Microsoft Azure AI certification: AI-901 or AI-103?

What changed in 2026

Microsoft rebuilt its Azure AI certifications this year. Microsoft's AI-900 exam page says the exam was retired on June 30, 2026 and replaced by AI-901. The certification name stayed the same: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals. If you passed AI-900 before the cutoff, you still hold that certification.

The developer exam changed too. A Microsoft Learn Q&A thread records that Exam AI-102 and the Azure AI Engineer Associate certification were scheduled to retire on June 30, 2026, and points to AI-103 as the replacement. AI-103 earns a new title, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate. According to a Microsoft Q&A reply from early August 2026, it came out of beta in summer 2026. Study guides and courses built for AI-102 or AI-900 now cover retired exams.

AI-901: Azure AI Fundamentals

AI-901 is the entry-level exam. Microsoft aims it at people starting out in AI solution development. It now expects more than AI-900 did. The old exam said you needed no data science or software engineering experience. AI-901 asks for knowledge of Python syntax, familiarity with Azure resources, and some exposure to REST APIs, SDKs and CLIs.

The exam covers two areas: identifying AI concepts and capabilities, and implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry. Microsoft updated the English version on April 15, 2026. The price depends on the country where you sit the exam. Fundamentals certifications never expire, so you never need to renew it. It suits students, analysts and career changers who want proof they understand the basics. On its own it will not get you an engineering job.

AI-103: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate

AI-103 is the intermediate exam for people who build things. Microsoft describes the candidate as an Azure AI engineer who builds, manages and deploys agents and AI solutions on Microsoft Foundry. You should already write apps in Python and know the general AI, generative AI and Azure service options.

The exam covers five areas: planning and managing an Azure AI solution, generative AI and agentic solutions, computer vision, text analysis, and information extraction. You get 120 minutes, the exam is proctored, and it may include interactive tasks. If you fail, you can retake it after 24 hours. Microsoft says associate exams typically cost US$165, with prices set by country. The certification fits software engineers moving into AI work at companies that run on Azure.

Which one should you take?

Skip AI-901 if you already ship Python code against cloud APIs. It is not a prerequisite for the associate exam, so go straight to AI-103. Take AI-901 first if you are new to Azure or to AI terminology, or if your employer pays for it as a first step. Microsoft also announced a Multi-Agent AI Solutions Expert certification for engineers who orchestrate several agents. Look at it once you hold the associate. A certification helps most when the job ad names Azure. A portfolio of deployed projects still carries more weight in interviews.

Pay

BLS software developers, US (nearest series, all developers)

$108,500–177,400

BLS software developers, US median

$140,200

AutomationRoles.ai AI developer job ads, p25 to p75

$166,400–243,000

AutomationRoles.ai AI developer job ads, median

$203,000

USD a year, before tax. US figures. The BLS row comes from OEWS May 2025, moved to 2026 with the Employment Cost Index. It uses the software developers series, which is the nearest match and covers the whole occupation, not only AI specialists. The job-ad rows are midpoints of base pay ranges in 21 live AutomationRoles.ai ads from 11 employers on 5 November 2026. They lean toward large AI and technology employers and leave out stock and bonus. A certification does not set pay. Experience and location move these figures more. Refer to the AI Developers salary guide for figures from live adverts.

What you need

Exam to passAI-901 for Azure AI Fundamentals. AI-103 for Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate. AI-900 and AI-102 can no longer be booked.
PrerequisitesNeither certification requires another first. Azure AI Fundamentals is optional preparation for the associate level.
Skills for AI-103Python app development, plus working knowledge of generative AI, Azure services and Microsoft Foundry.
Skills for AI-901Conceptual AI knowledge, basic Python syntax, and familiarity with Azure resources, REST APIs, SDKs and CLIs.
CostAssociate exams typically cost US$165. All prices vary by the country where you test, and taxes may apply. Microsoft does not refund failed exams.
RenewalAssociate certifications expire after one year. You renew with a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, which opens six months before expiry. Fundamentals certifications do not expire.

How to get there

Week 1Check your starting pointIf you can write Python and call cloud APIs, plan for AI-103. If not, start with AI-901.
Weeks 2-6Optional: pass AI-901Covers AI concepts and building simple solutions in Microsoft Foundry. It does not expire.
Months 1-3Build on AzureDeploy a small generative AI app or agent, plus one vision or text-extraction project, so the exam objectives are familiar.
Months 2-4Use Microsoft's prepWork through the AI-103 study guide, the exam sandbox and the free practice assessment.
Month 3-4Sit AI-103120 minutes, proctored. A retake is allowed 24 hours after a first fail.
YearlyRenew each yearPass the free renewal assessment, about 45 minutes, in the six months before expiry.

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Microsoft Applications AI ConsultantNTT Ltd. · Sydney, New South Wales

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Questions people ask

Can I still take AI-102 or AI-900?

No. Both exams were retired on June 30, 2026. AI-103 replaced AI-102, and AI-901 replaced AI-900. Anyone who passed AI-900 keeps Azure AI Fundamentals, which does not expire. An Azure AI Engineer Associate earned through AI-102 stays valid until its expiry date, but it cannot be renewed because the certification has retired.

Is AI-901 required before AI-103?

No. Microsoft does not list the fundamentals certification as a prerequisite for any associate certification. It is optional preparation for people new to AI on Azure.

How does renewal work for Microsoft associate certifications?

They expire one year after you earn them. You renew by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. It takes about 45 minutes and you can retake it as often as needed before the expiry date. If the certification lapses, you have to pass the full exam again.

Do I need to renew Azure AI Fundamentals?

No. Microsoft fundamentals certifications do not expire, so there is no renewal assessment for them.

Will an Azure AI certification get me hired?

Nobody can promise that. It shows an employer you know the Azure AI services. It counts most where job ads name Azure. Hiring managers usually put more weight on projects you have actually built and deployed.

Which Microsoft Azure AI certification should you take?