Office has applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook that perform tasks involving word processing, presentations, basic data analysis, and email communication.
Now known as Microsoft 365, Office helps users get work done inside offices or remotely by being able to share documents and files online and through the cloud. Anyone working anywhere from a corporate office to a freelance agency to an academic institution uses Microsoft 365 for everything from basic workplace organizing to production design. This means that training in Microsoft Office can deliver the skills required for designing, creating, editing, saving, printing, and uploading documents and files for creating and maintaining an efficient work environment. Microsoft 365 serves as a hub for working inside offices or from home by being able to work on assignments seamlessly from one place to another.
Aside from professional environments, people use Microsoft Office applications at home and at school for hobbies or completing class assignments. For example, Excel can be used for compiling recipes or for individuals who may practice genealogy as a hobby by creating ancestry charts. Students of course often use Word for completing essays and other assignments as well as using PowerPoint for building class presentations.
Microsoft Office is a suite of software applications used for word processing and creating spreadsheets, databases, and various other media. Office software has been designed to handle a variety of work-related functions, including creating documents, building databases, organizing spreadsheets, and designing promotional materials. This includes Microsoft Word for word processing, Excel for spreadsheet functions that include charts and graphs, Access for creating and maintaining databases, and PowerPoint for designing and developing professional-looking presentations. Training in Microsoft Office can provide individuals with the core skills needed to help in finding the right profession.
The Ten Best Online Microsoft Office Classes
- ONLC Training Centers—Office 365 Introduction (Live Online)
- Global Knowledge—Microsoft Office 365: Part 1 (Live Online)
- New Horizons—Microsoft 365 Office for the Web (with Teams) (Live Online)
- NYC Career Centers—Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp (Live Online)
- Ledet Training—Microsoft Excel 101 Microsoft Excel Introduction (Live Online)
- ONLC Training Centers—Excel Introduction (Live Online)
- Noble Desktop—Excel Level I: Fundamentals (Live Online)
- New Horizons—Microsoft Word for Office 365 (Desktop or Online)—Part 1 (Live Online)
- Noble Desktop–PowerPoint Level I (Live Online)
- Ledet Training–Microsoft Outlook 101—Microsoft Outlook Introduction (Live Online)
#1: ONLC Training—Office 365 Introduction (Live Online)
Anyone interested in improving skills for Microsoft Office can enroll in the Office 365 Introduction live online course offered through ONLC Training Centers. ONLC provides live online training for a variety of technology-related subjects that allow students to train from home or inside ONLC’s hundreds of training centers located throughout the United States. This introductory course for learning about Office 365 provides participants with an overview for using Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint that users can integrate for completing day-to-day tasks for work or for personal projects. Office 365 is Microsoft’s cloud-based suite of software applications that can be used interchangeably for a variety of purposes. Training includes lessons on navigating the application suite that includes accessing email with Outlook as well as allowing users to work with documents and files from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint through Microsoft OneDrive for access through the cloud.
Office 365 also facilitates online meetings using Microsoft Teams, which is a communication platform that provides workplace chats, file storage, and video conferencing as well as seamlessly integrating with other Microsoft applications during online meetings.Â
Through this course, participants will learn about the basic features associated with Office 365 for simplifying various office functions by contributing to efficiency and productivity in any workplace. Upon completing this course, students will be able to use Office 365 for creating documents with Word, communicating through email with Outlook, building presentations using PowerPoint, and employing Excel for a variety of functions that include calculations and data analysis.
Key Information
This single-day course costs $295.
Prerequisites: Students must have basic Windows and Microsoft Office experience. However, no Office 365 experience is necessary.
More Details
ONLC Training Centers courses are led by remote instructors who are not in the same room as their students but teach these classes live online with participants having the option of using ONLC’s up-to-date computer labs as well as accessing the course from their own computers at home or some other remote location with computer and internet access.
#2: Global Knowledge—Microsoft Office 365: Part 1 (Live Online)
Students can enroll at Global Knowledge for the Microsoft Office 365: Part 1 online course. Global Knowledge provides training that gets people and organizations up-to-speed with today's ever-advancing digital technology. This course offers the first part of Global Knowledge’s training with Office 365, which is a Microsoft subscription-based online application service that provides online access to several Office applications along with cloud storage and portability. Training is designed to help users understand Office 365 for optimizing communication within a working environment.
Lessons have been designed for beginning students but can also benefit anyone who has more experience with Office for getting comfortable with Office 365 and taking advantage of the internet and the cloud for communicating with Outlook and Microsoft Teams. Training focuses on using Teams and Skype for Business with Office 365. Microsoft Teams, available with Office 365, is a communication platform that facilitates workplace chats, file storage, and video conferencing as well as seamlessly integrating with other Office applications during online meetings.
Upon completing this course, students will better understand Office 365 and be able to modify basic account settings for Outlook Online and Microsoft Teams along with using Skype for Business.
Key Information
This one-day course costs $295.Â
Prerequisites: Students must have a basic understanding of Windows-based systems. While not required, enrollees should also feel comfortable using a keyboard, mouse, and the Start menu as well as knowing how to print and use an internet browser.
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This course focuses on teaching individuals about how to use software and services available with Office 365 for communication within a working environment. People who have experience using Microsoft Office may benefit from the online and cloud options available through Office 365.
#3: New Horizons—Microsoft 365 Office for the Web (with Teams) (Live Online)
Individuals can enroll with New Horizons for Microsoft 365 for the Web (with Teams) live online course. This class introduces participants to working with Office 365 applications that allow them to share files and documents from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The Office 365 app provides an online and cloud alternative to having to install Microsoft Office on a desktop computer.
This course provides a basic understanding for using Office 365 with an emphasis on communications through SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. Lessons focus on taking advantage of Office 365 as a cloud-based option that facilitates colleagues working on the same project simultaneously or for a user to seamlessly work on a project at work and from home without panicking about where that file may be stored. Everything is waiting to be accessed in the cloud.Â
Students will learn the basics for Office 365 such as signing in, navigating, and identifying components of the Office 365 environment. This includes collaborating in online meetings with Microsoft Teams, which is available in many versions of Office 365. Microsoft Teams is a communications platform that facilitates workplace chats, file storage, and video conferencing along with being able to share and seamlessly integrate Word, PowerPoint, or Excel for collaborating on work during meetings.Â
Upon completing this course, students will be able to communicate, collaborate, and share documents with colleagues using the Office 365 app by accessing SharePoint, Teams, or OneDrive.
Key Information
This single-day course costs $295.Â
Prerequisites: Participants will need to have experience with Windows operating systems and web browsers. They must also have experience using Microsoft Outlook for sending email and interacting with calendar events as well as having familiarity with basic Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
More Details
This course is geared towards business users and people who work in a variety of capacities with technology directly or indirectly. This training assumes that participants have basic experience with installing and using desktop-based Microsoft Office applications and is designed to apply that experience for learning Office 365 for gaining skills to participate in a collaborative cloud-based environment.
#4: NYC Career Centers—Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp (Live Online)
People can choose to take the Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp live online course. This bootcamp aims at training beginners in the basic Microsoft Office applications Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook through four consecutive one-day training sessions:
Beginner Microsoft Excel
This session provides basic training for Microsoft Excel with hands-on projects using the spreadsheet software. Students will practice calculations and formulas, charts and tables, and worksheets along with workbook formatting that should help participants in gaining a basic understanding of Excel.
Microsoft PowerPoint Level I
This course is geared towards helping students get comfortable with creating presentations using PowerPoint. Lessons include learning about formatting text and visuals for creating dynamic presentations. By the end of this session, students will have a better grasp of how to customize their work using the PowerPoint interface that includes learning how to insert graphics into slides for creating presentations that appeal to a variety of audiences.
Microsoft Word Level I
This session trains students in the basics of Microsoft Word for composing documents and formatting text. Participants will learn about inserting tables, special characters, and images for designing and producing documents in a variety of formats to fit any purpose. At the end of this session, students will be able to publish basic word documents using a variety of options including text, images, and tables.
Microsoft Outlook Level I
Training in Microsoft Outlook provides more than just learning about how to manage email. Participants will learn how to use the Outlook calendar for setting up meetings, assignments, and events. They will also learn to use Outlook for taking notes, assigning tasks, and creating journal entries. Of course, training includes improving skills with email functions including composing a message and adding contacts. In this one-day session, students will practice setting up their email signature and prioritizing contacts with notifications. Upon completing this session, students will have a solid understanding of Outlook for using the calendar, creating contacts, and setting tasks.
Key Information
This four-day course costs $749.
Prerequisites: This comprehensive introductory course lists no prerequisites.
More Details
As an online course, this class is available to anyone with internet access who is able to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a microphone for access and participation.
This live online course provides access to recordings for each class session through the student portal within one business day following the lecture. These recordings are available for one (1) month following that specific class session.
#5: Ledet Training—Microsoft Excel 101—Microsoft Excel Introduction (Live Online)
Ledet Training offers the Microsoft Excel 101—Microsoft Excel Introduction live online course that introduces students to the popular spreadsheet software. This course trains participants in how to create, manage, and work with Excel for a variety of tasks.
Lessons cover creating workbooks and worksheets, working with formulas as well as creating text and number formatting along with charts and graphics for saving, printing, and sharing spreadsheets. Ledet provides training from instructors who have experience as industry professionals who teach students about the difficulties, best practices, and shortcuts for gaining better skills with Excel. This course provides comprehensive training for the spreadsheet application with the goal of giving students knowledge in functions and features that can help in improving productivity and efficiency for any workplace. Students will learn everything from exporting datasets to creating a financial presentation.Â
Upon completing this course, participants will be able to set up and work with spreadsheets for analyzing and visualizing data, organizing data quickly within tables, and managing workbooks.
Key Information
This single-day introductory course costs $399.
Prerequisites: Participants must have basic computer skills as well as familiarity with Microsoft Excel software before enrolling in the course. Students will need to either purchase the Excel software or subscribe to a trial version from the Microsoft website.
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Ledet Training’s VILT (Virtual Instructor-Led Training) events allow students to attend classes from the comfort of their own home or office. Students must have a computer and a high-speed internet connection. Virtual classrooms offer students the same benefit they would receive in a traditional classroom setting, which includes hands-on training from a live online instructor. These live online courses are taught through Zoom or Adobe Connect.
#6: ONLC Training Centers—Excel Introduction (Live Online)
ONLC Training Centers offers the Excel Introduction live online course that trains students in the basics for working with the spreadsheet application. This beginner-level course teaches students about the fundamentals of Excel for them to get comfortable working with spreadsheets, basic formulas, PivotTables, and workbooks. Training begins with learning about opening a workbook, understanding the display screen, working with the ribbon, exploring the file tab, and switching between open workbooks. Participants will also get lessons for entering data, creating a new workbook, and saving a workbook as well as inserting, renaming, and deleting worksheets.
This course provides students with real-world experience for Excel through lessons in basic skills with the spreadsheet software for being able to contribute to efficiency and productivity in any working environment. Upon completing this class, students will be able to work comfortably with Excel spreadsheets in a variety of capacities.
Key Information
This single-day course costs $295.
Prerequisites: Students must have basic skills with Windows, keyboarding, and handling a mouse.
More Details
ONLC Training Centers courses are led by remote instructors who are not in the same room as their students but teach these classes live online with participants having the option of using ONLC’s up-to-date computer labs as well as accessing the course from their own computers or another remote location.
#7: Noble Desktop—Excel Level I (Live Online)
Students can enroll at Noble Desktop for the Excel I: Fundamentals live online course for training in the basics function for the spreadsheet software. With this introductory workshop, students will learn the fundamentals for Excel, including mastering calculations, basic functions, graphs, formatting cells, and Pivot Tables. This course is designed for people who have limited experience with Excel but would like to expand their knowledge with the spreadsheet application. Participants get hands-on training with user interface, managing worksheets, entering data entry, and inserting rows and columns.
Lessons focus on formulas, formatting, tables and charts, and workbook management with the goal of contributing these new skills to creating a more efficient and productive working environment. Students will learn new concepts from watching videos that provide examples to help with completing projects on their own. Upon completing this course, students will understand and be able to use Microsoft Excel for calculations, basic functions, graphs, formatting, and saving files.
Key Information
This six-hour introductory course costs $249.
Prerequisites: Students will need to be comfortable with computers, but no other experience is necessary.
More Details
This course is designed for individuals new to Excel who would like to become skilled in the spreadsheet application to help them improve career opportunities. Skills with Excel can contribute to productivity and efficiency for work in several industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, education, retail, and nonprofit organizations.
After completing the Excel I: Fundamentals course, participants will receive access to Noble Desktop’s companion video suite that features beginning level video lessons for viewing on desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones with video tutorials on Excel concepts explained in simple steps.Â
As an online course, this class is available to anyone with high-speed internet access who has a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
This live online course provides access to recordings for each class session through the student portal within one business day following the specific lecture. These recordings are available for one (1) month following a particular class session.
#8: New Horizons—Microsoft Word for Office 365 (Desktop or Online)—Part 1 (Live Online)
New Horizons offers the Microsoft Word for Office 365 (Desktop or Online) Part 1 live online course for training to get a basic understanding of the word processing application. This course provides training in the fundamentals of Microsoft Word for composing, editing, formatting documents, inserting tables, and creating lists by applying a variety of techniques for improving the look and feel of written content.Â
Participants will learn how to navigate and perform basic functions using Word such as opening, viewing, editing, saving, and printing documents along with configuring the software to specific work requirements. This course provides lessons in formatting text and paragraphs, finding and replacing content, and enhancing lists by sorting, renumbering, and customizing list styles. Microsoft Word helps with writing in so many capacities by identifying difficulties with spelling, sentence structure, grammar, readability, and punctuation.
While people write out their grocery lists using pen and paper, they use computers and word processing applications for composing most of their other documents. It’s virtually impossible to avoid using word processing software in any working environment nowadays as administrative assistants, managers, clerks, reporters, attorneys, and editors all rely on writing on computers for doing their jobs. Microsoft Word helps people work smoothly with the tasks of creating bprofessional-looking documents using features and tools for making any process easier.
Upon completing this course, students will be able to use Microsoft Word for composing documents for a variety of purposes for work or creative projects.Â
Key Information
This single-day course costs $295.
Prerequisites: Students must have experience with the current version of Office software, including being able to open and close applications, navigating basic file structures, managing files and folders, and accessing websites using online browsers.
More Details
This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of Microsoft Word for creating, editing, and formatting documents to complete a variety of tasks.
#9: Noble Desktop—PowerPoint Level I (Live Online)
Students can enroll in the PowerPoint Level I live online course available from Noble Desktop for learning the essentials for the presentation software. This course provides training for participants to learn about how to use PowerPoint for creating bprofessional-looking presentations for work, education, marketing, and other tasks. Students will learn about PowerPoint functions for creating appealing presentations for a variety of purposes. Lessons include learning how to work with tables and charts as well as preparing slideshows for any type of presentation.Â
Lessons focus on building presentations by choosing slide layouts, adding text and outline views, inserting pictures and graphics, and adjusting photos and images. Upon completing this course, students will learn how to create appealing presentations by adding text, layering objects, and inserting images, shapes, and animation.
Key Information
This six-hour course costs $249.
Prerequisites: Students must be comfortable using computers.
More Details
As an online course, this class is available for anyone with high-speed internet access who is able to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone to access and participate.
This live online course provides access to recordings for each class session through the student portal within on business day following the specific lecture. These recordings are available for one (1) month following that particular class session.
#10: Ledet Training—Microsoft Outlook 101—Microsoft Outlook Introduction (Live Online)
Anyone interested in learning about the features and functions available from Outlook can enroll with Ledet Training for the Microsoft Outlook 101—Microsoft Outlook Introduction live online course. This course trains participants in using Microsoft Outlook for managing email communications, using the calendar for scheduling meetings and events, and saving contacts. This course teaches users how to automate their email workflow for helping organizations become more efficient and productive. Lessons include automating email workflow with filters for placing into folders and categories. Students will learn how to organize and prioritize contacts for determining the most important message to respond to for avoiding missing vital correspondences that may get lost in a sea of email.Â
Upon completing this course, students will know how to use the Outlook Calendar for scheduling appointments, planning meetings, tracking events, and automating alerts and notifications.
Key Information
This single-day introductory course costs $399.
Prerequisites: Students must have basic computer skills, including possessing Microsoft Outlook software before enrolling in this course.
More Details
Ledet Training’s VILT training allows students to attend classes from the comfort of their own home or office. Students must have a computer or tablet with a high-speed internet connection. Virtual classrooms provide students with the benefits of traditional classroom training, which includes hands-on lessons from live instructors. Live online courses are taught through Zoom or Adobe Connect.
Ledet Training’s goal is for classes to meet students’ learning objectives. Therefore, all outlines should be looked upon as guides that help in steering the curriculum. A course outline does not guarantee that each of the topics listed will be covered because the amount of material covered will depend on the skill level of the overall class. Ledet may alter course topics to fit classroom circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Different Types of Online Microsoft Office Classes?
Students can find live online training courses or on-demand classes for improving knowledge with Microsoft Office software. Taking a virtual learning class, as opposed to learning inside a classroom, can provide individuals with the scheduling flexibility of being able to take a course from the comfort of their own home. The advantage of taking an on-demand class is that students can train at their own pace and on their own time.
In addition to live online or on-demand courses, there are also free tutorials and videos available for initial training to improve skills with Office applications like Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
What Will I Need for an Online Microsoft Office Class?
Generally, anyone enrolled in live online training for Microsoft Office courses will need to have a computer with a high-speed internet connection. Additionally, students will need to have some familiarity with basic computer skills that includes being able to boot up, log in, and navigate an internet browser. Many online education providers require students to have licensed access to Microsoft Office applications or whatever brand is being taught.
Can I Learn Microsoft Office Online for Free?
While many people would love the opportunity to get a deeper understanding of Microsoft Office applications, a busy work schedule and other obligations might not allow them the privilege of being able to enroll in a traditional in-person or live online course. However, there are options for anyone interested in picking up skills with Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office applications. There are free tutorials, YouTube videos, online seminars, and blog posts for picking up initial knowledge for Microsoft software. People interested can find training options that fit their chosen time, including Simon Sez IT’s Microsoft Office Tutorial for Beginners: Learn Excel, PowerPoint, Word & Outlook in 12 Hours or Noble Desktop’s Free Excel channel that has more than 70 short video clips of previously recorded training lectures.
Is It Better to Learn Microsoft Office in a Live or Self-paced Class?
Anyone who wants to improve on skills with Microsoft Office software has the option of on-demand training that can fit any schedule. Unlike live online courses–which despite providing the convenience of being able to learn from the comfort of a person’s home still requires participants to participate at a designated time–on-demand training provides nearly complete scheduling flexibility that allows students to train at their own pace and on their own time, avoiding the stress of conflict with a work schedule or other commitments. On-demand tutorials like Noble Desktop’s PowerPoint Presentation Design can help with learning to easily create bprofessional-looking presentations for work or education. Students may also be interested in Udemy’s Microsoft Office Suite of Applications video tutorial that provides students with an initial understanding of Office applications Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Publisher or Coursera’s Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization, which is designed to help students quickly learn the basics for using Office applications.