Microsoft launches a free GitHub Copilot badge with no exam
The Microsoft Pro Badge for GitHub Copilot is earned by using Copilot in everyday work, not by passing a test. It is free and can be shared on LinkedIn.
Microsoft said on 28 October 2026 that programmers can earn a new credential, the Microsoft Pro Badge for GitHub Copilot, without sitting an exam.
In a post on its Skills Hub blog, Microsoft said the badge is based on how a person uses GitHub Copilot, its AI coding assistant. It measures how broadly and deeply someone uses Copilot on GitHub.com, in code editors, at the command line and on mobile. The framework has five levels, from Beginner to Expert. A person qualifies for the badge on reaching the third level, Proficient.
The Register reported on 5 November that Microsoft had published criteria only for the first three levels. It said the badge does not replace Microsoft Certifications or Microsoft Applied Skills. Microsoft described it as an extra signal of how skills show up in daily use of a product.
For new programmers, Microsoft said the badge costs nothing and needs no exam or study guide. A learner signs in with a personal GitHub account and opts in. Microsoft said raw code and prompts are never reviewed. A person who qualifies can claim the badge on Credly, a site that issues digital certificates, then share it on LinkedIn.
Accounts that an employer manages are not supported at launch, Microsoft said. It has not said when the Advanced and Expert levels will open. Neither source says how employers will treat the badge when they hire.
Sources
- Microsoft Community Hub Introducing a credential based on real work, no test required
- The Register Microsoft admits certifications can be a drag, launches creds that recognize skills