MS-700 vs MS-102: Which Microsoft 365 Certification Should You Choose?
Both are Microsoft 365 Associate certifications — but they target different roles. Here's the clear comparison, scope breakdown, and which to take first.
Quick Answer
Take MS-102 if you administer the broader Microsoft 365 tenant — identity, security, compliance, and all workloads. It is the M365 Administrator credential.
Take MS-700 if you specialize in Teams administration — governance, voice, devices, and Teams-specific troubleshooting. It is the Teams Administrator credential.
The Core Difference in One Paragraph
MS-102 is broad — it validates that you can administer the entire Microsoft 365 tenant: identity (Entra ID Connect, hybrid identity), security (Defender for Office 365, Conditional Access), compliance (Purview DLP, retention, eDiscovery), Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Intune basics, and Teams at a survey level. MS-700 is deep — it validates that you can administer Microsoft Teams specifically: governance, security and compliance for Teams content, meetings and webinars, Teams Phone (auto attendants, call queues, voice routing, emergency calling), and Call Quality Dashboard troubleshooting.
Picking the right one starts with one question: is your day-to-day focused on the M365 tenant overall, or specifically on Teams?
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | MS-700 | MS-102 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Managing Microsoft Teams | Microsoft 365 Administrator |
| Level | Associate | Associate |
| Primary focus | Teams administration only | Full M365 tenant administration |
| Identity (Entra ID Connect, hybrid) | Survey level | Deep |
| Security (Defender for Office 365) | Not covered | Deep |
| Compliance (Purview) | Teams-specific only | Tenant-wide |
| Exchange Online | Not covered | Deep |
| SharePoint Online | Not covered | Deep |
| Teams (governance, lifecycle) | Deep | Survey level |
| Teams Phone (voice routing, AA/CQ) | Deep | Not covered |
| Teams Rooms / devices | Covered | Not covered |
| Call Quality Dashboard | Deep | Not covered |
| Questions / time | 40–60 / 65 min | 40–60 / 120 min |
| Passing score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Cost | $165 USD | $165 USD |
| Typical prep time | 6–10 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Best for | Teams admins, Collaboration Engineers | M365 admins, generalists, tenant admins |
What MS-700 Covers
MS-700 is the Teams-specialized credential. Four domains:
- • Configure and manage a Teams environment (40–45%) — network planning, security, governance, lifecycle, external collaboration, devices
- • Manage teams, channels, chats, and apps (20–25%) — team types, channels (standard, private, shared), chat and messaging policies, app management
- • Manage meetings and calling (15–20%) — meeting policies, webinars, town halls, Teams Phone, auto attendants, call queues, emergency calling
- • Monitor, report on, and troubleshoot Teams (15–20%) — CQD, per-call analytics, usage reports, client troubleshooting
Every domain is Teams-specific. Other M365 workloads do not appear.
What MS-102 Covers
MS-102 is the broad M365 Administrator credential. Three domain clusters:
- • Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant — tenant configuration, identity sync with Entra ID Connect, hybrid identity, custom domains, license management, role-based access control
- • Implement and manage identity and access — Entra ID users and groups, Conditional Access, multifactor authentication, Privileged Identity Management, identity protection
- • Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR — Defender for Office 365 (anti-phishing, Safe Links, Safe Attachments), Defender for Endpoint basics, Defender for Identity, security alerts
- • Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview — sensitivity labels, DLP, retention policies, eDiscovery across all M365 workloads
MS-102 also covers Teams at a survey level (basic policies, meeting settings, app management) but not Teams Phone or CQD.
Decision Framework
Take MS-102 first if you are:
- • An M365 administrator responsible for the whole tenant
- • An IT generalist moving into M365 administration
- • Building toward MS-700 or SC-300 later
- • Focused on identity, security, and compliance across all workloads
- • An Exchange or SharePoint admin expanding into M365 administration
Take MS-700 first if you are:
- • A Teams administrator focused specifically on Teams
- • A Collaboration Engineer or Unified Communications admin
- • Already MS-102 certified and looking to specialize
- • Managing Teams Phone, voice routing, or Teams Rooms
- • Building toward MS-721 (Collaboration Communications)
Take both (most senior M365 admins do):
- • You manage the M365 tenant AND specialize in Teams
- • You are pursuing the M365 Enterprise Administrator Expert credential
- • You want the strongest signal for senior collaboration roles
- • Sequence: MS-102 first (8–12 weeks), then MS-700 (6–8 weeks)
Common Scenarios
"I am a help desk lead moving toward M365 admin roles"
Take MS-102. It covers the broad foundation you need to operate any M365 administrator role. After 1–2 years in an M365 admin role, add MS-700 if Teams becomes a significant focus.
"I administer Teams day-to-day, never touch Exchange or SharePoint"
Take MS-700. It maps directly to your role. MS-102 would be valuable later if you ever broaden your scope, but is not the right first credential for a Teams specialist.
"I want to manage Teams Phone with Direct Routing and Calling Plans"
Take MS-700 first. For deeper Teams Phone expertise (SBC configuration, Operator Connect, advanced voice routing, Teams Rooms), follow with MS-721 (Collaboration Communications). MS-102 does not cover Teams Phone.
"My company values broad tenant admin skills over Teams depth"
Take MS-102. The broader scope signals tenant-administrator capability that hiring managers in M365 generalist roles look for. Add MS-700 only if Teams becomes a significant part of your role.
"I have MS-102 and now want a deeper Teams credential"
Take MS-700. The MS-102 foundation transfers — Entra ID basics, sensitivity labels, information barriers, external collaboration. Plan 6–8 weeks of focused MS-700 prep with emphasis on Teams Phone (which MS-102 does not cover at all).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MS-700 and MS-102?
MS-700 (Managing Microsoft Teams) focuses on Teams administration only — governance, security, meetings, Teams Phone, and Teams troubleshooting. MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator) covers the broader Microsoft 365 tenant including identity, security, compliance, and all M365 workloads (Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, Defender). MS-700 is deep on Teams; MS-102 is broad across all M365.
Which is harder, MS-700 or MS-102?
MS-102 is generally harder because it covers a broader scope — identity management, security, compliance, Exchange, SharePoint, and Teams at survey level. MS-700 is narrower but deeper on Teams specifics. Candidates with prior Teams experience often find MS-700 more approachable. Candidates with broad M365 admin experience often find MS-102 more approachable. Both are Associate level.
Should I take MS-700 or MS-102 first?
Take MS-102 first if you manage the broader M365 environment including identity, security, and compliance across all workloads. Take MS-700 first if you work primarily in Teams administration and want depth in Teams governance, voice, and troubleshooting. Many M365 administrators eventually earn both — MS-102 as the broad foundation, MS-700 as the Teams specialization.
Do MS-700 and MS-102 overlap?
There is roughly 15–20% overlap, primarily in Microsoft Entra ID basics, security and compliance fundamentals, sensitivity labels, information barriers, and external collaboration. Both exams test these at slightly different depths. Studying for one builds a meaningful foundation for the other, but neither replaces the other.
What does MS-102 cover that MS-700 does not?
MS-102 covers Microsoft 365 tenant identity (Entra ID Connect, sync, hybrid identity), Exchange Online administration, SharePoint Online administration, Microsoft Purview compliance solutions (DLP, retention, eDiscovery across all M365), Microsoft Defender for Office 365, and tenant-level governance. MS-700 covers none of these in depth.
What does MS-700 cover that MS-102 does not?
MS-700 covers Teams-specific governance and lifecycle, Teams Phone (Calling Plans, Operator Connect, Direct Routing basics, auto attendants, call queues, voice routing, emergency calling), Teams meetings and town halls, Teams devices and Rooms, and Call Quality Dashboard troubleshooting. MS-102 only covers Teams at a survey level — none of these depths are tested.
Can I take both MS-700 and MS-102?
Yes — and many M365 administrators do. The combined credential signals both broad tenant administration (MS-102) and Teams specialization (MS-700). Typical sequencing is MS-102 first (broad foundation), then MS-700 (Teams depth). Plan 8–12 weeks for MS-102 and 6–8 weeks for MS-700 if pursuing both.
Is MS-700 worth it if I already have MS-102?
Yes if Teams administration is a significant part of your role. MS-102 validates that you can manage Teams at a survey level — basic policies, app management, meeting settings. MS-700 validates deep Teams expertise: governance, Teams Phone, troubleshooting, devices. For Teams-focused roles, MS-700 is the more relevant credential. For broad M365 admin roles, MS-102 is sufficient.
How long should I study for each?
MS-700: 6–10 weeks for new candidates, 4–6 weeks for current Teams admins. MS-102: 8–12 weeks for new candidates, 6–8 weeks for current M365 admins. MS-102 typically requires more time because of its broader scope across identity, security, compliance, and all workloads. Candidates new to M365 administration should plan extra time on Entra ID basics for MS-102.
What salary differences should I expect?
Both certifications support similar salary ranges in the $80K–$140K USD band depending on region, experience, and role focus. MS-102 holders typically fit broader "M365 Administrator" job titles. MS-700 holders typically fit "Teams Administrator", "Collaboration Engineer", or "Teams Operations" titles. Salary depends more on years of experience and the specific role than on which credential you hold.
Which is better for career growth in 2026?
Both have strong demand. Teams is the dominant collaboration platform in enterprises, making MS-700 highly relevant for Teams-focused roles. MS-102 remains the broad M365 administrator credential and is widely recognized for tenant administration roles. The right answer depends on whether you want to specialize in Teams (MS-700) or remain broad across all M365 workloads (MS-102). Both lead to good career outcomes — they lead in different directions.
Going with MS-700?
500 practice questions covering Teams environment, governance, Teams Phone, and CQD.
Practice MS-700 FreeGoing with MS-102?
500 practice questions covering identity, security, compliance, and all M365 workloads.
Practice MS-102 Free