Computer Packages vs ICDL vs MOS: Which Computer Certificate Is Worth Your Money?
Three courses can teach you Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Only two of them end with a certificate issued by someone other than the college. That’s the real difference in the computer packages vs ICDL vs MOS question, and it’s the one most people don’t ask about until an employer asks to verify their certificate.
We teach all three at Excel Global College, so we have no reason to push one over the others. This guide puts them side by side and matches each to a goal.
The quick comparison
| Computer packages (ACS) | ICDL Standard | MOS Associate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who issues the certificate | Excel Global College | ICDL (international) | Microsoft, through Certiport |
| Duration | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 2 months |
| Fee | KSh 27,000 | KSh 32,500 | KSh 27,000 |
| Programs covered | Windows, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, internet | 7 modules incl. documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, online collaboration | Word, Excel, PowerPoint |
| Exams included | Continuous assessment | ICDL module tests at our test centre | 3 Microsoft exams, 1 free retake each |
| Cheaper entry point | BCS, 4 weeks, KSh 18,000 | ICDL Base, 6 weeks, KSh 22,500 | One app, KSh 10,000 |
| Best for | Beginners who need hands-on time | Broad, verifiable digital skills | Proving deep skill in Office |
All figures from our computer packages, ICDL and MOS pages, October 2026.
Computer packages: the practical starting point
Packages are about doing, not proving. You spend weeks at a machine building documents, sheets and slides while a trainer corrects you. Assessment is continuous and project-based.
The certificate comes from the college. That’s fine for many jobs, especially when the employer is going to test you in the interview anyway. It’s less useful when an HR system or a foreign employer wants something they can look up.
Pick packages if you’re starting from little or no experience. You can read the full breakdown in Computer Packages in Nairobi: BCS or ACS.
ICDL: broad, international and checkable
ICDL calls itself “The Digital Skills Standard”, and its strength is breadth. ICDL Standard runs across seven modules, covering documents, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, online collaboration, computer and online essentials, and application essentials. Our ICDL page notes recognition by employers and institutions in over 100 countries.
Because Excel Global College is an authorised ICDL test centre, you train and sit the tests in the same building. And it doesn’t stop at Standard. You can add Advanced modules (KSh 9,000 each) or Professional modules such as cybersecurity, data analytics and AI (KSh 18,000 each) later.
Pick ICDL if you want one certificate that says “this person can work digitally” and that someone abroad can recognise.
MOS: deep skill in Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office Specialist is narrower and deeper. You’re tested by Microsoft’s own exams on Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and if you pass, the certificate comes from Microsoft. You can verify our centre on the Certiport locator.
The fee includes the three exams, one free retake per exam, free study material, access to Microsoft Imagine Academy, and five practice exams per module (15 in total). If you only need one program, Excel say, you can certify a single app for KSh 10,000.
There’s a track record here too. In the 2017 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, our students took six places on the list of Kenyan toppers, and we became the first college in Kenya with seven perfect scores of 1000.
Pick MOS if your job lives inside Office: executive assistants, office managers, research analysts, workbook developers.
Match the certificate to your goal
| Your goal | Start with | Then consider |
|---|---|---|
| I’ve barely used a computer | BCS or ACS | ICDL Base |
| I need a certificate an employer can verify | ICDL Base or Standard | ICDL Advanced modules |
| My job is mostly Excel and reports | MOS Excel (single app) | MOS Expert (KSh 30,000) |
| I’m applying for admin or PA roles | MOS Associate | ICDL Standard |
| I want to move toward tech roles | ICDL Standard | ICDL Professional modules |
Notice the second column of that table. Plenty of people end up holding two of these, because they answer different questions. Packages teach. ICDL proves breadth. MOS proves depth.
Questions to ask any college before you choose
Whichever route you pick, put these to the college before paying:
- Who issues the certificate, and can I check it online?
- Is the exam fee included, and what happens if I fail a module?
- How many hours a week will I spend on a computer?
- Can I see the exact syllabus?
If the answers are vague, keep looking. Our post on how to compare computer colleges in Nairobi goes further.
FAQ
Which is better, ICDL or computer packages?
They do different jobs. Computer packages give beginners hands-on practice and a college certificate. ICDL is an international certification you can verify, recognised in over 100 countries.
Is MOS harder than ICDL?
MOS goes deeper into Word, Excel and PowerPoint. ICDL covers a wider range of digital skills. Which feels harder depends on what you already know.
How much is MOS in Kenya at Excel Global College?
MOS Associate (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is KSh 27,000. MOS Expert is KSh 30,000. A single Associate app is KSh 10,000.
Can I do ICDL without doing computer packages first?
Yes, if you’re already comfortable with files, email and basic Office. Beginners usually do better with packages first.
Do I get a Microsoft certificate after MOS?
Yes. Microsoft issues the certificate once you pass the exams. We also give a course completion certificate.
Still torn between computer packages vs ICDL?
Tell us what job you’re aiming at and what you can already do. We’ll tell you which certificate gets you there with the fewest weeks and shillings. Call +254 714 800 900, visit us opposite CITAM Church on Second Parklands Avenue, or apply online.
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