Excel Expert — Course Overview
A 9-week course preparing you for the Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert certification. 72 instructional hours. Real projects. Real data. A real Microsoft credential at the end.
About This Course
This is a 9-week course that prepares you for the Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Expert exam (code MO-211), issued by Certiport — the only Microsoft-recognized certification program for Microsoft Office globally.
The course is not a tour of Excel features. It’s a progressive build of an Expert-level analytical skill through projects that operate on real data. Every week you’ll produce at least one portfolio-worthy workbook. By the end you’ll have a credential recognized in 140+ countries and a real analytical skill set.
The MO-211 exam is performance-based: 50 minutes, completed in live Excel, with tasks described by purpose rather than command name. You’ll sit it at a Certiport Authorized Testing Center in Week 9.
Weekly Roadmap
Click any week to see its overview, learning outcomes, project, and the four daily files (Lesson, Practice, Build, Wrap).
Cross-Workbook References
Reference data across workbooks. Build a multi-file budget system where three department workbooks feed a master roll-up. Manage external references that update…
Protection, Calculation Options & Macro Enablement
Three-level protection (worksheet, range, structure), calculation modes, and the .xlsm macro-enabled format. Build a Protected Master Template with role-based p…
Custom Number Formats, Data Validation & Flash Fill
Control what users can enter (Data Validation) and how numbers display (Custom Format codes). Plus Flash Fill, RANDARRAY, Group/Ungroup, Subtotals, and Remove D…
Advanced Conditional Formatting with Formulas
Conditional formatting beyond the presets — formula-driven rules with reference anchoring, Manage Rules dialog, and Stop If True. Build a Performance Heatmap wi…
Logical Functions & Conditional Aggregation
IFS, SWITCH, AND/OR/NOT for branching logic; SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, MAXIFS, MINIFS for criteria-based aggregation; LET for naming intermediate calculations. Build a …
Lookups, Date Functions & What-If Analysis
XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP for data retrieval. NOW, TODAY, WEEKDAY, WORKDAY for time math. Goal Seek and Scenario Manager for what-if. PMT/NPER for f…
Macros, Automation & Formula Troubleshooting
Record macros with the right reference mode, edit VBA lightly, assign to buttons. Plus formula auditing — Trace Precedents/Dependents, Watch Window, Evaluate Fo…
Advanced Charts, PivotTables & PivotCharts
Specialty charts (Dual-Axis, Combo, Box & Whisker, Funnel, Histogram, Sunburst, Waterfall) plus PivotTables, Slicers, Timelines, Calculated Fields, PivotCharts.…
MO-211 Exam & Portfolio Showcase
Final week. MO-211 exam Wednesday at a Certiport ATC. Friday: 5-minute live Portfolio Showcase of an Expert project. Course finale.
How You Will Be Assessed
Every weekly project is graded against five dimensions with consistent weights:
| Dimension | Weight | What ‘Proficient’ looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Accuracy | 35% | Workbook outputs are correct. Formulas calculate correctly. Every required task is completed. |
| Method Choice | 20% | You used the right Excel feature — not a brittle workaround. |
| Design & Accessibility | 15% | The workbook is readable, consistently formatted, and print-ready. Charts have titles, labels, and alt text. |
| Analysis & Communication | 20% | The workbook helps a user make a decision — it doesn’t just store data. |
| Efficiency & Professionalism | 10% | Tables, named ranges, structured references, documentation, and error-checking used where they belong. |
Tools You Will Need
💻 Windows computer
Excel for Microsoft 365 Apps desktop. The web version cannot run macros (used in Weeks 2 and 7).
🔑 Microsoft account
For file storage in OneDrive and macro security via the Trust Center.
📚 Certiport access
Your teacher will provide a voucher for the MO-211 exam in Week 9.
📁 LMS folder
Three deliverables per week submit to specific LMS slots. Filenames follow lastname-firstname_weekNN_project.xlsx.
How To Use These Materials
Each week has four student-facing files:
- Lesson — the teaching content. Read first; reference throughout the week.
- Practice — a framework formative. Lower-stakes drill that prepares you for the Build.
- Build — the main weekly project. Friday deliverable.
- Wrap — reflection, self-assessment rubric, knowledge check quiz, and Week completion checklist.
Start each week on the Week Overview (the page links above). Read the Lesson on Day 1; do the Practice on Days 1-3; build the project on Days 3-5; wrap on Day 5.
Course Content
