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expired Posted by findbetter over 1 year ago
expired Posted by findbetter over 1 year ago

Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge: Earn One Certification Exam w/ Challenge

(Register/Challenge Starts 5/23)

Free

Microsoft Store
69 Comments 117,444 Views
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Deal Details
Microsoft Store is hosting their Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge and offering One Microsoft Certification Exam for Free when you complete any Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge listed below, starting on May 23, 2023, pre-register now before challenge starts

Thanks to community member findbetter for finding this deal

Note, must register for a challenge and complete offer to be granted your free Microsoft Certification exam offer

Available Challenge(s)

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • Microsoft Certification voucher will be available on June 30, 2023 and carry an expiration through September 27, 2023; you will be notified/delivered to your email address associated w/ your Microsoft Learn profile
  • No extensions are available after promotional period
  • You will earn only one free Microsoft Certification exam, regardless of how many challenge you complete
  • Ensure that you book your exam by September 8, 2023, to ensure exam completion before the offer expires
  • Offer valid through June 20, 2023 or while promotional offer last
Additional Notes
  • To see full list of eligible exams/rules, please click on this link here
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by findbetter
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Microsoft Store is hosting their Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge and offering One Microsoft Certification Exam for Free when you complete any Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenge listed below, starting on May 23, 2023, pre-register now before challenge starts

Thanks to community member findbetter for finding this deal

Note, must register for a challenge and complete offer to be granted your free Microsoft Certification exam offer

Available Challenge(s)

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • Microsoft Certification voucher will be available on June 30, 2023 and carry an expiration through September 27, 2023; you will be notified/delivered to your email address associated w/ your Microsoft Learn profile
  • No extensions are available after promotional period
  • You will earn only one free Microsoft Certification exam, regardless of how many challenge you complete
  • Ensure that you book your exam by September 8, 2023, to ensure exam completion before the offer expires
  • Offer valid through June 20, 2023 or while promotional offer last
Additional Notes
  • To see full list of eligible exams/rules, please click on this link here
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by findbetter
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Top Comments

Here's some info for some questions I'm seeing. I don't work for Microsoft but have helped gather some info around these certs for my organization's educational curriculum.

What are all of the certs available from Microsoft?
This poster (PDF in the link) is a good place to see what's available. It's easy to google any individual cert for more information.
https://aka.ms/traincertposter

What cert should I get?
Sorry, but that's like asking "What color should I paint my wall?" We need more information. ;-)

What cert should I get if I'm a noob?
Actually, none of these are the *best* to get started with. With Microsoft's certifications, they're almost all about the cloud. If you're a noob and you want to get started, go start with AZ-900, which is the intro cert for Azure. As others have mentioned, you can frequiently get a free voucher for that cert. While this posted deal doesn't qualify for AZ-900, you should be able to find another source for that cert for free, start there, and then come back to this deal for a follow-up cert.

Do note that some of the certs in this deal are pretty difficult. If you're really wanting to know what to take after AZ-900, then AZ-104 is one that we recommend to most of our employees as one of the next few to take (we also have some SC-xxx certs that we target early). Also, a note on AZ-204. Despite it sounding like "the obvious dev cert to get", and it kinda is, we've found that it is unusually difficult given the breadth of topics that it covers. For example, you might be tested on the very specific querying syntax for a Redis query or some nginx configuration details. While most of our people pass it, we've never really had anybody "ace it", even for those developing against Azure for almost 15 years.

Back to the question. Seriously, just look at the name of the cert and focus on the one that is in the area you want to learn the most in. The Microsoft Learn resources are a really good place to start and are free. Tons of help at Youtube for free, too. Pluralsight and other paid options exist for training, too. The official paid training courses are very hit-or-miss.

What cert is the easiest?
That would probably be AI-900. Generally speaking, the *-900 certs are the introduction certs that don't require prior experience. However, those also tend to be the cheapest certification exams and might not maximize the value of this deal. However, a less-optimized deal is better than no deal at all if you just want to start with the easiest cert. Don't feel bad for that. Your first cert is sometimes the hardest and most difficult one to get because of the mental barriers we all build up around it.

Side note: I doubt that AI-900 has caught up with the latest OpenAI craze. There is some really need GPT 3, 3.5, and 4 stuff in Azure, but you have to get a special invite to get access to some of that and I don't think these certs cover the latest LLM craze, given how new it all is. But if you can get into that preview, there is some really cool stuff around models that you can customize on your own (either from just prompt training or even full-blown heavy duty model training based on large datasets of your own). Neat stuff!

What cert will look most impressive for a new job?
This doesn't have an obvious answer. It probably depends on what kind of job you're looking for. An infosec job? A Development job? A DevOps job? While your situation may vary, I would have to say that AZ-305 is one of the more impressive certs in this list. But it also has pre-requisite certs that you'll have to get before you can then take and pass the 305. So that's not something you'd start at, but something you'd build up to.

EDIT: Technically, you can take and pass the AZ-305 exam without the pre-reqs, but you won't get the certification until you also take and pass the pre-reqs. Moral of the story: just do the pre-reqs first.

What cert will look most impressive for a new job if I don't want to take a bunch of certs to get to your recommendation of AZ-305?
heh, yeah, I didn't think my answer was really what people wanted to hear. So, if you really want a simple answer here, just go for the AZ-104. That is applicable to almost all Azure jobs and covers a lot of stuff. Somebody else might disagree, but this is the most obvious answer in my opinion. It's not that it's impressive, it's just that it covers a significant baseline of a lot of Azure information.

What cert will help my company's partnership program the most?
This totally depends on what certs already exist within your company. If your company is just 4 points shy of qualifying for a program (each cert counts as 4 points towards a goal of 70 points in one of several pillars), then any cert that gets them over that hump is the most beneficial. However, if you're looking for a more generic answer, then AZ-305 is the answer. This is because some partnership pillars are "locked" until your organization has two individuals who have the AZ-305 cert. Once those 2 have that cert, then that pillar "unlocks", so to speak, and all of the other qualifying conditions and accumulated sales metrics can help get you over that 70-point hurdle. I think one pillar is unlocked by the PL-600 cert, but that's not included here. So, AZ-305 would have to be my catch-all answer unless there are other specific circumstances for you.

Once I pass and get my cert, how long is it good for? Do I have to renew it?
The cert is good for 12 months, then it expires. However, you can renew it, for free, and keep it active. Each renewal bumps it for another 12 months. If you let it expire by one day, then you have to pay for and take the entire certificate exam again to get it back. So don't let it expire!

I have some of these certs, but they're with my old company. Do I have to take the exam again?
NOPE! These certs are supposed to belong to YOU and not your company. So, if you quit and get a new job, the certs should travel with you. For this reason, it's highly recommended that you associate these certs with a personal email address and not your work email address. If you have them associated with a work email address and you need to "recover" the certs, Microsoft should help you.

Get started here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/certifications/find-mcid​ [microsoft.com]
And ask questions in the forums link(s) from here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/certifications/help​ [microsoft.com]

I have another question!
Sorry, that's all the answers I'm giving you. Go look here for more info [microsoft.com]. Otherwise, go google it yourself!
The time has come again! Against all odds, Microsoft is giving a free certification voucher again for this Microsoft Build.

When does it start? May 23, 2023, at 4:00 PM UTC
When does it end? June 20, 2023, at 4:00 PM UTC
When will you get the voucher? June 30, 2023
When will the voucher expire? September 27, 2023

Can you take the exam later than September 27? No and extensions are not possible under any circumstances

What are the rules? Cloud Skills Challenge Rules [microsoft.com]

Which exams are available?

AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals [microsoft.com]
AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator [microsoft.com]
AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure [microsoft.com]
AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions [microsoft.com]
AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions [microsoft.com]
DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud-Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB [microsoft.com]
PL-400: Microsoft Power Platform Developer [microsoft.com]

Challenge Registration link [microsoft.com]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/c...social_wwl
Wait I'll just let ChatGPT write the answers for me brb

69 Comments

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over 1 year ago
40 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
over 1 year ago
JollySparrow976
over 1 year ago
40 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank JollySparrow976

The time has come again! Against all odds, Microsoft is giving a free certification voucher again for this Microsoft Build.

When does it start? May 23, 2023, at 4:00 PM UTC
When does it end? June 20, 2023, at 4:00 PM UTC
When will you get the voucher? June 30, 2023
When will the voucher expire? September 27, 2023

Can you take the exam later than September 27? No and extensions are not possible under any circumstances

What are the rules? Cloud Skills Challenge Rules [microsoft.com]

Which exams are available?

AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals [microsoft.com]
AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator [microsoft.com]
AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure [microsoft.com]
AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions [microsoft.com]
AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions [microsoft.com]
DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud-Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB [microsoft.com]
PL-400: Microsoft Power Platform Developer [microsoft.com]

Challenge Registration link [microsoft.com]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/c...social_wwl
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1
over 1 year ago
3,989 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
over 1 year ago
!xobile!
over 1 year ago
3,989 Posts
Good that they have added AZ-104 this time.
over 1 year ago
341 Posts
Joined Jul 2008
over 1 year ago
bumbo
over 1 year ago
341 Posts
Where's the AZ-104 challenge
over 1 year ago
745 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
over 1 year ago
a0lsux
over 1 year ago
745 Posts
Quote from bumbo :
Where's the AZ-104 challenge
Any of them.
over 1 year ago
16 Posts
Joined Nov 2019
over 1 year ago
BraveCemetery728
over 1 year ago
16 Posts
Az-200 isn't on Here. Which is the one most applicable to a career change?
1
over 1 year ago
243 Posts
Joined Jul 2017
over 1 year ago
Yoksel
over 1 year ago
243 Posts
I understand it does not start until 5/23 but is there a sign up before that?
over 1 year ago
98 Posts
Joined May 2019
over 1 year ago
nowai_david
over 1 year ago
98 Posts
So I got this last time. Waited until the last day to take the certificate and it would not work. Definitely on me for waiting that long, but support was of little help resolving it online.

Plan at least a week ahead of expiration for any redemption errors! I'll give it a second try for the AZ-400. Azure is just so boring for me. 💤
1

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over 1 year ago
129 Posts
Joined Feb 2017
over 1 year ago
syncc6
over 1 year ago
129 Posts
Didn't know something like AI-900 existed. I was planning on getting the AZ-900, but it isn't listed as one of the free exams. Would they be pretty similar aside from the AI aspect? Or should I just go straight for the AZ-104? I've always tried to study for these exams, but end of stopping during the middle of it. Maybe having a cut off date for the free exams would motivate me more to get it done this time around...
Last edited by syncc6 May 10, 2023 at 05:06 AM.
over 1 year ago
525 Posts
Joined Jan 2018
over 1 year ago
GhostNoteSymphonies
over 1 year ago
525 Posts
Do you have to pay to renew your certificate once you get it? Any CPE requirements?
over 1 year ago
2,413 Posts
Joined Jun 2007
over 1 year ago
avagyan
over 1 year ago
2,413 Posts
Quote from syncc6 :
Didn't know something like AI-900 existed. I was planning on getting the AZ-900, but it isn't listed as one of the free exams. Would they be pretty similar aside from the AI aspect? Or should I just go straight for the AZ-104? I've always tried to study for these exams, but end of stopping during the middle of it. Maybe having a cut off date for the free exams would motivate me more to get it done this time around...
I wouldn't suggest wasting this on the 900 exams; up to the April 900ds were easily available for free with very little effort (by attending MS Learn event). Besides, 900ds are only $99. AI-900 was very easy IMO, passed a few days ago

Here is another link for 50% off, which ends soon https://developer.microsoft.com/e...cial-rules
over 1 year ago
36 Posts
Joined Apr 2015
over 1 year ago
JediNick23
over 1 year ago
36 Posts
Strange that they list a "Developer Tools Challenge," but looking at the official rules for both OP's link and the above-linked-in-a-comment-reply 50% off exam offer, neither offer's official rules specify whether there's any exam corresponding to that Developer Tools challenge. What cert would it correspond to, if any? Is it just a baby DevOps one that they don't even have an exam & cert for?
over 1 year ago
139 Posts
Joined Nov 2017

This comment has been rated as unhelpful by Slickdeals users.

over 1 year ago
3,989 Posts
Joined Jan 2007
over 1 year ago
!xobile!
over 1 year ago
3,989 Posts
Quote from Yoksel :
I understand it does not start until 5/23 but is there a sign up before that?
You can sign up today. Go to one of the challenges, and you'll see Register now.
over 1 year ago
291 Posts
Joined Feb 2018
over 1 year ago
JarredS8454
over 1 year ago
291 Posts
Quote from avagyan :
I wouldn't suggest wasting this on the 900 exams; up to the April 900ds were easily available for free with very little effort (by attending MS Learn event). Besides, 900ds are only $99. AI-900 was very easy IMO, passed a few days ago

Here is another link for 50% off, which ends soon https://developer.microsoft.com/e...cial-rules [microsoft.com]
I took the Power Platform Fundamentals last time around, and continue to check all the marketing emails that have been sent to me since. I haven't seen any mention of free exams with the other Learn events? Microsoft Events Catalog [microsoft.com]- the event registration pages don't mention free exams.

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over 1 year ago
139 Posts
Joined Nov 2017
over 1 year ago
swiggityswooty
over 1 year ago
139 Posts
Quote from swiggityswooty :
Does someone have the answers for these exams? Trying to get a cushy tech job.
Wait I'll just let ChatGPT write the answers for me brb
1