SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (November 24, 2020) — The 2021 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship has been launched by Certiport, the leading provider of performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners.
In its 20th year, the competition is expected to attract more than 800,000 candidates from more than 100 countries. Students enter to prove their superior skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, culminating the most popular technology skills competition on Microsoft Office and the only one endorsed by Microsoft since its inception in 2002.
To enter the competition, students age 13 to 22 must take a qualifying Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam to demonstrate their mastery of either Microsoft Office 2016 or Office 365. Regional competitions will be held worldwide and finalists will compete in the world championship round of the competition at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida, August 1-4, 2021, pending the subsiding of the global pandemic. Should restrictions prohibit an in-person event, alternative arrangements will be considered.
"The year 2020 has taught us the value of having industry-recognized credentials. Students everywhere need skills valued by the marketplace, especially during these uncertain times. The Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship is a great way to showcase students' expertise and skills on a world stage," said Ray Murray, Vice President and General Manager – IT, Pearson VUE. "We love hosting the competition because it promotes these skills and it is a great time for everyone involved. We were sad not to be able to host our 2020 MOS World Championship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are more excited than ever to see our students again in 2021."
In the concluding round, competitors participate in unique, project-based, real-world exams and timed competition to demonstrate their ability to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for the information presented in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Certiport will recognize the top student competitors with cash and prizes; $7,000 for first place, $3,500 for second place, and $1,500 for third place.
With more than 2 million certifications delivered annually, MOS is the world's largest IT certification program. Microsoft Office Specialist is the only official Microsoft-recognized certification for Microsoft Office globally and serves as a powerful instrument for assessing student skills and preparing students for real-world skills application.
"The Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship inspires students around the globe to perfect their technology skills," said Anthony Salcito, Microsoft Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector Education. "Whether they win or not, all participants earn a credential recognized by employers worldwide as a validation of skills they can use in virtually any job role or career."
About Certiport
Certiport is the leading provider of learning curriculum, practice tests, and performance-based IT certification exams that accelerate academic and career opportunities for learners. Certiport provides certification development, delivery, and program management services through an expansive network of more than 15,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. More than 3 million Certiport exams are delivered in 26 languages across 148 countries each year throughout the academic, workforce, and corporate technology markets. Certiport is a Pearson VUE business, and is a part of the world's leading learning company, Pearson. To learn more, go to certiport.com.
