AI-901 vs AI-103: Which Azure AI Certification Should You Take?
Take AI-901 if you are new to AI on Azure. Take AI-103 if you already build apps in Python and want to ship generative AI apps and agents. AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) is a $99 beginner exam that never expires. AI-103 (Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate) is a $165, 120-minute developer exam that you renew free every year.
They are two steps on one path, not rivals. Both are current: AI-901 replaced AI-900 and AI-103 replaced AI-102 when Microsoft retired those exams on June 30, 2026. Weighing a different exam? Skip to AB-100 (the expert architect exam) or AI-200 (the AI cloud developer exam).
At a glance
| AI-901 | AI-103 | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam name | Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals | Developing AI Apps and Agents on Azure |
| Credential | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate |
| Level | Fundamentals (beginner) | Associate (Microsoft labels it Intermediate) |
| Price (US) | $99 | $165 |
| Exam time | 45 minutes (Microsoft’s standard for Fundamentals exams) | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | 700 out of 1,000 | 700 out of 1,000 |
| Coding needed | Basic Python syntax and programming techniques | Experience developing apps with Python |
| Microsoft Learn open during the exam | No (not offered on Fundamentals exams) | Yes, in a split screen, but the timer keeps running |
| Renewal | Never expires | Valid one year, then a free online renewal assessment |
| Heaviest domain | Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry (55–60%) | Implement generative AI and agentic solutions (30–35%) |
| Replaced | AI-900 (retired June 30, 2026) | AI-102 (retired June 30, 2026) |
| Free official practice assessment | Yes, on AI Skills Navigator (sign-in required) | Yes, on AI Skills Navigator (sign-in required) |
Checked against Microsoft Learn’s AI-901 and AI-103 exam, certification and study guide pages on October 6, 2026.
Which one should you take?
- You are new to AI or new to Azure: AI-901. It covers the concepts and your first builds in Microsoft Foundry.
- You can read Python but don’t build apps for a living: AI-901. Microsoft expects basic Python syntax, not app development experience.
- You want a credential that never needs renewing: AI-901. Fundamentals certifications don’t expire.
- You build Python apps and want to add generative AI, RAG or agents: AI-103.
- You can already explain retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), pick a model for a task and deploy one in Foundry: skip AI-901 and go straight to AI-103.
- You are aiming for an expert credential later: AI-103. It is one of the associate certifications that count toward AB-100.
- You mostly build the cloud back end (containers, databases, messaging) around AI apps: look at AI-200 instead.
What each exam covers
From Microsoft’s published skills outlines (AI-901 as of April 15, 2026; AI-103 as of April 16, 2026):
| Exam | Domain | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| AI-901 | Identify AI concepts and capabilities (responsible AI, how generative models work, model choice and deployment settings, common AI workloads) | 40–45% |
| AI-901 | Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry (prompts, chat and agent apps, text and speech, vision and image generation, information extraction) | 55–60% |
| AI-103 | Plan and manage an Azure AI solution | 25–30% |
| AI-103 | Implement generative AI and agentic solutions | 30–35% |
| AI-103 | Implement computer vision solutions | 10–15% |
| AI-103 | Implement text analysis solutions | 10–15% |
| AI-103 | Implement information extraction solutions | 10–15% |
The verbs tell the story. AI-901 asks you to describe, identify and build “lightweight” apps. AI-103 asks you to design Azure infrastructure, secure deployments with managed identity and private networking, orchestrate multi-agent solutions, and monitor drift and grounding quality in production. For the full breakdowns, see the AI-901 study guide and the AI-103 study guide.
Do you need AI-901 before AI-103?
No. Neither exam has a formal prerequisite, and experienced developers can go straight to AI-103. If you’re newer, the sequence still works well: AI-901 builds the vocabulary AI-103 assumes (models, responsible AI, AI workloads and first builds in Foundry) for $99. A simple test: if you can explain RAG and choose between Azure AI services without looking them up, skip to AI-103. If not, AI-901 first is money well spent. Our 2-week AI-901 plan and 3-week AI-103 plan lay out the work.
How much do AI-901 and AI-103 cost?
In the US, AI-901 costs $99 and AI-103 costs $165. Microsoft sets prices by the country where you take the exam and doesn’t include tax. A few examples from Microsoft’s price list: AI-901 is GBP 64 in the UK and EUR 76 in Germany, while AI-103 is GBP 106 and EUR 126. Neither has an ongoing fee: AI-901 never expires, and AI-103’s yearly renewal assessment is free. Full details: AI-901 exam cost and AI-103 exam cost.
Is AI-901 worth it?
For beginners, usually yes. It is Microsoft’s cheapest AI certification and it never expires. Be clear about what it proves, though: foundational knowledge and first builds, not developer-level skill. If you already build AI features at work, AI-103 says more about you. Our honest takes: Is AI-901 worth it? and Is AI-103 worth it?
What about AB-100?
AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect) sits a level above both. It leads to Microsoft Certified: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert, a credential for solution architects who design AI and agent solutions across Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry. So “AB-100 vs AI-103” isn’t either-or: AI-103 can be your stepping stone to AB-100.
- Prerequisites: to earn the expert certification, you pass AB-100 and hold at least one associate certification from Microsoft’s list. That list includes AI-103, AI-300, AB-620 (AI Agent Builder Associate), PL-400 (Power Platform Developer Associate) and several Dynamics 365 associate certifications.
- Domains: Plan AI-powered business solutions (25–30%), Design AI-powered business solutions (25–30%), Deploy AI-powered business solutions (40–45%).
- Price and score: $165 in the US, 700 to pass.
- Renewal: expert certifications expire yearly and renew free with an online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
- Heads-up: Microsoft is updating the English AB-100 exam on October 14, 2026, so study from the new skills list in the AB-100 study guide.
One AB-100 certification path that Microsoft’s prerequisite list allows: AI-901 (optional), then AI-103, then AB-100.
What about AI-200?
AI-200 (Developing AI Cloud Solutions on Azure) leads to Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate. Microsoft named it the replacement for AZ-204 (Azure Developer Associate), which it scheduled to retire on July 31, 2026.
The difference from AI-103 is where you work. AI-103 is about building the AI app or agent itself in Microsoft Foundry. AI-200 is about the cloud back end that runs it: containers on App Service, Container Apps and AKS (20–25%), vector search with Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Database for PostgreSQL and Azure Managed Redis (25–30%), Service Bus, Event Grid and Azure Functions (20–25%), and Key Vault, monitoring and troubleshooting (20–25%). Both are associate exams with 120 minutes, a $165 US price and a 700 passing score.
Status: Microsoft’s June 2026 roundup listed AI-200 in beta with general availability planned for July 2026. Its Microsoft Learn page no longer carries a beta label, and Microsoft says the official practice assessment isn’t available yet.
What about AI-102?
AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) retired on June 30, 2026, and Microsoft named AI-103 as its replacement. If you hold AI-102, it stays valid until it expires but can no longer be renewed. If you’re choosing today, AI-103 is the associate-level option. The full landscape: Microsoft’s AI certification path, explained.
Sample both, free
A few original questions from each exam will show you which level fits you today. No sign-up to start, plain-English explanations.
Keep reading: Is AI-901 worth it? · Is AI-103 worth it? · AI-900 vs AI-901: what changed · Free AI-103 practice questions · Microsoft’s new AI cert path
HOW TO // AI is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. AI-900, AI-901, AI-102, AI-103, AI-200, AB-100, Azure AI Fundamentals, Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate, Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate and Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert are certifications and trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; we reference them descriptively.
Held or studied for AI-102? See AI-102 is retired: what changed and what to do.
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Related guides
- Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) Study Guide & Cheat Sheet
- AI-103 Study Guide & Cheat Sheet (Azure AI Apps & Agents Developer)
- Is Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) Worth It in 2026? An Honest Look
- Is the AI-103 Certification Worth It? An Honest Look at Microsoft’s Newest AI Cert
- Microsoft AI Certifications in 2026: The New Path, Explained
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between AI-901 and AI-103?
AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals) is a $99 beginner exam on AI concepts and simple builds in Microsoft Foundry that needs only basic Python and never expires. AI-103 (Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate) is a $165, 120-minute associate exam for Python developers who build generative AI apps and agents, and it renews free every year.
Should I take AI-901 or AI-103 first?
Neither exam has a prerequisite, so experienced Python developers can start with AI-103. If RAG, model deployment and responsible AI are still new to you, AI-901 first is the cheaper way to learn the vocabulary AI-103 assumes.
How much does AI-901 cost?
AI-901 costs $99 in the US, compared with $165 for AI-103. Microsoft prices exams by country (for example GBP 64 in the UK or EUR 76 in Germany for AI-901), and prices exclude tax.
Is AI-901 worth it?
For beginners, usually yes: it is Microsoft's cheapest AI certification and it never expires. It proves foundational knowledge and first builds in Microsoft Foundry, not developer-level skill, so if you already build AI apps, AI-103 says more about you.
What is the difference between AB-100 and AI-103?
AB-100 is an expert-level architect exam that leads to Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert, covering AI and agent solutions across Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry. AI-103 is an associate developer exam, and it is one of the associate certifications that count toward the AB-100 expert credential.
What are the prerequisites for AB-100?
To earn the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert certification, you pass AB-100 and hold at least one associate certification from Microsoft's list. The list includes AI-103, AI-300, AB-620, PL-400 and several Dynamics 365 associate certifications, so one path is AI-103 followed by AB-100.
What is the difference between AI-200 and AI-103?
AI-103 tests building AI apps and agents in Microsoft Foundry. AI-200, which leads to Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate and replaces AZ-204, tests the cloud back end around them: containers, vector search in Cosmos DB and PostgreSQL, messaging, Azure Functions, security and monitoring.
Did AI-103 replace AI-102?
Yes. Microsoft retired AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) on June 30, 2026 and named AI-103 as its replacement. An existing AI-102 certification stays valid until it expires but can no longer be renewed.
