Intermediate Microsoft Excel 365

Take your Excel skills to the next level with this hands-on intermediate Excel training designed for those who are ready to go beyond the basics. You will explore advanced sorting and filtering, dynamic functions like Sort & Filter, and create polished visuals with charts, shapes, and sparklines. Learn to clean and combine data, apply logical and math functions, and solve problems using Excel’s built-in tools. Finally, discover how to collaborate securely and customize Excel to fit your workflow.

Details
Syllabus
Requirements
Instructor

Enrollment Options

$163.00

Select Instruction Type:

Self-Guided

3 Months Access

No Instructor. Course begins when you enroll.

Instructor-Moderated

6 Weeks Access

Study online with Instructor moderated discussion boards.

Select Course Start Date:

August 13, 2025

September 17, 2025

October 15, 2025

November 12, 2025

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$163.00

Self-Guided

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Details

This intermediate Excel course is designed for professionals with foundational skills who want to elevate their data management and presentation capabilities. You will learn to organize complex datasets using multi-column sorting, custom filters, and dynamic functions such as SORT, SORTBY, and FILTER. The course covers a wide range of chart types—from bar and line to histograms and sunbursts—along with tools like sparklines and trendlines to visualize trends. You will also master working with dates, times, and text. The course applies mathematical and logical functions for problem-solving and explores Excel’s various optimization tools.

Additional topics covered include enhancing worksheet appearance with images and formatting, secure collaboration through workbook protection, and customizing Excel’s interface with ribbons and add-ins. Lastly, the practical exercises throughout the course will ensure you build efficient, professional spreadsheets that get the job done.

Syllabus

Lesson 1 - Sorting and Filtering Data

This lesson focuses on organizing data to make it easier to interpret and analyze. You will begin with a review of basic sorting, then explore more advanced techniques such as sorting by multiple columns. You will also learn to filter data using built-in tools, date ranges, blank cells, and specific formatting. The lesson wraps up with an introduction to sorting and filtering using functions like SORT, SORTBY, and FILTER.

Lesson 2 - Adding Graphic Objects to a Worksheet

In this lesson, you will learn how to add visual elements to your worksheets. You will insert pictures from your computer or online, capture screenshots, and work with Excel's drawing tools. You will also practice sizing, positioning, and formatting these graphic objects to enhance both clarity and visual appeal.

Lesson 3 - Exploring Excel's Chart Types

This lesson introduces a wide variety of chart types and their uses. You will compare 2D and 3D versions of bar, column, line, area, pie, and doughnut charts. You will also explore specialty charts such as histograms, sunburst, scatter, radar, and funnel charts. These tools help you choose the most effective way to present your data.

Lesson 4 - Chart Formatting

Building on your charting skills, this lesson shows how to fine-tune the appearance of charts. You will learn to resize and move charts, customize elements like titles and legends, and apply different color schemes and styles. You will also work with the Format pane to add borders, fills, and effects, and modify details such as gridlines and 3D rotation.

Lesson 5 - Sparklines, Trendlines, and Error Bars

This lesson explores ways to add deeper meaning to your charts. You will learn how to switch data orientation, add data labels, and adjust axis settings. You will also insert trendlines to show patterns and make predictions, and use error bars to represent variability. The lesson concludes with sparklines, which help you show data trends in a compact, in-cell format.

Lesson 6 - Using Date and Time Functions

In this lesson, you will explore how Excel handles dates and times. You will practice using them in formulas and formatting them in different ways. You will also use functions to extract specific parts of a date or time, calculate differences between dates, and adjust dates by adding or subtracting months.

Lesson 7 - Using Text Functions

This lesson covers functions that work with text. You will learn how to change the case of text, convert between text and numbers, measure the length of a string, and extract parts of a text string. You will also clean up data with tools like TRIM and FIND, and learn to split or combine text using Text-to-Columns, CONCAT, and Flash Fill.

Lesson 8 - Using Math and Logical Functions

In this lesson, you will explore a wide range of functions for performing calculations and evaluating logic. Topics include basic math operations, square roots, powers, random numbers, rounding techniques, and number system conversions. You will also begin working with trigonometry functions to handle angles and ratios in formulas.

Lesson 9 - Using Advanced Logical Functions

This lesson builds on your understanding of logic in Excel. You will learn to write more complex IF statements and combine them with functions like AND, OR, and NOT. You will also explore action-based logic using conditional math functions like SUMIF, COUNTIF, and AVERAGEIF. Finally, you will learn to resolve errors in formulas using IFERROR and IFNA.

Lesson 10 - Goal Seeking and Solving

In this lesson, you will use Excel's built-in tools to solve for unknowns. You will use Goal Seek to adjust one input value to reach a specific result, and explore Solver for more complex problems involving multiple variables and constraints. You will also learn to create one-variable and two-variable data tables to see how input changes affect a formula's output.

Lesson 11 - Sharing and Protecting Workbooks

This lesson shows how to manage workbook properties, share files online, and collaborate with others. You will explore different methods of sharing, from links to email, and practice working with comments and notes. You will also apply protection features to restrict editing, lock specific cells or sheets, and secure the overall structure of your workbook.

Lesson 12 - Customizing Excel

The final lesson focuses on making Excel work the way you prefer. You will customize the Quick Access Toolbar, modify the ribbon, and change status bar and proofreading settings. You will also manage add-ins and explore the Trust Center to control security features and determine which file types and macros are allowed.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

A basic understanding of Microsoft Excel use's and functions or completion of Introduction to Microsoft Excel is required.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac. Chromebook is not compatible.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later operating systems.
Mac: OS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Microsoft Excel 365 for Windows or Microsoft Excel for Mac. Excel 365 Online can be used when studying features it includes, but students will not be able to practice certain skills. For the best experience, students should use Excel 365 for Windows or Excel for Mac to complete this course. If that software isn’t available, some exercises can be completed using Excel 365 Online in a web browser on Windows, MacOS, or ChromeOS.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other: Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Instructor

Chad Wambolt

Chad Wambolt has spent his entire professional career in the finance field, working for both private and publicly-held companies with sales ranging from $500 million to $3 billion. He is a graduate of Boise State University, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in accounting. Through the course of his career, Wambolt became an expert user of Microsoft Excel. Since 1997, he has taught Excel to students of varying skill levels and helped organizations streamline internal processes.