Frequently Asked Questions
Bing Ads Academy is now Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab! The site has undergone a visual transformation but still includes the same great quick content and the Certified Professional exam (formerly Bing Ads Accredited Professional).
Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab
Q: What is Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab?
A: Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab offers free, on-demand, online learning courses to help you better understand the Microsoft Advertising interface, tools and best practices for maximizing your campaigns and investment with Microsoft Advertising.
Q: How do I participate?
A: To get started on Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab courses, simply click the “Sign in” link in the upper right-hand corner. If you share your Microsoft Advertising credentials with other users, please enter your own unique Microsoft account credentials. Once signed in, you will be able to access various learning topics directly from the homepage. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you have the option to set one up.
Q: Do I need a Microsoft Advertising account to use Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab?
A: No, but you do need a Microsoft account.
Q: How do I sign-up for a Microsoft Account?
A: Go to the Microsoft account sign-up page and select No account? Create one!
- Fill out the form with your information and create a password. Use the “Use your email instead”, “Use a phone number instead”, or “Get a new email address” links to change how you sign up.
- Select Next.
Get more help setting up and managing your Microsoft account.
Q: At my company, we share a single Microsoft Advertising platform login to manage our account - can we all use the same login here?
A: Each individual should have their own unique login for Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab. This allows you to keep your own personal history on your course activity. We suggest linking any new Microsoft accounts to your Microsoft Advertising platform account.
Q: Are there costs associated with using Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab?
A: No, the program is free to everyone.
Q: Is Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab available in other languages?
A: At this time, Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab is available in English only.
Q: How do I provide feedback or ideas for Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab?
A: Email us at adlrnlab@microsoft.com.
Q: I forgot my password. How do I retrieve my password?
A: To retrieve your password, visit the Reset Password page.
Q: I received an error message, what do I do?
A: Contact us at adlrnlab@microsoft.com – we’d be happy to troubleshoot with you.
Q: How is Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab different from Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional?
A: Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab offers free, on-demand, online learning courses to help you better understand the Microsoft Advertising interface, tools and best practices for maximizing your campaigns and investment with Microsoft Advertising.
- Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional membership requires users to pass an exam to become certified. Continued membership requires users to retake and pass the exam annually.
- Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional is available in multiple languages and offers a badge to members.
Learning Lab Courses
Q: How are the courses designed?
A: Microsoft Advertising Learning Lab offers learning experiences on various topics related to setting up and optimizing your Microsoft Advertising campaigns. Each topic is broken into 2-7 min modules, ranging from beginner to intermediate instruction.
Q: Do I need to complete the courses in order?
A: No, courses are a la carte. We do, however, recommend completing in order if a particular topic is new to you.
Q: Are there badges for course completion?
A: No, not at this time. We are constantly exploring ways to make the program more engaging and welcome your feedback (adlrnlab@microsoft.com).
Q: Do I need to answer all the questions in a course correctly to pass?
A: No. The goal of Learning Lab courses are to help you learn about Microsoft Advertising’s platform and features at your own pace. You can review the content and answer each course’s questions as many times as needed. Completion of a course is simply based on reaching the final “Congratulations” page at the end of the course.
Q: I didn’t get credit for a course I completed, how can I fix that?
A: Email us at adlrnlab@microsoft.com to report the error and we’ll get it fixed ASAP.
Q: When are you adding more topics and courses?
A: We are constantly expanding the course catalog and will be adding new courseware frequently. To request a topic, please provide feedback (adlrnlab@microsoft.com).
Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional
Q: What is the Certified Professional program?
A: The Certified Professional program offers free study materials that can help you grow your business through better management and optimization of your Microsoft Advertising campaigns. By becoming a Certified Professional, you will build your resume, raise your corporate profile, and market your new knowledge and digital advertising skills in Microsoft Advertising.
Q: How do I participate?
A: To get started, take advantage of our Certification study guide to view the free study materials. If you are interested in becoming a Certified Professional, visit your dashboard to launch the Certified Professional exam in your preferred language and achieve a passing score of at least 80 percent. If you share your Microsoft Advertising credentials with other users, please enter your own unique Microsoft account credentials. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you have the option to set one up.
Q: What are the requirements for becoming a member of the Certified Professional program?
A: To achieve member status in the Certified Professional program, you must achieve a passing score of at least 80 percent on the exam.
Q: What are the benefits of the Certified Professional program?
A: The Certified Professional program will give you the training and resources you need to become a Microsoft Advertising user expert. As a Certified Professional, you will receive these program benefits:
- Use of the official Certified Professional badge in your marketing materials.
- A printable certificate to showcase your expertise.
- Recognition in our membership directory (optional). This includes the ability to link to your website and social media platforms from your membership profile page.
- Build your resume.
Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional Exam
Q: Is reviewing the study guide materials mandatory?
A: Though we recommend viewing all the study guide materials, it is not mandatory.
Q: How do I know that I have passed the exam?
A: When you are done with the exam, click the “Submit Exam” button to see your results. Return to your dashboard to view your status. If you have passed, you can download your certificate and Certified Professional badge.
Q: How long is the exam?
A: The exam contains 100 questions for new members. If you are renewing your Certified Professional status or your status has expired, the test will only contain 50 questions.
Q: Is the exam timed?
A: No. You have unlimited time to complete the exam. Take the exam when it’s convenient for you – pause it at any time if you need to take a break, close the exam window, or even shut down your PC. You can always pick up where you left off.
Q: What happens if I don’t pass the exam?
A: If you do not pass the exam, you may retake the exam at any time and as many times as needed.
Q: Once I’m a Certified Professional, will I ever have to retake the exam?
A: Your Certified Professional status is good for one year. Prior to expiration, you will receive an email notification to retake the exam.
Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional Membership
Q: Are there different levels of membership?
A: No. Once you’ve passed the program exam, you become a Certified Professional and enjoy all the benefits the program offers.
Q: What is the benefit of inclusion in the Membership Directory?
A: Inclusion in the directory promotes members’ Microsoft Advertising expertise in a searchable format to peers, colleagues, managers and/or clients.
Q: How can I tell if a person is an authentic Certified Professional?
A: You can view the list of active Certified Professionals in our Membership directory.
Q: Can I use the badge anywhere?
A: While we encourage use of the Certified Professional badge, please refer to the badge usage guidelines for specific information about how and where you may do so.
Q: Can anyone use my badge?
A: No. The badge is nontransferable and only the assigned individual may use it.
Q: How do I update my company on my certificate?
A: Visit your Membership profile edit page to update your company information. Once you have submitted your changes, you will see a confirmation page. Please allow a minute for changes to sync with the system before you download a new certificate that reflects your updated information.
Q: How is the Microsoft Advertising Certified Professional program different from the Microsoft Advertising Partner Program?
A: The Certified Professional status is given to individuals who have successfully passed the exam. The Microsoft Advertising Partner Program requires that businesses and agencies have a specified number of Certified Professional members in order to achieve Partner status. Benefits of Partner status include sales incentives, exclusive events and awards, technology enablement and more.