AB-900 vs AI-900: Which Microsoft AI Fundamentals Exam Should You Take?
Compare AB-900 and AI-900 Microsoft certifications. Discover key differences in content, difficulty, career value, and which exam fits your career goals.
Examinotion Team
Last Updated: February 2026
Microsoft offers two fundamentals-level AI certifications that candidates frequently confuse: the AB-900 (Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals) and the AI-900 (Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals). Despite having similar exam codes and both falling under Microsoft's AI certification umbrella, these are entirely different exams targeting different platforms, audiences, and career paths.
This guide breaks down the key differences to help you choose the right exam for your goals.
AB-900 vs AI-900 at a Glance
| Aspect | AB-900 | AI-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals | Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals |
| Platform | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Azure |
| Target Role | IT administrators | AI engineers, business professionals |
| Focus | Copilot administration, data governance, M365 management | AI concepts, machine learning, Azure AI services |
| Duration | 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Questions | 40–60 | 40–60 |
| Passing Score | 700/1000 | 700/1000 |
| Languages | English only | 13 languages |
| Launched | February 2026 (GA) | 2020 (established) |
| Status | Brand new | Active, no retirement planned |
| Certification Expires? | No | No |
| Free Practice Assessment | Not yet available | Available on Microsoft Learn |
Pricing varies by region. Check Pearson VUE for current rates.
What Is the AB-900 Exam?
The AB-900 exam validates your ability to administer Microsoft 365 services, manage data protection with Microsoft Purview, and oversee Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI agents. It is the direct replacement for the retiring MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) exam, which Microsoft will retire on 31 March 2026.
Passing AB-900 earns the Microsoft 365 Certified: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals credential, which does not expire.
AB-900 Exam Domains
| Domain | Weight | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Core Features and Objects of Microsoft 365 Services | 30–35% | Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Microsoft Entra, Zero Trust, authentication, Defender XDR |
| Data Protection and Governance for Microsoft 365 and Copilot | 35–40% | Microsoft Purview (DLP, sensitivity labels, insider risk management, communication compliance, DSPM for AI), Responsible AI principles |
| Basic Administrative Tasks for Copilot and Agents | 25–30% | Copilot licensing models, usage monitoring, adoption analytics, agent creation, approval, and lifecycle management |
The heaviest domain — data protection and governance — accounts for up to 40% of the exam. Early candidates report that Microsoft Purview content features far more prominently than many expected. As one beta tester noted, the exam "leaned far more towards Purview than Copilot or Agent administration" (Vlad Talks Tech).
Official study guide: Microsoft Learn — AB-900 Study Guide
What Is the AI-900 Exam?
The AI-900 exam tests your understanding of core artificial intelligence concepts and the Azure services that implement them. It covers machine learning principles, computer vision, natural language processing, and generative AI — all at a conceptual level. No hands-on coding or Azure configuration is required.
Passing AI-900 earns the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals credential, which does not expire. AI-900 has no announced retirement date and continues to be actively maintained, with its most recent major update in May 2025.
AI-900 Exam Domains
| Domain | Weight | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence Workloads and Considerations | 15–20% | Computer vision, NLP, document processing, generative AI workloads, Responsible AI principles |
| Fundamental Principles of Machine Learning on Azure | 15–20% | Regression, classification, clustering, deep learning, Transformer architecture, Azure Machine Learning |
| Features of Computer Vision Workloads on Azure | 15–20% | Image classification, object detection, OCR, facial detection, Azure AI Vision |
| Features of NLP Workloads on Azure | 15–20% | Key phrase extraction, entity recognition, sentiment analysis, speech services, translation |
| Features of Generative AI Workloads on Azure | 20–25% | Generative AI models, Azure OpenAI Service, Azure AI Foundry (now Microsoft Foundry), responsible generative AI |
The generative AI domain carries the highest weighting at 20–25%, reflecting the industry shift towards large language models and prompt-based workflows.
Official study guide: Microsoft Learn — AI-900 Study Guide
Five Key Differences Between AB-900 and AI-900
1. Platform Focus: Microsoft 365 vs Azure
This is the most fundamental distinction. AB-900 is a Microsoft 365 exam — it tests your knowledge of Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams, Entra, Purview, and Copilot. AI-900 is an Azure exam — it tests your understanding of Azure AI services like Azure Machine Learning, Azure AI Vision, Azure AI Language, and Azure OpenAI Service.
The only meaningful content overlap between the two exams is Responsible AI principles (fairness, reliability, privacy, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability), which both exams cover from their respective platform perspectives.
2. Content Type: Administration vs Concepts
AB-900 is an administrative exam. It expects you to know where settings live across multiple admin centres — Microsoft 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Entra, and Purview. You need practical awareness of how to configure policies, assign licences, and monitor Copilot usage.
AI-900 is a conceptual exam. It asks you to understand what machine learning is, how computer vision works, and when to use specific Azure AI services. You do not need to configure anything or navigate any portals.
3. Difficulty Level
The community consensus is clear: AB-900 is significantly harder than AI-900 for a fundamentals-level exam.
AI-900 is widely regarded as one of the easiest Microsoft fundamentals exams. Many candidates report passing with 6–15 hours of study.
AB-900 is a different proposition. Beta testers describe it as "the hardest fundamentals exam" they have taken, citing the sheer breadth of content spanning M365 administration, security, data governance, and Copilot management. The 9to5Azure exam experience report describes it as feeling "much closer to a modernised MS-900 with a bit of SC-900 overlap."
| Factor | AB-900 | AI-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Community Difficulty Rating | Hard for a fundamentals exam | Easy |
| Estimated Study Time | 2–4 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| Study Hours | 30–50 hours | 6–15 hours |
| Hands-on Knowledge Needed | Yes — portal navigation, admin tasks | No — conceptual understanding only |
| Breadth of Coverage | Very broad (M365, Entra, Purview, Defender, Copilot) | Moderate (AI concepts + Azure AI services) |
4. Language Availability
AI-900 is available in 13 languages, including English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian, Arabic, and Italian.
AB-900 is currently available in English only. Additional language support is expected but has not been announced as of February 2026.
5. Career Pathways
Each exam leads to a different certification pathway:
AB-900 leads to the AB-series:
- AB-900 then AB-730 (AI Business Professional) then AB-731 (AI Transformation Leader) then AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect)
- Best for professionals building careers in Microsoft 365 administration, digital workplace management, and enterprise AI adoption
AI-900 leads to Azure AI roles:
- AI-900 then AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) then advanced Azure AI certifications
- Best for professionals building careers in cloud engineering, data science, and Azure AI development
Neither exam is a formal prerequisite for the certifications that follow it, but each provides the foundational knowledge that makes advanced exams significantly easier to tackle.
Already Have MS-900? Here Is What You Need to Know
MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) retires on 31 March 2026. AB-900 is its direct successor, but with substantially expanded scope. Where MS-900 covered core M365 services, identity, and security principles, AB-900 adds two major pillars:
- Data Protection and Governance — Microsoft Purview, DLP, insider risk management, SharePoint Advanced Management
- Copilot and Agent Administration — licensing models, usage monitoring, agent lifecycle management
The content volume is approximately double that of MS-900.
Important points for MS-900 holders:
- Your MS-900 certification does not expire — it remains permanently on your Microsoft Learn transcript
- There is no automatic migration from MS-900 to AB-900 — you must sit and pass AB-900 as a new exam
- Your MS-900 study material gives you a solid foundation for approximately 30–35% of AB-900 content
- You will need to study Purview and Copilot administration topics as entirely new material
MB-910 (Dynamics 365 CRM Fundamentals) and MB-920 (Dynamics 365 ERP Fundamentals) have already retired as of 31 December 2025.
Which Exam Is Right for You?
Choose AB-900 if you:
- Administer or manage Microsoft 365 environments
- Work with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Exchange Online, or Entra
- Are responsible for deploying or managing Microsoft 365 Copilot in your organisation
- Handle data governance, compliance, or security in a Microsoft 365 context
- Currently hold MS-900 and want an updated credential
- Work in pre-sales or consulting for Microsoft 365 and Copilot solutions
Choose AI-900 if you:
- Work with or plan to work with Azure cloud services
- Want to understand AI concepts (machine learning, computer vision, NLP) at a foundational level
- Are a developer, data analyst, or project manager evaluating Azure AI solutions
- Seek a stepping stone towards AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate)
- Prefer a conceptual exam without hands-on administration requirements
- Need the exam in a language other than English
Still unsure? Ask yourself one question: Does your day-to-day work involve Microsoft 365 administration, or Azure and AI development? If it is M365, take AB-900. If it is Azure or general AI, take AI-900.
Can You Take Both Exams?
Yes, and for certain roles it makes genuine sense. A professional who holds both certifications demonstrates understanding of AI across both the Microsoft 365 and Azure ecosystems — a valuable combination for:
- IT architects who manage both Azure workloads and Microsoft 365 environments
- Pre-sales consultants covering the full Microsoft AI portfolio
- Digital transformation leaders who need visibility across both platforms
However, for most professionals, the choice is either/or based on your primary role. The exams serve different ecosystems, neither is a prerequisite for the other, and neither overlaps significantly in content.
If you do plan to take both, consider starting with AI-900 first — it is shorter to prepare for and gives you a confidence boost before tackling AB-900's broader scope.
How to Prepare
| Resource | AB-900 | AI-900 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Study Guide | AB-900 Study Guide | AI-900 Study Guide |
| Official Training Course | AB-900T00: Introduction to Microsoft 365 and AI Administration (1 day) | AI-900T00: Introduction to AI in Azure (1 day) |
| Free Practice Assessment | Not yet available (expected March–April 2026) | Available on Microsoft Learn |
| Supplementary Study | Review SC-900 material for Purview and Defender overlap | Microsoft Learn AI learning paths |
| Practice Exams | Examinotion AB-900 Practice Tests | Third-party practice tests available |
Study tip for AB-900: Beta testers strongly recommend studying beyond the official one-day training course. The Microsoft Learn module assessments are reportedly "way too easy" compared to the actual exam. Review SC-900 (Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals) material for significant overlap with the Purview and Defender XDR sections.
Study tip for AI-900: Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising Azure portal steps. The exam is conceptual in nature, and a solid grasp of what each AI service does — and when to use it — is more valuable than hands-on experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AB-900 replacing AI-900?
No. AB-900 replaces MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals), not AI-900. The two exams cover entirely different platforms — AB-900 covers Microsoft 365, whilst AI-900 covers Azure. AI-900 has no announced retirement date and continues to be actively maintained.
Which exam is easier to pass?
AI-900 is widely considered one of the easiest Microsoft fundamentals exams, often passable with 6–15 hours of study. AB-900 is significantly more demanding due to its broad coverage of M365 services, Purview, Defender, and Copilot administration. Plan for 2–4 weeks of focused study for AB-900.
Do either of these certifications expire?
No. Both are fundamentals-level certifications that remain permanently on your Microsoft Learn transcript. Neither requires renewal.
Can I take AB-900 if I do not have M365 admin experience?
Technically yes — there are no formal prerequisites. However, candidates without experience in Microsoft 365 admin centres (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Entra, Purview) will find the exam significantly more challenging. The exam expects you to know where settings and features are located across multiple portals.
Is AB-900 available outside of English?
As of February 2026, AB-900 is available in English only. AI-900 is available in 13 languages. Microsoft has not announced when additional language support for AB-900 will be added.
Do I need to take AB-900 before AB-730 or AB-731?
No. AB-900 is an independent certification. You can take AB-730 (AI Business Professional) or AB-731 (AI Transformation Leader) without first passing AB-900. However, the foundational knowledge from AB-900 may help with certain Copilot-related topics in those exams.
How much does each exam cost?
Both exams follow standard Microsoft fundamentals pricing. Costs vary by region — check Pearson VUE for current rates in your area. Students may be eligible for discounted pricing through Certiport.
Which certification looks better on a CV?
Neither is objectively "better" — they validate different skills. AB-900 is more relevant for IT administration and Microsoft 365 roles. AI-900 is more relevant for AI engineering, data science, and Azure development roles. Choose based on the career path you are pursuing.
Ready to Start Preparing?
Whether you choose AB-900 or AI-900, earning a Microsoft AI fundamentals certification is a strong first step in validating your AI skills.
If AB-900 is your exam, Examinotion offers comprehensive practice tests for AB-900 with detailed explanations for every question and progress tracking to help you identify knowledge gaps before exam day.
All exam information in this article is sourced from Microsoft Learn and official Microsoft documentation. Check the official study guides for the most current exam objectives.
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