Update (September 2026): AI-900 and AI-102 retired on June 30, 2026. Their replacements, AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) and AI-103 (Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate), are the current exams. For the current path, see the AI-103 Study Guide.
Microsoft has officially announced the biggest overhaul to its AI certification track in years. If you're studying for - or already hold - the AI-900 or AI-102, this directly affects you.
The short version: both exams retired on June 30, 2026, and were replaced by next-generation certifications built around Azure AI Foundry, agentic AI, and multi-agent orchestration.
Here's everything you need to know.
The AI Job Boom Is Real - Microsoft Is Responding
According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, advances in AI and technology could create 78 million new jobs by 2030. Microsoft isn't standing still - they're launching 9 new certifications across cloud, AI, and security to match these evolving roles.
As Elisa Graceffo, GM of Global Skilling at Microsoft, put it:
"We're in the middle of a once-in-a-generation shift in how work gets done. We're evolving certifications as fast as roles are changing."
The new exams reflect the shift from standalone AI services to integrated, agent-driven architectures - exactly the kind of skills employers are hiring for right now.
What Retired and When
| Retired Exam | Retired On | Replacement Exam |
|---|---|---|
| AI-900 - Azure AI Fundamentals | June 30, 2026 | AI-901 - Azure AI Fundamentals |
| AI-102 - Azure AI Engineer Associate | June 30, 2026 | AI-103 - Azure AI App & Agent Developer Associate |
| DP-100 - Azure Data Scientist Associate | June 1, 2026 | AI-300 - MLOps Engineer Associate |
| AZ-204 - Azure Developer Associate | July 31, 2026 | AI-200 - Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate |
| AZ-500 - Azure Security Engineer | August 31, 2026 | SC-500 - Cloud & AI Security Engineer Associate |
If you already hold one of these certifications, your credential remains valid on your transcript until it expires. Fundamentals certifications (like AI-900) don't expire at all. What you can no longer do is take, retake or renew a retired exam.
Try a real Azure AI lab, free
A pre-provisioned Azure environment in your browser. No Azure account, no credit card, no setup.
Most large enterprises already run on Microsoft infrastructure. Azure AI Foundry is the platform those teams use to build and deploy AI apps, so the skills you practice here map directly to real job demand.
Meet the New Exams
AI-901 - Azure AI Fundamentals (Replaces AI-900)
Status: Live now · Beta: April 2026 · Training: March 2026
AI-901 keeps the fundamentals focus but shifts the lens to Microsoft Foundry (formerly Azure AI Studio). Instead of just understanding what AI is, you'll learn how to build modern AI apps and agents on Microsoft's integrated platform. This is the new entry point for anyone starting their AI certification journey.
Key differences from AI-900:
- Emphasis on Microsoft Foundry instead of standalone Cognitive Services
- Covers AI application building, not just concepts
- Introduction to agentic AI patterns at the fundamentals level
AI-103 - Azure AI App & Agent Developer Associate (Replaces AI-102)
Status: Live now · Beta: April 2026 · Training: March 2026
This is the big one. AI-103 completely reimagines what it means to be an Azure AI engineer. The exam covers:
- Planning and managing AI resources in Microsoft Foundry
- Building generative AI applications with multi-step reasoning workflows
- Developing production-ready agents with multi-agent orchestration
- Working with the latest Azure OpenAI Service capabilities
Where AI-102 tested you on Cognitive Services APIs (many of which are being consolidated or retired), AI-103 tests real-world skills for building the AI applications companies actually need in 2026.
What About AI-200 and AI-300?
Microsoft is also introducing two more associate-level certifications that expand the AI ecosystem:
AI-200 - Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (Replaces AZ-204)
Beta & training: April 2026 · Go-live: July 2026
For developers who build, integrate, and monitor AI solutions on Azure using containerized compute, vector-enabled databases, event-driven AI pipelines, serverless functions, and distributed observability.
AI-300 - MLOps Engineer Associate (Replaces DP-100)
Beta & training: March 2026 · Go-live: May 2026
For professionals who deploy, operationalize, and maintain ML and generative AI solutions in production - covering automation, governance, monitoring, and optimization.
Together with AI-103, these three certifications form a comprehensive AI engineering skill set:
- AI-103 → Build AI apps and agents
- AI-200 → Deploy and scale AI on cloud infrastructure
- AI-300 → Operationalize and govern ML/AI in production
Starting a new exam? Get the study guide
One-page summary of old vs new exams, key dates, and a recommended study order.
What This Means for Your Career
If you're currently studying for AI-102 or AI-900 and haven't registered for the exam yet, Microsoft recommends switching to the new exam track immediately. Training materials for AI-901 and AI-103 are expected to be available from March 2026.
If you've already passed AI-102 or AI-900, your certification is still valid. But the job market is moving fast - the skills tested in AI-103 (agentic AI, multi-agent orchestration, Microsoft Foundry) are exactly what hiring managers are looking for.
Here's the pragmatic advice:
- Don't start studying for AI-102 or AI-900 now - pivot to AI-103 or AI-901 instead
- If you already hold AI-102, consider earning AI-103 to signal current skills
- Watch for beta exam opportunities - beta exams are often discounted and let you certify early
- Get hands-on with Microsoft Foundry (formerly Azure AI Studio) - this is the foundation of every new AI exam
How to Prepare Now
The new exams are built around hands-on, practical skills. Reading documentation alone won't cut it - you need actual experience building and deploying AI solutions in Azure.
Here's how to get ahead:
- Explore Microsoft Foundry - set up a project, deploy a model, build a simple agent
- Practice with real labs - hands-on labs that give you a live Azure environment are the fastest way to build exam-ready skills
- Follow the official training paths - Microsoft Learn modules for AI-901 and AI-103 are rolling out now
- Join the community - the Microsoft Tech Community and r/AzureCertification are great places to track updates
At GetHandsOn.ai, we're building browser-based labs specifically designed for the new AI-103 and AI-901 exam tracks - with live Azure sandboxes, guided instructions, and real-world scenarios. If you want to be among the first to practice, check out our lab catalog.
The certification landscape is shifting fast, and the engineers who adapt early have a real advantage in the AI job market. The retirement date has passed, so the skills worth building now are the ones AI-901 and AI-103 test.