Verified skills, real impact: Microsoft Credentials help you get AI-ready

AI has rapidly evolved from trendy buzzword to critical business tool.

Across industries and roles, this powerful technology is transforming how we work. From marketing and human resources to finance and operations, teams are using AI to create, analyze, and collaborate in ways we couldn’t even imagine a few years ago. And it’s not just for developers or IT pros anymore. AI is fast becoming part of daily workflows for nearly everyone.

Forward-thinking organizations aren’t waiting—they’re embedding AI into every business function. And in this new era of human-AI collaboration, the ability to build, validate, and apply AI skills is what sets individuals and companies apart.

Why verified skills matter more than ever

Let’s face it: knowing about AI is no longer enough.

A survey from Resume Genius found that 81% of hiring managers prioritize AI skills ¹. This is a significant shift, and the standard has clearly moved from an individual simply being familiar with AI to actually proving that they can effectively put it to work.

That’s where Microsoft Credentials—Microsoft Certifications and Microsoft Applied Skills—come in. Certifications are ideal for validating comprehensive expertise and broader skill sets in given roles or technologies. Applied Skills are scenario-based micro-credentials that demonstrate the ability to accomplish specific job tasks. They focus on narrower skill sets, often a single crucial skill, and they’re earned through an on-demand, lab-based assessment. Together, these credentials give individuals a clear, trusted way to showcase their skills while providing organizations confidence in the capabilities of their teams.

EPAM’s story: Turning credentials into competitive advantage

EPAM Systems, a global leader in digital engineering, has seen firsthand how Microsoft Credentials strengthen AI readiness and improve project results. The company’s experience shows how verified skills can make a real difference for career growth and client success. EPAM Director of Technology Solutions Alexander Lipkin explains:

We rely on Applied Skills credentials and other certifications to validate the skills required for the project or role—tailored to customer requirements—and match it with our talent pool around the world, giving our clients the talent they need to succeed.

For more details, read EPAM fast-tracks AI readiness and project outcomes with Microsoft Applied Skills.

Expanding the Microsoft Credentials portfolio

For over 30 years, Microsoft Credentials have set the benchmark for skills validation. Today, we’re taking them even further.

The evolution of Microsoft Credentials

At Microsoft Ignite, we announced the Microsoft Credentials portfolio expansion and launched AI Skills Navigator, an agentic learning space that brings together AI-powered skilling experiences and credentials, helping individuals build career skills and organizations worldwide accelerate their business.

The portfolio now goes beyond technical roles to include credentials for business professionals, team leaders, and early-in-career talent—helping more people prove their proficiency with AI technologies like Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI-powered agents.

We’ve also streamlined the format of our new Applied Skills Credentials. They’re faster to earn, fit naturally into busy schedules, and let individuals apply their new skills even more quickly.

New business-focused credentials

For business users and leaders looking to use AI to make smarter decisions and improve daily work, these credentials validate practical, in-role skills:

• Microsoft Applied Skills: Generate reports with AI research agents. Gather, analyze, and produce data-driven reports by using Researcher in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• Microsoft Applied Skills: Streamline business workflows with AI chat. Manage meetings, draft content, and improve collaboration with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
• Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification (beta). Automate tasks, streamline processes, and enable AI in everyday work with Copilot Chat. (General availability in January 2026.)
• Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader Certification (beta). Define the business value of AI, integrate AI tools, and lead AI adoption. (General availability in January 2026.)

New technical credentials

For IT pros, engineers, and developers building secure, scalable AI solutions, these credentials validate relevant expertise:

• Microsoft Applied Skills: Enhance agents with autonomous capabilities. Design, configure, and deploy autonomous agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio.
• Microsoft Applied Skills: Secure AI solutions in the cloud. Safeguard AI applications in Microsoft Foundry, and manage compliance using Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
• Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals Certification (beta). Configure, secure, and govern Copilot and agents to help keep your organization productive and compliant. (General availability in January 2026.)
• Microsoft Certified: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Certification (beta). Lead the transformation of enterprise operations by envisioning and implementing AI-powered architecture. (General availability in January 2026.)
• Microsoft Applied Skills: Build a generative AI chat app (coming soon). Use generative AI in practical, real-world scenarios.
• Microsoft Applied Skills: Create an AI agent (coming soon). Create, configure, and orchestrate agents for business impact.

Skilling up every role

Whether you're building an AI-ready workforce, streamlining operations, or preparing your team for what’s next, validating skills across your organization is more important than ever.

Microsoft Credentials help every role contribute with confidence. They turn readiness into real opportunity—giving individuals the recognition they deserve and helping organizations stay competitive in the AI era.

Discover how AI Skills Navigator helps you build a personalized learning path that guides your team toward earning Microsoft Credentials.

Let’s build the AI-ready future—together.

1. Resume Genius (2025). AI Impact on Hiring Survey: How Recruitment is Evolving https://resumegenius.com/blog/job-hunting/ai-impact-on-hiring