How to Earn a Microsoft Excel Certification in 2024: Top Tips and Resources

Why Get Certified in Microsoft Excel?

If you’re reading this article, the chances are that you’re trying to decide whether getting certified in Excel is worth it. As well as the commitment of taking a certification, there are also the cost, time, and relative benefits to consider. Thankfully, there are plenty of upsides to getting an Excel certification:

Demonstrates proficiency

A Microsoft Excel certification isn't just a credential; it's a concrete demonstration of your ability to proficiently use one of the most essential tools in data analysis. This certification is a clear indicator to employers of your skills with complex Excel functionalities, setting you apart in the job market.

Enhances employability

In an increasingly competitive job environment, Excel proficiency is often a baseline requirement. Being certified looks good on your resume, showcasing your commitment to professional development and your capability to handle data-centric roles effectively.

Expands career opportunities

Excel's widespread application across sectors like finance, marketing, and operations means that certification opens doors to a variety of career paths. As a certified Excel professional, you can explore roles that specifically require advanced Excel knowledge, such as data analyst, business intelligence specialist, or financial analyst.

Increases productivity and efficiency

Through certification, you gain in-depth knowledge of Excel's advanced features. This expertise allows you to streamline workflows, automate calculations, and enhance data analysis, leading to increased productivity in your professional role.

Boosts confidence

Achieving Excel certification confirms your ability to tackle complex tasks with the software. This assurance is invaluable, especially when faced with challenging data-related problems, ensuring you can approach them with confidence.

Facilitates data-driven decision-making

Excel certification equips you with the skills to analyze data effectively, create insightful visualizations, and generate accurate reports. Having strong reporting skills is really a must-know, in whatever company you're in. 

Some of the fundamental Excel formulas you’ll need to get certified

How Long Does it Take to Get Certified in Excel?

According to the official Microsoft Certification pages, you’ll need around 150 hours of hands-on experience and instruction, as well as relevant industry experience. You can gain such hands-on practice with our Excel Fundamentals skill track.

Excel Certification Eligibility and Requirements

Pursuing a Microsoft Excel Certification means choosing the right level and version that aligns with your skills and goals. Microsoft offers two primary levels of certification in Excel - the Excel Associate and the Excel Expert. Each of these levels is available for different versions of Microsoft Office, including 2016, 2019, and 365.

Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate

If you are looking for an Excel Associate level certification, you should know the full name for the exam is the Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps), and this is also known as the MO-201 exam. For the test, you’ll ideally have around 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience with Excel, as well as proven proficiency at an associate level in a relevant role.

• Overview: The Excel Associate certification is geared towards individuals seeking to demonstrate fundamental skills in Excel. It covers essential features like creating and managing worksheets, applying formulas, and creating charts.
• Versions Available: This certification is offered for Microsoft Office 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365 Apps. Each version focuses on the specific functionalities and tools available in that iteration of Excel. The 2013 version is now discontinued.
• Skills Measured: Managing worksheets and workbooks, performing operations with formulas and functions, creating charts and tables, etc.
• Exam Length: The exam is 50 minutes and 25 questions long. 
• Cost: $100

Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert

If you want to take an Expert level certification in Excel, you should research the exam name: Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps), also knows as the MO-211 exam. Microsoft recommends that you have 150 hours of experience as an industry expert.

• Overview: The Excel Expert certification is designed for advanced users who wish to demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in Excel. This certification involves complex tasks like managing advanced formulas, macros, and data analysis.
• Versions Available: Similar to the Associate level, the Expert certification is available for Microsoft Office 2016, 2019, and 365 Apps, with each focusing on the advanced features specific to that version. The 2013 version is now discontinued.
• Skills Measured: Advanced data management, creating complex formulas and macros, managing advanced charts and tables, etc.
• Exam Length: The exam is 50 minutes and 35 questions long. 
• Cost: $100

Understanding the Microsoft Excel Certification Exams

Let’s take a look at the most recent certification exams from Microsoft, the MO-210 (Associate) and MO-211 (Expert) for Microsoft 365, as outlined on Certiport.

Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps) Exam MO-210

This exam assesses a candidate's foundational skills in Excel and their ability to apply these skills in practical scenarios.

Exam focus

• Core areas: Creating and managing worksheets and workbooks, utilizing cells and ranges, tables, formulas and functions, and crafting charts and objects.
• Real-world applications: Test takers need to demonstrate the ability to create diverse workbooks, like budgets and financial statements, and use graphical elements to represent data.

Exam structure

• Objective domains: The exam encompasses several key areas, including worksheet and workbook management, data manipulation, table management, formula and function operations, and chart management.
• Performance-based approach: Candidates are evaluated through practical tasks in a simulated environment, focusing on understanding the purpose and usage of Excel's functionalities.

Preparation tips

• Utilize learning resources: Study guides and practice exams from Microsoft are essential for thorough preparation.
• Gain practical experience: There's no substitute for hands-on practice with Excel. Read our 20 Data Analytics Projects for All Levels blog post for some ideas.

Excel Expert (Microsoft 365 Apps) Exam MO-211

This exam is designed to evaluate an individual's advanced capabilities in Excel, focusing on creating, managing, and distributing complex spreadsheets for various specialized purposes.

Exam focus

• Core areas: The exam tests the ability to customize Excel environments for specific project needs, thereby enhancing productivity. Key areas include managing workbook options and settings, managing and formatting data, creating advanced formulas and macros, and managing advanced charts and tables.
• Expert-level applications: Candidates are expected to demonstrate expertise in creating sophisticated workbook examples like custom business templates, financial charts, amortization tables, and inventory schedules.

Exam structure

• Objective domains: The exam covers a range of advanced topics, including:
• Managing workbook settings and collaboration features.
• Advanced data manipulation and formatting.
• Creating and troubleshooting complex formulas and macros.
• Developing and managing sophisticated charts and PivotTables.
• Performance-based approach: The exam format involves completing practical tasks in a simulated environment, emphasizing understanding the purpose and common usage of advanced Excel functionalities.

Preparation tips

• Study resources: Utilize Microsoft's official study guides and practice with advanced-level Excel projects.
• Hands-on experience: Gaining in-depth, practical experience with Excel's expert features is essential for success in the exam.

Step-by-Step Guide to Earning Your Excel Certification

Achieving a Microsoft Excel Certification requires dedication, preparation, and a clear understanding of the process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this path successfully.

1. Choose the right certification

Begin by determining your level - whether you're better suited for the Excel Associate or Excel Expert certification. This decision should be based on your current expertise and career goals. Additionally, consider which version of Microsoft Office (2016, 2019, or 365 Apps) you are most familiar with, as each version has its own specific certification exam.

2. Understand the exam requirements

It's important to familiarize yourself with the details of the certification exam you've chosen. This includes understanding the skills that will be measured and the format of the exam. Official Microsoft certification websites offer comprehensive details on exam objectives and prerequisites.

3. Prepare for the exam

Your preparation should involve studying the official Microsoft study guides and other training materials relevant to your chosen exam and version of Excel. Beyond theoretical study, practical experience with Excel is essential. This hands-on practice ensures you are comfortable and proficient in all aspects of the application. You can get hands-on with our Data Analysis in Excel course.

4. Practice with Excel

Engaging with practice exams is an important step in your preparation. These exams provide a sense of the exam structure and question types. Use these practice opportunities to identify and focus on areas where you need additional study or practice to enhance your proficiency.

5. Schedule the exam

Once you feel adequately prepared, schedule your certification exam at an authorized testing center or through an online platform. When choosing a date for your exam, ensure it aligns with your readiness and fits your schedule.

6. Take the exam

On the day of the exam, approach it with confidence, remembering that it is designed to assess practical knowledge similar to the tasks you've practiced. Stay calm and focused, applying your study and practice experience to effectively navigate the exam.

7. Maintain and renew certification

Keep in mind that the field of Excel is continuously evolving, and some certifications may require periodic renewal. Staying up-to-date with these requirements is important for keeping your certification valid and your skills relevant. Don't let anything lapse!

Preparing for Excel Certification with DataCamp

We have a range of courses and resources that can help you master Excel in preparation for a certification. Here are some ideas for where to get started.

For beginners

• Start with Introduction to Excel or browse our whole collection of Excel courses. They are an excellent starting point for those new to professional spreadsheet use.
• The Spreadsheet Fundamentals skill track builds upon your basic skills, preparing you for more complex tasks and insightful business decision-making.
• Learn how to analyze data with pivot tables and intermediate logical functions before moving on to tools such as what-if analysis and forecasting with our Analysis in Excel course.
• Our Excel Formulas Cheat Sheet is a handy reference for some of the essential formulas you’ll need.
• With our tutorial on the essential Excel formulas, you’ll get a close look at how to use Excel.

Our Excel Basics Cheat Sheet can help you gain certification

For advanced users

• Enhance your data analysis skills with advanced functions like VLOOKUP in the Data Analysis in Spreadsheets course.
• Master the art of analyzing and comparing data using Pivot Tables with the Pivot Tables in Spreadsheets course.
• If you’re looking to go deeper in Excel analysis, our Introduction to Statistics in Spreadsheets focuses on averages, distributions, hypothesis testing, and more.
• Discover how to manipulate data in Excel with our Data Manipulation in Excel Cheat Sheet.

Final Thoughts

Enhancing your Excel skills and achieving certification is not just about passing an exam; it's about mastering a tool and improving your professional capabilities. Whether you're starting fresh or fine-tuning advanced skills, the path to Excel mastery is a rewarding one, opening doors to new opportunities and insights.

Ready to take the first step? Begin with DataCamp’s Spreadsheet Fundamentals skill track, designed to set you on the path to Excel proficiency. With dedication and the right resources, your certification is within reach, and the skills you acquire will serve you for years to come.