New Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification
As a data engineer, you understand that AI performance depends directly on the quality of its data. If the data isn’t clean, well-managed, and accessible at scale, even the most sophisticated AI models won’t perform as expected. Introducing the Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification, designed to prove that you have the skills required to build and operate reliable data systems by using Azure Databricks. To earn the Certification, you need to pass Exam DP-750: Implementing Data Engineering Solutions Using Azure Databricks, currently in beta. Is this Certification right for you? This Certification offers you the opportunity to prove your skills and validate your expertise in the following areas: Core technical skills Ingesting, transforming, and modeling data using SQL and Python Building production data pipelines on Azure Databricks Implementing software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices with Git-based workflows Integrating Azure Databricks with key Microsoft services, such as Azure Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault, and Microsoft Entra ID Governance and security Securing and governing data with Unity Catalog and Microsoft Purview Applying workspace, cluster, and data-level security best practices Performance and reliability Optimizing compute, caching, partitioning, and Delta Lake design patterns Troubleshooting and resolving issues with jobs and pipelines Managing workloads across development, staging, and production For engineers already familiar with Azure Databricks, this Certification bridges the gap between general Azure Databricks skills and the Azure‑specific architecture, security, and operational patterns that employers increasingly expect. Ready to prove your skills? The first 300 candidates can save 80% Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam DP-750 (beta) on or before April 2, 2026, can get 80% off. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code DP750Deltona. 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 April 2, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. How to prepare Get ready to take Exam DP-750 (beta): Review the Exam DP-750 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam DP-750 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Work through the Plan on Microsoft Learn: Get Exam‑Ready for DP‑750: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. Interested in unlocking more Azure Databricks expertise? Grow your skills and take the next step by exploring Databricks credentials and show what you can do with Azure Databricks. Ready to get started? Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% Exam DP-750 (beta) with code DP750Deltona on or before April 2, 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 early May 2026. Get involved: Help shape future Microsoft Credentials 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. Additional information For more cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Explore Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.New Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate Certification
AI is transforming how data-driven applications are built, and SQL professionals are at the center of this new era. Whether you're a database developer, administrator, analyst, or architect, your SQL expertise is more critical than ever. With the rise of AI, quality data and secure, optimized queries are foundational to building intelligent, scalable solutions. We’re introducing the Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate Certification to help you validate your ability to integrate AI capabilities directly into SQL-based solutions without needing to move your data, learn entirely new platforms, or move away from the T-SQL skills you already use every day. To earn this new Certification, you need to pass Exam DP‑800: Developing AI‑Enabled Database Solutions, currently in beta. Is this the right Certification for you? The Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate Certification is designed for SQL professionals who build and maintain SQL-based applications and who want to integrate AI capabilities directly into their data solutions. As you collaborate closely with application developers, database administrators, architects, AI engineers, and DevSecOps teams, skills validated by this certification support the delivery of scalable, secure, and high-performance AI‑enabled applications. This Certification demonstrates your ability to: Design and build database solutions using structured and semi-structured data. Use AI-assisted tools to accelerate SQL development and database management. Secure, optimize, and deploy enterprise-grade SQL solutions. Implement vectors, embeddings, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) patterns within SQL database architectures. As a candidate for this Certification, you should have experience writing T-SQL, developing databases on Microsoft SQL platforms, and working with continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows in GitHub. We also recommend familiarity with AI concepts, such as embeddings, vectors, and models, in addition to AI-assisted development tools. Skills measured by the exam include: Applying advanced T-SQL techniques for AI-ready database solutions. Building vector and semantic search experiences directly in SQL. Implementing RAG workflows to ground large language model (LLM) outputs and reduce hallucinations. Integrating LLMs into SQL-based applications without migrating data. Designing secure, compliant, and scalable AI-enabled data solutions. Exposing SQL data through APIs by using Data API builder. Building and monitoring data APIs by using Data API builder and event-driven change patterns. These capabilities power use cases like semantic and hybrid search, chatbots, personalized recommendations, fraud detection, and predictive analytics. Ready to prove your skills? The first 300 candidates can save 80% Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam DP-800 (beta) on or before April 3, 2026, can get 80% off. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code DP800Belzoni. 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 April 3, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. How to prepare Get ready to take Exam DP-800 (beta): Review the Exam DP-800 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam DP-800 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Work through the self-paced skilling Plan on Microsoft Learn: Become a SQL AI Developer: Prepare for Certification Exam DP-800. 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? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam DP-800 (beta) on or before April 3, 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 May 2026. Additional information You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. For more cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Get involved: Help shape future Microsoft Credentials. 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.Announcing the Microsoft AI Power Days Agent-a-thon winners
The February 2026 Microsoft AI Power Days Agent-a-thon brought together builders from around the world with one shared goal—to turn ideas into working AI agents that solve real problems. From first-time builders to advanced practitioners, the creativity, ambition, and practical impact on display exceeded all expectations. Over the course of the Agent-a-thon, participants explored what’s possible with agentic AI—learning, building, and iterating using Microsoft agent-building tools. The result? A powerful showcase of agents designed to streamline work, unlock insights, and reimagine how work gets done. Congratulations to the 12 Agent-a-thon grand prize winners! The winning submissions were selected based on innovation, usability, and impact. Innovation. These newly created agents go beyond replicating demos. Each winner tackled a real problem in a novel way—applying agentic AI creatively to scenarios we hadn’t seen before. Usability. Winners demonstrated that their agents are not only functional but also genuinely loved by users. Builders tested their ideas, gathered peer or user feedback, and iterated—showing clear evidence of why people would continue to use these agents in real-world settings. Impact. Every winning agent delivered measurable value. Whether saving meaningful amounts of time, improving efficiency or productivity, increasing revenue potential, or enhancing customer satisfaction, these agents showed clear qualitative or quantitative results. Together, these submissions represent what great agent-building looks like in practice—and how those agents can translate into practical impact right away. Grand prize winners To recognize their achievement and support their continued journey as an AI builder, each grand prize winner will receive a Microsoft Surface Pro. Winners (listed in alphabetical order) Agent names Built with David Díaz Merino LicitaAI Microsoft Foundry Angelo Fabrizio Dileo Aura | Buyer Persona Agent Agent Builder in Microsoft 365 Copilot Steve Glasspool Book Genie Agent Builder in Microsoft 365 Copilot Sunny Hwang NZ Free Course Finder Agent Builder in Microsoft 365 Copilot Rohit Jagadale CR Sentinel Agent Microsoft Copilot Studio Andrejs Karpovs EU-AI-Act-Compliance-Assessment Microsoft Foundry Salma Kudapali Internal Mobility & Skills Opportunity Broker Microsoft Foundry Arianna Manchia PackAgent Microsoft Copilot Studio Pablo Santisteban Fernández LeadMasterAI Microsoft Copilot Studio Sai Sirisha Return-to-Work Agent Builder in Microsoft 365 Copilot Abhishek Tarafdar Governed Compliance Intelligence System (GCIS) Microsoft Foundry Apoorva Vairagi Compliance Intake Orchestrator Microsoft Copilot Studio Whether built with Agent Builder in Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot Studio, or Microsoft Foundry, each agent reflects a clear job to be done and a strong understanding of how agentic AI can create real-world benefits. Winner spotlight One of the most rewarding aspects of the Agent-a-thon was hearing directly from participants about what they built and the difference that their new agents can make. "I built a four‑agent pipeline on Microsoft Foundry that monitors Spain’s public procurement platform, scores tenders against our company profile, and generates a populated proposal document end‑to‑end in under two minutes... The multi‑agent architecture mapped to how BD [business development] teams actually work: one agent per role." —David Díaz Merino, AI Solution Architect, creator of LicitaAI This sentiment captures what the Agent-a-thon is all about—lowering the barriers to building, empowering experimentation, and helping people to realize that they can be capable AI creators, regardless of their starting point and skill level. Again, congratulations to all of our winners, and thank you to everyone who joined us in exploring what’s possible and driving innovation, one agent at a time. Sign up for the next Agent-a-thon If you missed this one, register for the next Microsoft Agent-a-thon, which begins on May 6, 2026, across three time zones, making it easier for builders everywhere to participate, learn, and create together. Whether you’re new to building agents or ready to deepen your existing expertise, this is your opportunity to take advantage of immersive learning, experiment with Copilot Studio and Foundry, and turn bold ideas into working agents. To get ready for the event, check out the training opportunities in AI Skills Navigator, our agentic learning space that brings together AI, cloud, and security training into one seamless, connected skilling experience to help you build career skills.New Certification for machine learning operations (MLOps) engineers
Do your co-workers rely on you to deploy, operationalize, and maintain machine learning and generative AI solutions in production? Are you working at the intersection of data science, DevOps, and generative AI? If so, the Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate Certification is designed for you. This Certification validates your ability to operationalize not only traditional machine learning but also generative AI solutions on Azure, reflecting how AI roles have evolved from model experimentation to enterprise-scale AI operations. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AI-300: Operationalizing Machine Learning and Generative AI solutions, currently in beta. Key skills validated by this Certification To earn the MLOps engineer Certification, you must demonstrate your ability to: Design and implement secure, scalable MLOps infrastructure. Automate resource provisioning and deployments by using GitHub Actions, Bicep, and Azure CLI. Orchestrate training, manage model registration and versioning, and monitor production models. Deploy and operationalize generative AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry. Implement quality assurance, observability, and safety evaluations for generative AI systems. Optimize retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines and fine-tuned models for performance, accuracy, and cost efficiency. This Certification replaces the Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate Certification (Exam DP-100), which is retiring on June 1, 2026, and reflects the evolution of AI in the enterprise. Exam DP-100 focused on validating your ability to design and implement data science solutions, including data exploration, model training, evaluation, and deployment. Exam AI-300 expands the scope significantly. It retains training and evaluation but places much stronger emphasis on validating your knowledge and experience in automation, infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), lifecycle governance, observability, drift detection, cost control, and the operationalization of generative AI systems. For more details on the retirement of Exam DP-100, and the latest cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Skill area Exam AI-300 (new) Exam DP-100 (old) MLOps infrastructure Full CI/CD, IaC (Bicep, Azure CLI), GitHub Actions Basic workspace and compute setup Model lifecycle management Core focus, including registration, versioning, rollout/rollback, monitoring Full lifecycle from training to deployment GenAIOps infrastructure End-to-end lifecycle, including security, automation, and model management with Foundry Basic generative AI setup and experimentation QA and observability Generative AI evaluation, tracing, safety metrics, drift detection, cost monitoring Model evaluation and responsible AI principles Generative AI performance optimization RAG optimization, embedding model selection and tuning, advanced fine-tuning, synthetic data management Basic prompt engineering and fine-tuning Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AI-300 (beta) on or before April 2, 2026, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AI300Meridian. 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 April 2, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AI-300 (beta): Review the Exam AI-300 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AI-300 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth instructor-led training? We’re creating new instructor-led training that will be released in late March 2026. 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? You can take certification exams online, from home or the office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% off Exam AI-300 (beta) with code AI300Meridian on or before April 2, 2026. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in May 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.New Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader Certification
Are you a leader who is ready to transform your business with AI? Do you choose the right AI tools, plan AI adoption, streamline processes, and innovate with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure AI services? Can you identify the value of generative AI, along with the benefits and capabilities of Microsoft’s AI apps and services? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft Certified: AI Transformation Leader Certification validates your expertise in these skills. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-731: AI Transformation Leader, currently in beta. The new Certification shows employers that you understand the principles of responsible AI and governance, so your teams can innovate safely and ethically. It demonstrates that you can evaluate AI tools, assess return on investment (ROI), and scale adoption responsibly across the enterprise. It also shows that you can envision new ideas with Copilot and use AI to reimagine processes and unlock growth. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification is designed for business leaders who are interested in driving transformation and innovation. It emphasizes AI fluency, strategic vision, and leadership in AI projects, but it doesn’t require coding or deep technical expertise. As a candidate for this Certification, you should be able to evaluate AI opportunities, encourage responsible adoption, and ensure alignment of AI strategies with your organization’s goals. You should be familiar with Microsoft 365, Azure AI services, and general AI concepts. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-731 (beta), on or before December 11, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB731Markers25. 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 December 11, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-731 (beta): Review the Exam AB-731 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-731 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Instructor-led training for this exam will be available starting December 16th, 2025. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-731 (beta) on or before December 11, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.Bringing AI fluency to every corner of the organization (even yours!)
Ashley Masters Hall joined Microsoft more than five years ago, just a month after earning her undergraduate degree. She’s currently a learning manager at Microsoft, focused on AI skilling for business pros. In this first blog post in a series of three, she shares her insightful and relatable perspective on AI fluency and skills for everyone in the organization. I was driving to an appointment recently, and I was reminded of the days when we used to print out directions at home and then try to follow them while driving. That was until GPS and later map apps came along. Suddenly, we had real-time guidance and rerouting from our phones. At first, we might have been reluctant to give up our familiar (though inefficient and unsafe) habit of wrangling printed directions behind the wheel. But once we experienced the speed and simplicity of GPS, there was no going back. AI is having its GPS moment. Two years ago, AI was this mysterious thing, a shiny object we weren’t sure we needed. Now, it’s the default way to navigate (and even orchestrate) work. Just like GPS didn’t replace driving, AI doesn’t replace thinking. It removes friction, gives us faster paths, and lets us focus on better outcomes. So the question isn’t, “Will AI change work?” It already has. The real question is, “Are you fluent enough to lead with it?” Regardless of your role or team, AI is likely already part of your world. In this blog post, the first in a series of three, I share practical tips, including six easy steps, that turn AI from a buzzword into your work GPS. What I mean by AI fluency (no jargon, I promise) Let me first define AI fluency. AI fluency is the degree of understanding and ability to interact effectively with generative AI. It’s recognizing when AI will add value and inspiration, plus having the skills to incorporate it into your workflows and tasks. AI skills are now foundational for everyone in every department. These skills not only help set you apart but also help keep you in the mix as work and roles evolve. We’ve seen a shift in the job market toward skills efficiency rather than work experience. In fact, according to the January 2025 LinkedIn Economic Graph Work Change Report: AI Is Coming to Work, “By 2030, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change, with AI emerging as a catalyst.” Five years ago, when I was interviewing for jobs, my differentiators were my work experience and the Microsoft Certifications I had earned, which verified my expertise and abilities with Microsoft Office apps. But in interviews last year, most of the questions I got were about how I use AI today and how I’d apply it in the role. That’s the reality: AI fluency isn’t a future skill, it’s a “now skill.” It’s the differentiator that hiring managers seek. They want to know the real-world ways that you’re putting AI to work. Why this matters for your role (for every role, actually) If you’re wondering what AI looks like in your day-to-day work, you’re not alone. Let’s explore its practical applications for different teams and tasks. Marketing. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page trying to translate “We need a campaign” into an actual brief, AI can get you to a starting point fast. Maybe not the final answer, but a decent first draft that you can shape in your voice, for your audience and your goals. Sales and other customer-facing roles. AI is fantastic for meeting prep and follow-ups, like summarizing account notes, pulling themes from call transcripts (if they’re available), and drafting a clean recap email for you to personalize. The magic isn’t the email itself; it’s being able to more quickly and more clearly join in the conversation. Finance. Sometimes the hard part isn’t the analysis but the explanation. AI can help you draft the narrative: what moved, why, what questions a leader might ask, and what you should verify before you hit Send. Human resources (HR). AI can help turn good intentions into clear language, like job descriptions that match the role, onboarding plans that don’t overwhelm people, and summaries of themes you’re hearing so you can act on them before they get lost in the noise. Operations and program management. If your job involves herding context across multiple stakeholders, AI can help you turn chaos into structure, with action trackers, risk lists, crisp status updates, and decision logs you don’t have to rewrite every time. Legal/compliance (with the right guardrails). AI can help you triage, summarize, and spot inconsistencies. And then (pay close attention to this part) people do the actual review. Fluency includes knowing when to stop and bring a human into the loop. If you’re looking for a practical first step, regardless of your role, start with something familiar: email. Watch How to Prompt: Drafting Emails, and learn how Microsoft 365 Copilot can help you get to a first draft in seconds. One thing we shouldn’t gloss over here: AI can speed you up, but it doesn’t take responsibility for you. If you send it to a customer, put it in a deck, or use it to make a decision, you own it, so don’t forget the human layer. That’s the job. It doesn’t need to be scary, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Get started with AI this week (an easy six-step plan that fits in your real life) If you do one thing after reading this post, don’t make it “Learn AI.” Make it “Pick one task you already do, and run it through a better workflow.” Choose one repeatable workflow. Think of something you do weekly, like meeting prep, a status update, a customer recap, a brief, or a summary. Decide what “better” means to you. Faster? Clearer? Fewer back-and-forth edits? More consistent output? Start with low-risk inputs. Use public info or your own notes while you get more comfortable with the tools. Give Microsoft 365 Copilot a task. Tell it the goal, context, source, and expectations, including the format you need, like bullets, a table, an email, or a memo. Check the work. Verify the facts, including names, numbers, and anything sensitive. Ask Copilot what might be missing. Save the good prompt. Keep it for future reference and reuse. No need to reinvent the wheel every time. Start strong with AI Skills Navigator When people ask me where to start, I have a simple answer: AI Skills Navigator, an agentic learning space that helps you build AI skills (even without a technical background) by bringing together AI-powered skilling experiences, credentials, and training. It makes learning feel approachable. Flexible formats, like short videos, AI‑generated podcasts, quick summaries, and guided skilling sessions, fit naturally into your day in the ways you learn best. This mix of formats helps you get started without feeling overwhelmed, stay engaged as priorities change, and keep up your momentum. AI doesn’t have to feel big. Make it small. Pick one task. Do it once with help. Keep what worked. Repeat it next week. And if you want an easy way to stay on track, start with (and keep coming back to) AI Skills Navigator. It’s like a learning “home base.” Assess where you are, choose a pathway by role or function, and build a habit of learning with small, steady steps. You may be surprised by how far a little AI fluency can take you.New Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification
Do you use generative AI tools, like Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot, to enhance your daily work, boost productivity, guide decisions, and drive business outcomes—without writing code or developing AI applications? Are you comfortable with AI fundamentals, prompt creation, and applying AI to real-world tasks? Do you produce professional content, summarize meetings, and collaborate across teams using Microsoft 365 apps? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional Certification validates your expertise in these skills. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-730: AI Business Professional, currently in beta. This new Certification shows employers that you’re an AI-ready professional who can drive better outcomes in any business role, that you’re fluent in using AI in your day-to-day projects, including how to be more productive and creative as you work across Microsoft 365 apps, and that you understand how to use Copilot and agents to analyze data and automate tasks. Is this the right Certification for you? This Certification is designed for business professionals who want to apply AI tools to real business challenges. Whether you're in marketing, operations, project management, human resources, customer service, or another field, this Certification proves that you can unlock new levels of productivity and insight. As a candidate for the Certification, you should have a basic understanding of Microsoft 365 and should be comfortable navigating core apps, such as Outlook, Word, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel. You also need to be familiar with common business processes, including creating presentations, generating images, and managing documents. If you use generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to draft emails, summarize documents, create presentations, or generate creative content, like images and text, this Certification could be a great fit for you. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-730 (beta), on or before December 11, 2025, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB730Smore25. 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 December 11, 2025. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-730 (beta): Review the Exam AB-730 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-730 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? 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? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-730 (beta) on or before December 11, 2025. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.Strengthen your cloud security expertise with new AI security training
As organizations accelerate their adoption of AI, the need for rigorous, cloud‑ready security skills has never been greater. To help meet that need, we’re releasing a wave of new and updated Microsoft Learn offerings this month, designed to help you secure AI workloads, modernize incident response, strengthen identity governance, optimize security operations across the Microsoft Cloud, and more. New Microsoft Applied Skills: Secure AI Solutions in the Cloud Microsoft Applied Skills: Secure AI Solutions in the Cloud validates your ability to secure AI workloads across Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Foundry. In a live, lab-based assessment, you configure AI workload protections, apply model guardrails, secure Foundry environments, and implement identity and access controls. The assessment focuses on real tasks, like enabling Defender for Cloud AI plans, creating responsible AI safeguards, and securing connected resources, making this credential a practical way for you to prove that you can operationalize AI security in the Microsoft Cloud. To prepare to earn this Applied Skills credential, complete the new learning path, Protect Microsoft Foundry solutions by using Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Updated Microsoft Virtual Training Days event Microsoft Virtual Training Days continue to expand as important upskilling opportunities, and the latest, Predict and Defend Against Cybersecurity Threats, brings an even richer learning experience for security professionals. This free, instructor-led, online training is designed to help you strengthen your expertise across Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel. In this session, you: Learn how to investigate, respond to, and hunt for threats using the unified extended detection and response (XDR) security platform Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel. Take a deep dive into how to deploy Microsoft Sentinel alongside Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft Defender XDR to create a unified security operations center (SOC) experience. Find out about cyberattack mechanisms, alerts, and incident flows, along with how to use Microsoft Security Copilot to automate incident management. Explore how to improve your security posture by connecting Microsoft Defender with Microsoft Sentinel for end-to-end threat visibility. Engage with Microsoft security experts to get answers to real‑world defense challenges. This updated Microsoft Virtual Training Days event reinforces experiential learning and operational readiness across SOC workflows, making it a powerful entry point for analysts, administrators, and chief information security officers (CISOs) working to elevate their threat defense strategies. Sign up for Microsoft Virtual Training Days. Updated modules Mitigate threats using Microsoft Defender XDR Expanded incident response depth. We’ve updated the modules in this learning path to give security analysts a richer, more unified operational view across Defender XDR. The refreshed content now emphasizes how the Microsoft Defender portal provides a single incident queue that correlates signals from Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Microsoft Defender for Identity, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. In the modules, you now practice: Managing and triaging incidents through the unified Defender incident experience. Conducting guided and advanced investigations using device, user, and asset context. Executing advanced hunting queries to surface lateral movement and suspicious behavior. These updates strengthen real‑world SOC alignment by teaching you how to move seamlessly from alert to incident to investigation and then to remediation inside Defender XDR. Use Search Jobs in Microsoft Sentinel Improved long-term log investigation. This module now teaches analysts how to perform deep historical investigations using Search Jobs, a capability purpose‑built for large, long‑retention datasets. Module updates include: How Search Jobs scan up to one year of data across extremely large datasets for events that exceed standard KQL query timeouts. How to restore archived logs into interactive mode for high‑performance KQL analysis. The distinction between Simple Mode and KQL Mode when building long‑term searches. How search results are written into dedicated _SRCH suffixed tables for downstream analysis. These additions help teach you how to perform back-in-time investigations, threat hunts, and compliance lookbacks at enterprise scale. Conditional Access: Continuous Access Evaluation Real-time policy enforcement. We’ve refreshed the Microsoft Entra ID Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE) module in this learning path to reflect how CAE enforces Conditional Access in near real-time rather than waiting for tokens to expire. In the updated content, you explore: Why traditional OAuth tokens create security lag. How CAE establishes a two‑way conversation between Microsoft Entra and workloads to instantly react to critical events. Real‑time enforcement for conditions such as password resets, account disablement, high‑risk user flags, and network location changes. Immediate session revocation for sensitive workloads, such as Exchange, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams. These updates help you understand how CAE closes the gap between identity events and policy enforcement, reducing the window for token replay and unauthorized access. Explore the Access Review Agent in Microsoft Entra Expanded AI-driven governance automation. The updated Access Review Agent module introduces the new Security Copilot–powered access governance assistant. This significantly expands the original module by explaining: How the agent automatically gathers sign‑in activity, usage patterns, and peer‑group behaviors. How it generates AI‑driven approve/deny recommendations with justification summaries. How reviewers complete access reviews in Teams via natural language guidance. Supported review scenarios, limitations (such as decision count limits), and licensing prerequisites. This update shifts access reviews from manual checkbox exercises to intelligent, context‑aware workflows, helping to reduce reviewer fatigue and improve the accuracy of least‑privilege governance. Automate identity lifecycle using Lifecycle Workflows in Microsoft Entra More templates and broader governance coverage. We’ve expanded this module to reflect the growing capabilities of Lifecycle Workflows in Microsoft Entra ID Governance for identity administrators. Updated content now explores: Automation across the complete Joiner, Mover, Leaver (JML) lifecycle. Enhanced workflow templates for onboarding, offboarding, prehire setup, and role changes. A deeper explanation of workflow components, including triggers, scopes, conditions, and tasks. How Lifecycle Workflows complement human resources–driven (HR‑driven) provisioning by automating tasks such as license assignment, group membership updates, notifications, disabling accounts, and scheduled deletions. These updates give you clearer, more actionable guidance for building scalable, no‑code identity automation across cloud and hybrid environments. Whether you're pursuing the new Applied Skills credential, securing AI workloads in Microsoft Foundry, or updating your Defender, Microsoft Sentinel, or Microsoft Entra expertise, AI Skills Navigator helps you build practical expertise that you can apply in real-world environments today—while staying current as technology evolves. To stay ahead of evolving cyberthreats, explore the revamped Security hub, where you can find security learning paths, credentials, events, and resources—all in one place—to help you skill up faster.New: Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
Are you familiar with Microsoft 365, including its core services, security, identity and access, data protection, and governance, along with Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents? Are you able to perform basic administrative tasks for Copilot and agents? If this is your skill set, we have a new Microsoft Certification for you. The Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals Certification validates that you understand what's required to support and protect an AI-enabled Microsoft 365 environment. To earn this Certification, you need to pass Exam AB-900: Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals, currently in beta. The new Certification shows employers that you understand how to configure, secure, and govern Copilot and agents across Microsoft 365 to help keep your organization productive and compliant, that you know the fundamentals of identity, security, and compliance so you can support AI adoption, and that you not only know how to use AI but also how to enable and manage AI in the workplace. Is this the right Certification for you? As a candidate for this Certification, you should be familiar with the admin centers used to access Microsoft 365 workloads, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint in Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Entra, and Microsoft Purview. You need to have experience with AI-powered productivity tools and modern IT management strategies. You should also be able to identify the roles of the core features and objects available in Microsoft 365, such as users, groups, teams, sites, and libraries. And you must understand the core security features of Microsoft 365, such as authentication methods, conditional access policies, and single sign-on (SSO). Additionally, you need to be familiar with how to manage Copilot, including licensing and access control, billing and usage monitoring, prompt governance, and strategies for tracking and driving user adoption. You should also be familiar with configuring user access and permissions for agents; creating, editing, testing, and publishing agents; and managing agent approval and governance. Ready to prove your skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AB-900 (beta), on or before January 3, 2026, can get 80% off market price. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AB900Goals26. 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 January 3, 2026. Please note that this beta exam is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. Get ready to take Exam AB-900 (beta): Review the Exam AB-900 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AB-900 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Want even more in-depth, instructor-led training? 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? Did you know that you can take any Microsoft Certification exam online? Taking your exam from home or the office can be more convenient and less stressful than traveling to a test center—especially when you know what to expect. To find out more, read Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. The rescore process starts on the day an exam goes live, and final scores for beta exams are released approximately 10 days after that. For details on the timing of beta exam rescoring and results, check out Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Ready to get started? Remember, the number of spots is limited to the first 300 candidates taking Exam AB-900 (beta) on or before January 3, 2026. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in February 2026. Learn more about Microsoft Credentials. Related announcements We recently migrated our subject matter expert (SME) database to LinkedIn. To be notified of beta exam availability or opportunities to help with the development of exam, assessment, or learning content, sign up today for the Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials.
Powering career and business growth through AI-led, human-enhanced skilling experiences
Every day, it seems like there’s a new AI tool making headlines. In fact, this year alone, thousands of new AI-powered apps and platforms have launched—reshaping how we work, create, and solve problems. Instead of tech that demands more attention, we’re focused on AI that helps you make better decisions and gives you the skills to grow your career and your business. Work Change Report: AI is Coming to Work. January 2025. All this innovation makes one thing clear: evolving your skills at the pace businesses expect is essential—and really challenging. With over 3.6[1] billion people in the global workforce, organizations and individuals everywhere are grappling with the same question: How do we keep pace with AI? It’s not just a technical challenge—it’s a human one. With the steady stream of new courses, articles, and videos, finding exactly what you need—in the right format, with the right depth, and ready to share with your team—can feel overwhelming. We’ve heard from business leaders, developers, and employees alike: you want learning that’s relevant to your roles and projects, easily accessible, and short enough to fit into your busy day. That’s why we’re committed to deliver clear, role-based skilling paths and AI-led, human-enhanced skilling in a unified and accessible way—so teams can adopt AI faster and lead with confidence. Introducing AI Skills Navigator Today, at Microsoft Ignite, we’re releasing the next-generation AI Skills Navigator—an agentic learning space, bringing together AI-powered skilling experiences and credentials that help individuals build career skills and organizations worldwide accelerate their business. This is a smarter, more personalized way to build both technology skills and the uniquely human skills required to set yourself apart in an AI-dominated workplace. A single, unified experience: Build and verify your skills with AI and cloud content and credentials from Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning, and GitHub—all in one spot. Personalized recommendations: Get learning content curated just for you—based on your role, goals, and learning style, whether you prefer videos, guides, or hands-on labs. Innovative learning experiences: Immerse yourself in interactive skilling sessions—videos of human instructors, combined with real-time agentic AI coaching. Watch, engage, and understand concepts more deeply, like you would in a live classroom. Learn the way you like: Prefer to listen? Instantly convert skilling materials into AI-generated podcasts to fit learning effortlessly into your day. Custom, shareable skilling playlists: Use AI to build tailored learning paths that you can easily assign to your team or share with your friends—and track their progress—turning upskilling into a collaborative social experience. & Digital Skills, Vodafone. AI Skills Navigator is now available to everyone around the world as a public preview! For now, all features are in English, but stay tuned—we’re working quickly to add more features and languages, so you can keep growing your skills—wherever you are. Showcasing expertise in action Learning new skills is important. Proving to employers that you have them is just as critical. That’s why we’re expanding Microsoft Credentials—trusted for over 30 years—to help you verify your real-world skills in AI, cloud, and security. Whether you’re looking to stand out in your career or find the right employee to build out your team, our credentials are here to help highlight and verify great talent. Gartner Unveils Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users in 2026 and Beyond (press release). October 21, 2025. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Here’s how we’re evolving Microsoft Credentials: New AI credentials for business professionals, leaders, and early-career talent. More technical credentials focused on secure, scalable AI solutions. Flexible, short-form training content and skills validation for busy schedules. Unlocking human potential with strategic partnerships We know that building AI skills is a team effort. That’s why we’re partnering with leaders like LinkedIn, GitHub, and Pearson to bring you even more ways to learn and grow. Together, we’re making sure you have the resources and support you need—no matter your industry or role. LinkedIn and Microsoft are working together to set a new global standard for AI upskilling. With AI Skills Navigator, you find curated LinkedIn Learning courses that blend essential human and AI skills for every business and technical role. Whether you’re in marketing, finance, HR, operations, or IT, discover practical training that helps you stay ahead. This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to bring you more learning that helps you build professional and leadership skills. GitHub and Microsoft are making it even easier for developers to grow and shine in the AI era. By joining forces within AI Skills Navigator, we’re opening the door for over 100 million developers worldwide to build, prove, and keep expanding their AI skills. Our ongoing partnership is all about nurturing a vibrant developer community that is ready to innovate and keep pace with the fast-changing world of AI. Pearson and Microsoft are teaming up to make it easier than ever to earn and showcase your skills. Credly by Pearson enables professionals to validate their knowledge and gain recognition for their expertise through globally recognized digital credentials. With over 120 million credentials issued and rapid growth in areas like AI, Azure, and cybersecurity, this partnership will empower people to develop in-demand skills and advance their careers. This capability is coming soon. When it’s launched, all Microsoft Credentials will be published to Credly, giving learners a seamless way to earn, manage, and share their achievements. As these exciting partnerships continue to grow, we’re grateful for our Training Services Partners and their long-standing expertise in professional skilling—tailored, human-led training that helps people and organizations everywhere achieve real, impactful results. Helping build careers and businesses, one skill at a time AI combined with your ambition creates a future of tremendous opportunity for you. The hardest part is knowing where to start and direct your focus as the world moves so quickly around us. This is where we can help—whether you’re just getting started or you’re already far along the AI learning path. Together, we’re building a world where everyone can grow, evolve, and lead with confidence. The real frontier isn’t about technology—it’s about what people like you can achieve with it. And we’re here to help you get there, one skill at a time. [1] The World Bank: Labor force, total. Data source: ILO, OECD, and World Bank estimates.
