AI-901 Exam Cost (2026): Price and How to Pay Less

Before you book the AI-901 (Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals), you need three things clear: how much you'll pay, whether there's a way to pay less, and what happens if you don't pass the first time. Here's all of it, based on Microsoft's official pages.

How much does the AI-901 cost?

The reference price of the AI-901 is USD 99, the same as Microsoft's other fundamentals exams. But Microsoft charges based on the country where you take the exam, so the price is different in many countries, and some charge in local currency.

That's why we don't give you a price table by country: prices change and any fixed number goes stale fast. The reliable way to see yours:

1. Go to the AI-901 exam page on Microsoft Learn.
2. Under Schedule exam, choose your country.
3. The price shown is what you pay, plus any local taxes.

If you pay in US dollars with a card from another country, your bank may add international purchase fees. Check the final price right before you pay.

Is the AI-901 free?

No. The exam is paid. What is free:

• Microsoft's official practice assessment, on AI Skills Navigator (you need to sign in).
• The exam sandbox, to get to know the interface before the real day.
• The study material on Microsoft Learn.

If you're looking for a completely free exam, the only realistic route is a voucher from an event or from your employer (we cover them below).

How to pay less

1. Student pricing

Microsoft offers academic pricing in most countries (except India and China). To get it:

1. Go to your Microsoft Learn profile and open the interest survey.
2. Under Career Paths, choose Student.
3. Verify your student status. Once verified, the discount applies when you book.

2. Microsoft Virtual Training Days

Microsoft runs free online training events called Virtual Training Days. Some fundamentals events come with an exam discount once you complete them. The terms change from event to event, so check what each one offers before signing up, and register with the same email as your Microsoft Learn profile: the discount is tied to that email.

3. Exam Replay

It's a bundle sold through Pearson VUE: it includes the exam and one retake if you don't pass. You must take both within 12 months of purchase. It's worth it if you're not confident, because a regular retake costs the full price.

4. Your employer

Many companies, especially Microsoft partners, pay for certifications or have vouchers. Ask before paying out of pocket.

How to book the exam

1. Sign in to Microsoft Learn with a personal account (Outlook, Hotmail, or similar). Microsoft recommends it: if you use your work account and leave the company, you can lose your certification history.
2. Go to the AI-901 page and click Schedule exam.
3. Choose whether to take it online from home or at a Pearson VUE test center, and pick a date.

The AI-901 is available in English, Spanish, and several other languages. The English version is updated first and translations about eight weeks later. If it isn't available in your preferred language, you can request 30 extra minutes.

Rescheduling, canceling, and failing

• Reschedule or cancel: do it at least 24 hours before your appointment. Otherwise, you lose what you paid.
• If you fail: you can try again after 24 hours. From the third attempt on, you wait 14 days between attempts, with a maximum of 5 attempts in 12 months. Each retake is paid.
• To pass you need 700 points on a scale of 1 to 1000.

Add one retake and the AI-901 costs you double. That's why it pays to walk into the exam knowing you're ready.

Is it worth paying for?

To get started with AI on Azure, yes. The AI-901 is a fundamentals exam, but it now includes a hands-on part with Microsoft Foundry: deploying models, writing prompts, building an agent, and creating simple apps with the SDK. That makes it more useful on your résumé than the old, purely theoretical AI-900. And Microsoft fundamentals certifications don't expire.

Measure your level before you pay Review the AI-901 guide, the deep dive, and the cheat sheet, and create your free account to take the practice exam demo. If you don't reach 70% on the demo, it's not time to book yet.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the AI-901 cost in my country? USD 99 is the reference price. The exact price for your country shows up on Microsoft Learn when you choose your country under Schedule exam.

Does the AI-901 expire? No. It's a fundamentals certification and, unlike associate or expert ones, it doesn't need renewal.

Can I take it in Spanish? Yes. Spanish is one of the available languages.

Can I use an AI-900 voucher? The AI-900 was retired on June 30, 2026. If you have an unused fundamentals voucher, check its terms and expiration date: many vouchers aren't tied to a specific exam. Here's what changed from the AI-900 to the AI-901.