AI-900 Is Retired: AI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals Exam Guide

Quick Overview

• The AI 901 certification is Microsoft's Azure AI Fundamentals exam that replaced AI-900 after its retirement on June 30, 2026.
• The AI 901 exam requires a passing score of 700 out of 1,000, costs US$99 in the United States, and has region-specific pricing.
• The syllabus covers AI concepts, responsible AI, generative AI, AI agents, text analysis, speech, computer vision, and information extraction.
• Basic Python knowledge and hands-on practice with Microsoft Foundry can help candidates prepare for the implementation-focused exam.
• This guide covers AI-900 vs. AI-901 differences, exam fees and requirements, registration steps, syllabus topics, and preparation strategies.

AI-901 introduces AI agents and their role in building AI solutions. Take the next step with the Applied Agentic AI Certification Course to learn how to develop and implement AI agents.

What is the AI 901 certification?

The AI 901 is the certification associated with the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals. It's a certification that validates a candidate's knowledge of the fundamental AI concepts and their ability to work with some of the basic AI solutions using the Microsoft technologies.

The AI-900 exam was retired on 30 June 2026 and replaced by AI-901. The old exam (AI-900) was primarily focused on AI concepts and Azure AI services. The new exam (AI-901) is more focused on the implementation of AI solutions.

Candidates will be taught about generative AI, AI agents, text analysis, speech, computer vision and information extraction. The exam also covers Microsoft Foundry which provides tools for building and managing AI applications.

AI-900 vs. AI-901: What changed in the Azure AI Fundamentals exam?

The most significant change is the shift from understanding AI services to applying AI concepts. Here's a quick comparison.

Comparison point	AI-900	AI-901
Status	Retired June 30, 2026	Current exam
Main focus	Understanding AI concepts and Azure AI services	AI concepts and implementing AI solutions
Coding knowledge	No specific coding knowledge required	Basic Python syntax and programming knowledge expected
Generative AI	Foundational generative AI concepts	Generative AI models, applications, and agents
Practical emphasis	Recognizing AI workloads and services	Building lightweight AI applications with Microsoft Foundry

Also Read: 15 Best Azure Certifications 2026: Which one to Choose? 

What is the AI-901 exam cost, passing score and requirements?

The AI 901 certification exam costs $99 in the US and the actual cost will vary by country/region. Candidates need a minimum score of 700 out of 1000 to pass. There is no formal prerequisite certification so it's open to the absolute beginner.

Exam detail	Information
Exam code	AI-901
Certification	Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Passing score	700 out of 1,000
Exam price	$99 in the United States; regional pricing varies
Prerequisites	No formal prerequisite
Recommended knowledge	Basic Python, AI concepts, and Azure resources
Exam registration	Microsoft Learn / Pearson VUE
Official objectives	Microsoft AI 901 study guide

How to book the AI-901 exam

Candidates can register for the AI 901 certification exam via Microsoft Learn and book their exam with Pearson VUE. 

The steps are as follows: 

1. Open the official exam page: Go to the Microsoft AI-901 exam page.
2. Sign in to Microsoft Learn: Use a personal Microsoft account. The legal name on the certification profile must match the name on your government issued ID.
3. Select the scheduling option: Choose the Pearson VUE registration option.
4. Choose the exam format: Select an available test centre or online proctored exam, if available there.
5. Pick a date and time: Choose an available appointment and exam language.
6. Review the fee and pay: Check the local exam price, the applicable taxes and the booking details prior to payment. 
7. Check the confirmation: Check the confirmation email for the appointment details and exam day instructions.

Expand your AI foundation by learning how data analytics and AI work together to solve practical problems. Explore the PG Certificate in Data Analytics and Applied AI to develop applied skills in these growing fields.

What is the AI 901 certification exam cost in different countries?

The AI 901 Azure AI Fundamentals exam fee is $99 in the US but the price varies by country/region. The final price will be subject to applicable taxes and may also be subject to promotional discounts. Candidates should check the official Microsoft exam page for the current price prior to booking.

Country	Indicative exam cost
United States	USD 99
United Kingdom	£64
Australia	USD 84
Brazil	USD 59
Canada	USD 84
Germany	€76
Singapore	USD 69
India	₹3,691

Note: These prices are indicative and may not be the current local prices. Check the current price on the official Microsoft AI-901 exam page prior to booking. 

Also Read: Microsoft Azure Certifications Cost in 2026 

What is the AI 901 certification exam syllabus?

The AI 901 certification exam syllabus is divided into two broad areas:  understanding AI concepts and implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry.  One covers the concepts and the other covers the hands-on implementation using Microsoft Foundry.

AI concepts and capabilities [40-45%]

This section tests knowledge of AI fundamentals and the capabilities of different AI workloads. Key topics include:

• Responsible AI: Understand fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.
• AI models: Learn about model capabilities, configurations, and how to select suitable models for different tasks.
• AI workloads: Understand generative AI, AI agents, text analysis, speech, computer vision, and information extraction.
• Text analysis: Review sentiment analysis, keyword extraction, entity recognition, and summarization.

Implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry [55-60%]

This section focuses on using AI tools to create simple apps and work with various data types. 

• Generative AI and agents: Learn how to write system and user prompts, deploy and test models, build some basic chat applications, and work with single-agent solutions.
• Text and speech: Build lightweight text analysis apps, respond to voice prompts and make use of the Azure Speech capabilities. 
• Computer vision and image generation: Interpret visual input, generate images and build some basic vision applications. 
• Information extraction: Extract data from documents, forms, images, audio, and video using Content Understanding capabilities.

Build on the generative AI concepts covered in AI-901 by learning to create effective prompts and work with generative AI tools. Explore the Generative AI and Prompt Engineering Course.

How to prepare for the AI 901 certification exam?

A steady plan makes the AI 901 certification a lot easier to get through. Here are the four steps for the beginner.

Step 1: Review the official AI-901 study guide

Read the exam objectives and make a checklist of the topics you need to cover. Mark the areas that you are not familiar with, such as AI agents, model deployment, or information extraction. Use this list to track your progress and ensure you don’t miss any important skills.

Step 2: Complete Microsoft Learn training

Use Microsoft's free learning resources to get a grasp of the AI concepts and tools that are covered in the exam. Generative AI, responsible AI, Microsoft Foundry and the key AI workloads are all areas you need to be familiar with. Read the relevant documentation whenever a topic needs more explanation.

Step 3: Practise building AI solutions

Reading alone may not be enough for an exam that includes implementation skills. Practise deploying and testing a model, creating a simple chat application, exploring AI agents, and trying text, speech, or vision tasks. Basic Python exercises can also help build confidence.

Step 4: Take a practice assessment and review weak areas

Attempt Microsoft's practice assessment after covering the main objectives. Review incorrect answers and return to the related learning material. Repeat the assessment and practical exercises until the core concepts and tasks feel familiar.

Also Read: Microsoft Azure Salary in 2026

Conclusion

The AI 901 certification is a useful starting point for anyone looking to build a foundation in AI and Microsoft Azure technologies. With AI 900 retired, candidates should focus on the updated AI 901 syllabus, especially Microsoft Foundry, generative AI, and practical AI implementation.

Reviewing the official study guide and practising with Microsoft Learn resources can help identify knowledge gaps before the exam. Understanding the exam fee, requirements, and registration process also makes preparation easier to plan.

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