Microsoft Certification Retirements 2026: Every Change, Date & Replacement

11 certifications retiring. AI-focused replacements launching. Here is every retirement date, replacement exam, and what it means for your partner designation — from the team that tracks all 32 Advanced Specializations.

The biggest certification shakeup in years

Microsoft is retiring 11 certifications, 3 applied skills, and 3 exams between April and September 2026. The replacements all have one thing in common: AI. Whether you work with Azure, the Power Platform, Windows Server, or Dynamics 365, at least one of these retirements will affect your team.

This is not a minor refresh. Microsoft is rebuilding its certification portfolio around artificial intelligence, generative AI, agentic architectures, and modern cloud security. Certifications built around traditional service implementation are being replaced by credentials that reflect how AI is embedded into every technical role in 2026.

Azure & AI Certification Retirements

Four major Azure certifications are retiring. Each has a confirmed AI-focused replacement.

The pattern is unmistakable. The DP-100 focused on traditional data science workflows — the AI-300 replacement adds automation, CI/CD pipelines, lifecycle governance, observability, and drift detection. The AI-102 tested Azure AI service integration — the AI-103 shifts toward agentic AI application development. Microsoft is not just renaming exams. The scope and difficulty are expanding.

Power Platform & Dynamics 365 Retirements

Seven certifications are retiring across the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 tracks. Several have no direct replacement — Microsoft is steering solutions architects toward the AB-100 Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect certification as the flagship expert-level path.

The Dynamics 365 and Power Platform tracks are being aggressively consolidated. If you hold PL-600, MB-700, or MB-240, Microsoft's recommended path forward is AB-100 — the expert-level certification for designing multi-agent AI solutions across Copilot, Foundry Tools, and Dynamics 365.

Exams Retiring — But Certifications Stay

Some exams are retiring while the certification itself continues. Microsoft is simply updating the exam requirements. If you already hold these certifications, you are not affected as long as you keep renewing.

The MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) already retired on March 31, 2026. Its replacement is AB-900 (Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals). Partners relying on MS-900 for Modern Work designation skilling points should note that the retired cert will continue counting toward designation points until March 31, 2027 — but planning the transition now is critical.

Applied Skills Retirements

Three applied skills credentials are retiring in 2026. Unlike certifications, applied skills remain active for two years after retirement before moving to historical status — and the assessments are completely free to take.

New Certifications Launching in 2026

Microsoft is not just retiring — they are launching an unprecedented wave of new credentials. At least 12 new or replacement certifications are expected by the end of 2026.

Replacement certifications

Brand-new certifications (no predecessor)

What This Means for Partner Designations

This is where Microsoft certification retirements stop being an individual concern and become a business-critical partner operations issue.

Microsoft partner designations — Solutions Partner for Azure, Security, Modern Work, Business Applications, Data & AI, and Digital & App Innovation — require between 2 and 4 certified individuals to maintain. When certifications retire, Microsoft updates the qualifying certification list. Partners who do not proactively transition their team to replacement certifications risk losing designation status.

Designations drive everything in the Microsoft partner ecosystem. They unlock ECIF funding, incentive program access, co-sell pipeline visibility, and the Advanced Specializations that gate the highest-value revenue. Letting a designation lapse because your team held retiring certifications is one of the most expensive mistakes a partner can make.

Advanced Specialization Impact

All 32 Advanced Specializations require specific certifications as skilling prerequisites. When a prerequisite certification retires, Microsoft updates the requirements — typically replacing the retired cert with its successor. But there is a dangerous gap between retirement and requirement updates.

The prerequisite trap

Expert-level certifications like AB-100 require an associate-level prerequisite. If your only valid prerequisite is a retiring certification — for example, AI-102 — you have a problem. You must either earn the expert cert before the prerequisite retires and Microsoft removes it from the requirements, or you must pass a different qualifying associate-level exam first.

Microsoft has confirmed that retiring certifications will be removed from prerequisite lists and replaced with new associate-level certifications. However, if your associate-level prerequisite expires before you complete the expert-level certification, you lose eligibility entirely until you recertify.

What to Do Now

If you are currently studying for a retiring exam

If you are 70–80% prepared, finish it. The certification goes on your transcript permanently, and you can pursue the replacement later. If you are just starting, consider pivoting to the replacement beta — especially if it launches within the next few weeks. Investing study time into the credential that will be current going forward is the smarter long-term play.

If you are a Microsoft partner operations leader

1. Audit your team's certifications today. Identify every team member holding a retiring certification. Check expiration dates.
2. Map certifications to designation requirements. Determine which designations depend on retiring certs and which team members are affected.
3. Schedule replacement exams. Most betas launch April through June 2026. Get your team registered early — beta exams often have limited availability.
4. Budget for training time. These new exams require preparation. Give your team dedicated study time rather than asking them to squeeze it in on top of delivery work.
5. Review Advanced Specialization prerequisites. If any AdvSpec skilling requirement depends on a retiring cert, flag it immediately and plan the transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide was published on April 12, 2026, based on official Microsoft announcements from Microsoft Learn — Credential Retirement and the Microsoft Skills Hub Blog. Information is subject to change — always verify current exam status on Microsoft Learn before scheduling.