If you're looking for the AI-900, you can no longer book it: Microsoft retired it on June 30, 2026 and replaced it with the AI-901. The certification keeps the same name, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals, but the exam changed quite a bit. Here's what changed, what happens if you already have the AI-900, and how to prepare without wasting time on old material.
What changed, in one table
| AI-900 (retired) | AI-901 (current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Retired on June 30, 2026 | Current since April 2026 |
| Certification it grants | Azure AI Fundamentals | Azure AI Fundamentals (the same one) |
| Focus | Conceptual: recognizing services and definitions | Concepts plus hands-on work with Microsoft Foundry |
| Structure | Five blocks: ML, vision, language, generative AI, AI workloads | Two domains |
| Programming | Not needed | Microsoft expects basic Python syntax |
| Reference price | USD 99 | USD 99 |
| Passing score | 700 | 700 |
| Does it expire? | No | No |
The two AI-901 domains
1. Identify AI concepts and capabilities (40–45%)
- Responsible AI principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.
- How generative models work, how to choose a model based on its capabilities, and its deployment options.
- AI workloads: generative AI and agents, text analysis, speech, computer vision, and information extraction.
2. Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry (55–60%)
- Write effective system and user prompts.
- Deploy a model and use it in the Foundry portal.
- Build a simple chat client with the Foundry SDK.
- Create and test an agent and a client app for it.
- Apps with text analysis, speech (Azure Speech), and vision, including image generation.
- Extract information from documents, images, audio, and video with Azure Content Understanding.
The three differences that matter most
1. You now need to know how to implement
The AI-900 asked "which service would you use for this?". The AI-901 asks that, plus how to deploy the model, how to call it from an app, or how to build an agent. More than half of the exam is the hands-on domain.
2. Classic machine learning carries less weight
The AI-900 had a full machine learning block (regression, classification, clustering, Azure Machine Learning). The AI-901 focuses on generative AI, agents, and Foundry services.
3. Service names changed
Azure AI Studio is now Microsoft Foundry, and the old Cognitive Services are now Foundry Tools. If you study with old material, you'll see names that no longer appear on the exam.
I already have the AI-900: do I need to take the AI-901?
No. Microsoft fundamentals certifications don't expire, so your Azure AI Fundamentals is still valid. The AI-901 grants the same certification, so it doesn't add a new credential to your profile.
Studying the new outline does make sense if you work, or want to work, with AI on Azure: what the AI-901 added (Foundry, agents, apps with the SDK) is exactly what real projects ask for today. If you're after a new certification for your résumé, aim for the next level instead.
I already studied for the AI-900: what's still useful?
- Still useful: responsible AI, the types of workloads (vision, language, speech), and the basics of generative AI.
- No longer enough: knowing what each service does without knowing how to use it. Practice in the Foundry portal and with the SDK.
- You can set aside: the details of Azure Machine Learning and classic ML algorithms, which were a block of their own in the AI-900.
- Throw out: AI-900 practice tests and dumps. They have a different structure and different service names, and they give you a wrong idea of your level.
How to prepare for the AI-901
- AI-901 guide: a summary of the two domains in the current outline.
- AI-901 deep dive: every topic in depth, focused on Foundry and agents.
- AI-901 cheat sheet: the essentials to review before the exam.
- AI-901 labs: guided practice without needing your own subscription.
- Practice exam: questions aligned with the April 2026 outline, with an explanation for every option. Create your free account and take the demo.
If you want a week-by-week plan, it's in how to pass the AI-901. And if you're about to pay for the exam, first check how much the AI-901 costs and how to pay less.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still take the AI-900? No. It was retired on June 30, 2026. The only exam for Azure AI Fundamentals is the AI-901.
Is the AI-901 harder than the AI-900? A little, because of the hands-on part: besides knowing what each service does, you need to know how to use it. It's still a fundamentals exam, so you don't need professional experience.
Do I need to know how to code? Microsoft expects basic Python syntax and familiarity with SDKs, REST APIs, and CLIs. You don't need to be a developer, but you do need to follow a simple code snippet.
Which languages is the AI-901 available in? English, Spanish, and several others. Translated versions are updated about eight weeks after the English one.
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