Microsoft 365 Platform Administration Learning Path

Help grow digital talent and skills in the government of Canada

Optional: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (self-paced learning path)

Explore the optional learning resources below and take the practice exam at your convenience before diving into the primary curriculum. Please note, any cost related to writing exams (should you decide to) and receiving a certificate will be your responsibility.

Not sure if you need this optional learning? Try the practice exam and see how you do!

Microsoft 365 Fundamentals – MS 900

Total time investment: 6 hours, 36 minutes
Practice exam: Practice Assessment for Exam MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
This course introduces Microsoft 365, a cloud platform that combines productivity apps along with cloud services security.
You'll learn foundational knowledge on the considerations and benefits of adopting cloud services and the SaaS cloud model, with a specific focus on Microsoft 365 cloud service offerings.
You will begin by learning about cloud fundamentals, including an overview of cloud computing.
You will be introduced to Microsoft 365 and learn how Microsoft 365 solutions improve productivity, facilitate collaboration and optimize communications.
The course then analyzes how security, compliance, privacy and trust are handled in Microsoft 365 and it concludes with a review of Microsoft 365 subscriptions, licenses, billing and support.

1️⃣ Step 1: Microsoft 365 Prerequisite (self-paced learning path)

Before you start the main Microsoft 365 Administrator courses (step 2), you will need to complete one of the following prerequisites. Please note, any cost related to writing exams (should you decide to) and receiving a certificate will be your responsibility.

Feel free to choose whichever option seems the most interesting and relevant to your career journey.

Option 1 – Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate

Total time investment: 13 hours, 52 minutes
Practice exam: – Practice Assessment for Exam MD-102: Endpoint Administrator
As a candidate for this certification, you have subject matter expertise deploying, configuring, protecting, managing and monitoring devices and client applications in a Microsoft 365 Environment. You’re responsible for:
- Managing identity, security, access policies, updates and apps for endpoints
- Implementing solutions for efficient deployment and management of endpoints on various operating systems, platforms and device types
- Implementing and managing endpoints at scale by using Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Microsoft Entra ID

Option 2 – Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate – Certifications | Microsoft Learn

Total time investment – 18 hours 28 minutes
Practice exam – Practice Assessment for Exam MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams
As a Microsoft Teams administrator, you manage and maintain internal and external collaboration and communication solutions using Teams and Microsoft 365. Your responsible for configuring and managing teams, channels, chat, apps, calling, meetings and events. You manage
- Phone numbers and services for Teams Phone
- Operational aspects of Teams clients and devices
- You collaborate with owners of other workloads, including: Networking, Identity, Licensing, Information management, User adoption
- You work with collaboration and communication system engineers to implement advanced Teams Phone and Teams Rooms scenarios. You plan and implement governance, security and compliance for Teams

Option 3 – Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate – Certifications | Microsoft Learn

· Total time investment: 20 hours, 27 minutes

· Practice exam: – Practice Assessment for Exam SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

As a Microsoft identity and access administrator, you

design, implement and operate an organizations identity and access management by using Microsoft Entra ID (ID).
You configure and manage the full cycle of identities for – Users, Devices, Microsoft Azure resources, Applications
As an identity and access administrator, you provide seamless experience with self-service and self service management capabilities for users.
You plan and implement identity, authorization and access to connect applications and resources in Azure.
You’re also responsible for troubleshooting, monitoring and reporting on identity and access.
You collaborate with many other roles in the organization to:
- Drive strategic identity projects
- Modernize identity solutions
- implement hybrid identity solutions
- implement identity governance

Option 4 – Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate – Certifications | Microsoft Learn

Total time investment: 19 hours, 19 minutes
Practice exam: – Practice Assessment for Exam SC-400: Microsoft Information Protection and Compliance Administrator

As an information protection and compliance administrator, you –

plan and implement risk and compliance controls in the Microsoft Purview compliance portal.
In this role you translate an organizations risk and compliance requirements into technical implementation.
Your responsible for implementing and managing solutions for –
- content classification
- data loss prevention (DLP)
- information protection
- data lifecycle management
- records
- management
- privacy
- risk and compliance

2️⃣ Step 2: Microsoft 365 Prerequisite certification (exam)

Please note, any cost related to writing exams (should you decide to) and receiving a certificate will be at your own cost.

Option 1 – Exam MD-102: Endpoint Administrator

Option 2 – Exam MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams

Option 3 – Exam SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

Option 4 – Exam SC-400: Administering Information Protection and Compliance in Microsoft 365

3️⃣ Step 3: Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert (self-paced learning path)

You are required to complete the following Microsoft 365 Administrator learning path before attempting the official Microsoft 365 Administrator Exam. Please note, any cost related to writing exams (should you decide to) and receiving a certificate will be your responsibility.

MS – 102 Microsoft 365 Administrator: Learning Path

Total time investment: 27 hours
Practice exam - Practice Assessment for Exam MS-102: Microsoft 365 Administrator
Skills that are measured in the exam include:
- Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant (25-30%)
- Implement and manage identity and access in Microsoft Entra ID (25 – 30%)
- Manage security and threats by using Microsoft 365 Defender (25 – 30%)
- Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview (15 – 20%)

4️⃣ Step 4: Microsoft 365 Administrator certification (exam)

Please note, any cost related to writing exams (should you decide to) and receiving a certificate will be at your own cost.

Exam MS-102: Microsoft 365 Administrator

5️⃣ Step 5: Additional required learning (self-paced learning path)

The following additional required learning will assist the learner in meeting the required behavioral competencies for an IT-02 level. In addition, included courses on cybersecurity are essential for all IT practitioners.

Total time investment: 9 hours, 30 minutes

Using Strategic Thinking to Consider the Big Picture (csps-efpc.gc.ca) Big picture thinking stretches beyond short term goals to consider how an organization can succeed in the longer term. This online self paced course explores how to develop a sense of the big picture using the ideas of systems thinking, including broadening one's perspective, working with paradoxes, understanding causality, and assessing internal and external factors. Participants will learn how their decisions connect with their organization's strategic plans and value chain, and what actions they can take to encourage big picture thinking in their workplace
Defining Alternative Solutions to a Problem (csps-efpc.gc.ca) Solving complex problems often involves devising multiple solutions each with their own pros and cons. This online self paced course examines different approaches to problem solving, including defining ideal states and generating practical solutions to difficult problems. Participants will learn to apply different problem solving techniques, including group brainstorming, to help avoid common pitfalls when choosing between multiple solutions
Rapport Building in Customer Service (csps-efpc.gc.ca) Building rapport with customers or clients requires understanding their situation and listening empathetically to their concerns. This online self paced course offers recommendations on how to build good rapport with customers by paying close attention to their needs, staying positive, and finding ways to connect with them. Participants will learn how to empathize with customers by acknowledging their feelings and reflecting back their emotions, thereby normalizing their concerns
Delivering Inclusive Client Service (csps-efpc.gc.ca) A client - centric approach is one that focuses on addressing client or user expectations, needs, challenges and feedback. This course explores the benefits of applying an inclusive mindset as part of client service delivery in a government context. Participants will reflect on behaviors and practices that encourage inclusiveness and how to integrate it when delivering services to clients
Information Management in the Government of Canada (csps-efpc.gc.ca) The proper management of information and data government organizations is essential for the effective delivery of programs and services in the Government of Canada. This online self paced course examines the strategic role, guiding principles and complex infrastructure of information management (IM) systems across the Government of Canada. Participants will explore trends and factors affecting information management and gain a better understanding of the legislative and policy frameworks in which it operates
IT Security Fundamentals for IT Practitioners To do their jobs, information technology practitioners must be equipped with the information and resources they need to perform common IT security tasks. This online self paced course offers an overview of information technology (IT) security policies, processes and procedures relevant to the role of IT practitioners in the federal public service. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of IT security that can be adapted to organizational contexts across the Government of Canada
Introduction to IT Security Management This online course offers all security practitioners an opportunity to gain initial awareness of Information Technology (IT) security management. It introduces learners to the threat, legal, policy and business contexts for IT security and provides an overview of typical GC IT security context that will enable them to support IT in the GC

📝 Exams

Booking your exam

You can choose to book exams at any time that is convenient for you, ensuring that the exam is completed by the specified timeline. Please note, any cost related to writing exams and receiving a certificate will be your responsibility.

You can schedule an exam on the Microsoft Learn platform up to 90 days before your exam date. Review the Register and schedule an exam page on Microsoft learn for details on scheduling your exam.

Exam details

Review the following documentation if you have any questions regarding the examination process.

Exam accommodations

If you require accommodations for your exam, please review the following:

Digital Talent/M365 LP

Contents