Specialization Updates articles

Keeping or earning four Business Applications specializations just got simpler

JS5 — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:27:12 GMT

Starting on August 24, 2026, Microsoft is simplifying eligibility requirements for the Sales, Service, Finance, and Supply Chain specializations. Eligible deployments will be measured using monthly active users (MAU) instead of monthly consumption value (MCV), and the gross growth performance requirement is being removed.

In addition, Microsoft Marketplace tags are also being refreshed to better align with current products. These updates are designed to align qualification requirements with market demand and apply across all four specializations, so there's no need to track separate changes for each one.

A single specialization for combined credentialing: Agentic Business Solutions

v-suhkiwon — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:52:34 GMT

The Microsoft Low Code Application Development and Intelligent Automation specializations are coming together into a single combined specialization that also recognizes Microsoft Copilot Studio 2 capabilities: Agentic Business Solutions. This change reflects how customer needs are evolving, with low-code development and intelligent automation now delivered as a combined, end-to-end capability in modern customer engagements.

Starting August 2026, partners must meet updated requirements to enroll in or renew under the new specialization.

A combined specialization provides a comprehensive credential that validates broader solution capabilities and aligns more closely with customer expectations. This streamlined approach reduces the administrative burden of maintaining multiple specializations while strengthening your ability to position integrated agentic solutions.

For partners already delivering across both areas, this transition creates an opportunity to bring your investments together and showcase how you can deliver agentic AI in business processes. Acting early helps ensure you have time to address any skilling or performance gaps ahead of general availability.

Partners who hold either the Microsoft Low Code Application Development or the Intelligent Automation specializations will be automatically enrolled in Agentic Business Solutions at launch. Partners who hold both specializations will receive the later anniversary date of the two. At renewal, you will need to meet the updated requirements for Agentic Business Solutions.

Updated requirements

Designation: Your organization must have an active AI Business Solutions designation (Business Applications or Modern Work solution pathway) OR an active Cloud & AI designation (Data & AI solution pathway).
Performance: There are two performance pathways to attain this specialization.
Skilling: New skilling options include, but are not limited to, Power Platform Developer Associate, Intelligent App Builder, and AI Agent Builder Associate.

What’s next for partners?

Review the updated specialization requirements and assess alignment with your current qualifications.
Identify any skilling or performance gaps and begin planning next steps for your team.

Introducing the App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization for end-to-end Azure expertise

v-suhkiwon — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:47:10 GMT

To better align with how these solutions are delivered in practice, Microsoft is bringing together the Kubernetes on Microsoft Azure and Migrate Enterprise Applications to Microsoft Azure specializations into a single, unified App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization, effective July 31, 2026.

Partners play a critical role in helping customers modernize their application estates—spanning migration, containerization, and ongoing optimization on Azure. The App Modernization specialization is designed to recognize this end-to-end capability and signal partners’ ability to deliver across the full modernization journey.

This consolidation reflects a broader shift in the market: Modernization is no longer approached as a separate migration and containerization effort, but as a connected strategy to move, modernize, and run applications in the cloud. The App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization brings these capabilities together under one credential, making it easier for partners to showcase their comprehensive expertise and for customers to identify the right partner for end-to-end engagements.

What’s changing

Partners will now pursue or maintain a single App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization, with updated enrollment and renewal requirements under the combined credential.

Performance requirements 

Your organization must achieve a total of $15,000 of Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) in the last three months from eligible Azure workloads and eligible association types.

Eligible Strategic Pillars: App Platform Services, Container Services, Developer Services and Platform, GitHub Copilot, Integration Services, Serverless and Supporting Services
Learn more about Azure consumption calculations.
Your organization should achieve ACR through Digital Partner of Record, Partner Admin Link (PAL), and Cloud Solution Provider. Government subscriptions (for example, Fairfax) are not eligible for ACR via PAL association.

Skilling requirements 

Your organization must have at least three individuals who have passed at least one of the following certifications (one certification from each of the three certification groups listed below must be held by at least one individual):

Your organization can have a combination of the same individuals or different individuals who meet the certification requirement.

*The Azure Developer Associate certification’s retirement date is July 31, 2026. If completed before retirement, it will remain valid for one year.

Audit requirements 

Your organization must pass a third-party remote audit. Please see the audit checklist for more details.

What this means for you

A unified specialization simplifies how partners earn and maintain recognition, reducing the need to manage multiple credentials while strengthening how capabilities are positioned in the market. It also empowers partners to more clearly demonstrate full lifecycle expertise—from migrating applications to modernizing and running them with cloud-native technologies—aligned to how customers evaluate modernization partners today.

Partners who currently hold either specialization can continue under their existing status and align to the new requirements at renewal. Partners working toward one of the existing specializations now have a clearer, unified target that better reflects in-demand modernization scenarios.

Partners should review the updated App Modernization on Microsoft Azure specialization requirements when they are published to assess current qualifications against the new criteria and identify any skilling or workload gaps and plan next steps with your team.

Analytics, Data Warehouse Migration, and Business Intelligence specializations merged July 31

v-suhkiwon — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:42:29 GMT

What’s changing

On July 31, 2026, three existing specializations consolidated into a single, updated Analytics specialization:

The Business Intelligence specialization retired and will no longer be available for new enrollment or renewal.
The Analytics specialization and Data Warehouse Migration specialization merged into a unified Analytics specialization called Analytics on Microsoft Azure.

The requirements for the new Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization are as follows:

Performance:

Your company must achieve a total of $15,000 of Azure Consumed Revenue (ACR) in the last three months from eligible Azure workloads and eligible association types.
- Eligible strategic pillars: Azure Databricks, Fabric F SKU, and Rest of Analytics.
Your company must have at least three unique customers contributing to ACR in the last three months from eligible Azure workloads and eligible association types.
- Eligible strategic pillars: Azure Databricks, Fabric F SKU, and Rest of Analytics.
Learn more about Azure consumption calculations.

Skilling:

Your organization must have at least five individuals who have passed the following certifications (two of the four certifications listed below must be held by at least two individuals):

You can have a combination of the same individuals or different individuals meet the certification requirement.

If you were enrolled in Analytics or Data Warehouse Migration, you have been automatically enrolled in the new merged Analytics specialization with the same anniversary date. When it's time to renew —or if you're enrolling for the first time —you'll need to meet the requirements of the new Analytics specialization.

No actions are needed for partners who held the Analytics or Data Warehouse Migration specializations.

Why this update

This change aligns these specializations to reflect more clearly how solutions are delivered today. By unifying these areas, the updated specializations reflect the full scope of how data and AI solutions are delivered today and how your capabilities are evaluated.

Learn more about the Analytics on Microsoft Azure specialization.

New audit requirement for Security specializations starts July 2026

JS5 — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 21:02:15 GMT

Security specializations signal verified, high-caliber capability to customers and Microsoft field teams—and that signal holds up better when the bar is credible.

To support that standard, starting July 2026, an independent audit will replace the Customer References requirement for four Security specializations: Cloud Security, Data Security, Identity & Access Management, and Threat Protection. Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or renewing, you’ll need to meet this audit requirement to earn or maintain your credential.

Moving to an audit model for these specializations raises the bar, aligns Security with Azure specializations, and gives you a stronger, harder-to-copy advantage in competitive deals and co-sell conversations. When the change goes live, existing partners will be given a six-month extension to their anniversary date to allow time to prepare for the audit.

What to do now

Review the updated requirements so you know what the audit entails
Check your specialization status and renewal date to understand when this applies
Start preparing your documentation and evidence now—don’t wait for your renewal window

Prepare early to stay in good standing, avoid disruption, and keep your business moving.

Show you’re a trusted leader in secure AI deployment with the Agentic Security specialization

JS5 — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 21:40:28 GMT

Differentiate your expertise, build customer trust, and demonstrate readiness to deliver secure AI outcomes as customers move from experimentation to enterprise-wide AI adoption with the Agentic Security specialization, set to launch later in FY27.

The Agentic Security specialization provides a clear, credible, and durable market signal that validates a partner's capabilities helping customers strengthen their security posture through AI-powered defense, threat protection, and operational resilience.

Whether delivering services, software, or integrated security solutions, partners can earn the specialization to access badging and other key benefits while showcasing their ability to support customers as they strengthen security, improve operational resilience, and scale AI adoption responsibly.

Coming soon: the Frontier Partner specialization

JS5 — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 19:39:40 GMT

One of two Frontier-focused offerings in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, the Frontier Partner specialization validates partners who can design, build, deploy, govern, and secure AI agents across the Microsoft tech stack, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Defender, Entra, and Purview.

Partners who earn this specialization signal their deep expertise to customers—and get access to badging, priority search, and skill-aligned benefits such as:

Eligibility for Frontier-aligned co-sell opportunities
Microsoft Agent prepurchase plan credits and Microsoft 365 E7 licensing
Packaged go-to-market resources including marketing campaigns and case study opportunities
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Concierge support through the qualification process

The specialization will be open for enrollment later in FY27, but you can start preparing now.

Requirements across three components must be met simultaneously under the same Partner Global Account:

Specializations: Partners must hold the following four prerequisite specializations: Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI Apps on Microsoft Azure OR AI Platform on Microsoft Azure, Data Security, and Identity and Access Management.
Skilling: Five individuals from your organization must complete the Frontier Transformation Engineer badge; three individuals must earn the Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600) certification. The people who hold the badge and the certification can be the same or different.
Audit: You must get a third-party audit validating delivery capability across design, build, deploy, govern, secure, and operate. There is a two-year audit cadence.

Review the walking deck for more details on this exciting opportunity.

Adoption and Change Management specialization retired June 25, 2026

JS5 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 05:09:28 GMT

The Adoption and Change Management specialization retired on June 25, 2026.

Rather than maintain a standalone specialization, adoption and change management capabilities are now measured within AI Business Solutions product-aligned specializations, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, Secure AI Productivity, and Modernize Endpoints. Spreading these change management skill requirements across several specializations gives partners the opportunity to showcase their expertise in the context of specific, in-demand solutions.

What this means for partners

The Adoption and Change Management specialization is no longer available for enrollment or renewal.
If you currently hold the specialization, it remains active until your anniversary date.
If you currently hold or are pursuing adoption and change management capabilities as part of your Solutions Partner or incentives strategy, review your specialization status in Partner Center and identify the AI Business Solutions specialization that supports your business goals.
Assess any remaining requirements, create a transition plan, and enroll in or continue progressing toward that specialization to protect benefit continuity. If you work with a Partner Development Manager or Partner Technology Strategist, engage them to support your transition.

Why this matters

Adoption and change management capabilities are now evaluated within AI Business Solutions product-aligned specializations, so partners can demonstrate their expertise in the context of specific, in-demand solutions.

Go to Specialization Dashboard in Partner Center to check your anniversary date and specialization status, and review the other AI Business Solutions-aligned specializations.

The Copilot specialization is receiving key updates—including an audit

JS5 — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 17:20:59 GMT

Microsoft is updating the Microsoft Copilot specialization to better align with market demand. Beginning July 2026, the specialization will be renamed Microsoft 365 Copilot specialization and will introduce updates across performance, skilling, and validation requirements.

The performance requirement will be shifted to account only for paid monthly active usage (MAU) growth.
The skilling requirements will be refreshed. We are removing the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102) certification and adding the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect (AB-100) and AI Agent Builder Associate (AB-620) certifications to address the retirement of the Create custom agents with Microsoft Copilot Studio (APL-7008) applied skill. Please note that the Prepare security and compliance to support Copilot (APL-4002) applied skill is also retiring, and the Implement information protection in Microsoft 365 (SC-401) certification will be required.
The customer references requirement will be replaced with a third-party capabilities audit. This audit update is part of a shift to an independent, objective validation process and helps ensure that partners meet a consistent, verifiable standard for Microsoft 365 Copilot capability. The badge you’ll earn with this specialization is a visual indicator to customers that your expertise has been verified by Microsoft—and that your capabilities align to customer needs.

These updates empower partners to invest in the capabilities customers value most. Work toward earning your specialization today to demonstrate your deep technical expertise.

Review the updated requirements for the Microsoft 365 Copilot specialization, including the audit checklist.

Updated audit checklist for the Agentic DevOps specialization coming in January 2027

JS5 — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:05:52 GMT

Internal agentic adoption is being added to the Agentic DevOps with Microsoft Azure and GitHub specialization audit checklist to ensure that partners have internally adopted the technology. Certifications will be updated to align the specialization with GitHub platform and AI-native development capabilities—simplifying certification requirements while expanding alignment to GitHub automation, security, and AI-assisted development practices.

The Agentic DevOps with Microsoft Azure and GitHub specialization showcases your organization's ability to deliver secure, automated, and AI-assisted development practices using DevOps principles and GitHub solutions. It validates that you can empower customer success across the full lifecycle of agentic DevOps—from assessment through implementation and operations.

Preview the updated Agentic DevOps specialization audit checklist in December 2026 to understand what's changing and how to prepare for your next audit.

View the current audit checklist, and mark your calendar for the updated preview coming in December 2026.

More ways to qualify for the Identity and Access Management specialization

JS5 — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:39:22 GMT

The Entra ID P2 workload has been added to the Identity and Access Management specialization, giving you more pathways to validate your expertise and stand out to both customers and Microsoft field teams searching for proven partners to deliver secure identity solutions.

With more workloads available, you now have a broader set of qualifying activities to choose from. That means a lower barrier to entry if you're building or expanding an identity and access practice—and additional options to meet renewal requirements if you're already specialized.

Whether you're enrolling for the first time or preparing for renewal, take a few minutes to review the updated requirements before your next enrollment or renewal window. A quick check could reveal new ways to qualify with the work you're already doing.

Want extra support mapping your current capabilities to the new workload criteria? Your Partner Development Manager (PDM) or Partner Technical Specialist (PTS) can help you understand what's changed and where you're best positioned to qualify.

Updated skilling route for the Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams specialization

JS5 — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:11:51 GMT

Gain differentiated recognition for your deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success delivering Meetings and Meeting Rooms services and solutions for Microsoft Teams.

As of April 15, 2026, the Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams specialization now includes the Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification as a skilling option. This certification will replace the Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment, which is being retired on June 15, 2026. Completion of the Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment on or before June 15, 2026, will count toward the specialization through June 15, 2027.

No action is required if you already hold the specialization—simply prepare to meet the new skilling requirement at renewal. If you're working toward the specialization, align to the updated skilling requirement now.

Review the requirements for attaining the specialization here, and visit the specializations dashboard in Partner Center to check your status.

Skilling requirement update for Calling for Microsoft Teams specialization

JS5 — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:32:25 GMT

Differentiate your capabilities and stand out in market with the Calling for Microsoft Teams specialization. To align this specialization to real-world customer needs, we updated the skilling requirements effective April 15, 2026.

The Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification will replace the Teams Calling Technical Assessment, which is being retired effective June 15, 2026. Completion of the Teams Calling Technical Assessment on or before June 15, 2026, will count toward the specialization through June 15, 2027.

Review all of the requirements for attaining the specialization here, and visit the specializations dashboard in Partner Center to check your status.

Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification is now retired

JS5 — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:41:45 GMT

As part of our regular review of skilling and certification requirements, we have retired the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification, effective March 31, 2026. This change reflects our ongoing alignment with customer and market demand.

Partners can no longer obtain this certification. For partners who were certified before retirement, the certification will continue to count toward skilling points for the Modern Work designation until March 31, 2027.

Plan for future renewals by reviewing other eligible certifications in place of Microsoft 365 Fundamentals. We will continue to share guidance and new skilling options—including planned alternatives to Microsoft 365 Fundamentals like the Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals certification—to support your skilling journey.

Learn more about maintaining your Modern Work designation and eligible certifications to demonstrate your skills.

Explore updated performance requirements for the SMB Management specialization

JS5 — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:09:32 GMT

Microsoft is updating performance criteria for the Small and Midsize Business (SMB) Management specialization to better align with how partners go to market. Starting March 27, 2026, we're reducing the monthly active user (MAU) growth requirement from 35% to 15% and increasing the deployment requirement from 10 to 15 deployments.

The revised criteria, which are based on partner feedback, emphasize new customer deployments while maintaining a focus on overall performance. The updates help ensure the SMB Management specialization continues to represent partners who meet the highest standards for service delivery and support.

Review your current progress toward the SMB Management specialization in Partner Center and adjust your deployment and growth strategy to align with the updated criteria.

Prepare for the retirement of the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification

JS5 — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:22:30 GMT

To ensure our program offerings align with customer and market demand, we regularly review our applied skilling and certification requirements for Solutions Partner designations and retire certain certifications and skilling requirements.

As part of that review, we're retiring the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification on March 31, 2026. As of this date, partners will no longer be able to obtain this certification. For partners who were certified before the retirement, the certification will continue to count toward skilling points for the Modern Work designation until March 31, 2027.

We encourage you to plan for future renewals by reviewing other eligible certifications in place of Microsoft 365 Fundamentals. Microsoft will continue to provide resources and guidance to support a smooth transition as this change takes effect.

Learn more about maintaining your Modern Work designation and eligible certifications to demonstrate your skills.

It's now easier to attain the Microsoft Azure VMware Solution specialization

JS5 — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:02:47 GMT

To expand the specialization opportunity to more partners, Microsoft has removed the Azure VMware Solution (AVS) technical assessment requirement from the Microsoft AVS specialization. This change makes both attaining and renewing the specialization significantly easier for partners.

VMware is a leading provider of on-premises virtualization. As more organizations evaluate moving parts of their server-virtualization workloads to the cloud, this creates a meaningful opportunity for partners to guide migration plans aligned to security best practices and relevant regulatory requirements. The Microsoft AVS specialization showcases your authority in helping customers migrate on-premises VMware workloads to Azure.

If you do not yet hold the Microsoft AVS specialization, we encourage you to pursue it now. Partners approaching their renewal window can also begin the renewal process today.

Visit Partner Center to review the status of the Microsoft Azure VMware Solution specialization.

Stand out as an authority on cloud sovereignty with the Digital Sovereignty specialization

JS5 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:56:59 GMT

The Digital Sovereignty specialization is designed to drive meaningful business outcomes. It differentiates your organization as a sovereign cloud leader, building trust with customers in compliance-heavy regions. It also opens access to high-value projects in regulated industries such as government, defense, banking, and healthcare. The Digital Sovereignty specialization supports business growth by highlighting value-added services capabilities with higher margins in digital sovereignty. Finally, it signals proven delivery capability on sensitive cloud deployments, fostering strong client relationships.

To enroll, meet the five specialization prerequisite requirements across Security, Azure, and Modern Work. Once eligible, respond to Microsoft outreach and schedule a third-party audit, demonstrating recent sovereign cloud projects. Then, maintain the specialization by continuing to meet prerequisites annually and passing the audit every two years.

Don't miss this opportunity to tap into incredible business value and access exciting opportunities based on the capabilities and knowledge you already have.

Updated requirements for the SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization

JS5 — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:15:27 GMT

The SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization is a credential that validates your deep expertise in planning, migrating, and operating SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) workloads on Microsoft Azure. Microsoft is updating this specialization to make it more accessible for a broader range of partners. These changes are designed to expand opportunity—making it possible for more organizations to demonstrate SAP on Azure expertise, earn official Microsoft recognition, and unlock exclusive go-to-market advantages that strengthen differentiation in a competitive market.

What's changed

Lower ACR threshold: Beginning in January 2026, the Azure consumed revenue (ACR) requirement decreased from $30,000 to $7,500,* totaled over three months, significantly reducing the barrier to entry while maintaining a high standard of technical capability.

Streamlined skilling validation: Partners can validate required Microsoft learning coursework directly within Partner Center, removing the need to do so in the third-party audit for this specialization. Skilling requirements may be met through either:

The Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty certification.
Completion of the Run SAP on the Microsoft Cloud learning path.

This simplified approach accelerates the path to earning the specialization.

Next actions

Visit Partner Center to review the updated SAP on Microsoft Azure specialization requirements and apply or renew.

*Throughout this document, $ refers to US dollar (USD).

Updated requirements for Microsoft Azure VMware Solution specialization

JS5 — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:26:32 GMT

Updated requirements for the Microsoft Azure VMware Solution (AVS) specialization make it simpler to obtain—offering a path to showcase your unique capabilities and technical expertise.

What's changed
We removed the requirement to pass the outdated AVS technical assessment to earn the specialization. We also removed the Broadcom certification requirements, which were previously checked as a portion of the audit.

Highlights of the specialization
Show customers you're uniquely qualified to migrate VMware workloads to Azure with the AVS specialization. Highlights include:

Verified expertise badge.
Priority listing in Microsoft directories.
Access to incentives and co-sell programs.

Visit Partner Center to verify that you meet the new AVS specialization requirements, then apply or renew today.