Associating your certification profile with your organization
Sign into your organizations Partner Center Account (yes, it is very slow to load, it isn’t a problem on your side) and under Your learning choose the Associate Microsoft Learning account.
New Microsoft Partner designations
You can find all the related information in the linked documentation.
The biggest change from the now ending competencies is that requirements require fewer certifications from single individuals and in benefits the Visual Studio Enterprise subscription will no longer have the monthly credits (it will be bulk credits for one subscription instead).
You need 70/100 points to achieve a Microsoft Partner designation. The areas are divided into different performance tiers and skilling. Below are the skilling requirements and how many total points can you gain from certifications.
Designation requirements by solution area
Total skilling points: 40/70 (Intermediate certifications only; Advanced certifications don’t apply to this area).
Data & AI Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 4 points
- Required certifications: 0 points (the Enterprise gate doesn’t award points)
- Scored certification: 4 points
Required (mandatory, no points, before scored certifications count):
- 2+ people: Azure Administrator Associate
- 2+ people: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (up to 4 points per person, max 40 points from 10 people):
- Azure Database Administrator Associate
- Azure AI Engineer Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Azure Data Scientist Associate (retired June 1, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Data Analyst Associate
- Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
- Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate
- Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate
- Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate
- Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate
Individual maximum: 12 points
- Azure Administrator Associate (required): 4 points
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert (required): 4 points
- Scored certification: 4 points
Required (4 points flat per step, mandatory before scored certifications count):
- 1+ person: Azure Administrator Associate
- 1+ person: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (4 points per person, max 40 points from 10 people):
- Azure Database Administrator Associate
- Azure AI Engineer Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Azure Data Scientist Associate (retired June 1, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Data Analyst Associate
- Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
- Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate
- Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate
- Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate
- Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate
Total skilling points: 40/70 (Intermediate certifications: 20 + Advanced certifications: 20).
Digital & App Innovation Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 8 points
- Intermediate required certification: 0 points
- Intermediate scored certification: 4 points
- Advanced required certification: 0 points
- Advanced scored certification: 4 points
Intermediate certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (mandatory, no points):
- 2+ people: Azure Administrator Associate
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Developer Associate (retired July 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Developer Associate
- Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate
- GitHub Certified: Agentic AI Developer
Advanced certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (mandatory, no points):
- 2+ people: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
- Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
- GitHub Actions
- GitHub Administration
- GitHub Advanced Security
- GitHub Copilot
Individual maximum: 16 points
- Intermediate required certification: 4 points
- Intermediate scored certification: 4 points
- Advanced required certification: 4 points
- Advanced scored certification: 4 points
Intermediate certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (4 points flat):
- 1+ person: Azure Administrator Associate
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Developer Associate (retired July 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Developer Associate
- Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate
- GitHub Certified: Agentic AI Developer
Advanced certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (4 points flat):
- 1+ person: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
- Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
- GitHub Actions
- GitHub Administration
- GitHub Advanced Security
- GitHub Copilot
Total skilling points: 40/70 (Intermediate certifications: 20 + Advanced certifications: 20).
Infrastructure Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 8 points
- Intermediate required certification: 0 points
- Intermediate scored certification: 4 points
- Advanced required certification: 0 points
- Advanced scored certification: 4 points
Intermediate certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (mandatory, no points):
- 2+ people: Azure Administrator Associate
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Network Engineer Associate
- Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
Advanced certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (mandatory, no points):
- 2+ people: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
- Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
Individual maximum: 16 points
- Intermediate required certification: 4 points
- Intermediate scored certification: 4 points
- Advanced required certification: 4 points
- Advanced scored certification: 4 points
Intermediate certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (4 points flat):
- 1+ person: Azure Administrator Associate
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Network Engineer Associate
- Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
Advanced certifications (max 20 points from 5 people)
Required (4 points flat):
- 1+ person: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Scored (4 points per person):
- Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
- Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
Total skilling points: 40/70 (Intermediate certifications only; Advanced certifications don’t apply to this area).
Security Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 6.67 points
- Required certifications: 0 points (the Enterprise gate doesn’t award points)
- Scored certification: 6.67 points
Required (mandatory, no points, before scored certifications count):
- 2+ people: Azure Security Engineer Associate (retired August 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement) OR Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate
- 2+ people: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
Scored (6.67 points per person):
- Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert
- Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator
- Microsoft Information Protection Administrator (retired May 31, 2025; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate
Individual maximum: 16 points
- Azure/Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (required): 4 points
- Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (required): 4 points
- Scored certification: 8 points
Required (4 points flat per step, mandatory before scored certifications count):
- 1+ person: Azure Security Engineer Associate (retired August 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement) OR Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate
- 1+ person: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
Scored (8 points per person):
- Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert
- Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator
- Microsoft Information Protection Administrator (retired May 31, 2025; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate
Total skilling points: 35/70 (Intermediate certifications: 20 + Advanced certifications: 15).
Business Applications Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 3.14 points (no mandatory prerequisites in this area)
- Intermediate certification: 1 point
- Advanced certification: 2.14 points
Intermediate certifications (1 point per person, max 20 points from 20 people):
- Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate
- Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate
- Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (retired August 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Developer Associate
- Power Automate RPA Developer Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate (retired July 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate
- Intelligent Applications Builder Associate
- Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate
Advanced certifications (2.14 points per person, max 15 points from 7 people):
- Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Developer Associate
- Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect
Individual maximum: 11.5 points (no mandatory prerequisites in this area)
- Intermediate certification: 4 points
- Advanced certification: 7.5 points
Intermediate certifications (4 points per person, max 20 points from 5 people):
- Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate
- Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate
- Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate
- Power BI Data Analyst Associate
- Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (retired August 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Developer Associate
- Power Automate RPA Developer Associate (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate (retired July 31, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate
- Intelligent Applications Builder Associate
- Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate
Advanced certifications (7.5 points per person, max 15 points from 2 people):
- Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (retired June 30, 2026; remains valid 1 year after retirement)
- Dynamics 365 Business Central Developer Associate
- Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect
Total skilling points: 25/70 (Intermediate certifications: 10 + Advanced certifications: 15).
Modern Work Pathway RequirementsOfficial Partner Center documentation for Performance, Skilling, and Customer Success requirements.Individual maximum: 10 points (no mandatory prerequisites in this area)
- Intermediate certification: 2.5 points
- Advanced certification: 7.5 points
Intermediate certifications (max 10 points from 4 people):
- Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (retired March 31, 2026; eligible for points through March 31, 2027)
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate (formerly Modern Desktop Administrator Associate)
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
Advanced certifications (max 15 points from 2 people):
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert (retires November 30, 2026; eligible for points through November 30, 2027)
- Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment (retired June 15, 2026; eligible for points through June 15, 2027)
Individual maximum: 20 points (no mandatory prerequisites in this area)
- Intermediate certification: 5 points
- Advanced certification: 15 points
Intermediate certifications (max 10 points from 2 people):
- Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (retired March 31, 2026; eligible for points through March 31, 2027)
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate (formerly Modern Desktop Administrator Associate)
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
Advanced certifications (max 15 points from 1 person):
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert (retires November 30, 2026; eligible for points through November 30, 2027)
- Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment (retired June 15, 2026; eligible for points through June 15, 2027)
Microsoft Techcommunity for Partners
These are the communication channels, where you can see 99% of any news or changes happening to everything. I recommend subscribing to the topics that interest you to stay up to date on all the cool stuff happening.
Microsoft Digital Experiences (CDX/MDX)
If you work for a Microsoft Partner, you are eligible to access MDX (if the Partner Organisation set it up). In CDX, you can setup M365 demo tenants, usually filled with content already. These tenants are renewable + you can have multiple active at the same time. There are all sorts of demos and showcases of Microsoft products. Great for any kind of testing or exam preparation.
1 Free M365 Tenant
Part of MDX allows you to create 1x 90 day non-renewable M365 tenant. There are multiple types like E5, Business Premium or various specialised tenants. Before creating another one, you need to delete the existing one.
MDX Experiences
Second part of MDX are Experiences. These have multiple variations, either they are live demonstrations where you use beforementioned tenant to explore/demostrate features live or simulated demonstrations. In simulated demonstrations you get access to a simulated tenant, where you can click around and explore it but it is premade and not a real environment so any updates and changes are not reflected unless it is specifically updated.
Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub
The new all in one resource for all Microsoft Partner related events and resources.
Microsoft Partner LevelUp
Microsoft’s new technical skilling platform for Microsoft Partners.
Microsoft Titan Skilling Academy
Microsoft’s new skilling platform for Microsoft Partners. There are 3 areas you can upskill in:
- Sales Ready
- Tech Deal Ready (TBD)
- Project Ready (TBD)
Microsoft Cloud Champions Program
Another Microsoft Partner resource. This one is region specific and collects everything happening in your region.
Microsoft Partner Certification Weeks
Partner Weeks are weeklong events focused on certification related upskilling. They offer:
- Instructor Lead Training for specific certification exams.
- Instructor Lead Training labs.
- Potential free voucher to take the exam.
Sources
Associate Microsoft Certification profile ID (MCID) to a Microsoft Cloud Partner Program | Microsoft Learn