Microsoft Certifications Retiring in 2026 – Everything You Should Know

Microsoft is retiring 12 role-based certifications between June and September 2026, the largest credential overhaul since the move to role-based certifications in 2019. Retiring certifications include Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100), Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102), Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900), Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204), Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500), Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800/AZ-801), and several Power Platform and Dynamics 365 credentials. Most are being replaced with new AI-focused exams: AI-300, AI-103, AI-200, AI-901, SC-500, and AZ-802.

Why Microsoft Is Retiring So Many Certifications in 2026

Microsoft’s 2026 retirements are not a routine refresh. They’re a deliberate repositioning of the entire credential portfolio. AI is no longer a niche specialty. It’s now embedded into developer, security, data, and infrastructure roles. The retiring exams reflect a world where AI was a separate skill; the replacements reflect a world where it’s the default.

Compare a few of the transitions and the pattern becomes obvious:

• DP-100 to AI-300: Data science workflows give way to MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, lifecycle governance, observability, and drift detection.
• AI-102 to AI-103: Wiring up Azure AI services gives way to building agentic AI apps and multi-agent orchestration.
• AZ-204 to AI-200: Generic Azure development gives way to AI-native cloud development.
• AZ-500 to SC-500: Traditional cloud security gives way to securing cloud and AI model environments.

The replacements aren’t renamed exams. The scope is broader, the difficulty is higher, and the assumption that every IT professional needs working AI skills is baked into the objectives.

The Complete List of Microsoft Certifications Retiring in 2026

The table below shows every Microsoft certification scheduled to retire in 2026, the official retirement date, and the announced replacement. Dates are sourced from Microsoft Learn’s official credential retirement page and are subject to change.

Recently Retired Certifications (Late 2025 to Early 2026)

A few certifications have already been retired and are no longer available for new exam attempts. If you earned them before retirement, they remain on your transcript until they naturally expire.

• Microsoft 365 Fundamentals (MS-900): retired March 31, 2026. Replaced by AB-900 (Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals).
• Dynamics 365 Fundamentals, CRM (MB-910): retired December 31, 2025. No direct fundamentals-level replacement.
• Dynamics 365 Fundamentals, ERP (MB-920): retired December 31, 2025. No direct fundamentals-level replacement.
• Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate (SC-400): retired May 31, 2025.

Major Azure & AI Certifications Retiring in 2026

Four Azure certifications make up the most consequential part of the retirement wave. Each has a confirmed AI-focused replacement, and each is widely held, meaning thousands of IT professionals will need to plan a transition this year.

1. Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100): Retires June 1, 2026

DP-100 has been the standard credential for data scientists building and deploying machine learning solutions on Azure. The replacement, AI-300 (MLOps Engineer Associate), reframes the role around operational ML, including automation, CI/CD pipelines, monitoring, drift detection, and lifecycle governance. The shift mirrors how data science actually works in production today.

If you’re currently studying, you can still prepare for DP-100 in our Azure Data Scientist Associate boot camp and earn the certification before June 1.

2. Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102): Retires June 30, 2026

AI-102 has been the go-to certification for engineers integrating Azure AI services into applications. Its successor, AI-103 (Azure AI App and Agent Developer), expands the scope significantly to cover agentic AI development, multi-agent orchestration, and Copilot/Foundry-based architectures.

If you have a clear deadline in mind, our intensive AI-102 Azure AI Engineer Associate boot camp is built to get you certified before retirement.

3. Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204): Retires July 31, 2026

AZ-204 is one of the most-held associate-level certifications in the Microsoft ecosystem. Its retirement is significant because AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer) doesn’t just refresh the content. It changes the role definition. The replacement assumes that an Azure developer’s core job now includes integrating AI capabilities, not bolting them on later.

For developers who want to certify on the current path, our AZ-204 Azure Developer boot camp is the fastest route. Both AZ-204 and AI-200 will be valuable for the foreseeable future, so the right choice depends on your timeline.

4. Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500): Retires August 31, 2026

AZ-500 has covered Azure security engineering, including identity, network, data, and platform protection. Its replacement, SC-500 (Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate), expands the mandate to include securing AI workloads, model environments, prompt injection defenses, and the broader AI supply chain. This reflects how security teams are actually structured in 2026.

Security professionals have two solid options. Earn AZ-500 before August 31 through our AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer boot camp, or fast-track straight to the replacement with our new SC-500 Cloud and AI Security Engineer boot camp.

Power Platform & Dynamics 365 Certifications Retiring in 2026

The Power Platform and Dynamics 365 tracks are being aggressively consolidated. Several long-standing solution-architect and functional-consultant certifications are retiring without direct replacements. Microsoft is steering candidates toward AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert) as the new flagship expert credential.

• PL-600 (Power Platform Solution Architect Expert): retires June 30, 2026. No direct replacement; AB-100 recommended.
• PL-500 (Power Automate RPA Developer Associate): retires June 30, 2026. No direct replacement announced.
• MB-700 (D365 F&O Solution Architect Expert): retires June 30, 2026. AB-100 recommended.
• MB-335 (D365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert): retires June 30, 2026. No replacement.
• MB-240 (D365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate): retires June 30, 2026. AB-100 recommended.
• PL-200 (Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate): retires August 31, 2026. Replaced by AB-410 (Intelligent Applications Builder).

If you’re currently building skills on the Power Platform side, our combined PL-200 + PL-600 Power Platform boot camp covers both retiring certifications and remains a fast path to credentials before the deadline.

Exams Retiring, Certifications Continuing

Two retirements work differently. The certification name continues, and only the underlying exam is changing. If you already hold these certifications, you don’t need to retake the new exam to keep your credential active. You only need to renew before expiration as usual.

Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900 to AI-901)

AI-900 retires June 30, 2026. The certification itself, Azure AI Fundamentals, continues, but new candidates will take AI-901, which is refreshed around generative AI, Copilot fundamentals, and modern AI agents. If you’re currently studying, our Azure AI Fundamentals boot camp can help you certify on AI-900 before retirement, with course content updated continuously as the AI-901 transition rolls out.

Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate (AZ-800/AZ-801 to AZ-802)

This is the rare retirement that’s good news for candidates. The Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification currently requires two exams (AZ-800 and AZ-801). From September 30, 2026, those two exams retire and are consolidated into a single AZ-802 exam. Same certification, single exam to prepare for, less study time.

If you already hold the certification through AZ-800 or AZ-801, you can renew via the AZ-802 renewal assessment. You don’t have to retake the full exam. If you’re still working toward it, our Windows Server Hybrid Administrator boot camp covers AZ-800 and AZ-801 before retirement and is being updated for AZ-802.

New Microsoft Certifications Launching in 2026

Microsoft isn’t only retiring. It’s launching a wave of new credentials. Beyond the direct replacements listed above, several brand-new certifications are entering beta in 2026:

• AB-100, Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert. Already live. The new flagship expert credential for architects designing multi-agent AI systems across Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, and Dynamics 365.
• AB-900, Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals. Already live. The replacement for MS-900.
• AB-620, AI Agent Builder Associate. Beta launching in 2026. Focused on production-ready Copilot Studio agents.
• DP-750, Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate. Currently in beta.
• DP-800, SQL AI Developer Associate. Currently in beta. AI-enabled database solutions across SQL platforms.
• SC-730, Cybersecurity Business Professional. Beta launching in 2026. A non-technical security credential for business decision-makers.
• AB-250, D365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate. Beta expected mid-2026.

What These Retirements Actually Mean for You

There’s a lot of confusion online about what retirement does and doesn’t do. Here’s the straight version:

How to Plan Your Certification Path Before the Deadlines

The right move depends on where you are in your study journey:

• If you’re 70%+ prepared: Finish and take the exam before retirement. A current certification on your transcript is more valuable than a half-finished study cycle, and the credential remains verifiable indefinitely.
• If you’re just starting: Look at your retirement deadline carefully. For exams retiring June 30, 2026 (AI-900, AI-102, DP-100), there’s very little time. Pivoting to the replacement beta is often the smarter long-term investment.
• If you’re a hiring manager or partner ops leader: Audit your team’s certifications now. Map every team member holding a retiring credential to the replacement, and budget for protected study time. Microsoft’s fiscal year transition (July 2026) is the realistic deadline for keeping designation status intact.
• If you hold AZ-800 or AZ-801: Use the AZ-802 renewal assessment when it’s available. Don’t retake the full exam.

Get Certified Before or After the Retirement Deadlines

Whether you’re racing to certify on a current exam or starting fresh on the replacement path, an accelerated boot camp is the most efficient way to get there. Our 5-day, all-inclusive Microsoft certification boot camps cover Azure, Microsoft 365, Security, Data & AI, Power Platform, Windows Server, and PowerShell, with both in-person training in Florida and live online options for professionals across the US.

For retiring certifications, we’re running cohorts every month through each retirement date. For the new AI-focused replacements, our courseware is being updated as Microsoft releases beta exams. Browse all Microsoft certification boot camps to find your next step, or see our complete Microsoft certifications guide for an overview of how each credential fits into the role-based path.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does retirement delete my Microsoft certification?

No. Earned certifications remain permanently on your Microsoft Learn transcript and are always verifiable. After the retirement date, you simply can’t take new exam attempts or renew the credential once it expires.

Will my AZ-500 automatically become an SC-500?

No. Retired certifications don’t convert to their replacements. SC-500 is earned independently by passing its own exam. AZ-500 will still appear on your transcript until it expires, but you’ll need to take SC-500 separately to hold the new credential.

Which Microsoft certification is retiring soonest in 2026?

Among the upcoming retirements, the Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) is first to retire on June 1, 2026, followed by AI-900, AI-102, MB-240, MB-700, MB-335, PL-500, and PL-600 on June 30, 2026.

Should I still take AZ-204 if it’s retiring this year?

If you can be exam-ready before July 31, 2026, yes. The credential goes on your transcript permanently. If you’re starting from scratch, the replacement (AI-200, Azure AI Cloud Developer) is the better long-term investment.

Can I still renew AZ-800 or AZ-801 after they retire?

No. Once they retire on September 30, 2026, you cannot renew them through the original assessment. However, if you currently hold the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification, Microsoft allows you to renew through the AZ-802 renewal assessment.

Where can I find the official Microsoft retirement schedule?

Microsoft maintains the official retirement schedule at learn.microsoft.com/credentials/support/credential-retirement. Always check the official page for the most current dates. The schedule can shift.