The term MOUS as an additional IT qualification in the world of IT training has been around for some time now and it has been estimated that there are now approximately 6500 people who are now MOUS qualified. There still seems some confusion over what MOUS has to offer in comparison with other IT qualifications available on the market.

The official Microsoft statement was:
MOUS certification sets the first global standard for desktop productivity across Microsoft Office applications. This performance-based certification examination can improve productivity for corporations, academic institutions, staffing agencies, training organisations and individuals alike.

When the scheme was first introduced, there were two levels, proficient and expert. However, with the release of Office 2000, the proficient level was re-named Core.

So what is the relationship between MOUS and ECDL? Basically, MOUS is specific to Microsoft and has two levels whereas ECDL is generic and only certifies to a basic level.

There is a certain amount of cross-over e.g. both MOUS and ECDL count towards Level Two Using IT NVQ and one of the ECDL test packages Electric Papers is Microsoft Office based. MOUS does not cover PC concepts and managing file, but both MOUS and Electric Papers tests do cover wordprocessing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases and network services.

The problem may be that MOUS stands a better likelihood of becoming a more credible qualification as the ECDL could struggle to gain recognition anywhere further than here, whereas MOUS will already gain strength in the American market.

IT Training have covered this issue in greater detail and have also drawn up a set of criteria marks to evaluate certain areas of the MOUS program.

To view the broad skillsets and exam objectives for this MOUS qualification, are available on its web-site. Upon visitng this site it does not initially state very clearly what the aims and objectives of this qualification are, it tends to appear more as a selling point as to the benefits that individuals and organisations will gain from being MOUS certified.

This endorses how beneficial the marking criteria addressed by IT Training is for the MOUS qualificaton. This measurement outlines the value of such an IT qualification within the computing world, when the professionals themselves are not applying the fundamental criteria to its own products, that are vital to any successful training programme. IT Training in their article recommend to dig around, but once you have found them they are easy to follow.

The main consideration like any form of qualification anybody decides to pursue is to ensure that the criteria meet both personal and business objectives alike, research all appropriate IT qualifications and make your own mind up as to whether the MOUS route is the best one to take.