IT Certification Verification
How to Verify a Microsoft 365 Certification
Verify Microsoft 365 certifications — MS-900, MS-102, MD-102, MS-203 — through Credly badge verification and the Microsoft Learn transcript. Covers the M365 credential map, annual renewal, and red flags for IT admin and Microsoft 365 hiring.
Quick answer
Ask the candidate to share their Microsoft Learn transcript (learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/[username]) or their Credly badge link. Microsoft certifications are issued as Credly badges with issuer “Microsoft”. Microsoft certifications expire after 1 year and require annual renewal via free online assessment.
Microsoft 365 certification map
| Exam | Certification | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| MS-900 | Microsoft 365 Fundamentals | Overview of M365 services; no hands-on required |
| MS-102 | Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert | Tenant administration, identity, compliance, security |
| MD-102 | Microsoft 365 Endpoint Administrator Associate | Intune, Windows deployment, device management |
| MS-203 | Microsoft 365 Messaging Administrator Associate | Exchange Online, mail flow, hybrid messaging |
| MS-700 | Managing Microsoft Teams Associate | Teams administration, governance, voice |
| SC-300 | Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator Associate | Entra ID (Azure AD), identity governance |
How to verify
Microsoft Learn transcript
The most direct verification method is a shared Microsoft Learn transcript:
- Ask the candidate for their Microsoft Learn profile URL (learn.microsoft.com/en-us/users/[username]/transcript/)
- The transcript page is publicly shareable — it shows all earned certifications and their validity dates
- Confirm the certification name and that the expiration date is in the future
Credly badge
Microsoft issues Credly badges for all role-based and specialty certifications. Verify at credly.com/badges/[id]:
- Issuing organization: “Microsoft”
- Badge name must match the claimed certification
- Check expiration date — Microsoft role-based certs expire after 1 year
1-year expiration with free annual renewal
Microsoft role-based and expert certifications expire annually. Microsoft offers free renewal assessments (shorter than the full exam) — candidates who have passed renewal assessments will show updated expiration dates. An expired Microsoft cert is one of the most common issues in IT hiring verification.
Fundamentals vs. role-based vs. expert
Microsoft organizes certifications into three tiers:
- Fundamentals (e.g., MS-900): Conceptual overview; do not expire; lower signal for experienced hires
- Associate (e.g., MD-102, MS-700): Role-specific skills; expire annually; strong hiring signal for practitioners
- Expert (e.g., MS-102 Administrator Expert): Highest level; requires one or more Associate certs as prerequisite; expire annually
MS-900 Fundamentals does not expire — candidates sometimes list it to pad a resume without the operational depth of Associate or Expert certifications. Distinguish between levels in your hiring requirements.
Red flags
- Cannot share Microsoft Learn transcript or Credly badge — both are standard features of every Microsoft certification account
- Certification expired — Microsoft role-based certs require annual renewal; an expired cert is inactive
- Claims Expert (MS-102) without any Associate-level M365 cert on transcript — Expert requires prerequisite Associate
- Lists only Fundamentals (MS-900) for an Administrator role — Fundamentals does not demonstrate operational depth
- Credly badge issuer is a training partner, not “Microsoft” — unofficial badges from bootcamps exist and do not represent the official certification
Verification checklist
- 1. Request Microsoft Learn transcript URL or Credly badge link
- 2. Confirm certification name and exam code match the claim
- 3. Check expiration date — must be in the future (role-based certs: 1-year cycle)
- 4. Confirm Credly issuer is “Microsoft”
- 5. Distinguish certification level: Fundamentals (no expiry) vs. Associate/Expert (annual renewal)
Verify the IT or computer science degree
Microsoft 365 administrators often hold degrees in information technology, computer science, or related fields. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a claimed institution is properly accredited.
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