Microsoft groups its AI exams into three skill levels for the 2026 cycle. Four Beginner-tier exams sit at the foundation. AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals Refreshed) covers the platform and Microsoft Foundry. AB-900 covers Copilot administration. AB-730 and AB-731 cover business adoption from the user and leader perspectives. Each Beginner exam stands on its own, with no formal prerequisite, and each takes 45 minutes.
Three Associate-tier exams sit above the foundation. AI-103 (Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate) suits developers building AI apps and agents on Microsoft Foundry. AB-620 (AI Agent Builder Associate) suits developers and advanced builders who design, build, and manage AI agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio. AB-410 (Intelligent Applications Builder Associate) suits Power Platform makers building AI-powered apps with Microsoft Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate cloud flows, and AI Hub. AB-410 is the current Power Platform maker certification, following the retirement of PL-200 on 31 August 2026. All three run for 120 minutes, need a scaled score of at least 700 to pass, carry no formal prerequisite, and satisfy the Associate-level Microsoft certification that AB-100 requires.
At the Expert tier sits AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect). AB-100 is gated: candidates must hold at least one active Associate-level Microsoft certification, such as AB-620, AB-410, AI-103, AI-102, or a qualifying Dynamics 365 or Power Platform Associate credential (AB-730 and AB-731 are Fundamentals exams and do not qualify). AB-100 runs for 100 minutes and tests planning, design, and deployment of enterprise-scale agentic AI systems.
A common path is AI-901 first to ground yourself in Azure AI, then AB-730 or AB-731 depending on whether you build with Copilot or lead its rollout, then an Associate exam such as AB-620 or AB-410, and finally AB-100 once you hold that prerequisite. AB-900 sits to one side as the administrator track and pairs naturally with AB-730 or AB-731 for cross-functional teams.