What's the difference between CertificationStartDate and AwardedOn columns in the Certifications transcripts csv file in Azure Blob Storage

Question

In the certifications transcript file, would like to know what is the difference between the columns "CertificationStartDate" and "AwardedOn" .

There is a user whose certification transcripts shows as above, need this info urgently to notify the user with correct date of completion, not sure which one to include, could anyone please help understand on the above.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Best Regards

Answer 1

Hi Vipindas Nambiar1,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

As per ms, CertificationStartDate is about when you began your certification journey, while the AwardedOn date signifies when you completed it and received the certification.

CertificationStartDate:

This represents the date when you officially started your certification journey. It marks the beginning of your pursuit of a specific certification.

It indicates the date when you registered for the certification exam associated with that particular certification. For ex: if you registered for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam on May 1, 2023, the CertificationStartDate for that certification would be May 1, 2023. Please note that this date does not necessarily reflect the day you passed the exam, rather it merely signifies when you initiated the certification process.

AwardedOn:

The AwardedOn column represents the date when you successfully passed the final exam required for a specific certification. It indicates the day you officially earned the certification.

For instance, if you passed the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam on May 15, 2023, your AwardedOn date for that certification would be May 15, 2023. This date confirms that you met all the requirements and achieved the certification status.

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