Enhance your knowledge of this popular computer application.

By completing the program, you will:

• Develop and improve your Microsoft Word skills.
• Demonstrate your dedication to lifelong learning and professional development.
• Fulfill one of four mandatory training requirements for the state's Administrative Assistant Traineeship.

You can expect to enhance your job-based skills in the Computer Skills and Technology workforce development competency. 
 

All CSEA-represented NYS employees are eligible to participate.

Management/Confidential NYS employees with an Empire KnowledgeBank (EKB) license are also eligible to participate. Contact your agency training officer for information on obtaining an EKB license.  

Supervisory approval is not required for courses taken outside the normal workday. It may be possible for employees to take courses during working hours with supervisory approval.

• Register and take all the required courses online in SLMS anytime starting February 12, 2026.
   
• To earn a certificate, you must complete all required courses and achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher in each course by the program's end date (February 11, 2027).
   
• To print your certificate, log in to SLMS, go to the My Learning page, locate the appropriate certificate program, and select the Print Certificate button. The Print Certificate button will only be available if the status is Completed.

1. Word 365: Getting Started (0.6 Hours) 

   In this course, learners can explore the basics of Word 365, Microsoft's word processing program. If you have no experience with Word, this is the perfect course to choose when you begin using the program. First, learn how to open the application on your desktop from the Windows 10 interface. Next, you will explore many of the tools and functions available in the Start Page to create a document or open an existing one. You will also discover the tools available on the editing interface, for example, how to access the Ribbon, how to use the Backstage view, the Quick Access toolbar, and the Status bar. In this course, you will also learn how to perform basic tasks for editing a document, such as inserting text, undoing and redoing actions, and saving a document. Finally, you will also see how to share your documents via email.   

2. Word 365: Browsing Documents (0.5 Hours)  

   Word 365 tools allow users to perform multiple tasks, such as reading, editing, and reviewing documents. In this course, you will learn how to navigate in a Word document by using the scroll bar and other navigation shortcuts. Next, you will discover how to use the different views and modes options to display documents. You will also learn how to focus on reading text, a web view, and views for planning and drafting. Finally, this course examines how to use the Navigation pane to move through a document and to jump to specific headings or pages. 

3. Word 365: Formatting Documents in Word 365 (0.8 Hours)

   This course explores several Word 365 features to format documents. Learn how to use text styles and style sets, and create and modify text styles. You will also discover how to create style sets and import styles from another document. Next, this course will focus on inspecting your text formatting, which allows you to make overall changes to a large number of text items. Similarly, learn how to change your document's theme and modify your paragraph spacing as well as use tab stops and the hyphenation tools. Lastly, you will learn how to organize your text into columns when creating different types of documents. 

4. Working with text in Word 365 (0.9 Hours)

   This course explores Word 365's tools for inserting, moving and manipulating text. Discover how to configure the Editing Options to make typing easier. See how to use the Overwrite mode to replace existing text passages, activate the Click & Type mode to insert text anywhere in your document, and even ask Word to offer word suggestions when you are typing. Explore how to select text using your mouse and keyboard, using the Select tools and how to configure the text selection. Next, explore how to quickly reorganize the text in your document. Word features multiple paste options to move text into your document using the formatting of the source, destination, or just pure text. Next, you will then learn how to reorder text or paragraphs with cutting, copying, and pasting tools. You will also discover other tools to quickly insert text. For example, use text boxes to add small pieces of text anywhere in your document. If you prefer to insert text without typing, then see how to use and configure the dictation tools. To type using your voice. And lastly, discover Word’s new AI Copilot feature, that offers a number of features to quickly create and edit content in your Word document. You can give the Copilot feature more context to work with by referencing a file and visualize content in a table. Besides creating content, the Copilot tool can also answer questions about a document. Whether you need help making the document shorter or more formal, Copilot can provide suggestions and recommendations to help you perfect your work.

5. Word 365: Formatting Text (0.75 Hours)

   Explore how to personalize a document by using Word 365's formatting options. In this course, learn how to change the font type and size and apply effects as bold, underlined, or italics. Word also features options to improve the display of your text. Learn an effortless way to change the case and the alignment options. WordArt is another useful tool for inserting preformatted text. If you prefer to apply WordArt options to regular text, then you will learn how to use Word's text effects, including how to add shadows, reflections, and glow effects. This course also covers other practical features as to creating bulleted and numbered lists. Learn how to insert preformatted lists or how to customize their style. You will also discover how to combine both types of lists to create a multilevel list. 

6. Word 365: Shaping Documents in Word 365 (0.7 Hours)

   Word 365 offers different tools to shape documents. First, learn how to insert a page break and create a formatting section to help shape the layout of the page. Next, learn how to insert predefined headers & footers and create custom headers & footers. You can also save and reuse a header. In this course, you will also discover how to insert a page number to better organize your document. These settings will be useful for yourself as well as your readers. You will also learn how to customize your paragraph and page outlines & colors as well as insert a watermark to make your document unique.

7. Word 365: Managing Documents (0.7 Hours)

   Word 365 offers different tools to create documents and to manage the information each file contains. First, learn how to create your own custom templates to easily create documents that will better suit your needs. Next, learn how to prepare your documents to be shared with other users. For example, check if your document has any hidden information you'd prefer not to include, or verify if your document fulfills basic accessibility requirements. In this course, you will also discover how to set up your documents by changing the orientation, paper size, and margins. These settings will be useful to prepare your documents for printing or for exporting them into other file formats, such as PDF. 

    

8. Word 365: Using Tables (0.8 Hours)

   This course explores Word 365's tools for using tables. Discover how to create a table and how to insert & delete items in a table. You will also learn how to resize your table, rows, and columns as well as align the text in your table so you can customize your table according to the information. Word also provides different tools for adjusting your table layout and borders, merging, and splitting tables, and formatting your table. Learn how to sort the data in your table and perform a calculation. Lastly, you will discover how to insert items from Excel. For example, you can create a spreadsheet in Excel and then quickly transfer that data into your Word document.
    

Want to learn more? Once you've completed all the required courses, consider continuing your learning with the following optional activities. Unlike the required courses, you do not need to complete these to earn your certificate. 

Digital Books and Videos

Discover a world of resources with the Empire KnowledgeBank (EKB) and Skillsoft eBook and Video Portal. Search EKBSS_TMPL20150123135209420 in SLMS. You'll gain access to the following free digital books and online videos, as well as thousands more! Get directions for using the EKB and Skillsoft eBook and Video Portal.

Recommended Reading

• Teach Yourself VISUALLY Word 2016 by Elaine Marmel
• Word 2016 for Professionals for Dummies by Dan Gookin
• Word 2016 in Easy Steps by Scott Basham

Training

These courses are offered by the Partnership and are open to all CSEA-represented NYS employees. Webinars can be taken from any computer with a connection to the internet. You can also view recordings of webinars.

Recommended Courses

• Get More Done with Keyboard Shortcuts (Webinar)
• Microsoft Outlook: Organizing and Managing Your Email (Webinar)
• Microsoft Excel Basics
• Microsoft Word Basics
• Microsoft Word Basics (Online)
• Microsoft Word Intermediate

Note: Get More Done with Keyboard Shortcuts, Microsoft Outlook: Organizing and Managing Your Email, and Microsoft Excel Basics, are not Word classes, but they do help with general computer skills.

To participate, you must follow our two-step registration process. The first step varies for CSEA-represented NYS employees and Management/Confidential NYS employees. 

CSEA-represented NYS employees: Apply for a Partnership Online Learning License in the Statewide Learning Management System. Search P_OL_Program in SLMS. Please allow up to five business days for license approval.  

NYS Management/Confidential Employees: Contact your agency training director to obtain an Empire KnowledgeBank license if you don't have one already.  

Once you have an active license, you can register for the program in SLMS. Search P_MWBASICS26 in SLMS.

Registration Directions

SLMS will allow registration for the certificate even if you don't have an online learning license. Once your license is active, you can enroll in the certificate's classes.

Please note that new employees may not have access to SLMS until they receive their first paycheck.

Still need help or have questions? 

Contact us at (800) 253-4332 or email [email protected].