AI-901 vs AI-900: What Changed and Why You Should Take It Now (2026)
Maruti Makwana
Quick answer: AI-900 retired on June 30, 2026. AI-901 is the replacement exam — same Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals credential, but with updated content focused on Azure AI Foundry, generative AI, and AI Agents. If you haven't started yet, take AI-901. If you already hold AI-900, your certification is still fully valid.
What was AI-900?
AI-900, officially called Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, was Microsoft's entry-level certification for Artificial Intelligence on Azure. It tested your understanding of basic AI concepts — machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and Azure's AI services like Cognitive Services and Bot Service.
It was one of the most popular free certifications in the world, especially for beginners, career switchers, and IT professionals who wanted to understand AI without needing to write code.
AI-900 retired on June 30, 2026.
What is AI-901?
AI-901 is the official replacement for AI-900. It earns you the exact same credential — Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals — but the exam content has been significantly updated to reflect how AI works in 2026.
Microsoft launched AI-901 in beta in April 2026, and it is now the only active exam path to earn the Azure AI Fundamentals certification.
AI-901 vs AI-900 — What actually changed?
Here is a direct comparison of the two exams so you know exactly what is different:
| AI-900 (Retired June 2026) | AI-901 (Active — Take This Now) |
|---|---|
| Describe Azure AI services | Azure AI Foundry (new) |
| Cognitive Services overview | Generative AI & Azure OpenAI (new) |
| Basic ML concepts | Copilot and prompt engineering (new) |
| Computer Vision basics | AI Agents concepts (new) |
| NLP basics (LUIS, QnA Maker) | Updated Computer Vision |
| Responsible AI principles | Stronger Responsible AI focus |
| Bot Service overview | Updated NLP workloads |
The biggest shift is this: AI-900 asked you to describe AI services. AI-901 asks you to understand how to use them to build AI applications. The exam is still beginner-level — you do not need to write code — but it is more practical and more relevant to how companies are actually using AI in 2026.
What is Azure AI Foundry? (The biggest new topic)
Azure AI Foundry is Microsoft's new unified platform for building AI applications. It brings together Azure OpenAI Service, Azure AI Search, and Azure AI Studio under one roof — making it easier to develop, test, and deploy AI-powered apps.
AI-901 tests your understanding of what Azure AI Foundry is, what it can do, and when to use it. You do not need to build anything — but you do need to understand the concepts clearly.
Think of it this way: if AI-900 taught you to recognise the tools in a toolbox, AI-901 teaches you to understand which tool to pick for which job.
Is your AI-900 certification still valid?
Yes — absolutely. Microsoft certifications do not expire when the exam retires. If you passed AI-900 before June 30, 2026, your Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals badge remains active and appears on your Microsoft Learn transcript.
Employers recognise the certification name, not the exam code. You are not required to retake anything.
Who should take AI-901?
- You are new to cloud and AI and want to start your Microsoft certification journey
- You are a non-technical professional (project manager, business analyst, HR, marketing) who wants to understand AI in the workplace
- You are an IT professional from a non-AI background who wants to add AI credentials
- You are a student or fresher looking for an entry-level cloud certification
- You held AI-900 and want to refresh your knowledge on generative AI and Azure AI Foundry
How to prepare for AI-901
- Enrol in the free AI-901 course at SkillTech Club — our free course covers every domain of the AI-901 exam with video lessons, notes, and practice questions. No credit card required.
- Study the 5 exam domains — AI workloads (15–20%), Machine Learning fundamentals (20–25%), Computer Vision (15–20%), NLP workloads (15–20%), Generative AI and Azure AI Foundry (20–25%).
- Practice with Microsoft Learn — Microsoft offers free learning paths for AI-901 on learn.microsoft.com. Use these alongside the SkillTech course for the best coverage.
- Book the exam — The exam costs approximately ?4,500–?5,000 in India and USD 165 internationally. Allow 2–4 weeks of study time. Passing score is 700 out of 1000.
What comes after AI-901?
- Want to build AI apps and agents? Take AI-103 — Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate
- Want to manage Azure infrastructure? Take AZ-104 — Azure Administrator Associate
- Want to understand data and analytics first? Take DP-900 — Azure Data Fundamentals (free)
Start for free today
SkillTech Club offers the AI-901 course completely free. It is taught by Maruti Makwana, a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 18+ years of experience delivering Azure and AI training to professionals across India and globally.
Summary
- AI-900 retired on June 30, 2026
- AI-901 is the replacement — same certification, updated content
- Key new topics: Azure AI Foundry, Generative AI, Copilot, AI Agents
- If you already hold AI-900, your certification is still valid
- SkillTech Club offers a free AI-901 course — enrol now and get certified
