Blog Post

The Skills Hub Blog
6 MIN READ

The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills?

Mark Winters's avatar
Mark Winters
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Mar 03, 2026

Future-proof your skills: Microsoft’s new cloud, AI, and security Certifications.

AI isn’t just changing jobs descriptions, it’s redefining how work gets done across every industry, role, and skill level. From marketing to manufacturing, AI is reshaping workflows, speeding up deci...
New Microsoft Certification exam beta timeline
Updated Mar 23, 2026
Version 6.0
certification
Cloud AI
retirement
VictorAChavez's avatar
VictorAChavez
Occasional Reader
Mar 31, 2026

Hi, 

I passed the AZ-204 in January. So I would like to renew sooner rather than later. How are we going to be able to review before the retirement takes effect for people in the same boat as me?

Julian_Sharp's avatar
Julian_Sharp
Learn Expert
Mar 31, 2026

If you earned the certification in January this year , your expiry date will be in January 2026.

Your renewal period opens 180 days before your expiry date, so in July 2025 - you will only have a few days before 31st July 2025 to renew.

After the certification has retired, you will not be able to renew your certification.