Excel Certification

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Broaden your employment opportunities

Earning a Microsoft Office Specialist Certification can help differentiate you in today's competitive job market. All Albers undergraduate students are required to pass EXCEL 2019 Level I Certification (Microsoft Office Specialist exam MO-200) in order to progress in your BABA or BAE program.

As of Fall 2019 the Excel 2016 or 365/2019 exam is required for new exam candidates. Excel 2013 certification achieved prior to September 1, 2019 will be accepted, but Excel 2010 or earlier is no longer accepted.

For more information about the exam requirements and how to prepare for the certification exam, visit Microsoft's Exam Details page.

Registration

Most students will register for a pre-scheduled exam session for their IS 3150 class, or one of the open sessions listed on our Eventbrite pages. Students requiring ADA accommodations will need to apply to Certiport to receive an accommodation, and then contact the Excel Proctor to arrange for an exam session.

Students must also register with Certiport in order to take a Microsoft Certification Exam.

Available Exams

In-Person exams

We are currently only scheduling in-person Excel exams, administered in Pigott 328. The in-person exam experience is superior due to the larger screens and more direct control of the exam computers.

Register for an in-person exam

Remote exams

We are no longer offering remote exams due to changes made within the Exams From Home delivery system that has made it more difficult for students to complete an exam. If you are unable to take the exam in person at Seattle University, the  King County Library is currently still offering remote exams. Some for-profit testing centers may also offer remote exams, but will probably charge a proctoring fee in addition to the exam fee/voucher. The Certiport Support for Test Candidates page provides contact info for public testing centers.

 

Steps to Sign up for the Exam

Register with Certiport

You must register with Certiport.com prior to your test date. It is essential that you input your Seattle U ID in the "Student/Employee ID" field during the Certiport registration process. Failure to input your Seattle U ID may delay the start of your exam session. Please also complete the Microsoft registration at the end of the Certiport registration process. We do not require vouchers at SU so you can disregard the notice about buying a voucher.

You should also login to Certiport.com to register the exam group ID for your class if you are taking the exam for credit in IS-3150.

If you have a disability that might affect your performance on this exam, you will need to apply for an accommodation with Certiport. As of March 2020 you may apply online, you must use the same username for both Certiport and the accommodations application. Approval will take at least two weeks (at least 10 business days) and possibly longer if additional documentation is requested. You may also need to contact ExcelTest@seattleu.edu to arrange an extended testing time.

Register for an exam session

You will need to register and pay for an exam session at Albers' Eventbrite page (for exams taken as part of an IS-3150 class, you will get a custom registration link from your instructor). There is a $35 charge to register for an exam session, which covers the exam fee charged by Certiport and Albers administrative costs. If you do not pass the exam you will be issued a retake promo code to register for one retake session for free.

Retake Policies

If you fail the exam on your first attempt the Excel Proctor will email you a promo code for a retake. The exam fee includes ONE retake, if you require another retake you will have to pay the additional fee.

After your first exam attempt you must wait 24 hours before taking the Excel exam again. After your second and any subsequent attempts, you must wait 48 hours before taking the same exam again.

Study Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many times can I take the Excel certification exam?

A. You can take the exam as many times as necessary to pass, however you will only receive one free retake per paid exam session.

Q. How long do I have to wait before retaking the exam?

A. After your first attempt you must wait 24 hours, after two or more attempts the waiting period is 48 hours.

Q. What score do I need to get to pass?

A. The minimum score to pass is 700 (out of 1000).

Q. How much does the exam cost?

A. The exam fee is $35, this covers the cost of purchasing exam inventory from Certiport and related administrative costs incurred by Albers.

Q. How long do I have to pass the exam?

A. All business students entering SU summer 2012 or later are required to pass the EXCEL Level I Certification Exam as a requirement for graduation. You can take the exam at any time during your studies up until graduation; however it counts towards your final grade if you take IS 3150.

Q. I passed the exam, where can I get my certificate?

You can view your certificate on www.certiport.com by clicking My Transcript, then click the PDF link. If you would like an official certificate printed on cardstock you can order one for $10 from that same webpage. The $35 exam fee plus the $10 certificate is less than half the cost of purchasing a voucher that includes the printed certificate (approximately $100).

 If you have any further questions, please email ExcelTest@seattleu.edu.