Announcing new opportunities within the Microsoft Credentials ecosystem, plus new skilling partnerships with Microsoft technology partners.
At Microsoft Build 2026, we’re introducing new ways for developers to learn and demonstrate skills in the tools they use every day.
Today, we’re announcing:
- Microsoft Pro Badges, first-of-their-kind credentials that set a new standard for recognizing real-world skills and proficiencies demonstrated through everyday work.
- An evolution of Microsoft Applied Skills.
- Co-authored skilling experiences with Anthropic in AI Skills Navigator.
Recognizing real-world skills as they develop
For decades, Microsoft Certifications have helped professionals showcase role-based expertise and advance their careers. We added Microsoft Applied Skills (scenario-based lab assessments) to capture project execution abilities. As work continues to evolve, learning happens increasingly in your day‑to‑day flow. The same should become true about how your skills are recognized.
Microsoft Pro Badges is the next evolution of the Microsoft Credentials portfolio: the first credential of their kind, recognizing real-world achievements without separate tests.
Pro Badges enable recognition to evolve alongside changing roles and needs. At their core is Verified Proficiency, our proprietary tool that measures and assesses real-world performance through telemetry, securely capturing evidence of your skills as you work.
For organizations, Pro Badges offer a real-time, authentic view of capabilities, creating a window into how team members are actively applying skills and delivering impact.
Pro Badges launch in June 2026 in private preview at Microsoft Build, in close partnership with GitHub. The first Pro Badge will cover GitHub Copilot, and it will be in general availability in late October 2026 at GitHub Universe. Additional tools, roles, and scenarios will follow, all also easily sharable on LinkedIn.
Join the GitHub Copilot Verified Proficiency Insiders List to be among the first to learn more.
Microsoft Applied Skills: Expanding today, awarding Pro Badges soon
Microsoft continues to add lab-based assessments that reflect job-relevant skills.
Newly available:
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Resolve GitHub issues using GitHub Copilot
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Get started developing agents in Microsoft Foundry
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Integrate model context protocol tools with agents in Microsoft Foundry
Coming soon:
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Protect information in Microsoft 365 Copilot by using Microsoft Purview
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Create agentic workflows by using Microsoft Foundry
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Manage GitHub secret scanning by using GitHub Copilot
- Microsoft Applied Skills: Build an agent in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Applied Skills will become part of the new Pro Badges family, offering a unified approach to recognizing real-world skills. Users successfully completing Applied Skills will soon be awarded Pro Badge credentials.
Connecting AI skilling across ecosystems
Developers increasingly work across models, platforms, data systems, and tools. We’re meeting this moment with a better-together approach to skilling with learning paths jointly authored with Microsoft technology partners and available in AI Skills Navigator.
Designed by Microsoft and partner experts, these experiences help you understand how complementary technologies work together in real-world scenarios, while providing connected guidance and practical support to help you get started faster.
We’re launching this initiative with Anthropic, starting with a learning path called Get started with Claude in Microsoft Foundry. Additional partners and jointly authored training experiences are on the way.
Keep building: Take your skills further at Microsoft AI Skills Fest
Join us June 8–12, 2026, for Microsoft AI Skills Fest, a free week of learning designed to help you turn AI momentum into real capability.
You’ll learn directly in the tools and workflows you already use, with practical sessions focused on immediate application.
If you’re a developer, the Agents League hackathon will be a highlight. This hackathon is an e-sports–inspired challenge where you’ll build and submit an agent, collaborate with peers, climb a live leaderboard, and compete for prizes.*
You’ll also have opportunities to win a voucher* for select Microsoft Certification exams, helping you progress toward earning a Certification.
AI Skills Fest is your chance to sharpen your AI skills, test yourself in real scenarios, and explore the latest Microsoft Credentials and skilling updates.
Register, build, and compete, and then leave with skills you can use in the next steps of your career journey.
*Terms and conditions apply.
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