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A Helpful Read for Anyone Transitioning from AZ-204 to AI-200

jackhenry — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:54:35 GMT

I recently came across this blog while looking into the transition from AZ-204 to AI-200, and it turned out to be really helpful for me.

It clearly explains what Azure developers should expect before July 31, 2026, including the key changes and what skills you might need to focus on. I especially liked how it breaks things down in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

If you're currently preparing or thinking about moving into AI-related roles on Azure, this might be useful for you as well.

Here’s the article:

https://medium.com/@itexamstopics7/az-204-to-ai-200-what-every-azure-developer-needs-to-know-before-july-31-2026-1bded4a6f778

Would love to hear what others think about this transition.

Is there any roadmap to be ESI partners with Microsoft?

GeetanjaliSahni — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:47:36 GMT

Enterprise Skills Initiative (ESI) is an excellent Microsoft program that helps organizations accelerate skilling through benefits such as certification exam discounts, instructor-led training, learning resources, and more. Has anyone successfully enrolled their organization in ESI? I'd appreciate any guidance, best practices, or a roadmap for getting a company onboarded.

How to Improve Mouse Precision for Better Productivity and Gaming Performance

gamingtechx — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:48:27 GMT

Most professionals and gamers focus on hardware upgrades but overlook one simple setting that directly affects how accurately their cursor responds on screen. Whether you are working across multiple monitors or playing fast paced games, having the wrong mouse configuration leads to frustration that is hard to diagnose.

The best approach is to first verify your actual DPI values before adjusting any settings. I found a mouse dpi tool that measures real time accuracy instantly without any software installation. Once you know your exact values, fine tuning becomes straightforward and the improvement in cursor control is immediately noticeable across both productivity tasks and gaming sessions.

Unable to Register for Microsoft Learn Events?

SimplyCondos — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:49:10 GMT

I am running into an issue across multiple browsers of being unable to register for Microsoft Learning Events.

Most recently today, i am trying to register for the upcoming - https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=1787842212

The registration hangs after completing the captcha and then the captcha timesout and the registration is never submitted.

When i tried to click the login on the events page, i get an error -

AADSTS50011: The redirect URI 'https://msevents.microsoft.com/event'

specified in the request does not match the redirect URIs configured

for the application.

Event ID: 1787842212

Request ID: 50bfa821-6e06-4f00-a27f-4929f843c200

Correlation ID: 10d95455-4537-4f9e-826d-00e9b067bd3b

Timestamp: 2026-07-09T16:40:59Z

Is anyone able to help explain what is going wrong and how i can continue to register for events?

New to Sharepoint and Teams_best practice for creating client folders/site

terdahl — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:24:05 GMT

We are a small landscape design/build company moving from Microsoft 365 Family to Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

Currently, we use a traditional folder system:

Clients > Client Name > project files

Each client folder contains estimates, proposals, Vectorworks CAD drawings, site data, photos, PDFs, spreadsheets, and other project documents.

We also have other company folders for employees, equipment, systems, vendors, templates, and SOPs.

We have four office users who need to access and collaborate on these files through SharePoint/Teams.

What is the best practice for setting this up?

Should we use one SharePoint site with document libraries, separate SharePoint sites by department/category, or organize everything through Teams channels?

I’d like to understand the best way to use SharePoint and Teams without simply recreating an old folder system incorrectly.

New exam for Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate Certification

LibertyMunson — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:00:40 GMT

The new Windows Server Certification exam is here. One exam, in-demand hybrid skills—and a limited-time beta discount. Secure your spot before it fills up.

Today’s IT infrastructure is more distributed than ever, spanning on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments and increasingly exposed to cyberthreats. Organizations need administrators who can secure, manage, and operate across this complexity to protect their valuable infrastructure.

To support this shift, we’re evolving the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Certification and renaming it the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate Certification. This updated Microsoft Certification validates your knowledge of deploying, implementing, managing, securing, and troubleshooting Windows Server. As part of this change, we’ve consolidated two exams to one. Effective September 2026, to earn this Certification, you’ll need to pass Exam AZ-802: Administering Windows Server, currently in beta.

Is this the right Certification for you?

The Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate Certification focuses on the practical skills needed to manage and secure Windows Server across Azure and on-premises environments, validating the ability to:

Deploy and manage Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).
Manage Windows Server instances and workloads in a hybrid environment.
Manage virtual machines (VMs).
Implement and manage an on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructure.
Manage storage and file services.
Secure Windows Server infrastructure.
Monitor and troubleshoot Windows Server environments.

Candidates for this Certification administer identity, security, management, compute, networking, storage, and monitoring for Windows Server, and collaborate closely with architects, administrators, and engineers.

They should have experience administering Windows Server by using technologies such as Windows Admin Center, Hyper-V, PowerShell, Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, Azure Update Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud. They should also be familiar with AD DS.

What’s new in Exam AZ-802

Exam AZ-802 replaces:

Exam AZ-800: Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure
Exam AZ-801: Configuring Windows Server Hybrid Advanced Services

Both exams will be retired in September 2026.

The new exam provides a focused, streamlined validation by combining essential skills into one experience while prioritizing the most relevant scenarios for modern administrators.

Key updates include:

A unified exam covering both core infrastructure and advanced services.
Expanded hybrid management scenarios using Azure Arc, Azure Update Manager, and Azure Monitor.
Updated security and protocol coverage, including OSConfig baselines, SMB over QUIC, Microsoft Entra Password Protection, and GPU partitioning.

NOTE: We’re not retiring the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Certification; we’re refreshing the requirements to earn it, with a new single exam that better reflects today's hybrid and cloud-integrated Windows Server administration skills. If you already hold this Certification, no additional action is required on your part. Your Certification will reflect the new name after Exam AZ-802 goes live in September 2026; however, you may take Exam AZ-802. Note that passing the new exam will reset your Certification’s expiration date to one year from the date that you pass that exam rather than a year from your existing Certification’s expiration date. When you renew your certification, you will be assessed on the new skills added to this certification. For more details on the retirement of Exam AZ-800 and Exam AZ-801, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills?

Ready to prove your skills?

Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AZ-802 (beta) on or before July 22, 2026, can get 80% off.

To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AZ802Chandler. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before July 22, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China.

How to prepare

Get ready to take Exam AZ-802 (beta):

Review the Exam AZ-802 (beta) page for training resources, exam registration, and other details.
The Exam AZ-802 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam.
Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings.
Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams?

Ready to get started?

You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Get the details in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare.
Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% off Exam AZ-802 (beta) with code AZ802Chandler on or before July 22, 2026.
Beta exam rescoring begins when the exam goes live, with final results released approximately 10 days later. For more details, read Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live.
Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in August 2026.

Additional information

For more Certification updates, read our recent blog post, Microsoft Credentials roundup: June 2026.

Follow our credentials news on The Skills Hub Blog as we roll out additional new Certifications in July, August, and September 2026.

Join our Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials on LinkedIn for beta exam alerts and opportunities to help shape future Microsoft learning and assessments.

Explore Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.

Still Studying with a 2024 Microsoft GH-200 Exam Questions Guide?

milycris — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:55:47 GMT

If your GH-200 prep material is from 2024, I have some important news: that exam doesn't exist anymore. In January 2026, Microsoft made major changes to the GH-200 objectives topics were added, some were removed, and others were reworded. Most guides and pass reports online still describe the old version, which can seriously mislead anyone preparing right now.

I took the exam recently under the current format and passed with 75% (passing score is 700/1000). Here's what caught me off guard: the new exam leans heavily into enterprise and security-focused scenarios. Areas like reusable workflows and passing inputs/secrets between them, workflow dispatch input validation, service containers, runner management (self-hosted vs GitHub-hosted, runner groups), and security topics like OIDC authentication and GITHUB_TOKEN permission scoping are now central to the exam.

For preparation, I combined Microsoft Learn for building solid fundamentals with Certboosters' question bank for real exam-style practice timed tests and understanding why wrong answers are wrong.

If you're prepping right now, double-check that your material reflects the January 2026 changes. It might be the difference between passing and failing.

I've written a more detailed write-up of my full exam experience (environment, tips, exact topics). I'm happy to share it in the comments if anyone's interested and if that's allowed here.

Has anyone else been caught off guard by the January 2026 GH-200 changes? What resources are you all using to prepare for the updated version?

From Resume to Interview: Building AI-Powered Hiring Agents with Microsoft Technology

SajedaSultana — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 02:03:07 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm excited to share that the complete AI Hiring Agent solution is now available through my From Idea to Agent: Copilot newsletter series.

Over the past four editions, we've built a real-world, end-to-end recruitment solution using Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Automate, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365 - demonstrating how AI agents can streamline every stage of the hiring process.

📚 What's included in the series?

📘 Edition #004 – AI Resume Screening Agent

Automatically analyze incoming resumes

Extract candidate information

Organize resumes for recruiters

Reduce manual screening effort

📘 Edition #005 – AI Candidate Scoring & Ranking Agent

Score candidates based on job requirements

Rank applicants automatically

Generate recruiter insights

Help hiring managers identify top talent faster

📘 Edition #006 – AI Candidate Search Agent

Search candidates using natural language

Ask questions like "Show me Power Platform developers with 5+ years of experience" or "Find candidates with Azure AI skills"

Instantly retrieve the best matching resumes

🆕 Edition #007 – AI Interview Scheduling Agent

Hiring manager approves a candidate directly in Microsoft Teams

Power Automate schedules the interview automatically

Outlook sends the calendar invitation

SharePoint updates the candidate status

Microsoft Teams notifies the hiring manager

Recruiter receives instant confirmation

🎯 End-to-End AI Hiring Pipeline

✅ Resume Screening

✅ AI Candidate Scoring

✅ Candidate Ranking

✅ Natural Language Candidate Search

✅ Interview Scheduling

✅ Microsoft Teams Notifications

✅ Outlook Calendar Integration

✅ SharePoint Status Updates

Everything runs seamlessly within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, helping recruiters reduce manual work, accelerate hiring, and deliver a better candidate experience.

Whether you're a Recruiter, HR professional, Microsoft Power Platform Developer, Dynamics 365 Consultant, Solution Architect, or AI enthusiast, this series provides practical, step-by-step guidance to build an intelligent recruitment solution using Microsoft's low-code and AI technologies.

📖 Read the latest (4th) edition here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/edition-007-from-resume-interview-building-ai-powered-sajeda-sultana-dsjgf/

📚 Follow the "From Idea to Agent: Copilot" newsletter to access the complete series and stay updated as I continue publishing practical AI agent implementations built with Microsoft technologies.

If you find this series valuable, I'd truly appreciate your support by liking, commenting, and sharing it with your network. It may help someone who is looking to learn how to build real-world AI agents with Microsoft 365.

Feedback about MS-102 retirement

shellgio — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 01:56:25 GMT

TL;DR: I don't think you should retire the MS-102 as it really is a big downgrade losing and expert M-365 administor certification just for it to be replaced by an unrelated and under leveled AI Services administrator one.

Hello community,

This is my first post and I think it's a good time to open a thread to share some feedback about the retirement of the MS-102 exam and certification and I encourage others learners and users to do the same.

For those who don't know It was announced last June 25th that exam MS-102 and Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert are retiring October 2026 replaced by AB-650 Microsoft 365 Certified: AI Services Administrator Associate, exam beta on July 26.

You can check the announcement here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/skills-hub-blog/microsoft-credentials-roundup-june-2026/4528350?WT.mc_id=studentamb_165290

I was shocked to read that because last week I scheduled my exam and I didn't see any notice about future retirement. I just rechecked today and there isn't still any update on the retirement on the MS-102 cert or exam pages:

Cert page: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/m365-administrator-expert/

Exam page: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/ms-102/

So even today, lot's of users are scheduling the MS-102 exam right now without knowing that it is expected to be retired soon

I think's it's a weird move to retire an expert Microsoft 365 administrator certification just for it to be replaced by just an associate certifciation AI Services Administrator Associate. So we lose and expert certification abount managing M365 and we can only get an associate certification about AI services in it's place

I think it would've better to have AB-650 as an additional certification, maybe even a prerequisite for the M365 Administrator Expert just like MS-700 or the SC-401

Lot's of recruitments department look for expertise about managing M365 and MS-102 take a big part on lot's of admins resumes to provee their knowledge about managing M365, so we won't only lose a cert or exam, we lose a way to prove knowledge about managing M365 at an expert level.

I've read lot's of users complaining about this retirement and I hope you could get feedback about it and rearrange this move.

Thank you for reading.

Access issue with Copilot Studio in Microsoft Learn Applied Skills lab

Padmasri — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:56:14 GMT

Hello Microsoft Community,

I am currently working on the Microsoft Learn Applied Skills exercise: “Create your customer service agent” using Copilot Studio.

When attempting to sign in, I am using my personal Gmail account. However, I receive an error stating that personal Microsoft accounts are not supported, and I am unable to proceed with the lab.

Is a Microsoft Entra ID work/school account required to access Copilot Studio for this exercise?

Thanks in advance.

Microsoft Credentials roundup: June 2026

PujaA — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Read about Pro Badges, AI-driven Certifications, and Applied Skills, where learning meets today’s work. And find out how training service providers helped 153,000 learners develop AI skills.

This has been a big season for Microsoft Credentials.

With the introduction of Microsoft Pro Badges, a growing portfolio of AI-focused Microsoft Certifications, and expanded Microsoft Applied Skills offerings, we’re continuing to evolve how skills are built, validated, and recognized, closer to practical application.

Here’s what’s new, what’s changing, and what’s ahead.

Introducing Microsoft Pro Badges

Microsoft Pro Badges, the first credentials of their kind, recognize real-world skills and proficiencies demonstrated through everyday work without separate exams. At their core is Verified Proficiency, our proprietary tool that measures and assesses performance through product telemetry, securely capturing evidence of your skills as you work.

The first Pro Badge covers GitHub Copilot Verified Proficiencies. It had a soft launch at Microsoft Build in early June 2026 and will become generally available at GitHub Universe in late October 2026.

Join the GitHub Copilot Verified Proficiency Insiders List to be among the first to get early updates.

New Certifications: Built for an AI-first world

We’ve launched one of our largest Certification expansions in recent years, spanning AI, data, security, development, and business applications.

These new Certifications are designed to:

Reflect how roles are evolving in an AI-driven workplace.
Help you build capabilities for emerging AI-first jobs.
Align closely to today’s job roles, helping you to build skills that you can apply immediately.

Since February 2026, we’ve introduced 17 new Certifications and exams, now either in beta or widely available:

New Certification	New exam	Exam status
GitHub Certified: Agentic AI Developer	Exam GH-600	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: AI Agent Builder Associate	Exam AB-620	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate	Exam AI-103	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate	Exam AI-200	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals*	Exam AI-901	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate	Exam DP-750	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate	Exam SC-500	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Business Professional	Exam SC-730	Currently in Beta. Note: Based on beta feedback, we’re pausing the launch of Exam SC-730 while we reassess how it can best support learners and align with our evolving Certification portfolio.
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate	Exam AB-250	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate	Exam AB-210	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Intelligent Applications Builder Associate	Exam AB-410	Currently in Beta. Generally available in July 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate	Exam AI-300	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Multi-Agent AI Solutions Expert	Exam AI-500	Beta in July 2026. Generally available in September 2026.
Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate	Exam DP-800	Generally available
Microsoft Certified: Supply Chain Management AI Consultant Associate	Exam AB-330	Beta expected in November 2026.
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate**	Exam AZ-802	Beta in July 2026. Generally available in August 2026.
Microsoft 365 Certified: AI Services Administrator Associate	Exam AB-650	Beta in July 2026. Generally available in October 2026.

*The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification is not retiring. Exam AI-900 is being replaced with the updated Exam AI-901.

**The Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate Certification is not retiring. Exam AZ-800 and Exam AZ-801 are being replaced with the updated Exam AZ-802, and the Certification name is being updated to the more relevant Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate Certification.

New Applied Skills: Expanded offerings for real-world AI use

As AI becomes central to every role and business workflow, we’re continuing to add more scenarios where you can develop and showcase hands-on skills with Microsoft technologies.

Recently released

Coming soon

Microsoft Applied Skills: Build an agent in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Microsoft Applied Skills: Develop an agent with integrated tools
Microsoft Applied Skills: Create agentic workflows by using Microsoft Foundry
Microsoft Applied Skills: Manage GitHub secret scanning by using GitHub Copilot
Microsoft Applied Skills: Protect information in Microsoft 365 Copilot by using Microsoft Purview

Looking ahead, Applied Skills will become part of the Pro Badge ecosystem.

Retiring older credentials

As we introduce new credentials, we also retire older ones to keep the portfolio aligned with current technologies and evolving job roles. These retirements are tied to updated, AI-enabled credentials that better reflect how work is changing.

Retiring Certifications

If you’ve already earned a Certification, it remains valid until it expires.
You can still earn a Certification before its retirement date.
If you’re just beginning to prepare for a Certification exam, consider focusing on a newer option.

Retiring Microsoft Certification	Retiring exam	Retirement	Recommended new Certification
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals	Exam MS‑900	March 2026	No new Certification is planned.
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate	Exam AI-102	June 2026	Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (Exam AI-103)
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals*	Exam AI-900	June 2026	Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (Exam AI-901)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate	Exam DP-100	June 2026	Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate (Exam AI-300)
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate	Exam MB-240	June 2026	No new Certification is planned. To stay up to date with these technologies, please refer to the Microsoft technical documentation.
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert	Exam MB-700	June 2026
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert	Exam MB-335	June 2026
Microsoft Certified: Power Automate RPA Developer Associate	Exam PL-500	June 2026
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert	Exam PL-600	June 2026
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate	Exam AZ-204	July 2026	Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (Exam AI-200)
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate	Exam MB-280	July 2026	Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate (Exam AB-210)
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate	Exam AZ-500	August 2026	Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (Exam SC-500)
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate	Exam PL-200	August 2026	Microsoft Certified: Intelligent Applications Builder Associate (Exam AB-410)
Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate**	Exam AZ-800 and Exam AZ-801	September 2026	Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Administrator Associate (Exam AZ-802)
Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert	Exam MS-102	October 2026	Microsoft 365 Certified: AI Services Administrator Associate (Exam AB-650)
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate	Exam MB -330	Expected in December 2026	Microsoft Certified: Supply Chain Management AI Consultant Associate (Exam AB-330)

*The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification is not retiring. Exam AI-900 is being replaced with the updated Exam AI-901.

Retiring Applied Skills

Retired: Microsoft Applied Skills: Implement knowledge mining with Azure AI Search
Retiring June 30, 2026:

Microsoft Training Service Providers: The humans behind AI training

In a changing job market, credentials offer both validation and reassurance. The AI Credentials Accelerator, a training series led by our global network of Training Services Partners (TSPs), brought this to life, reaching more than 153,000 learners across 12 industries through flexible, expert-led skill-building sessions on Microsoft technologies.

Participants moved from initial interest in AI to credential-focused learning and readiness, including building agents with Copilot Studio and earning core AI and security Certifications and Applied Skills.

Through webinars, master classes, and lab-based workshops, TSPs engaged many roles, from students to career changers to business leaders. The program emphasized flexible formats and expert instruction, with a clear connection between each learning activity and a specific credential outcome.

Earning the Microsoft Applied Skills credential will formally validate my expertise in building production-ready AI workflows—giving me the confidence to deliver automation solutions and scale my agency’s capabilities.

—Farhan Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, NovaVerse Hub

TSPs tailored this model to different regions around the world:

In the Americas, NetCom Learning enabled learners to build credentials at their own pace. One participant, Tyre Sellers, described progressing through multiple Copilot-related credentials and using them to demonstrate real-world expertise.

In Asia, Datapot delivered localized, hands-on training that helped learners move beyond theory and apply AI directly in their work, shifting mindsets to see AI as an essential future capability.

In Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), the Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA) trainer network supported professionals across five continents, helping them adopt AI and communicate its value using shared credential standards.

In these sessions, credentials functioned as enablers rather than endpoints, with TSPs providing the structure, guidance, and flexibility needed to support ongoing skill development.

To discover how these trusted experts can support your learning goals, check out Training Services Partners in AI Skills Navigator.

Looking ahead: A more connected credentials experience

We’re not just expanding the portfolio, we’re reimagining how the entire learning and credentials experience comes together.

We’re building a seamless, end-to-end integrated approach on AI Skills Navigator:

Today, in your AI Skills Navigator, you can discover available credentials and showcase what you’ve earned.
Coming soon, we’re expanding the experience with Certification overviews, updated Practice Assessments, and curated preparation materials delivered through guided skilling playlists.
Plus, in the next few months, AI Skills Navigator will support the full credential lifecycle, enabling you to register for and schedule exams, request an accommodation, manage renewals, access improved support, and earn and manage Credly badges.

Our goal is simple: we want to make it easier for you to go from learning to practicing to validating and then showcasing your skills.

Built to accelerate your growth

Microsoft Credentials are a part of how you grow, prove your expertise, and move forward in your career every day.

We’re continuing to evolve them to be:

More practical.
More role-aligned.
More connected to how you work.

As the experience continues to come together, you’ll have a clearer, more connected way to build skills that matter and to demonstrate impact where it counts.

Discover more about Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.

MD-102 Practice Test Does Not Prepare You for the Actual Exam + Poor Support Links

ChuckTownsend — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:01:24 GMT

The following was edited by Copilot but is actually my own personal experience and I have read through it and found it accurate to what I wrote for it to edit to a better format:

I’m posting this here because I was unable to successfully submit this feedback through the official Microsoft Credentials support channels (links either redirected to Azure support or returned a 404 error).

I recently prepared for the MD-102 Endpoint Administrator certification using the official Microsoft Learn modules and the associated Practice Assessment. Based on my performance with those materials, I felt reasonably prepared going into the exam.

However, the actual exam experience was significantly different from the Practice Assessment.

Issue

The Microsoft Learn Practice Assessment primarily uses straightforward, single-concept multiple-choice questions. In contrast, the actual MD-102 exam includes:

Multi-step, scenario-based questions
Questions requiring evaluation of multiple valid solutions
“Best answer” decisions involving trade-offs (not just correctness)

These are fundamentally different question styles and require different types of preparation.

Impact

This mismatch creates a false sense of readiness.

Candidates who rely on official Microsoft Learn materials—including the Practice Assessment—may believe they are adequately prepared, but encounter a much more complex and different exam experience.

In my case, this gap was a major factor in not passing the exam despite completing the recommended preparation resources.

Additional Concern

I attempted to submit this feedback through the official Microsoft Credentials support links, but encountered issues:

Redirects to Azure “Support for Business” instead of certification support
- (https://learn.microsoft.com/credentials/support/help)
Credentials support page returning a 404 error
- (https://learn.microsoft.com/credentials/support/)
No visible feedback mechanism on the Practice Assessment page itself
- (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/modern-desktop/practice/assessment)

This makes it difficult to report issues with certification preparation materials through the intended channels.

Suggestions

To improve the effectiveness of Microsoft Learn as an exam preparation tool:

Clearly indicate that Practice Assessments are not representative of actual exam format or difficulty

AND

Update Practice Assessments to include:
- Scenario-based questions
- Multi-step decision questions
- “Best solution” style problems
Provide a full-length mock exam that more closely reflects the real exam experience
Add a visible feedback option directly on Practice Assessment pages
Fix routing issues with Credentials support links

I’m sharing this because I suspect others may run into the same issue when relying on official preparation materials.

Deep-reasoning agents for academic research: The right tool for the task

DarcyOgden — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Explore how deep‑reasoning agents can sharpen your research by helping you compare sources, test assumptions, and understand data in ways that align with academic standards and research workflows.

General-purpose generative AI tools, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, are already helping academic researchers move faster—from brainstorming to literature discovery to early drafting. In our first post in this series, Strengthen your research workflow with generative AI, we show practical ways to put those capabilities to work. The next leap comes from specialized tools built for particular research tasks. In this second post, we focus on one especially promising category of generative AI: deep‑reasoning agents—specifically, Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Our newest resource, The Academic Researcher’s Guide to Deep-Reasoning Agents, builds on the robust research methodology presented in our first guide, The Academic Researcher’s Guide to Generative AI. The second guide also adds instruction and foundational context for using deep‑reasoning agents in ways that align with academic research practices and norms.

The latest guide begins by explaining the primary functions and utility of Researcher and Analyst, compared to each other and to Copilot Chat:

Researcher is best for finding relevant sources and summarizing or organizing what’s already known. It pulls from documents, publications, and web sources to produce structured outputs with citations, which can help you frame questions and ground early-stage research.
Analyst is best for working with structured data, such as datasets, spreadsheets, or other numerical records. It can reason through problems step by step, run Python, and show its work—useful for checking assumptions, exploring data, and creating visualizations without running Python locally.
Copilot Chat is best for quick, flexible back-and-forth, especially when you want to brainstorm, iterate on wording, or explore ideas but don’t need a structured analysis.

The Academic Researcher’s Guide to Deep-Reasoning Agents also offers practical help for choosing the right tool for the right task. It encourages readers to try different prompts and compare the kinds of results Copilot Chat, Researcher, and Analyst produce. Alongside example prompts and use cases, we share guidance for using Researcher and Analyst effectively and appropriately, including:

How to use the deep-reasoning agents in the early unstructured exploratory phases of research and in the structured execution and reporting phase.
How to consider and manage some of the limitations of deep-reasoning agents, including accuracy, source coverage, analytical validity, and reproducibility.
Tips on effective prompting that are specific to these agents.
Follow-up prompts to help improve and understand the outputs.

As with any generative AI agents, Researcher and Analyst work best when you treat them as tools to support your thinking. They can surface options, test assumptions, and draft outputs for you to refine, but you’re still responsible for what you use and report. This guide shows how to use these tools in ways that fit academic research—supporting open exploration early on, while meeting the standards needed for analysis and reporting later. As in our first guide, we encourage you to approach deep‑reasoning agents as you would any research method: document what you do, test what you get, and plan around the tools’ limitations.

To explore these approaches in depth, we invite you to download The Academic Researcher’s Guide to Deep-Reasoning Agents. Use it to compare tools, test prompts, and evaluate how these methods can support your own research questions and workflows.

How to Choose the Right AI Assistant (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude & More)-A Simple 4-Step Guide

SajedaSultana — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:31:50 GMT

One question I hear all the time is: "Which AI assistant is the best?"

After using several AI tools, I've found that the answer depends on what you're trying to accomplish. A developer, researcher, content creator, and business user may all choose different assistants based on their specific needs.

I recently wrote a short article sharing a simple 4-step framework for choosing the right AI assistant based on your use case.

📖 Read here:
https://medium.com/@sajeda27/how-to-choose-the-right-ai-assistant-chatgpt-gemini-copilot-claude-more-a-simple-4-step-ef0f9ca0a0e5

If you found this article useful, feel free to share it with colleagues, friends, or anyone trying to navigate the growing world of AI assistants. 🚀

Microsoft AI Skills Fest wraps—and the momentum continues

RegularITguy — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

AI Skills Fest, June 8–12, 2026, brought together a dynamic global community to build practical AI skills. Here’s what to do next and how to keep building on what you’ve learned.

Wow, what a week!

One of my favorite things about Microsoft AI Skills Fest was seeing so many people jump in, try something new, and build practical AI skills together. The festival may be wrapping up, but the energy from this week is still going strong.

Across roles, industries, and experience levels, you explored new tools, sharpened your prompts, and put AI to work in ways that go far beyond a single week.

Want a quick look back? Check out our recap video for standout moments, familiar faces, and even a few bloopers—because no great event is complete without those.

In just one week, you—and people around the world—really made AI Skills Fest count.

That’s the power of learning together. And it doesn’t stop here.

What to do next

Claim your perks

If you took part in AI Skills Fest, now’s the time to claim the perks you earned—on top of the great skills you built along the way.

Sweepstakes prizes

If you’re a sweepstakes winner, we’ll email you by June 22, 2026, with details on how to claim your prize.

Credly badges

If you completed a featured skilling playlist, that’s an achievement worth celebrating. Watch for an email from Credly by June 19, 2026, with instructions for claiming your badge. Add it to your LinkedIn profile, and share it with your network. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Free Microsoft Certification exam vouchers

You may be eligible for a free exam voucher if you:

Registered for AI Skills Fest.
Completed an eligible featured skilling playlist during the event window.
Submitted your claim within the required time frame.

If you qualify for a free exam voucher:

Our partner Pearson will send you an email between June 19, 2026, and July 10, 2026, with your voucher code and instructions. Check your inbox (and junk folder) so you don’t miss it.
Follow the guidance in that email to schedule your exam by August 18, 2026.
You must take the exam on or before October 18, 2026.

Exam prep tip: Revisit AI Skills Fest exam prep sessions on demand, explore training content in AI Skills Navigator, and feel more prepared before test day.

Resume your playlists

If you started a featured AI Skills Fest skilling playlist but didn’t finish, no worries. You can jump back in anytime.

To pick up where you left off, head to Skilling playlists in AI Skills Navigator. Everything you started is saved there and ready when you are.

Watch on-demand content

Want to rewatch a favorite session or catch a few you missed?

Go to the AI Skills Fest event page, and select Explore content.
Watch mainstage moments, LinkedIn Live or hackathon sessions, and more—on your schedule.
Start a new featured skilling playlist, and keep learning.

AI Skills Fest content remains available for a limited time, so take this opportunity to dive back in.

Stay tuned for results from the Agents League hackathon

The competition continues. We’ll announce the winners of the Agents League hackathon in early July 2026 on the Microsoft Developer Community Blog. We’ll also notify each winner via email.

In the meantime:

Relive the best hackathon moments and battles on the AI Skills Fest event page.
Stay engaged, and keep building your skills with the IQ Series.

Keep building—and stay connected

A few things really stood out across AI Skills Fest.

Human skills matter more than ever. AI may power the future of work, but judgment, creativity, and critical thinking set you apart.
Learning by doing drives real progress. The biggest gains came from applying AI in real scenarios.
Everyone can build with AI. No matter your role or experience, you can create with AI.

Stay connected. AI Skills Fest brought together an incredible global community—and that connection doesn’t stop here. Join us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep the conversation going.

Share what you learned.
Show off your badge.
Tell us your favorite moments from the event.

Whether AI Skills Fest was your starting point for AI fluency or a step along the way, what matters most is what you do with what you learned.

Take what you explored and discovered—new tools, new skills, new ways of thinking—and build on it in ways that work for you.

The festival may be wrapping up, but there’s plenty more AI learning ahead. And when you’re ready for what’s next, we’re here to support you along the way.

From Goal to Continuous Improvement: A Practical Copilot Studio Agent Lifecycle

SajedaSultana — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:24:55 GMT

Hi everyone,

I recently created a short walkthrough and interactive workflow to help visualize the lifecycle of building an agent in Copilot Studio.

The framework focuses on the following stages:

Goal
Create
Authentication
Topics
Conversations
Knowledge
Actions
Evaluate (Test)
Publish
Evaluate (Analytics)
Improve

One observation from working with Copilot Studio is that many discussions focus heavily on building and publishing agents, while the evaluation and continuous improvement phases often receive less attention.

The workflow emphasizes that agent development is an iterative process:

Define the business goal.
Design the conversation experience.
Connect knowledge and actions.
Validate through testing.
Publish to users.
Analyze real-world usage.
Continuously improve based on insights.

I created a short video demonstrating this workflow and would appreciate feedback from the community.

Video Walkthrough:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sajeda-sultana-974409203_microsoftcopilotstudio-copilotstudio-aiagents-ugcPost-7470493628478435328-zBJN/

AI Skills registration

pakuthota — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:55:40 GMT

Hello Team, I have registered for AI Skills hub for this week long time ago, but I am not able to see the links to the topics and schedule details. When I login , it is asking me to sign up again. Please help.

From campus to career: 3 practical steps for students

Matt_Jubelirer — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This graduation season, build the skills employers are looking for, create proof-of-work to get you noticed, grow as a global student community leader. And explore free tools & offers to help you build what's next!

For many students around the world, graduation season is here – bringing both excitement and uncertainty about what’s next. According to LinkedIn’s 2026 Grad’s guide, students are entering one of the toughest job markets in years and many are reconsidering traditional career paths. Yet alongside these challenges comes real opportunity to create and shape the future with access to powerful new tools in ways earlier generations never could. This is a moment of real uncertainty, but it is also one of unprecedented opportunities.

Whether you're graduating, beginning an internship, starting a first job, exploring entrepreneurship, or returning to campus, here are three practical steps and free tools to help you move forward.

1. Develop the skills employers are increasingly looking for

According to the 2026 Work Trend Index Annual Report employers are increasingly interested in AI‑related skills, particularly for early-career roles. Students who start building skills early may be better prepared to seize their next opportunity.

Microsoft AI Skills Fest (June 8–12, 2026) is a large, no-cost online AI skilling event (registration required). This year features two playlists for students entering the workforce: Get the Job (resume to job offer) and Succeed at the Job (your first 90 days).

Two LinkedIn Live sessions anchor the week: Ask a Recruiter, an open Q&A with Microsoft early-career recruiters on interviews and resumes, and Build your Brand: From Zero to Resume, a session on using Microsoft Copilot to build a "walking deck" that articulates your experience before your first professional role.

In addition, AI Skills Navigator gives you a personalized starting point with a newly launched student path filled with learning options. Pair it with LinkedIn's 2026 Grad Guide for a better understanding about which roles are growing and how to stand out.

2. Build proof-of-work that can get you noticed

Hiring managers aren't just scanning resumes. They're looking for evidence. The candidates who stand out arrive with something to show: a project, a prototype, a piece of published work that shows what they can do. Building an app, a website, or an AI tool that brings your ideas to life is easier than ever. To start, join GitHub Education and get access to free and discounted products and tutorials including GitHub Copilot, Codespaces, and other tools that are part of the Student Developer Pack.

Find inspiration for your entrepreneurial dreams by exploring student stories from programs like Imagine Cup and Red Bull Basement that show how Microsoft can help bring your ideas to life.

3. Grow into a global student community leader

Heading back to campus in a few months? The Microsoft Student Ambassadors program is now open to all higher education students, not just developers. Fill in a simple form and complete a few activities and you’re in! As an ambassador, you connect with peers, mentors, and Microsoft employees, build verifiable credentials, and develop leadership experience that shows up on a resume.

The program is for currently enrolled college students. Learn more and register today.

Tools and offers to help you learn and build what's next

Between classes, finals, internships, and figuring out what’s next, student life can feel like a lot! Many colleges provide students with access to AI tools like Microsoft Copilot. Learning-science-based tools like the Study and Learn Agent found in Copilot can help you break down complex materials across a range of subjects, turn notes into flashcards and quizzes, and help build your confidence for interviews or exams. Copilot in Word can help you refine your resume to present your experiences more clearly.

The Microsoft student page lists our best offers and deals for college students right now. If you’re graduating, the Microsoft 365 Premium graduation offer gives you 12 months of access, at no cost to eligible students and recent graduates, to some of the most powerful AI tools Microsoft offers. Microsoft 365 Premium unlocks Copilot in familiar apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with extensive AI usage tokens, exclusive Copilot features and agents, and up to 6 TB of secure cloud storage that you can share with five others (1 TB per person).¹

Start building apps, explore AI, and build your developer skills with free access to professional tools with a $100 Azure credit or access to the GitHub student developer pack.

With the Ultimate college bundle, eligible U.S. students who buy a select Windows 11 PC can get 1 year of Microsoft 365 Premium, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a design-your-own Xbox Wireless Controller—over $500 in estimated value based on included products.²

Study and Learn: step-by-step coaching with images

Your next steps

Students like you are already shaping the future with Microsoft tools and skilling programs available today.

Register for Microsoft AI Skills Fest (June 8–12, 2026) and explore the content curated for students, including featured playlists and live sessions.
Claim the Windows 11 College Student Bundle (US only), Microsoft 365 Premium student offer or GitHub student developer pack. Explore other free tools and offers for students at the Microsoft Education student page.
If you’re headed back to campus, register for Microsoft Student Ambassadors and follow @MicrosoftStudentSkills on Instagram where we share real-world skills for college and beyond.

Wherever you are right now, explore these ideas, and take a step forward today towards your future.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1. Offers vary by market and end June 30, 2026. Eligibility requirements apply. Students will need to verify their academic status using their college email address. See details here.

2. Offer is valid only for verified college students physically located in the United States at time of qualifying PC purchase, while supplies last. Redemption requires a Microsoft account and following the provided steps after purchase of a qualifying PC. Eligibility and terms apply. Offers vary by market. See details here.

A Helpful AI-Powered Learning Experience I Found While Preparing for PL-400 within Microsoft Learn

SajedaSultana — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:23:01 GMT

While preparing for the PL-400 (Microsoft Power Platform Developer) exam, I discovered a very useful learning feature in some Microsoft Learn modules.

In a few modules, the Module Assessment appears to include AI-generated questions. What I found particularly helpful is that when I answered a question incorrectly and retook the assessment, Microsoft Learn didn't just generate completely new questions. Instead, it often brought back the concepts I had previously answered incorrectly while also introducing new questions.

This approach helped me reinforce weak areas and better understand the module content rather than simply memorizing answers. It felt more like adaptive learning, where the assessment focuses on concepts that need more attention.

Also, if you find this AI-generated learning experience helpful, consider using the "Provide feedback about AI-generated content" option available in Microsoft Learn. Sharing feedback can help Microsoft continue improving these learning experiences for certification candidates.

Has anyone else noticed this behavior in Microsoft Learn assessments? I'd be interested to hear whether you've had a similar experience while preparing for Microsoft certifications.

New ways to learn and demonstrate skills

CameronPercy — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:13:48 GMT

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.

*Terms and conditions apply.