Increase your skills
and showcase your knowledge with
technology certifications.
Learn or sharpen you technology skills with resources from your Pierce County Library. Once you’ve mastered a program, get certified and take your resume to the next level.
Choose a program below to begin your learning path.
Courses through LinkedIn Learning and Universal Class are free to you with your Pierce County Library System card. You will need to have your library card number available to pursue these learning pathways.
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Build and validate your knowledge in the most commonly used spreadsheet and data collection software.
Microsoft Excel Expert Certification
Take your certification to the next level with this Expert content.
Learn the ins and outs of the most widely used word processing program in the world.
Microsoft Word Expert Certification
Go beyond your basic document with advanced templates and styles in this Expert certification.
Microsoft Access Certification
Learn to use Microsoft Access to help you analyze large amounts of information, and manage data more efficiently.
Microsoft Access Expert Certification
Love Access? Take your knowledge higher and pursue this new Expert level certification.
Microsoft PowerPoint Certification
Learn how to create presentations that deliver your message with power and purpose.
Microsoft Outlook Certification
Learn how to use Microsoft Outlook to send and receive emails and manage various types of personal data including calendar appointments and similar entries, tasks, contacts, and notes.
*You can earn over-arching titles like Microsoft Office Specialist Associate, Microsoft Office Specialist Expert, and Microsoft Office Specialist Master by completing multiple certifications! Learn more by visiting Certiport’s Pathways here.
IT Specialist Career Credentials
Looking to get your foot in the door to a career in information technology? Working in tech support is one of the best ways you can! The IT Technical Support Specialist credential can give you the foundational skills that managers are looking for!
Developers behind the apps we use must consider the front-end user experience, the back-end functionality, and everything in between. The Application Developer credential gives you that breadth of knowledge to make valuable contributions and informed decisions, no matter what part of the development you focus on.
Project management jobs can be a great career avenue: regardless of the industry, project managers act as the liaison and central source of information to ensure things get done correctly, on time, and within budget. Completing the Assistant IT Project Manager pathway illustrates that you have the skillset to thrive in project management.
Web design is what separates the successful businesses from those that fade into the background. With the Web Developer Freelancer pathway, you can show the world that you have the skills to effectively design with the bigger picture in mind, while having the entrepreneurial tenacity to succeed on your own terms.
Mobile app developers use programming languages like HTML5 and Swift to create, test, and develop engaging apps on mobile devices. They are responsible for writing the source code for software applications. Achieving the App Development Freelancer credential is the best way to demonstrate you have the skills and experience to start a career in app development.
Other Available Certifications
Earn your certification in Adobe Creative Cloud products, including Photoshop and Dreamweaver.
Intuit Quickbooks Certification
Learn the most popular accounting software used by small businesses in your area today.
Showcase your imagination through game design.
Microsoft Certified Fundamentals
Get certified in Azure, Power Platform, and more!
Finished learning? Get certified!
Taking a certification exam requires you have first taken a timed practice exam for that program and passed with a score of at least 85%. After you have achieved this, we will work together to schedule your final exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I participate remotely?
Yes. All exams are currently being proctored virtually.
Do I need to have my own computer?
You will need to have a computer to use or borrow for your certification exam: almost all open Pierce County Library locations feature computers for public use.
How much does this program cost?
If you have a Pierce County Library card, the certification program (including learning paths and final exams) is provided free to you courtesy of the Washington State Library and your Pierce County Library System. The cost for non-patrons varies by exam and can range from $60 to over $150 for each exam, with additional costs for the use of Universal Class or LinkedIn Learning content.
Does this learning/certification count as schooling?
Your educational institution may choose to grant you some sort of credit for this program or for receiving your certification, however, would be done on a case-by-case basis and you must discuss this with them prior to beginning. Courses completed through LinkedIn Learning and Universal Class award additional certificates of learning, and courses completed through Universal Class also award Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Who can enroll?
Anyone who holds a Pierce County Library card is eligible to take a certification exam.
Can I enroll for more than one certification?
Yes! We encourage you to pursue any certifications that may help you in reaching your goals, though we do recommend focusing on just one program at a time. You can enroll for another program as soon as you have passed your certification exam for the previous program.
Can I start with Expert level exams?
You are not required to pass the base level exam for MOS products in order to take the Expert level exam. However, due to their difficulty, it is highly recommended that you complete the base learning and exam prior to enrolling for an expert exam.
How do I become a Microsoft Office Specialist: Associate?
In order to achieve this over-arching title, you need to pass three of the four available base-level MS exams in MS 2019/Office 365 version: Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint.
How do I become a Microsoft Office Specialist: Expert?
To achieve the Expert credential, you must first earn your Associate designation, and then complete two of these three Expert certifications: Excel Expert, Word Expert, or Access Expert. All exams in this pathway must be completed in the 2019/Office 365 version.
How do I become a Microsoft Office Specialist: Master?
To achieve the Master credential, you must complete Excel Expert, Word Expert, and standard PowerPoint exams. Additionally, you must pass either an Outlook or an Access exam, standard level. All exams in this pathway must be completed in the 2016 version.
Do I have to complete all of the courses listed for a particular program?
In many cases, no. If the program offers more than one course which covers the same content, you may select whichever course you feel will help you achieve the greatest learning.
*Note – for some programs, there is only one course available, and this is the recommended course for preparing to certify.
Can I use other resources to prepare for my final exam?
Yes. If you have taken a class in Excel through your educational institution, for example, or have completed a learning course through a different provider, you are welcome to enroll for a practice exam. You will still need to achieve the 85% passing score on a timed exam in order to schedule your final exam.
The Adobe page lists seven programs; do I have to learn and test in all seven to become an Adobe Certified Associate?
No: for each program that is individually listed (including MOS and MTA programs) there is a unique exam and certification to be earned. You can learn all seven, but you are not required to do all seven.
I lost my practice test code, what do I do?
If you are unable to find the original email containing your practice test code for G-Metrix, simply reach out to us at FreeCert@pcls.us and let us know!
What is G-Metrix?
G-Metrix is the site we use that administers practice exams for our certification program: you will be asked to create an account here to utilize your practice test code.
I’m having issues with G-Metrix.
Please direct your basic questions to FreeCert@pcls.us If we are unable to answer, we will advise you to contact G-Metrix directly at Support@GMetrix.com or (801) 323-5800.
What if I cannot make my scheduled exam time?
Please contact us at FreeCert@pcls.usas soon as you discover you will not be able to attend. Scheduling virtual sessions requires that we pay for the timeslots in advance, so if you are unable to attend and we have enough notice, we will try to fill your spot with another customer.
What are the system requirements for the certification exam?
Below are the technical requirements listed by the testing center. Learn more here.
| Item | Required / Minimum | Recommended |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, Home, or Education (32-bit and 64-bit)Windows 8.1 Enterprise or Professional (32-bit and 64-bit) | |
| Admin Rights | Local Windows Administrator rights are required to install Compass, configure the settings, and administer local exams. | |
| Processor | Pentium 4 or equivalent1.3 GHz or higher | Core i5 or equivalent2.6 GHz or higher |
| Note: Some Live-in-the-Application exams support only 64-bit processors. | ||
| RAM (LITA exams) | 4GB | 8GB |
| RAM (non-LITA exams) | 2GB | 4GB |
| Hard Drive | 5GB | +1GB over min per exam program installed |
| Video Resolution | 1280 x 800 (Widescreen 16:9)1024 x 768 (Standard 4:3) | 1920 x 1080(Widescreen 16:9) 1280 x 1024
(Standard 4:3) |
| Security Protocol | TLS 1.1 or higher | |
| Internet Connection Speed | 256 kbps or DSL | High-speed internet connection |
| Supported Internet Browsers | Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 (32-bit version only)Latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Firefox | |
| Keyboard & Mouse | 2-button wheel mouseKeyboard | |
| Browser Settings | Cookies must be enabled | |
| Printer | Printer installed – can be Windows document printer | Not required to test |
| Additional Software | .NET 4.5.2 must be installed (Windows only) | |
| Adobe Reader | Current version | |
| Firewalls | Corporate firewalls (including VPNs) often cause this delivery method to fail. Please take your exam in a setting without a corporate firewall or ensure the ports and IP addresses are whitelisted |
Do I still need a voucher for my final exam?
With the virtual proctoring in place, we no longer issue vouchers or voucher codes: instead, prior to your exam time, you will be emailed a unique testing link with further instruction for logging into your exam. Please read that email thoroughly when you receive it.
What is Certiport?
Certiport is the company that provides the certification testing software, and you will need to create a free Certiport Account to take your final exam. Pierce County Library is a Certiport Authorized Testing Center.
You can familiarize yourself with the Certiport testing environment through their exam tutorials; click here to see the full list.
How do I share my certification?
After passing your exam, you will be sent a link via email to claim your certification badge. Once you have created an account to claim it, you are given the option to link it to multiple locations, including your LinkedIn profile. We also encourage you to list your new skills on your resume. Read this article on how to appropriately integrate your certification to put your resume ahead of the pack!
If I have an idea for a partnership or resource, how can I share it with the library?
Please feel free to email us any time with ideas, comments or resources at webref@pcls.us! All submissions will be reviewed by appropriate staff, but are not necessarily guaranteed approval.
More Information
Please contact the Library’s Job + Business Center.
Washington State Library provides access to these Free Certifications for Washington State residents. If you are a library card holder in Pierce County, certifications are available here at no cost to you! Don’t have a library card yet? Sign up now!
