How to Learn Microsoft Access Online

Online MS Access training is a good option for self-paced study.

Microsoft Access is an application that requires some instruction to take full advantage of its many features. Tracking information using Microsoft Access provides opportunities to store, sort and filter information and to create analysis reports for better decision making. Although numerous resources exist for learning Microsoft Access, online resources provide a good and usually free option for self-paced and independent learning. A good way to learn Microsoft Access online is to access resources available on the Microsoft website.

Instructions

Use Microsoft Access Training Roadmaps

1. Open the Microsoft Office Training home page (see References). Select the "Training Roadmaps" link from the Other Training Resources list at the left side of the screen. Select either Access 2007 or Access 2003 from the Training Roadmaps list.

2. View the list of available training courses by category, name and description. Courses start with basic skills and progress to more advanced concepts. Select a course to view course length and learning objectives. Each course is self-paced and consists of audio text and a "read along" version at the bottom of the screen, a short quiz after each instruction section and a Quick Reference Card available at the end of the course.

3. Select and work through training courses appropriate to your needs.

Use Microsoft Business Certification Learning Resources (Access 2007 Only)

1. Open the Microsoft Business Certification home page (see References) and select the "MCAS and MOS Certifications" tab. Scroll to view and select the Access 2007 Exam 77-605 link.

2. Select the "Preparation Materials" tab and then click "Microsoft E-Learning." Microsoft E-learning is subscription-based online learning available for purchase and accessible for a limited time. For example, the E-Learning Access 2007 Core Training Collection consists of six training modules and is available for 18 months from the date the subscription starts.

3. View additional resources from the Microsoft Online Resources section. This section provides general product information and a link to the Microsoft Learning Community where you can join newsgroups and participate in a user forum.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider taking your online training a step further and becoming certified in Microsoft Access. Information on certification requirements for both Access 2003 and 2007 and steps to certification are available on the Microsoft Business Certification website.

• Online Access practice exams are available to test your knowledge from the MeasureUp Company, a certified Microsoft practice test provider. Although these practice exams focus on individuals studying for certification, they are available to anyone and can be a good measure of your skill mastery level. MeasureUp also provides fee-based training in both Access 2003 and 2007.

• Although numerous third-party websites also offer Access training, many are not free, but provide the same instruction you can get from the Microsoft website. Do a thorough comparison of training objectives before committing to fee-based online training.

References

• Microsoft: Microsoft Business Certification
• Microsoft: Free Self-Paced Training Courses for Office Programs

Resources

• MeasureUp: All Online Courses for Microsoft Certification