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Learn about Solutions Partner designations, specializations, and key timelines. Review the frequently asked questions (FAQ) below—or download the full list.
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FAQ

What is a Solutions Partner designation?

A Solutions Partner designation differentiates partners with broad technical capabilities, a dedication to skilling and training, and a proven ability to successfully deliver solutions for customers in specific Microsoft Cloud solution areas.

By attaining Solutions Partner designations, you set your organization apart from the competition by validating your breadth of skills and knowledge in solution areas aligned with how Microsoft goes to market. Solution areas are where we identify high customer demand and opportunity for partners to scale to meet customer needs.

The six designations currently available are Solutions Partner for Business Applications, Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure), Modern Work, and Security.

Why should I attain a Solutions Partner designation?
Customers want to work with partners who have the right skills, capabilities, and demonstrated experience to meet their needs. By attaining a Solutions Partner designation, you demonstrate your organization’s breadth of capabilities in a specific Microsoft solution area. Solutions Partner designations help customers find the right partners for their needs aligned to these areas of high opportunity. They also help you clearly demonstrate your commitment to skilling and training while highlighting the successful solutions you are building and delivering to drive customer success.
What is the fee to attain a Solutions Partner designation?
The annual fee to attain a Solutions Partner designation is $4,730 (or equivalent, local fees vary). If you choose the Solutions Partner designation benefits, you will pay an annual fee of $4,730 (or equivalent, local fees vary) aligned to the legacy gold competency fee. If you choose to retain the legacy benefits (benefits you received based on the legacy competency you held on September 30, 2022), you will pay a fee aligned to your legacy silver or gold competency (local fees vary). You can choose to attain one Solutions Partner designation, or more, if applicable to your business. Once you attain a Solutions Partner designation, subsequent Solutions Partner designations can be attained, after requirements are met, with no additional fee.
What is the partner capability score and how does it measure my progress toward attaining a Solutions Partner designation?

A Solutions Partner designation uses a holistic measurement framework—the partner capability score—which quantifies performance, skilling, and customer success. So, it’s not just what you know, but how you apply that knowledge to what you do for customers every day.

To attain a Solutions Partner designation, you will need to earn a minimum of 70 points (with points in each category and sub-category) out of the possible 100 points that are available.

To attain a Solutions Partner designation, you will need to earn a minimum partner capability score of 70 points (with points in each category and subcategory) out of the possible 100 points that are available. This scoring framework provides your organization with the flexibility to choose your path toward attaining the qualifying criteria.

For detailed partner capability score requirements for each Solutions Partner designation, please visit the training galleries on the Microsoft partner website:

Where can I view my points toward attaining a Solutions Partner designation?

Administrators can sign in to the Solutions Partner page in Partner Center to learn how their organization is progressing toward attaining a Solutions Partner designation.

What if I do not have the 70 points required to attain a Solutions Partner designation?

If your organization does not have the 70 points required to attain a Solutions Partner designation, you can sign in to the Solutions Partner page in Partner Center for guidance on how you can improve your score in each of the categories: performance, skilling, and customer success.

Why don’t I qualify to attain a Solutions Partner designation even though I have 70 points?

While a minimum of 70 points out of the maximum 100 possible points is required to attain a Solutions Partner designation, partners must earn a minimum number of points in all subcategories to qualify.

Can all types of partners (for example, ISV partners, services partners, learning partners, device partners) attain a Solutions Partner designation?

Solutions Partner designations are generally more applicable to partners providing services, but all partners are welcome to take the necessary actions toward attaining Solutions Partner designations.

To help ISVs stand out in a crowded market, we’re actively designing new ways to distinguish partners in areas with high customer demand for software solutions. We expect to launch these partner offerings in 2023.

We encourage all partners—whether they’re building services, software, or devices—to learn more about Solutions Partner designations and determine if they’re the right choice for their business.

I develop software solutions. How does partnering with Microsoft help me?
At Microsoft, we design offerings, tools, and resources for all partners. Whether you build or sell services, software, or devices, our partner-focused business platform opens the door to the Microsoft ecosystem of opportunities to foster your growth and success on the Microsoft Cloud. To better support any independent software vendor (ISV) who wants to work with us, we’re investing in programs, resources, and initiatives that meet you where you are. Find out more about how we’re supporting ISV partners today.
I’m an indirect provider. How does partnering with Microsoft help me and the resellers I work with?

Microsoft provides support to all partners, including your resellers.

  • Resellers can partner with Microsoft to attain designations.

  • If you have a direct-to-customer business for your services, software, or devices, our partner-focused business platform unlocks the Microsoft ecosystem of resources, tools, and opportunities to support your success on the Microsoft Cloud.

  • To help you better support your resellers' growth, we are exploring avenues for making your reseller scores available to you.

Indirect providers and resellers should refer to all materials and resources in the training gallery and in Partner Center to learn more about how they can benefit from a partnership with Microsoft.

What changes have been made to the program, and when did they take effect?

As of October 3, 2022, we introduced Solutions Partner designations and retired legacy competencies and associated badging. If you attained a competency by that date, you may retain your benefits until your next competency anniversary date.

Additionally, advanced specializations became specializations. If you had an active advanced specialization on October 3, 2022, it automatically transitioned to a specialization. Because legacy gold competencies are no longer valid, Solutions Partner designations are now the prerequisites to earn or renew specializations.