Microsoft Applied Skills Sweepstakes Official Rules

Applied Skills + Certifications = a powerful combination.

Microsoft Applied Skills validate your ability to complete real-world tasks using Microsoft technologies. These focused, flexible micro-credentials help you build job-ready skills and support your journey to earn role-based certification.

Pass a Microsoft Applied Skills assessment and complete the sweepstakes entry form between August 25, 2025 to October 13, 2025 for a chance to receive a 50% discount Microsoft Certification voucher (below sweepstakes terms and conditions apply).

Steps to enter

1. Review the sweepstakes terms and conditions on this page.
2. Complete an available assessment and earn a Microsoft Applied Skills credential within the sweepstakes timeframe.
   • You can learn more about Microsoft Applied Skills on the homepage, and review all currently available assessments in the official collection.
   • If you want more information on how to earn a Microsoft Applied Skills credential, review the frequently asked questions.
3. Complete the sweepstakes entry form.
4. If you’re selected as a winner of one of the 15,000, 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.
   • Discount certification exam voucher is eligible for any Microsoft Certification exam conducted by Pearson Vue.
   • Discount certification exam voucher is not eligible for any GitHub certification exams.

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 12:00 AM (00:00) UTC on August 25, 2025, and ends at 11:59 PM (23:59) UTC on October 13, 2025, (“Entry Period”) and will consist of the following Prize Periods (each a “Prize Period”).

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 and earn a Microsoft Applied Skills credential between the dates of August 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM UTC (00:00) to October 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM UTC (23:59). All currently available and eligible Microsoft Applied Skills credentials can be found within the official collection.

After earning a Microsoft Applied Skill credential within the established timeframe, you must visit https://aka.ms/EnterMicrosoftAppliedSkillsSweepstakes to complete an official entry form. 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 are not selected in the corresponding weekly Prize Period drawing, your entry will be rolled over into the next Prize Period drawing, up until the end of the sweepstakes.

If you would like to be removed from the Microsoft Applied Skills sweepstakes and have your personal data deleted, please email us at msappliedskillssweepstakes@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 as follows:

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:

15,000. Each winner will receive a 50% discount exam voucher. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $0.00.

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

50% discount exam voucher is eligible for all Microsoft Certification exams offered through Pearson Vue. Discount voucher is not eligible for GitHub Certification exams.

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 Microsoft Applied Skills Sweepstakes with the subject line “Microsoft Applied Skills Sweepstakes winners” within 30 days of October 13, 2025 to receive a link to a list of winners.