Cloud Skills Challenge

Interested in taking your tech skills to the cloud? Join the Cloud Skills Challenge - compete against your peers & showcase your skills with a free, industry-recognized certification from Microsoft. The 30-day online challenge is open to anyone to participate. No previous experience in cloud computing is required.

See Available Challenges

WHAT IS A CLOUD COMPUTING CHALLENGE

  • Learning challenge
  • Defined learning paths
  • Self-guided training
  • Workshops and instructor-led sessions
  • Custom gamification
  • Cram sessions to help prepare students for certification
  • Free certification exam

CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE

Choose which challenge - or challenges - you would like to compete and complete. All free! Build your employability skills and prepare for the exam to earn your Microsoft Fundamentals certification!

Register June 2nd for Azure Fundamentals

Benefits:

  • Foundational understanding of core data concepts
  • Complete the challenge to prepare for Azure Fundamentals certification
  • Showcase industry-recognized credential on LinkedIn, unlock job postings
  • Access to Microsoft Learn which includes over 2000+ learning paths to continue your career-ready tech skills after the challenge

Register June 2nd for Azure AI Fundamentals

Benefits:

  • Foundational understanding of core data concepts
  • Complete the challenge to prepare for AI Fundamentals certification
  • Showcase industry-recognized credential on LinkedIn, unlock job postings
  • Access to Microsoft Learn which includes over 2000+ learning paths to continue your career-ready tech skills after the challenge

Register June 2nd for Azure Data Fundamentals

Benefits:

  • Foundational understanding of core data concepts
  • Complete the challenge to prepare for Data Fundamentals certification
  • Showcase industry-recognized credential on LinkedIn, unlock job postings
  • Access to Microsoft Learn which includes over 2000+ learning paths to continue your career-ready tech skills after the challenge

Register June 2nd for Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

Benefits:

  • Foundational understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts
  • Complete the challenge to prepare for Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification
  • Showcase industry-recognized credential on LinkedIn, unlock job postings
  • Access to Microsoft Learn which includes over 2000+ learning paths to continue your career-ready tech skills after the challenge

Register June 2nd for Power Platform Fundamentals

Benefits:

  • Foundational understanding in building solutions with Microsoft Power Platform
  • Complete the challenge to prepare for Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals certification
  • Showcase industry-recognized credential on LinkedIn, unlock job postings
  • Access to Microsoft Learn which includes over 2000+ learning paths to continue your career-ready tech skills after the challenge

REGISTER STARTING JUNE 2

  1. Register June 2 for as many challenges - for free!
  2. Complete the learning path for your challenge(s) using resources available below
  3. Schedule the certification exam, in-person or online via MDC by filling out this form
  4. Take the certification exam and share with us your results via indcerts@mdc.edu
  5. If you fail the exam and want to retake it, let us know at indcerts@mdc.edu

FREE RESOURCES

Instructor-led Courses

  • Security Fundamentals in-person course at MDC’s Cybersecurity Center
    Free in-person course with a certified instructor to help you complete the SC-900 certification. The course will take place Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00am - 12:00pm, from May 31 to July 21 at MDC's Cybersecurity Center.

  • Azure Fundamentals online course
    Free online course with a certified instructor to help you complete the AZ-900 pathway and certification. The course will take place on Fridays from 6 to 9 PM, from June 10 to July 1.

  • Security Fundamentals online course
    Free online course with a certified instructor to help you complete the SC-900 pathway and certification. The course will take place on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, from June 7 to June 28.

Online Resources

  • Connect with AI Expert
    Join daily live session with Noelle Silver to discuss AI topics related to the Azure AI Fundamentals and ask questions about the AI pathway Challenge. In these sessions Noelle will share how this knowledge will be useful in companies that need your new skills, and help you prepare for the AI Fundamentals certification, which will set you apart from the crowd when looking for your next role.
     
  • Microsoft Summer Workshops
    Join 2-day workshops on each of the Microsoft Fundamental certifications covered in the Challenge. The workshops will take place online on June 6 -21, 2022. Each workshop will take place during two consecutive days, from 8 AM to 2 PM EST:
    • AZ 900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: 06/06/22 –06/07/22
    • AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: 06/08/22 –06/09/22
    • DP 900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals: 06/13/22 –06/14/22
    • SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals: 06/15/22 –06/16/22
    • PL 900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals: 06/20/22 –06/21/22
       
  • Microsoft Virtual Training Days
    Free, in-depth, virtual training events providing the opportunity to grow your technical skills in a range of technical topics for Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Security.
     
  • Exam Cram Sessions
    Recordings available to help students prepare for the Microsoft Fundamental certifications.

QUESTIONS? LET US HELP!

See frequently asked questions below, or send us your question and we'll point you in the right direction.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Microsoft Learn is a place to learn, discover new skills, find certifications, and complete interactive, hands-on learning paths to advance one’s career.

Cloud Skills Challenges are hosted on the Microsoft Learn platform.

To start a challenge, register by clicking the "Begin now" button on the Challenge page that will be provided by Microsoft. You'll be asked to log in to your Microsoft Learn account and will be added to the challenge.

If you don’t have a Microsoft Learn account, that is okay. You can create a free account by selecting “Create account” from the login screen when joining the challenge.

To complete a challenge, you'll need to finish the designated collection of Learn content before the challenge end date (within 30 days of signing up for the challenge).

In the 'where you stand' section you will see a fraction that equals 100% (i.e., 8/8 or 5/5 or 12/12).

The challenge page and 'where you stand' section take up to a few hours to refresh. Please wait a few hours and check again.

You can find all the challenges you've previously participated in, or are currently participating in, on the challenge tab in your Learn account profile.

Update and save your “Email for notifications” in your Learn account profile.

For all issues with Microsoft Learn content please review the Learn troubleshooting page.

Once you complete a challenge, fill out this form and MDC's testing center will help you schedule the exam within 3 business days.