Microsoft Credentials AI Challenge Sweepstakes official rules

Prove your AI skills. Power your career.

Want to level up your career with real AI skills? Join the Microsoft Credentials AI Challenge from January 20 to March 2, 2026, and explore real-world AI learning that’s fast, practical, and impactful.

Register for the Microsoft Credentials AI Challenge, pass one of the new AI Microsoft Applied Skills assessments and complete the sweepstakes entry form between January 20 and March 2, 2026, for a chance to receive a 50% discount Microsoft Certification voucher (below sweepstakes terms and conditions apply).

It’s your opportunity to sharpen your skills, stand out, and take the next step forward.

Steps to enter

Complete the following three steps for your chance to be one of the 5,000 winners to win a voucher for 50% off a new Microsoft certification exam.

  1. Enter one of six Microsoft Credentials AI Challenges by March 2, 2026.
  2. Earn one of three AI-focused Microsoft Applied Skills credentials between January 20, 2026 and March 2, 2026:
  3. Enter the sweepstakes by March 2, 2026, for a chance to win 50% off a new Certification exam via the entry form. Certification vouchers apply to:
  4. If you’re selected as a winner of one of the 5,000, 50% discount Certification exam vouchers, you will be contacted by Pearson Vue via email with your voucher code, along with the steps on how to redeem. Those steps can also be found on the ‘How to redeem your prize’ page.

After reviewing the official rules, if you have more questions, please consult the FAQ.

Sweepstakes terms and conditions

1. SPONSOR

These Official Rules (“Rules”) govern the operation of the Microsoft Applied Skills Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”). Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA, 98052, USA, is the Sweepstakes sponsor (“Sponsor”).

2. DEFINITIONS

In these Rules, "Microsoft", "we", "our", and "us" refer to Sponsor and “you” and "yourself" refers to a Sweepstakes participant, or the parent/legal guardian of any Sweepstakes entrant who has not reached the age of majority to contractually obligate themselves in their legal place of residence. By entering you (your parent/legal guardian if you are not the age of majority in your legal place of residence) agree to be bound by these Rules.

3. ENTRY PERIOD

The Sweepstakes starts at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on January 20, 2026, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on March 2, 2026 (“Entry Period”) and will consist of the following Prize Periods (each a “Prize Period”).

Prize Period Start Date/Time End Date/Time
1 January 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. PT February 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
2 February 3, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PT February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
3 February 10, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PT February 16, 2026, at 11: 59 p.m. PT
4 February 17, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PT February 23, 2026, at 11: 59 p.m. PT
5 February 24, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. PT March 2, 2026, at 11: 59 p.m. PT

Entries will be eligible for the Prize period in which they are received, and non-winning entries will be carried over to subsequent Prize Periods. Entrants only need to enter once to be included for all future prize periods, as non-winning entries are carried over to subsequent drawings.

4. ELIGIBILITY

To enter, you must be 18 years of age or older. If you are 18 years of age or older but have not reached the age of majority in your legal place of residence, then you must have consent of a parent/legal guardian.

Employees and directors of Microsoft Corporation and its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising agencies, and Sweepstakes Parties are not eligible, nor are persons involved in the execution or administration of this promotion, or the family members of each above (parents, children, siblings, spouse/domestic partners, or individuals residing in the same household). Void in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Region of Crimea, Russia, and where prohibited.

5. HOW TO ENTER

No Purchase Necessary. To enter, you must complete all of the following requirements:

  1. Participate in any of the following challenges (each a “Challenge”):

You do not need to complete a Challenge, but you must register for and start a Challenge.

  1. Earn any of the following free Microsoft Applied Skills (each an “Applied Skill”) during the timeframe for the chosen Challenge:

  2. After participating in an eligible Challenge and earning an eligible Applied Skills credential, visit and complete https://aka.ms/AIChallengeEntry to submit your entry. All required fields must be completed to receive an entry.

For doing this, you will receive one (1) entry into the corresponding weekly Prize Period drawing. There is a limit of one (1) entry per person overall.

If you would like to be removed from the Microsoft Applied Skills sweepstakes and have your personal data deleted, please email us at sweepstakesupport@microsoft.com. This request must be sent from the email address you provided at registration. We will delete your personal data within seven (7) business days. This action is limited to this contest and will have no impact on other Microsoft applications. Please see the Microsoft Privacy Statement for information on broader privacy requests.

Any attempt by you to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different accounts, identities, registrations, logins, or any other methods will void your entries, and you may be disqualified. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited.

We are not responsible for excess, lost, late, or incomplete entries. If disputed, entries will be deemed submitted by the “authorized account holder” of the email address, social media account, or other method used to enter. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned to an email address by an internet or online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses.

6. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION

Pending confirmation of eligibility, potential prize winners will be selected within seven (7) days following each Prize Period by Microsoft or their Agent in a random drawing from among all eligible entries.

Winner email addresses will be shared with Pearson Vue for voucher fulfillment. Vouchers are issued by MindHub Pro by Pearson VUE (privacy statement available here). Winners will receive an email from ‘MindhubPro by Pearson VUE’ with a digital code to download their prize. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, or fails to claim a prize, the selected winner will forfeit their prize and an alternate winner will be selected time allowing. If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older but have not reached the age of majority in your legal place of residence, we may require your parent/legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. Only three alternate winners will be selected, after which unclaimed prizes will remain unawarded.

7. PRIZES

The following prizes will be awarded:

Five Thousand (5,000) Grand Prizes. Each winner will receive a 50% discount exam voucher. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $0.00.

50% discount exam voucher is eligible for the following Microsoft Certification exams offered through Pearson Vue:

Certification codes expire on June 30, 2026, so exam(s) must be booked and completed before this date.

The total Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of all prizes: $0.00.

We will only award one (1) prize per person overall. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. No substitution, transfer, or assignment of prize permitted, except that Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event the offered prize is unavailable. Microsoft products awarded as prizes are awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose); you assume the entire risk of quality and performance, and should the prizes prove defective, you assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing or repair. This is so even if the Microsoft product mentions a warranty on its packaging, in a manual, or in marketing materials; no warranty applies to Microsoft products awarded as prizes.

Microsoft does not give any warranty of any kind, express or implied (including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose) on products made by a company other than Microsoft that are awarded as prizes. Please contact the manufacturer to see if it is covered by that company’s warranty.

Prizes will be sent no later than 7 days after winner selection. Taxes on the prize, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner, who is advised to seek independent counsel regarding the tax implications of accepting a prize. By accepting a prize, you agree that Microsoft may use your entry, name, image and hometown online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

8. ODDS

The odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries received.

9. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

To the extent allowed by law, by entering you agree to release and hold harmless Microsoft and its respective parents, partners, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss, or damage of any kind arising in connection with this Sweepstakes or any prize won.

All local laws apply. The decisions of Microsoft are final and binding.

We reserve the right to cancel, change, or suspend this Sweepstakes for any reason, including cheating, technology failure, catastrophe, war, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that affects the integrity of this Sweepstakes, whether human or mechanical. If the integrity of the Sweepstakes cannot be restored, we may select winners from among all eligible entries received before we have to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.

If you attempt or we have strong reason to believe that you have compromised the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, creating a bot or other automated program, or by committing fraud in any way, we may seek damages from you to the full extent of the law and you may be banned from participation in future Microsoft promotions.

10. USE OF YOUR ENTRY

Personal data you provide while entering this Sweepstakes will be used by Microsoft and/or its agents and prize fulfillers acting on Microsoft’s behalf only for the administration and operation of this Sweepstakes and in accordance with the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

11. GOVERNING LAW

This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes.

12. WINNERS LIST

Send an email to sweepstakesupport@microsoft.com with the subject line “Microsoft Certifications AI Challenge Sweepstakes winners” within 30 days of March 2, 2026 to receive a link to a list of winners.

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