14 Microsoft Certifications Retiring in 2026: Full List, Dates and Replacements

The Complete 2026 Microsoft Retirement List

Fourteen Microsoft role-based certifications carry a 2026 retirement date, spanning Azure, AI, Windows Server, Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. The table below is the one-glance version: every retiring exam, its retirement date, the replacement Microsoft has named, and whether ReadRoost has a practice pack ready for the replacement. Dates are taken from the official Microsoft Learn credential retirement page.

A note on counting: this is 14 certifications but 15 exams, because the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator credential is earned through two exams (AZ-800 and AZ-801) that both retire on the same day and consolidate into the single AZ-802. MS-900 and DP-100 have already retired earlier in 2026, the other twelve are still sittable until the dates above.

Which Microsoft Certifications Are Retiring in 2026?

The three retirements drawing the most search traffic, and the three ReadRoost gets asked about most, are the core Azure and AI exams: AI-102, DP-100 and AZ-500. Each is being replaced by a new exam that better reflects how cloud roles now integrate AI capabilities. The Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Windows Server and fundamentals retirements are covered further down.

AI-102: Azure AI Engineer Associate retires 30 June 2026. It is being replaced by AI-103: Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate. The AI-103 beta exam is available from April 2026.

DP-100: Azure Data Scientist Associate retires 1 June 2026, the earliest of the three. It is being replaced by AI-300: Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate. Training retires in April 2026 and the AI-300 exam is expected to go live in May 2026.

AZ-500: Azure Security Engineer Associate retires 31 August 2026. It is being replaced by SC-500: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate. The SC-500 beta opens in May 2026.

All three retiring exams remain available until their retirement dates. Your existing certifications stay valid on your transcript until they expire, retirement only affects new exam attempts and renewals.

What Replaces AI-102?

The AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) is being replaced by the AI-103 (Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate). This isn’t a minor update, it’s a fundamentally different exam.

AI-102 focused on deploying pre-built Azure AI services like Computer Vision, Language Understanding, and Azure Bot Service. AI-103 shifts the focus to building generative AI applications and multi-agent orchestration using Azure AI Foundry. Expect heavy coverage of agentic architectures, multi-step reasoning workflows, and production-ready agent deployment.

If you’re currently studying for AI-102 and your exam date is before 30 June 2026, you can still sit it. If you’re just starting out, go straight to AI-103 material, the skills it tests are more relevant to how AI engineering roles actually work in 2026.

ReadRoost has a practice pack for AI-103. Start practising for AI-103 to get ready for the replacement exam.

What Replaces DP-100?

The DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) is being replaced by the AI-300 (Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate). The shift reflects Microsoft’s recognition that the data scientist role has evolved from model building to full lifecycle ML operations.

DP-100 covered Azure Machine Learning workspaces, experiment tracking, and model training. AI-300 expands into deploying, operationalising, and maintaining ML and generative AI solutions in production, think MLOps pipelines, model monitoring, responsible AI governance, and scaling inference endpoints.

DP-100 retires first (1 June 2026), so you have the least runway of the three. If you haven’t booked yet, seriously consider whether AI-300 is a better use of your study time, especially if your role involves production ML systems.

ReadRoost now has a full AI-300 practice pack. Start practising for AI-300 to build the MLOps and production-ML skills the new exam tests. If you are migrating from DP-100, our DP-100 retirement and migration guide maps which of your existing study notes still carry over.

What Replaces AZ-500?

The AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer Associate) is being replaced by the SC-500 (Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate). This is the biggest scope change of the three, the new exam expands the security role to cover AI model protection alongside traditional cloud security.

AZ-500 focused on Azure-specific security controls: network security groups, Azure Firewall, Key Vault, Defender for Cloud, and identity management. SC-500 retains that foundation but adds AI security topics: securing AI model deployments, protecting training data, governing AI outputs, and implementing security patterns for enterprise AI solutions.

You have the most time here, AZ-500 doesn’t retire until 31 August 2026, and the SC-500 beta opens in May 2026. If you’re already deep into AZ-500 study, finish it. If you’re just starting, consider waiting for SC-500 to go live.

ReadRoost has a practice pack for SC-500. Start practising for SC-500 to get started on the replacement exam, and work through our free SC-500 practice questions for a domain-by-domain walkthrough of what changed from AZ-500.

What Replaces AI-900 (Azure AI Fundamentals)?

AI-900: Azure AI Fundamentals retires 30 June 2026, the same day as AI-102. The certification name stays the same, but the exam is being refreshed and reissued as AI-901. As an entry-level exam this is a content update rather than a new role: expect the new version to fold in Microsoft Foundry, agentic AI concepts and modern generative workloads alongside the existing machine learning and computer vision basics.

If you are early in your AI learning and your exam is booked before 30 June 2026, AI-900 is still a valid first certification. If you are starting now, go straight to AI-901 so the fundamentals you learn match the current Azure AI stack.

ReadRoost has a practice pack for the refreshed exam. Start practising for AI-901 to cover the updated fundamentals.

What Replaces AZ-204 (Azure Developer)?

AZ-204: Azure Developer Associate retires 31 July 2026. Its replacement, AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate), signals a clear repositioning: Microsoft is moving the developer path away from general Azure app development and towards building AI-integrated cloud applications.

AZ-204 covered developing Azure compute solutions, storage, security, and connecting to and consuming Azure services. AI-200 keeps a cloud-developer core but reframes it around building, calling and operationalising AI services, working with vector data, and wiring generative AI into production applications. For a working Azure developer, the shift mirrors what the job now actually involves.

If you are well into AZ-204 study and can sit it before 31 July 2026, it remains a respected developer credential. If you are starting fresh, AI-200 is the forward-looking choice. Start practising for AI-200 to get ahead of the replacement.

What Replaces AZ-800 and AZ-801 (Windows Server Hybrid Administrator)?

The Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification is currently earned by passing two exams, AZ-800 and AZ-801. Both retire on 30 September 2026, the latest retirement date on the 2026 list. The certification itself is not going away: it is being consolidated into a single exam, AZ-802, so candidates will earn the same credential with one exam instead of two.

This is good news if you have not started, because waiting for AZ-802 means one exam fee and one sitting rather than two. If you have already passed AZ-800 and are partway through AZ-801, check Microsoft Learn for the transition details before the September date, since finishing the existing pair may be the faster route for you.

ReadRoost does not yet have an AZ-802 practice pack. It is on our roadmap for the Windows Server track and is marked as coming soon in the table above. In the meantime, the published AZ-800 and AZ-801 objectives still describe the core hybrid administration skills the new exam will test.

What Replaces MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals)?

MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals has already retired, on 31 March 2026. It is included here because it retired during 2026 and because the question still comes up: the replacement is AB-900 (Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals). The shift reflects how much of the modern Microsoft 365 administrator role now centres on Copilot and agent management rather than the classic productivity-suite fundamentals.

As a fundamentals certification, an MS-900 credential you already hold stays on your transcript and does not expire, so there is nothing to renew. If you are choosing a Microsoft 365 entry point today, AB-900 is the current exam. Start practising for AB-900 to study the new fundamentals.

Dynamics 365 Retirements: MB-240, MB-280, MB-335 and MB-700

Four Dynamics 365 certifications retire in 2026. MB-240 (Field Service Functional Consultant), MB-335 (Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert) and MB-700 (Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect) all retire on 30 June 2026. MB-280 (Customer Experience Analyst) retires a month later, on 31 July 2026.

The mappings are not all one-to-one. MB-280 has a named successor, AB-210 (Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate), and ReadRoost has a practice pack for it: start practising for AB-210. MB-240, MB-335 and MB-700 do not have direct one-for-one replacements; Microsoft is steering those audiences towards the broader AI-first architecture pathway anchored by AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect). If that is your direction, you can practise for AB-100 now.

Power Platform Retirements: PL-200, PL-500 and PL-600

Three Power Platform certifications retire in 2026. PL-500 (Power Automate RPA Developer) and PL-600 (Power Platform Solution Architect) both retire on 30 June 2026, and PL-200 (Power Platform Functional Consultant) retires on 31 August 2026.

PL-200 has a named replacement, AB-410 (Intelligent Applications Builder Associate), which ReadRoost covers. Start practising for AB-410 if you are on the functional-consultant track. PL-500 and PL-600 do not have direct replacements; Microsoft points both audiences towards the AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect) pathway as the broader way forward, which ReadRoost also covers.

Should I Take the Old Exam or Wait?

The right call depends on how far through your study plan you are and how much time you have before retirement. Here’s a simple framework:

Retiring within 30 days: Take it now if you’re ready, or cut your losses and switch to the replacement. Do not cram for an exam that’s about to disappear, the replacement cert will be more valuable on your CV.

Retiring in 1 to 3 months: You have time to decide. If you’re more than halfway through your study plan, finish and sit the old exam. If you’re just starting, switch to replacement material now.

Retiring in 3 to 6 months: Start with the replacement material. By the time you’re exam-ready, the new version will be generally available and you’ll earn a more current certification.

One practical note on beta exams: Microsoft beta exams are typically offered at an 80% discount, but results take 4 to 6 weeks to come back. If you need your result by a specific date, plan accordingly.

What About Certifications You’ve Already Earned?

If you already hold AI-102, DP-100, or AZ-500, your certification remains valid until its expiration date. Microsoft does not revoke certifications when exams retire.

However, you will not be able to renew a retired certification once the exam is gone. When your cert expires, you’ll need to earn the replacement certification instead. Microsoft typically provides a renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn up until the retirement date, if your cert is expiring soon, renew it before the exam retires.

Your certification transcript continues to show your earned credentials regardless of exam retirement status.

The Bigger Picture: Why Microsoft Is Doing This

These retirements are part of Microsoft’s broader push to embed AI across every cloud role. Security engineers now need to understand AI model threats. Data scientists need MLOps skills. AI engineers need agentic architecture expertise.

This isn’t unique to Microsoft, AWS retired the ML Specialty (MLS-C01) in favour of the ML Engineer Associate (MLA-C01) in early 2026 for similar reasons. The industry is converging on the view that AI literacy is now table stakes for cloud professionals.

If you’re planning your certification path for 2026 and beyond, prioritise exams that include AI and automation topics. They’ll stay relevant longer, and they reflect where hiring managers are focusing right now.

Start Studying for the Replacement Exams

Of the 14 retirements, all but the Windows Server consolidation (AZ-802, coming soon) already have a ReadRoost practice pack for the replacement. That includes AI-103, AI-300, AI-200, AI-901, SC-500, AB-900, AB-410, AB-210 and the AB-100 architect pathway. Every link in the table near the top of this guide goes straight to the matching pack.

All packs include AI-generated practice questions, spaced repetition flashcards, and detailed explanations. No credit card required to get started, create a free account and begin studying today.

Visit the ReadRoost marketplace to browse all available practice packs for Microsoft, AWS, and other vendors.