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IT and cloud

Applied Skills (scenario-based credentials)

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Microsoft's only free verifiable credential, assessed inside a real lab rather than on multiple choice.

exam is free toostrong brand
Open the provider's page

The link goes to the provider's own site. You enrol there, not here.

It has to be finished in one session; there is no save and resume.

Provider
Microsoft
What you get
a certificate, and the exam is free too
Weight on a CV
strong brand
Time cost
~1 h
Validity
No cut-off date
Language
in English
Verified
7 August 2026

What this is

Applied Skills is scenario-based: in 30 to 45 minutes you complete a concrete task in an Azure or Microsoft 365 environment instead of answering test questions. The tracks are narrow and specific, for example deploying a web app on Azure or building a data model.

A passed credential appears on your Microsoft Learn profile with a verification link. No proctor, no government ID and no card are involved, which is what separates it sharply from Microsoft's paid exams.

Who it is for

Anyone who wants to prove one concrete Azure or Microsoft 365 skill before spending money on a certification.

How to get it

  1. 1Open Microsoft and create a free account. No card is asked for at any point.
  2. 2Work through the material, ~1 h in total. It is self-paced, so the time is yours to spread.
  3. 3Pass the graded exam. This is the part that is normally paid elsewhere, and it is the reason this row is in the directory.
  4. 4Download the certificate as a PDF and keep the verification link, which is what an employer actually checks.

From Georgia

No restriction from Georgia. You need a Microsoft account and a free Azure trial environment.

What to watch for

The assessment is one sitting: there is no save and resume, so start it when you have an uninterrupted 45 minutes.

Where this helps

Live remote vacancies in the same direction. You apply on the employer's own site; the board itself is written in Georgian.

All remote vacancies

Frequently asked questions

Is Applied Skills (scenario-based credentials) really free?

Microsoft's only free verifiable credential, assessed inside a real lab rather than on multiple choice. The credential itself costs nothing, and so does the qualifying exam. Checked against Microsoft's own page on 7 August 2026.

How long does Applied Skills (scenario-based credentials) take?

Microsoft states roughly 1 hour. It is self-paced, so that is an evenings-and-weekends number rather than a schedule.

Can I take it from Georgia?

No restriction from Georgia. You need a Microsoft account and a free Azure trial environment.

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