Microsoft Office Certification

Images of Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft Office Certification

We want to get you certified! The Chirico Career Center offers plenty of opportunities to become certified in many Microsoft Office products before graduation. As part of our Friar Four Career Core program, we currently offer paths for students to gain certifications. These certifications make a great addition to any resume or LinkedIn profile!

Our workshops offer a structured setting to cover the material necessary to ace the certification exams. Certification workshops are offered each semester and over breaks. Please click the registration links for more information about each course, including class meeting dates and locations.

Certification workshops will meet in person for five total course meetings, with the certification exam held on the last day. Visit FriarHub for a listing of workshops. Be sure to register, classes fill up quickly.

Excel Workshop Certifications

Certification workshops will meet in person for five total course meetings, with the certification exam held on the last day. Visit FriarHub for a listing of workshops. Be sure to register, classes fill up quickly.

Already Certified?

If you are already certified and are looking for your certificate or badge for LinkedIn, you can:

  • Download your certificate at Certiport under “My Transcript”
  • Find your LinkedIn badge through Credly

Frequently Asked Questions

Exam Requirements (testing requirements, re-test policy, etc.)

What are the requirements to qualify for an exam?

In a workshop:

  1. Miss no more than 1 class.
  2. Complete at least 80% of the JasperActive materials.
    • Students must start JasperActive by the beginning (Monday) of the second week of the workshop, otherwise they will be dropped from the course.
  3. Pass (score at least a 700) a Gmetrix practice exam in testing mode within 30 days prior to taking the exam.

In the self-paced course:

  1. Complete at least 80% of the JasperActive materials.
  2. Pass (score at least a 700) a Gmetrix practice exam in testing mode within 30 days prior to taking the exam.

How long is the exam?

The exam is 35 questions long, and you’ll have up to 50 minutes to complete it. If you qualify for academic accommodations and are approved,  you are given 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Note: See accommodations section below for instructions for how to apply.

What’s a passing grade on the exam?

A passing grade on the exam is the same as on the Gmetrix Practice Exam: 70% or 700/1000. You’ll find out your grade right after you finish the exam.

I failed the exam. How can I take it again?

This depends on your score.

If you score at least 500/1000, you may re-take the exam once.

If you don’t pass the second time, you need to complete the LinkedIn Learning training course and pass another GMetrix practice exam to qualify for a second re-take.

If you don’t pass a third time, you will need to take a workshop in the fall or spring semester to qualify for the exam again.

If you score less than 500/1000, you need to complete the LinkedIn Learning training course and pass another GMetrix practice exam to qualify for a re-take.

On that re-take, if you score at least a 500/1000, you may re-take the exam a third time.

If you score less than 500/1000, you will need to take a workshop in the fall or spring semester to qualify for the exam again.

Note that if you are enrolled in FIN113, you will be given the Excel certification exam in class if you are not certified yet.

I passed the exam. How do I access my certification?

You will receive an email from Credly with a link to add a badge to your LinkedIn profile.

You can also log into your Certiport account and go to “My transcript.” From there you can find a PDF of your certification.

If you’re taking the Excel certification for your FIN113 class, your professor will receive a list of who is Excel certified in their class. You don’t need to do anything for this.

Workshop Information (workshop length, schedules, etc.)

How many times can I take a workshop?

Due to high demand, you can only take one synchronous virtual workshop (series A-K). If you’re unable to complete a synchronous workshop, you can take a self-paced workshop.

The Chirico Career Center will be offering more Excel workshops during the fall and spring semesters.

How much time do workshops take?

Expect to put in at least 10-15 hours of time outside of the workshop meetings. This will vary based on how familiar you are with Excel.

I signed up for a workshop, but my schedule changed and I can’t make it. Can I take another workshop?

There’s limited space available in our workshops. If the workshop hasn’t met yet, you can unregister and sign up for a different workshop if space is available.

I can’t make any of the workshop times. What can I do?

Take the self-paced course.

Troubleshooting/Technical Support

What’s my JasperActive code?

If you’re in a synchronous workshop (series A-K), you’ll find the access code in the introduction presentation that your facilitator emailed you.

If you’re in a self-paced asynchronous workshop, you’ll find it in the instruction materials.

What’s my GMetrix code?

If you’re in a synchronous workshop (series A-K), your facilitator will provide a code in class and email it to all students on the day your workshop does the GMetrix practice exam.

If you’re in a self-paced asynchronous workshop, you’ll find it in the instruction materials.

JasperActive isn’t working on my computer. What can I do?

If it’s not loading, click here for JasperActive’s suggested troubleshooting.

If you’re still having issues, try using the Azure Virtual Desktop. Click here for information on how to access that through Providence College.

To contact JasperActive’s technical support team, email help@jasperactive.com or call 888.882.8635.

GMetrix isn’t working on my computer.

GMetrix is only available on Windows computers.

If you’re using a Mac, try using the “Test in the Cloud” option. If that doesn’t work, try running it on the Azure Virtual Desktop. Click here for information how to access that through Providence College.

To contact GMetrix’s technical support team, call 801-323-5800.

How can I access LinkedIn Learning?

Providence College offers access to LinkedIn Learning to all faculty, staff and students.

To access LinkedIn Learning, sign into the Linkedin Learning Hub with your PC credentials first and not your personal LinkedIn Account. Once in the Learning Hub, you can then sync to your personal LinkedIn account.

Recommended LinkedIn Learning course: Cert Prep: Excel Associate

For more questions about LinkedIn Learning, click here for PC’s iHelp page.

Miscellaneous Questions (testing accommodations, GMetrix/JasperActive, etc.)

I already completed the JasperActive work. Do I have to do it again?

You can link your JasperActive coursework to the access code for your workshop. When you’re logged in to JasperActive, go to “Activate a New Course” and enter your new activation code.

I already passed a GMetrix Practice Exam. Do I have to take another one?

Yes, students must pass the GMetrix Practice Exam within 30 days prior to taking the certification exam.

I qualify for testing accommodations. How can I receive those on my exam?

Let your workshop instructor know that you qualify for accommodations immediately.

You must apply for testing accommodations directly through Certiport. It can take up to two weeks to complete. To do this:

  1. Make an account for testing on Certiport (link here)
  2. Make an account for accommodations on Certiport. (link here). You’ll select “New Candidate Registration.” Make sure you use the same username and email address for both accounts.
  3. Submit your documents:
    • Once you have logged in to the system, you may request accommodations by clicking on the “Start A New Request Here” button and following the directions in the request system.
    • The final step (step 6) will require you to upload supporting documentation.
    • After you have uploaded the necessary documents, click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page. You will receive an email from the system notifying you that your request has been submitted.
    • After your request has been reviewed, you will receive an email to notify you that a determination has been made. The determination letter will appear on step 6 of your request in the “My Documents” section.

Do I have to get my Excel certification through Providence College?

Once you’re enrolled at Providence College, you must earn your Excel certification through their Career Center.

If you received your certification before enrolling, it may qualify. Contact the Chirico Career Center at careers@providence.edu to find out if yours does.

Is there any cost for students?

The Excel workshops and certification exams are offered at no cost to students.

I’m not a current student. Can I take a workshop?

Due to high volume over the summer, the workshops are limited to current students.

Staff and faculty may sign up for a workshop, but if there’s a waitlist we will ask them to give their spot to a student.

Alumni are not eligible for workshops at this time. The Chirico Career Center can help you find authorized testing locations near you.

The Chirico Career Center


Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm
Slavin 108
401.865.1290
careers@providence.edu