pearson and Microsoft teams, and we are committed to continuing to deliver MOS exams with a high rate of satisfaction and student success,” said Bob Whelan, President, Pearson Assessments. “Technology certification is an essential bridge from academics to the workforce. MOS certification gives people a notch on their resume that proves they are competent in Microsoft Office and can perform on the job from day one.”

The popularity of MOS certification is further demonstrated by the MOS World Championship, a competition happening this month with more than one million student entries narrowed down to six World Champions, many of whom go on to win internships and jobs thanks to their Microsoft Office knowledge. One former competitor, Cory Bolles, secured an internship at the airport immediately after his win.

For more information on MOS or to find a local testing center, visit www.certiport.com/mos.

About Pearson

Pearson is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology.

Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit www.Pearson.com.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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

“Working with Pearson balances our strategic goals to grow and increase adoption of Microsoft technologies with our high expectations for quality and customer support for our MOS certification program.”
Alison Cunard, General Manager, Microsoft