Microsoft Certification Retirement 2026 — What Changes and What Comes Next
- Microsoft is retiring AI-900, AI-102, DP-100, AZ-204, AZ-500, and AZ-800/801 between June and September 2026.
- Nine new AI-centric exams (AI-901, AI-103, AI-200, AI-300, SC-500, and more) launch as direct replacements.
- Already-earned credentials remain valid on your transcript — retirement does not revoke them.
- If you have not registered for a retiring exam yet, pivot to the replacement instead.
Why the overhaul?
Quoting the announcement: “We are in the middle of a once-in-a-generation shift in how work gets done.” The World Economic Forum estimates that advances in AI and technology could create 78 million new jobs by 2030. Microsoft is realigning its certification portfolio to match — every replacement exam now embeds AI skills as a core competency, not an optional add-on.
What is retiring and when
Retirement Timeline — 2026
Jun 2026
Data Scientist
30 Jun 2026
AI Fundamentals
AI-102
AI Engineer
31 Jul 2026
Azure Developer
31 Aug 2026
Security Engineer
Sep 2026
Windows Server
| Retiring Exam | Retirement Date | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| DP-100 — Azure Data Scientist | 1 June 2026 | AI-300 (MLOps Engineer) |
| AI-900 — Azure AI Fundamentals | 30 June 2026 | AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) |
| AI-102 — Azure AI Engineer | 30 June 2026 | AI-103 (AI App/Agent Developer) |
| AZ-204 — Azure Developer | 31 July 2026 | AI-200 (AI Cloud Developer) |
| AZ-500 — Security Engineer | 31 August 2026 | SC-500 (Cloud & AI Security Engineer) |
| AZ-800/801 — Windows Server Admin | September 2026 | AZ-802 (Hybrid Administrator) |
Migration Map — Retiring → Replacement
Nine new exams launching in 2026
| Exam | Role / Focus | Beta | GA Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI-300 | MLOps Engineer | Mar 2026 | May 2026 |
| DP-750 | Azure Databricks Data Engineer | Mar 2026 | May 2026 |
| DP-800 | SQL AI Developer | Mar 2026 | May 2026 |
| AI-901 | Azure AI Fundamentals | Apr 2026 | Jun 2026 |
| AI-103 | AI App & Agent Developer | Apr 2026 | Jun 2026 |
| SC-730 | Cybersecurity Business Professional | Apr 2026 | Jul 2026 |
| AI-200 | Azure AI Cloud Developer | Apr 2026 | Jul 2026 |
| SC-500 | Cloud & AI Security Engineer | May 2026 | Jul 2026 |
| AZ-802 | Windows Server Hybrid Administrator | Jun 2026 | Aug 2026 |
What this means for you
What Should You Do?
Already Certified
Credential stays valid. Renew before retirement date if desired.
Currently Studying
Registered? Continue. Not registered? Switch to the replacement exam.
Planning Next Cert
Target the replacement directly. Consider beta exams for early access.
Already hold a retiring certification?
Your credential stays on your Microsoft transcript. Retirement does not revoke anything you have already earned. You can still renew it before the retirement date if you want to extend its validity.
Currently studying for a retiring exam?
If you are already registered, continue — you can still sit the exam before it retires. If you have not registered yet, redirect your effort to the replacement exam. The new learning paths are available on Microsoft Learn from March 2026 onwards.
Planning your next certification?
Target the replacement exam directly. The new exams reflect the skills employers are actually hiring for — AI integration, agentic workflows, MLOps, and AI-augmented security. Studying for a soon-to-retire exam when the replacement launches in parallel is wasted effort.
Key observations
- AI is no longer a speciality track — it is woven into developer (AI-200), security (SC-500), data (DP-750, DP-800), and infrastructure (AZ-802) roles.
- The AI-102 to AI-103 shift is significant — the new exam explicitly covers agentic AI and AI app development, reflecting the industry move beyond simple cognitive-service wrappers.
- DP-100 to AI-300 reframes data science as MLOps — the emphasis shifts from model building to operationalising models at scale.
- Beta exams are a strategic opportunity — you can take them at reduced cost and get certified ahead of the crowd.
AI Skill Coverage Across New Exams
Darker = heavier focus on that skill area
| AI/ML Core | Agentic AI | Cloud Dev | Security | Data/MLOps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI-901 | High | Med | Low | Low | Med |
| AI-103 | High | Very High | Med | Low | Med |
| AI-200 | Med | Med | Very High | Low | Med |
| AI-300 | High | Low | Med | Low | Very High |
| SC-500 | Med | Low | Med | Very High | Low |
| AZ-802 | Low | Low | Med | Med | Low |
Practical next steps
- Audit your current certs — check expiry dates and map each to its replacement.
- Bookmark the new learning paths — Microsoft Learn modules for all nine exams are rolling out from March 2026.
- Consider the beta window — beta exams for AI-300, DP-750, and DP-800 are open now (March 2026).
- Update your development plan — if your organisation funds certifications, get the new exams into your annual plan early.
Source
Full details on the Microsoft Tech Community: The AI Job Boom Is Here — Are You Ready to Showcase Your Skills?