Pearson Certiport 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National

Pearson’s Certiport competition crowned 140 U.S. finalists across Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, selecting the top ten in each category; the winners now advance to a global championship in July with a $3,000 prize at stake【1】.

National Championship Highlights

The event, held in Nashville, Tennessee, drew 140 finalists aged 13‑22 who qualified by passing Microsoft Word, Excel™ or PowerPoint™ certification exams【1】. Winners in the Microsoft 365 Apps track include Scott Chamberlain (Word, Utah) and Ethan Strayer (Excel, Idaho) as first‑place champions, while Rebecca Sutherlin (PowerPoint, Texas) topped the PowerPoint list【1】. Parallel Office 2019 tracks produced champions such as Reid Chapman (Word, Kansas) and Paul Hudson (Excel, Illinois)【1】.

Path to the World Stage

First‑place national champions will compete at the Certiport 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California, from July 27‑30, facing more than 100 international finalists and contending for a $3,000 prize【1】. The world event serves as the only Microsoft‑recognized global certification competition for Office skills, positioning the U.S. winners against a broader talent pool【1】.

What to watch

• July 27‑30 – World Championship dates in Anaheim, where U.S. champions vie for the title and prize.
• Future certification demand – Monitor enrollment trends for Microsoft Office Specialist exams as schools emphasize AI‑ready digital skills.
• Corporate partnerships – Watch for any new collaborations between Pearson, Microsoft and education providers that could expand certification pathways.

The championship underscores a growing emphasis on certified digital proficiency among students, signaling that proficiency in core Office applications remains a measurable credential even as AI reshapes the broader tech landscape.