MicrosoftI appreciate the update and I get why you’re moving certifications toward more AI-powered roles. But I’m a bit confused about how this transition is playing out in practice.
For example: why are the current Certification Weeks still focused on AI-102 and AZ-204, while this post says that if you’re not close to testing you should prepare for AI-103 and AI-200 instead? It feels like the messaging and the actual training/events aren’t fully aligned yet.
Also, can you confirm I’m understanding this correctly: if I already have AI-102, I don’t automatically get AI-103 (same idea for AZ-204 → AI-200)? If that’s the case, are you considering some kind of upgrade path (discounts for people who recently passed, etc.)?
And on the Fundamentals point: you say Fundamentals certifications don’t expire, what’s the practical benefit when a new Fundamentals exam replaces the old one (like AI-900 being replaced by AI-901)? Is it mainly just that it stays on your transcript forever, or are there other advantages?
Also, the retirements listed here (even though its already a lot) seem limited, as I’ve seen broader lists circulating online that mention other certs (like PL-200 and PL-600 and a lot of Dynamics365 certifications). Is this the complete list of soon-to-retire cert's, or are there additional retirements planned that aren’t included in this post? If there’s a single source of truth for upcoming retirements, it would really help to point people to it.
Lastly (and this is the big one): certifications cost money, but they cost even more in time. People plan their learning across providers (Microsoft/AWS/Google/etc.) and within Microsoft based on how long certs will be relevant and (for me personally at least) how renewal system works. In my case, four certifications I earned in the last six months are now on the retirement list. I understand the “why” behind the AI shift, but as someone paying for exams myself and spending a lot of free time studying, it honestly feels a bit like wasted effort.
I’m curious how you’ve thought about the candidate experience here, and what you’re doing to make these transitions smoother and less demotivating for people who just earned the retiring certs.
MicrosoftHello,
Thanks for your interest in Microsoft Certifications. The new exams do not cover the same content of the existing exams. One of the purposes of creating new courses with new course numbers, and new exams, is to introduce a significant amount of new material that would not make sense in a simple update of the existing material. Thus, for example, AI-102 and AI-103 are not equivalent similarly AI 900 and AI 901. The essential value of holding a Microsoft certification is to indicate that the credential holder is skilled on the technology of today. The rapid advancement of AI capabilities makes it essential that new certifications are created to help learners showcase their readiness in current and future. As far as Sales week, it is aligned with the certs that are available and still active in the market. Our goal though with this information is to help you all be informed so you can plan short-term to medium to long term goals.
