Best Microsoft Certifications for Beginners: Choose Your Career Wisely

Introduction

In today’s technology-driven world, having the right certifications can significantly boost your career prospects and open doors to exciting opportunities. Among the myriad of certification options available, Microsoft certifications stand out as some of the most sought-after credentials in the industry. Whether you are just starting your career in tech or looking to advance to the next level, choosing the right Microsoft certification can be crucial in shaping your career trajectory. In this blog, we will explore some of the best Microsoft certifications for beginners and help you decide which path to pursue.

Dive deeper into the world of cloud technology and IT mastery with IPSpecialist! Get the best course by accessing comprehensive IT certification training and resources. From beginner-level IT courses to mastering Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, DevOps, Microsoft, Networking, and more, IPSpecialist offers diverse courses, study guides, and practice exams tailored to amplify your skills.

Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft certifications are globally recognized credentials that validate your skills and expertise in various technology domains. With Microsoft being a leading player in the tech industry, earning a Microsoft certification can significantly enhance your credibility and marketability to potential employers. These certifications demonstrate your proficiency in using Microsoft technologies and solutions, making you a valuable asset in today’s competitive job market.

1. AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

Candidates for this certification should be familiar with the basics of cloud services and how Microsoft Azure works to deliver them. Candidates who are new to Azure or cloud-based solutions and services are the target audience for the exam.

Examining for the Azure Fundamentals certification offers the chance to demonstrate mastery of cloud principles, Azure services, workloads, security, and privacy in Azure, as well as Azure pricing and support. The fundamentals of technology, such as those relating to networking, storage, computing, application development, and application support, should be understood by candidates. The Azure Fundamentals certification is not a requirement for any other Azure role-based or specialized certifications. However, it can be used as a preparation tool.

Course Outline

• Describe cloud concepts (25–30%)
• Describe Azure architecture and services (35–40%)
• Describe Azure management and governance (30–35%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: AZ-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Spanish, German, French, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian

2. MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals

The Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification is designed for individuals seeking to demonstrate foundational knowledge of Microsoft 365 services, including cloud concepts, core Microsoft 365 services, and pricing and support options. This certification is ideal for beginners who are new to Microsoft 365 or looking to enhance their understanding of cloud-based solutions. Candidates will learn about the benefits of adopting cloud services, key components of Microsoft 365, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams, and how to navigate licensing and support options. By earning this certification, individuals can validate their understanding of essential concepts and pave the way for further specialization in Microsoft 365 technologies.

Course Outline

• Describe cloud concepts (10–15%)
• Describe core Microsoft 365 services and concepts (50–55%)
• Describe security, compliance, privacy, and trust in Microsoft 365 (15–20%)
• Describe Microsoft 365 pricing and support (10–15%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: MS-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, German, Chinese (Simplified), French, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Italian

3. DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals

The DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals certification is designed for individuals looking to build a foundational understanding of core data concepts and how they are implemented in Microsoft Azure. This certification covers key data concepts, such as relational and non-relational data, data workloads, and data storage options in Azure. Candidates will also learn about data processing and analytics solutions, including Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Databricks. By earning the DP-900 certification, individuals can demonstrate their proficiency in basic data concepts and gain a solid foundation for furthering their career in data-related roles within the Azure ecosystem.

Course Outline

• Describe core data concepts (25–30%)
• Identify considerations for relational data on Azure (20–25%)
• Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure (15–20%)
• Describe an analytics workload on Azure (25–30%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: DP-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Indonesian (Indonesia), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

4. PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals

The PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals certification is ideal for individuals seeking to gain a foundational understanding of the Microsoft Power Platform and its components. This certification covers key concepts related to Power Platform applications, including Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. Candidates will learn how to create simple Power Platform solutions to automate business processes, analyze data, build custom applications, and create virtual agents for customer interactions. By earning the PL-900 certification, individuals can demonstrate their proficiency in leveraging the Power Platform to drive business innovation and productivity, setting a strong foundation for further exploration of advanced Power Platform functionalities.

Course Outline

• Describe the business value of Microsoft Power Platform (20–25%)
• Identify the core components of Microsoft Power Platform (10–15%)
• Demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI (20–25%)
• Describe the capabilities of Power App (25–30%)
• Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate (10–15%)
• Demonstrate the business value of Power Virtual Agents (1–5%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: PL-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese (Simplified), French, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

5. AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals

The AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals certification is designed for individuals looking to build foundational knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) concepts and services on the Microsoft Azure platform. This certification covers essential topics such as AI workloads and considerations, fundamental principles of machine learning, and common AI scenarios and solutions available on Azure. Candidates will learn about various Azure AI services, including Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning, and Azure Bot Services, and how they can be used to develop intelligent applications. By earning the AI-900 certification, individuals can demonstrate their understanding of AI concepts and their ability to leverage Azure AI services to solve real-world business challenges, paving the way for further exploration and specialization in the field of artificial intelligence.

Course Outline

• Describe Artificial Intelligence workloads and considerations (20–25%)
• Describe fundamental principles of machine learning on Azure (25–30%)
• Describe features of computer vision workloads on Azure (15–20%)
• Describe features of Natural Language Processing (NLP) workloads on Azure (25–30%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: AI-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese (Simplified), French, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

6. SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

The SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification is ideal for individuals seeking to establish a foundational understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts within the Microsoft ecosystem. This certification covers fundamental topics such as cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities, Microsoft’s approach to security, compliance standards and regulations, and identity management solutions offered by Microsoft. Candidates will gain insights into various Microsoft security products and services, including Azure Active Directory, Microsoft Defender, and Azure Sentinel, and learn how they contribute to protecting organizations from modern cyber threats and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

By obtaining the SC-900 certification, individuals can demonstrate their knowledge of essential security, compliance, and identity principles, setting a solid groundwork for further specialization in the field of cybersecurity and compliance within the Microsoft environment.

Course Outline

• Describe the concepts of security, compliance, and identity (10–15%)
• Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Azure Active (25–30%)
• Describe the capabilities of Microsoft Security (25–30%)
• Describe the capabilities of Microsoft compliance solutions (25–30%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: SC-900
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese (Simplified), French, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian

7. PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst

The PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst certification is tailored for individuals aspiring to become proficient in analyzing data and creating insightful visualizations using Microsoft Power BI. This certification equips candidates with the skills to connect to various data sources, transform raw data into meaningful insights, and design compelling reports and dashboards for data-driven decision-making. Through hands-on experience with Power BI Desktop and the Power BI service, candidates learn to manipulate data using Power Query, create calculated columns and measures using DAX, and leverage advanced visualization techniques to present data effectively. Additionally, the certification covers topics such as data modeling, security and governance, and collaboration and distribution of Power BI content, enabling candidates to become adept at every stage of the data analysis process.

By earning the PL-300 certification, individuals demonstrate their proficiency in leveraging Power BI to extract actionable insights from data, making them valuable assets in any data-driven organization.

Course Outline

• Prepare the data (15–20%)
• Model the data (30–35%)
• Visualize and analyze the data (30–35%)
• Deploy and maintain assets (10–15%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: PL-300
• Exam cost: 165 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Russian, Chinese (Traditional), Italian, Indonesian (Indonesia)

8. MB-910: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)

The MB-910: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Fundamentals certification is ideal for individuals aiming to establish a foundational understanding of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications. This certification covers fundamental concepts related to customer engagement, sales automation, and customer service functionalities offered by Dynamics 365 CRM. Candidates will gain insights into the core components of Dynamics 365 CRM, including customer data management, lead and opportunity management, case management, and interaction tracking. By obtaining the MB-910 certification, candidates showcase their proficiency in leveraging Dynamics 365 CRM to enhance customer experiences, streamline sales processes, and drive business growth.

Course Outline

• Describe Dynamics 365 Marketing (15–20%)
• Describe Dynamics 365 Sales (15–20%)
• Describe Dynamics 365 Customer Service (15–20%)
• Describe Dynamics 365 Field Service (15–20%)
• Describe shared features (20–25%)

Exam Information

• Exam Code: MB-910
• Exam cost: 99 USD
• Exam expiry: none
• Passing score: 700
• Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Traditional), Italian, German

Conclusion

Choosing the right Microsoft certification can be a challenge, but this guide has hopefully equipped you with the knowledge to make an informed decision. By carefully considering your career goals and interests, you can select a certification that will put you on the path to success. Whether you’re interested in cloud fundamentals, data analysis, or security, there’s a Microsoft certification out there that can help you achieve your goals.

FAQs

1. What is the easiest Microsoft certification to get?

The easiest Microsoft certifications to get are the fundamentals certifications, such as the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) or Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900). These exams are designed for beginners and have a relatively low pass score.

2. Which Microsoft certification is most in demand?

The most in-demand Microsoft certifications vary depending on the specific job role and industry. However, some of the most popular certifications include Azure certifications (such as Azure Administrator and Azure Data Engineer), Microsoft 365 certifications (such as Microsoft 365 Security Administrator), and Power BI certifications (such as Power BI Data Analyst).

3. How much do Microsoft certifications cost?

The cost of Microsoft certifications varies depending on the specific exam. Most fundamental certifications cost around $99 USD, while more advanced certifications can cost more.