SharePoint & Power Platform Roadmap: skills, roles and career paths
Whether you work with SharePoint and want to move into Power Apps, Power Automate or Power BI, need to catch up on what changed in 2026, or are starting a Microsoft 365 career, this roadmap shows the skills each role needs, what it pays and the free tutorials that get you there.
Roadmap by Bijay Kumar, 13x Microsoft MVP · reviewed October 2026Choose your goal
Most readers already work with Microsoft 365 and want to grow. Others are just starting. Pick the goal that fits you and jump straight to it.
Upgrade in your current role
Already working with SharePoint or the Power Platform? Pick your role and fill the gaps in your skills, in order.
See the role roadmapsMove into a new role
SharePoint user moving to Power Apps? Excel analyst moving to Power BI? Compare the four roles and what they pay.
Compare the rolesCatch up on what changed
SharePoint 2013 workflows are gone and several Power Platform exams changed in 2026. See what it means for you.
What changed in 2026Start a Microsoft 365 career
New to IT, returning after a break or switching careers? Follow the step-by-step starter path and build a portfolio.
Start from zeroOr go straight to a tutorial hub
Each hub lists every tutorial for one product, grouped by task, from the basics to advanced topics.
Four in-demand roles at a glance
What each role builds, the skills it needs, what it pays in the US and the certification that goes with it. Select a role to see its learning path.
| Role | What you build | Core skills | US average pay | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SharePoint Specialist | Intranets, team sites, list and library solutions | Sites, lists, libraries, web parts, JSON formatting, permissions | $95,624$67.5K–$114.5K | PL-900 (no SharePoint-only exam) |
| Power Apps Developer | Business apps on SharePoint and Dataverse | Power Apps, Power Fx, Power Automate, Dataverse | $109,490$88K–$126K | PL-900, then AB-410 or AB-400 |
| Power Automate Developer | Approvals, notifications and desktop automation | Cloud flows, expressions, approvals, Power Automate desktop | $123,611$113K–$136K | PL-900, then AB-410 |
| Power BI Developer | Reports and dashboards | Power Query, data modeling, DAX, visuals | $111,882$91.5K–$128K | PL-300 |
Salaries are US averages from ZipRecruiter’s salary pages for each job title (SharePoint Specialist, Power App Developer, Power Automate Developer and Power BI Developer), checked in October 2026; the range is the middle 50%. Salary sites report different numbers, and pay varies a lot by experience, location and employer.
Learning paths for each role
Each path lists the skills in the order I recommend, with free tutorials for every step. If you already know a step, skip it and move to the next.
SharePoint Specialist
Office and IT staff who look after SharePoint sites, and power users who want to own their team’s intranet.
What you do: You set up sites, lists and libraries, design pages with web parts, format lists with JSON, manage permissions and sharing, and automate list processes with Power Automate.
- 1Sites, lists and libraries
- 2Pages and web parts
- 3JSON formatting for lists, views and forms
- 4Permissions, sharing and approvals
Full tutorial hub: SharePoint Tutorials · Power Automate Tutorials
Power Apps Developer
SharePoint power users, business analysts and developers who want to deliver business apps faster.
What you do: You build canvas and model-driven apps, write Power Fx, automate processes with Power Automate and model data in Dataverse, with security roles and solutions for moving apps between environments.
- 1Canvas apps from SharePoint
- 2Power Automate with Power Apps
- 3Dataverse and model-driven apps
- 4Reusable, maintainable apps
Full tutorial hub: Power Apps Tutorials · Power Automate Tutorials
Power Automate Developer
Anyone who spends hours on repeat work: SharePoint users, analysts, IT support staff and Power Apps makers.
What you do: You build cloud flows that react to SharePoint, Outlook and Teams events, route approvals, write expressions, and automate desktop apps and Excel with Power Automate desktop.
- 1Your first cloud flows
- 2SharePoint data and approvals
- 3Variables, loops and expressions
- 4
Full tutorial hub: Power Automate Tutorials · SharePoint Tutorials
Power BI Developer
Analysts, Excel users and SharePoint owners who want to turn list and spreadsheet data into reports people use.
What you do: You connect Power BI to SharePoint lists, Excel and other sources, shape the data, write DAX measures and build reports with the right visuals and slicers.
- 1Your first report
- 2DAX basics
- 3Visuals and slicers
- 4Power BI with the Power Platform
Full tutorial hub: Power BI Tutorials
Want a structured course? Take the SPGuides courses
The free tutorials cover every role on this page. If you prefer video lessons in the right order, with exercises and mentor support, the SPGuides courses follow the same paths.
- Self-paced video lessons you can follow at your own speed
- PDFs and source files for the exercises
- Mentor support and monthly live sessions
- One all-access membership for a year, covering every course
| Course | What you learn | Format |
|---|---|---|
| SharePoint Online | Sites, lists, libraries, pages, web parts and permissions | 6 modules · beginner to intermediate |
| Power Automate | Cloud flows, approvals, expressions, error handling | 5 modules |
| Power Apps | Canvas apps, forms, galleries, Power Fx, SharePoint | 6 modules |
| Power BI | Data preparation, modeling, DAX, reports | 4 modules |
What changed in 2026, and what it means for you
If you learned SharePoint or the Power Platform a few years ago, these are the changes to catch up on first. All dates are from Microsoft’s documentation.
| Change | Date | What it means | Where to learn it |
|---|---|---|---|
| SharePoint 2013 workflows were fully retired | April 2, 2026 | Workflows built in SharePoint Designer 2013 no longer run. Rebuild them in Power Automate. Automated cloud flows | See the role |
| PL-200 was replaced by AB-410 | August 31, 2026 | Makers and functional consultants now take AB-410 (Intelligent Applications Builder). | See the role |
| PL-400 is being replaced by AB-400 | October 16, 2026 | PL-400 registration closed; Power Platform developers take AB-400 (Power Platform Developer). | See the role |
Start a Microsoft 365 career with SharePoint and the Power Platform
New to IT, returning after a career gap or switching from another field? Follow these six stages in order. At about an hour a day, most people reach job-ready basics in four to six months, then choose one of the roles above.
| Stage | What to learn | Start with | You’re ready when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Microsoft 365 basics and a free practice environmentWeeks 1–2 | OneDrive vs SharePoint vs Teams Microsoft Lists vs SharePoint lists | You know when to use OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams |
| Stage 2 | SharePoint Online: sites, lists, libraries, permissionsWeeks 3–5 | What is a SharePoint list? Document libraries Permissions All SharePoint tutorials → | You can build a department site with the right permissions |
| Stage 3 | Power Automate: cloud flows and approvalsWeeks 6–8 | Your first automated flow Approvals and reminders All Power Automate tutorials → | Your flow routes a request for approval and emails the result |
| Stage 4 | Power Apps: canvas apps on SharePointWeeks 9–12 | Build your first app Forms All Power Apps tutorials → | You can build a leave request app that starts a flow |
| Stage 5 | Choose a role and go deeperMonths 4–5 | Pick a role roadmap above | You can build one solution in your role without a tutorial |
| Stage 6 | Portfolio and certificationMonth 6 | The practice projects below The certification for your role | You have three projects you can show and explain |
Build a portfolio with these practice projects
Tips for your situation
Freshers
- Build three of the projects and write each up: the problem, what you built and a screenshot.
- Use the free Power Apps Developer Plan so you can build without a paid license.
Returning after a break
- Show what you learned since the gap: list your projects with the month you built them.
- Spend extra time on what’s new: modern SharePoint pages, Power Automate and Dataverse.
Career switchers
- Automate a process from your old job as your first project. It shows business value.
- Your domain knowledge in HR, finance or operations is an advantage. Put it next to your new skills.
Prefer a teacher? Join the live training
The SharePoint & Power Platform Live Training on SPGuides is taught live by Bijay Kumar, with real projects you build along the way.
- 4 weeks of live online classes, Monday to Friday
- 2 hours of live training plus 30 minutes for questions each day
- SharePoint, Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse
- Real business projects, with recordings for revision
- A resume, portfolio and interview preparation session
- One year of course access after the training
Who it suits
- Microsoft 365 admins and IT support staff
- SharePoint users adding Power Platform skills
- Freshers starting a Microsoft 365 career
- Professionals returning after a career break
The most-read tutorials right now
Whatever your role, you’ll run into the same errors and questions as everyone else. These are the tutorials readers open most from Google Search.
Frequently asked questions
Which SharePoint or Power Platform role pays the most?
Of the four roles on this page, Power Automate Developer had the highest US average on ZipRecruiter in October 2026 ($123,611), followed by Power BI Developer ($111,882), Power Apps Developer ($109,490) and SharePoint Specialist ($95,624). Pay depends far more on experience, location and employer than on the job title, so treat these as a rough guide.
Is SharePoint still worth learning in 2026?
Yes. SharePoint is where most Microsoft 365 organizations keep their documents, lists and intranet pages, and it’s the data source behind many Power Apps and Power Automate solutions. Learn modern SharePoint Online, not the retired SharePoint 2013 workflows.
Should I learn Power Apps or Power Automate first?
Start with Power Automate if your work is mostly repeat tasks, emails and approvals. Start with Power Apps if people need a form or an app to enter data. Most jobs expect both, and they work together: the app collects the data and a flow processes it.
Are SharePoint lists enough, or do I need Dataverse?
SharePoint lists are fine for small team apps and for learning. Dataverse adds relationships, security roles and solutions that larger employers expect, so learn it once you’re comfortable building apps on lists.
How long does it take to move into a new role?
For someone already working in Microsoft 365, two to three months of about an hour a day is usually enough to learn a new role’s core skills and build one or two projects. Starting from zero takes about four to six months with the starter path on this page.
Can I practice for free?
Yes. The Power Apps Developer Plan is free and gives you a developer environment with Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse for development and testing (750 flow runs a month and 2 GB of Dataverse). You need a work or school account to sign up. For SharePoint, you can use a Microsoft 365 trial.
Which Microsoft certification should I take?
Start with PL-900 (Power Platform Fundamentals). Then choose by role: AB-410 for app makers and automation, AB-400 for Power Platform developers, or PL-300 for Power BI. Several Power Platform exams changed in 2026, so check the exam page on Microsoft Learn before you book.
Pick your next step
Choose a role roadmap, open the first tutorial and build along. Come back to this page whenever you’re ready for the next step.