MacTech, which publishes MacTech Magazine as well as produces live events such as MacTech Pro and MacTech Conference, has announced that Microsoft's "Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS Accredited Support Professional" accreditation program has been updated for Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac.

This accreditation course and exam is a half day long session, which takes place the day prior to each MacTech event in 2015. The Microsoft accreditation program is training and evaluation focused on the issues every consultant and tech should know when advising on or supporting Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS and Microsoft Office 365 suites, with a focus on Apple users. All registered attendees to MacTech Pro events in 2015 are invited to attend the accreditation course at no additional cost, however, space is limited.

The new accreditation program covers topics such as the new Office 2016 for Mac previews; installation; Microsoft Apps on Mac and iOS; Office 365 and Office Online; best practices in configuration, preferences, settings and use; licensing options for businesses and consumers; cross platform features; sharing documents with OneDrive, SharePoint, and more; troubleshooting and common questions; available support resources; and more. The accreditation is specifically designed for Apple consultants and techs supporting others using Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS, and Office 365 subscriptions.  

At the end of the course, attendees will be evaluated on the content presented, and those who demonstrate sufficient knowledge will become a "Microsoft Office for Mac and iOS Accredited Support Professional, 2015." Once obtained, attendees will receive an accreditation certificate from Microsoft, and be able to display the new accreditation graphic on their web sites and other promotional materials, as well as in their credentials.

"Microsoft Office for Mac has always been at the heart of most professional Apple installations, and the iOS apps are best of breed on Apple devices.  With Office 365, Web Apps, an array of collaboration options, and more, consultants need to have the right knowledge to support their clients not only in making the best solution decisions, but also in helping them to understand the features available to them," says Neil Ticktin, editor-in-chief/publisher, MacTech Magazine and MacTech Pro Event Organizer. "We've been working with those in the community and with Microsoft for some time to create the right kind of accreditation that will help consultants and techs perform their duties, as well as help grow their support offerings and consulting business."

Specifically created for professional Apple techs, consultants and IT Pros, MacTech Pro is the latest in MacTech's successful regional events. The event benefits both return attendees as well as those that have never attended a MacTech event. Held around the country, MacTech Pro is a single-track, hotel based seminar that is specifically geared to serve the needs of professionals wanting to serve their base and clients better.  

Sessions include topics such as: Deconstructing iCloud Drive: What a Tech Must Know; Time Machine Deep Dive, and Fitting it Into a Backup Strategy; The Professional Apple Tech's Toolbox; Using OS Resources to Diagnose Troubles; Caching servers, DNS Tricks, and More; VPP, DEP, and Under 13: How New Apple ID Requirements Impact You and Your Clients; Productivity Tools: Best Practices and Uses of Microsoft Office; Security, Viruses and Malware. It's real. It's now. You need to take it seriously.; Managing Your Clients To Increase Productivity and to Optimize Revenue; and more...

There are eight MacTech Pro events remaining in 2015, in cities around the United States.  The Microsoft accreditation course and evaluation is a half day program that takes place the day BEFORE each MacTech Pro as follows:

° San Francisco, CA : MacTech Pro on March 25, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Mar 24;

° Boston, MA : MacTech Pro on April 15, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Apr 14;

° Atlanta, GA : MacTech Pro on May 6, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on May 5;

° Washington, D.C. : MacTech Pro on June 24, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Jun 23;

° Chicago, IL : MacTech Pro on July 22, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Jul 21;

° New York, NY : MacTech Pro on August 12, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Aug 11;

° Dallas, TX : MacTech Pro on September 2, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Sep 1;

° Denver, CO : MacTech Pro on September 30, 2015; Microsoft accreditation on Sep 29.

MacTech Pro is economically priced and includes lunch, sessions, and sponsor interaction.  Each event has early bird registration pricing available in limited quantity, saving registered attendees up to $200 (the normal price is $499; the "early bird" price is $299).  Take note of when the early bird period ends for each location.

For more information about MacTech Pro, see http://pro.mactech.com
For more information about the accreditation, see http://pro.mactech.com/microsoft-office-accreditation