Microsoft

Microsoft Certifications are evolving with the future of work

AI is reshaping how work gets done across every industry—changing roles, accelerating decisions, and creating entirely new career paths. To keep pace with these changes, Microsoft Certifications are evolving alongside the skills employers need most. For more than 30 years, Microsoft has remained committed to keeping Certifications aligned to the latest job and role-based skills, and that focus continues today with an emphasis on AI-powered roles.

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New Cloud, AI, Security, and Business Solutions Certifications Coming in 2026

Microsoft is introducing a new wave of Certifications designed for AI-powered roles across technical and business disciplines.

These Certifications reflect major shifts in the workplace, including:

  • Generative AI
  • Autonomous agents
  • Integrated cloud and AI systems
  • Business solutions

They’re designed to help professionals demonstrate skills that are relevant, practical, and aligned with the future of work.

Designed for professionals responsible for deploying, managing, and optimizing machine learning and generative AI solutions in production environments.

Validates skills in designing and implementing scalable, secure data pipelines using Azure Databricks to support real-time analytics and AI-ready data systems.

For developers building AI-augmented database applications with modern governance and DevOps practices.

An entry-level Certification exploring how to build modern AI applications and agents using Microsoft platforms.

Focuses on building generative applications, managing AI resources in Microsoft Foundry, and developing production-ready AI agents.

Validates the ability to recognize security risks and support secure business decisions while enabling productivity and AI adoption.

  • Exam SC-730 beta and training expected to go live: May 2026
  • Exam expected to go live: July 2026

Designed for developers building and managing AI solutions on Azure using modern cloud-native architectures.

  • Exam AI-200 beta and training expected to go live: May 2026
  • Exam expected to go live: July 2026

Focuses on designing secure environments for building and deploying AI solutions in enterprise settings.

  • Exam SC-500 beta and training expected to go live: May 2026
  • Training and exam expected to go live: July 2026

Combines hybrid infrastructure skills across Azure and on-premises environments.

  • Exam AZ-802 beta and training expected to go live: June 2026
  • Training and exam expected to go live: August 2026 

Designed for tech pros, including developers, AI engineers, and architects, who are pushing AI agents beyond out‑of‑the‑box scenarios, validating the ability to implement production‑ready Microsoft Copilot Studio agents and multi‑agent solutions capable of sophisticated processes, workflow automation, and enterprise integration. 

  • Exam AB-620 beta and training expected to go live: April 2026
  • Exam expected to go live: June 2026 

Designed for the next generation of contact center engineers and solution professionals to validate the ability to design and run modern Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solutions with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center and service‑oriented autonomous agents. 

  • Exam AB-250 beta and training expected to go live: June 2026
  • Exam expected to go live: August 2026 

Equips Power Platform professionals to build for an AI-first world, where apps, agents, automation, and models work as one, positioning professionals not just as app makers, but as builders of intelligent, agent-driven applications ready for what’s next.

  • Exam AB 410 beta and training expected to go live: April 2026
  • Exam expected to go live: June 2026

Designed for modern sellers who design and operationalize AI‑powered sales solutions across the lead‑to‑cash lifecycle, emphasizing Copilot-driven productivity and insights, AI-powered opportunity research and qualification, agent configuration and lifecycle management, and secure, scalable automation aligned with governance and responsible AI.

  • Exam AB‑210 beta and training expected to go live: May 2026
  • Exam expected to go live in June 2026

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Important Certification Portfolio Updates

As new Certifications are introduced to support emerging AI-driven roles, some existing Certifications will be retired. The table below outlines upcoming Certification retirements and key dates for 2026. If your Certification is eligible for renewal, be sure to renew it before the listed retirement date.

Matrix of planned retirement Certification dates for exams and training.
Retiring Microsoft Certification  Current exam code Certification retirement date  Training retirement date*  Related New Certification
Azure AI Engineer Associate AI-102 June 30, 2026 April 2026 Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate
(Exam AI-103)
Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 June 30, 2026 April 2026 Azure AI Fundamentals
(Exam AI-901)
Azure Data Scientist Associate DP-100 June 1, 2026 April 2026 Machine Learning Operations (MLOps)
Engineer Associate
(Exam AI-300)
Azure Developer Associate AZ-204 July 31, 2026 May 2026 Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate
(Exam AI-200)
Azure Security Engineer Associate AZ-500 August 31, 2026 August 2026 Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate 
(Exam SC-500)
Windows Server Hybrid Administrator AZ-800
AZ-801		 September 2026* September 2026 Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
(Exam AZ-802)
Dynamics 365: Customer Experience Analyst Associate MB-280 July 31, 2026 July 2026 Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate (Exam AB-210)
Dynamics 365: Field Service Functional Consultant Associate MB-240 June 30, 2026 June 2026 No new Certification is planned
Dynamics 365: Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Associate MB-335 June 30, 2026 June 2026 No new Certification is planned
Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert MB-700 June 30, 2026 June 2026 No new Certification is planned
Power Automate RPA Developer Associate PL-500 June 30, 2026 June 2026 No new Certification is planned
Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate PL-200 August 31, 2026 August 2026 Intelligent Applications Builder Associate
(Exam AB-410)
Power Platform Solution Architect Expert PL-600 June 30, 2026 June 2026 No new Certification is planned

* Planned dates

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FAQs: Navigating the transition

The following questions can help you understand how these changes may affect your Certification plans.

If you’re currently preparing for a Certification exam that’s scheduled to retire, you can still complete the exam while it remains available.

Keep in mind:

  • Once the exam retires, it will no longer be available for testing
  • You won’t be able to retake the exam if you do not pass 
  • You will no longer be able to renew that Certification after retirement

If you’ve already registered for a retiring exam but prefer to pursue one of the new Certifications, you may choose to cancel your current exam registration and schedule a different exam. If any of the existing certifications that are retiring are a pre-requisite for another Certification, the pre-req requirements will be updated with replacement Certification as applicable.

Please check your exam confirmation email for any cancellation deadlines or applicable fees.

Yes as long as the Certification is still eligible for renewal and you renew it before the official retirement date.

Note that Fundamentals Certifications do not expire.

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Continue building the skills that matter

As technology evolves, staying current with the right Certifications helps you demonstrate expertise and stay competitive in a rapidly changing job market.

Explore the latest Microsoft Certifications and plan your next step today.

Last updated 2026-04-09