The short version
Microsoft lists no required certification before AB-620. It does describe the experience it expects, and that list is long. If you can tick most of the self-check below, you are ready to start studying in earnest. If you cannot, build first and study the exam later.
What is required
On the AB-620 certification page, Microsoft names no prerequisite certification or exam. You register, pay the fee for your country or region, and sit the exam. There is no formal gate.
What Microsoft recommends
Microsoft’s audience profile says candidates should be familiar with:
- Power Fx
- Microsoft Dataverse
- Microsoft Power Platform environments and components
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Microsoft Foundry
- Adaptive cards
It also expects intermediate knowledge of generative AI concepts, namely models, orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, the Model Context Protocol, and the Agent2Agent protocol, plus experience with prompt engineering, REST APIs, and integration patterns. Finally, it expects you to have configured agents in Copilot Studio with basic knowledge sources, instructions, tools, and topics.
Microsoft says you will collaborate with Microsoft 365 administrators, Power Platform administrators, Foundry administrators, and architects. So you should also understand governance concepts, even if you do not own them.
Skills self-check
Answer honestly. “Yes” means you have done it, not just read about it.
Agent basics
- I have created an agent with instructions, knowledge, tools, and topics.
- I can explain what a topic variable is and how it differs from a global variable.
- I have used a generative answers node and an adaptive card.
Platform knowledge
- I can write a simple Power Fx expression.
- I know what a Dataverse environment and a solution are.
- I know the difference between a managed and an unmanaged solution.
Integration
- I have called a REST API or used a custom connector.
- I can describe what MCP and A2A are for.
- I have built a flow that an agent can call.
Governance and operations
- I know what a data policy does to a connector.
- I know how I would test an agent beyond chatting with it.
- I have moved something between environments.
Count your yeses. Ten or more suggests you can follow the study plan as written. Six to nine means plan the longer route and spend your first weeks building. Five or fewer means build agents for a while before booking. These bands are our own rule of thumb, not a Microsoft measure.
If you are missing something
- Power Fx or REST: write small examples in a test agent until you can read an expression without help.
- Solutions and environments: create a solution, put an agent in it, export it, and import it into a second environment.
- Generative AI concepts: learn RAG, MCP, and A2A well enough to explain each in two sentences.
- Multi-agent work: build a main agent with one child agent and one connected agent.
Microsoft’s study guide links documentation, learning material, and a practice assessment hosted on AI Skills Navigator. The guide says to train and get hands-on experience before the exam. Our how to study for IT certification exams page explains how to combine building, reading, and practice questions.
More guides for AB-620
- AB-620 Exam Format, Scoring, and Retakes
- AB-620 Domains Explained With Weightings
- AB-620 Sample Questions With Answers
- Is AB-620 Hard? An Honest Difficulty Check
- AB-620 Renewal and Retakes Explained
- Is AB-620 Worth It? An Honest Look
- AB-620 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- AB-620 vs AI-103: Which Exam First?
- Agentforce Specialist vs AB-620: Which First?
- AB-100 vs AB-620: Which Exam First?
Next step
Once the self-check looks good, open the study plan and pick a schedule. When you want to test your knowledge, try the AB-620 practice tests. The vendor’s own expectations are in the AB-620 study guide.