TL;DR: If you were about to study for Microsoft’s AI-900 exam, stop — Microsoft retired it on June 30, 2026. The same certification, Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals, is now earned with exam AI-901 for $99, and it is a more hands-on test: 55–60% covers implementing AI solutions in Microsoft Foundry, and Microsoft now expects Python syntax knowledge. Study is free on Microsoft Learn, so the $99 exam fee is the only money most beginners need to spend.
What is Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901)?
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals is Microsoft’s entry-level AI certification, aimed at people starting a career in AI solution development. The exam that earns it changed in 2026: AI-900, the old test built around describing AI workloads, retired on June 30, 2026, and AI-901 replaced it, with skills measured as of April 15, 2026, per Microsoft’s official study guide.
Preparation itself is free. Microsoft Learn hosts the training, and the official practice assessment runs through AI Skills Navigator. Our Microsoft Learn review covers that free training library in depth, and Microsoft’s free AI for Beginners curriculum on GitHub is a good companion if your Python is rusty.
What changed from AI-900 to AI-901?
This is the part most coverage has not caught up with. AI-900 had five describe-style areas: AI workloads, machine learning principles, computer vision, natural language processing, and generative AI. AI-901 has just two areas, per Microsoft’s study guide:
- Identify AI concepts and capabilities (40–45%) — responsible AI principles, how AI models work, and matching workloads to AI solutions.
- Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry (55–60%) — building generative AI apps and agents, text and speech solutions, computer vision, and information extraction.
Microsoft’s audience profile for AI-901 also says candidates “need knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques” and should be familiar with REST APIs, SDKs, and CLIs. The old exam needed no coding at all. “Fundamentals” no longer means “no-code.”
How much does AI-901 cost?
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Learn training | Free | Self-paced learning paths and modules |
| Official practice assessment | Free | Via AI Skills Navigator; sign-in required |
| Exam AI-901 | $99 USD | Priced by the country or region where the exam is proctored, so the local price varies |
| Retake | $99 per attempt | Each attempt is charged at the exam fee; passing score is 700 |
What the exam page doesn’t make obvious
Two gotchas, both visible on Microsoft’s own pages. First, Microsoft’s certification page summary still describes the old five-area AI-900 structure, while the AI-901 study guide (updated April 15, 2026) lists the two new areas — prepare against the study guide, not the summary. Second, the practice assessment is free but not anonymous: the study guide notes you must be signed in to AI Skills Navigator to launch it. Bookshops and course sites are also still full of AI-900 material that no longer matches the test.
What’s good
- Cheap, with a knowable total cost: free study plus a $99 exam is one of the lowest-cost branded AI credentials available — compare the AWS Certified AI Practitioner at $100 for the Amazon equivalent.
- More honest syllabus: testing whether you can build with Foundry is worth more to employers than testing whether you can describe services.
- Free official practice assessment and an exam sandbox, plus a clearly published passing score of 700.
What’s not so good
- No longer a true zero-code starting point: beginners with no Python at all now have real prep work before the “fundamentals” exam makes sense.
- Stale third-party materials everywhere: anything labeled AI-900 describes a retired exam.
- Azure-specific: the hands-on half ties your skills to Microsoft Foundry, which is a plus in Azure shops and a limitation elsewhere.
- Price varies by country — $99 is the US figure.
Who it’s best for
AI-901 suits beginners who want a first, verifiable AI credential and are willing to learn basic Python and work inside Azure — career starters, IT staff moving toward AI roles, and new developers. Complete non-coders who just want AI literacy for office work are better served by a free course first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AI-900 exam still available?
No. Microsoft retired AI-900 on June 30, 2026. Azure AI Fundamentals is now earned by passing AI-901.
How much does the AI-901 exam cost?
$99 USD. Microsoft prices the exam by the country or region where it is proctored, so check your local price when you schedule.
Do I need to know how to code for AI-901?
Some. Microsoft’s study guide says candidates need knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques, plus familiarity with REST APIs, SDKs, and CLIs. It is still a fundamentals exam, but it is not a no-code exam anymore.
What score do I need to pass AI-901?
700 or greater, per Microsoft’s official study guide.
Verdict
Azure AI Fundamentals remains the sensible first Microsoft AI credential — $99, free official prep, and a syllabus that finally tests building, not just describing. Just make sure everything you study says AI-901 on it.
Prices checked 2026-11-03 and can change — confirm on the platform’s site before buying.