Microsoft renamed its Copilot partner specialization on 9 July, dropped the MS-102 admin certification requirement, and replaced self-reported customer references with a mandatory third-party audit.
Why It Matters
The Microsoft 365 Copilot specialization badge is the credential meant to tell you a reseller can actually deliver Copilot, not just resell licenses. Microsoft just raised the bar: partners now need the new Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect (AB-100) and AI Agent Builder Associate (AB-620) certifications, and can no longer self-report customer wins. An independent two-year audit is now required to keep the badge.
What To Do About It
Before renewing or starting a Copilot rollout with your Microsoft partner, ask to see the current specialization badge and whether they have passed the new third-party audit. A partner still citing the old MS-102 requirement or customer references alone has not caught up to Microsoft's own bar.
Related Signals
Microsoft's AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer certification retires 31 August 2026, replaced by the new SC-500 Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate credential.
29 Jul 2026
Microsoft made Business Standard with Copilot (23.50 USD/user/month) and Business Premium with Copilot (32 USD/user/month) permanent SKUs on 1 July 2026, for 1 to 300 seats.
28 Jul 2026
Pax8 confirmed Microsoft's global Copilot and M365 price rise took effect 1 July 2026, alongside new Purview deployment services and an SMB-focused Copilot sales course for partners.
27 Jul 2026