How to Verify a Microsoft Azure Certification

Quick answer

Ask the candidate to share their Microsoft Learn transcript link. They generate this from learn.microsoft.com → Profile → Certifications → Share. The shared link is publicly accessible without login and shows all active Microsoft certifications with exam codes, dates earned, and renewal status.

How to verify: Microsoft Learn transcript

Step 1: Ask for the shared transcript link

The candidate logs into learn.microsoft.com, navigates to their profile, and selects "Certifications." From the Certifications page, they can generate a shareable URL that makes their transcript publicly accessible.

The shared URL format is typically: learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/[username]/transcript/[id]

Step 2: Review the transcript

The transcript shows all earned certifications, with:

› Certification name and exam code (e.g., "Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate" / AZ-104)
› Date earned and renewal status
› Expiration date (role-based certs expire annually)

Step 3: Verify the specific certification claimed

Confirm that the exact certification the candidate claims appears in the transcript. An Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) is not the same as an Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104). Microsoft's certification hierarchy is specific — verify the level and role path, not just the Azure brand name.

Azure certification hierarchy

Microsoft's current certification framework organizes credentials into Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert levels, organized by role path:

Fundamentals

No renewal required

› AZ-900 — Azure Fundamentals (cloud concepts, Azure services overview)
› AI-900 — Azure AI Fundamentals
› DP-900 — Azure Data Fundamentals
› SC-900 — Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

Fundamentals credentials do not expire and do not require annual renewal.

Associate

Annual renewal required

› AZ-104 — Azure Administrator Associate (most common Associate cert)
› AZ-204 — Azure Developer Associate
› AZ-500 — Azure Security Engineer Associate
› DP-203 — Azure Data Engineer Associate
› AI-102 — Azure AI Engineer Associate

Expert

Annual renewal required

› AZ-305 — Azure Solutions Architect Expert (requires AZ-104 as prerequisite)
› AZ-400 — Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
› SC-100 — Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Expert

Annual renewal: the most important thing to check

Microsoft role-based certifications (Associate and Expert level) expire after one year and must be renewed annually via a free online renewal assessment — a short assessment on learn.microsoft.com covering recent platform updates.

This is a significantly shorter cycle than AWS (3 years) or Google Cloud (2 years). A candidate who earned AZ-104 two years ago but has not renewed has an expired credential, even if they claim it is current.

Check the renewal date, not just the earned date

The Microsoft Learn transcript shows both the original certification date and the most recent renewal date. The certification is valid for one year from the most recent renewal, not from the original exam date. Always check renewal status, not just when the exam was passed.

Deprecated certifications: what older credentials mean

Microsoft has retired many legacy certification tracks. The most notable:

› MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) — retired 2021. Previously the gold standard for Windows Server and Azure administration. No longer valid for current roles.
› MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) — retired 2021. Predecessor to current Associate-level role-based certs.
› MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) — legacy designation for individual exam passes. Not equivalent to a current role-based certification.

A candidate citing an MCSE or MCSA credential has a retired certification. This does not mean they lack skills — it means the credential itself is no longer recognized by Microsoft as current. The Microsoft Learn transcript will not show these as active certifications.

Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft certifications

The same Microsoft Learn transcript covers all Microsoft certifications, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and security credentials:

› MS-900 — Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
› MS-102 — Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert
› PL-900 — Power Platform Fundamentals
› MB-910, MB-920 — Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM and ERP respectively)

All appear on the same Microsoft Learn transcript and follow the same annual renewal cycle for role-based (Associate/Expert) credentials. Fundamentals across all tracks do not expire.

Verify the degree behind the certification

Cloud architect and senior Azure roles frequently require a computer science, engineering, or information systems degree. Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's degree is from a legitimately accredited institution — and catch diploma mill credentials in your cloud hiring pipeline.

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