Writing a formula using letters

[celticminis]

Hello all!
I have a spreadsheet that I entered a check mark (letter "a" in Marlet font) into set boxes. I want to write a formula that tallies all those boxes containing an "a" check mark in a given row. How would I write it? Below is an example of the boxes- although it didn't copy right.

Would it be along the lines of: =sumif(E2:E600=a, sum)

NCNP Procedure Consult F/up . Procedure	OCOP Procedure Consult F/up . Procedure	OCNP Procedure Consult F/up . Procedure
						a
			a
a
a

<colgroup><col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:3607;width:78pt" width="103"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:1978;width:43pt" width="57"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2513;width:54pt" width="72"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2397;width:52pt" width="69"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2001;width:43pt" width="57"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2769;width:60pt" width="79"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2350;width:51pt" width="67"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2024;width:44pt" width="58"> <col style="mso-width-source:userset;mso-width-alt:2560;width:55pt" width="73"> </colgroup><tbody>
</tbody>

Thanks everyone!

 

[gaz_chops]

Try using =COUNTIFS(E2:E600,"A")