The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills?
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 decisions, and opening entirely new career paths. And the impact is massive. According to the World Economic Forum The Future of Jobs Report 2025, advances in AI and tech could create 78 million new jobs by 2030. “We’re in the middle of a once‑in‑a‑generation shift in how work gets done,” says Elisa Graceffo, General Manager of Global Skilling at Microsoft. “For over 30 years, Microsoft Certifications have set the benchmark for skills validation. We’re evolving them as fast as roles are changing so you can prove your skills for the future of work.” To keep pace with this shift, we’re launching a new wave of Certifications designed for AI‑powered roles, from entry level to advanced, from developers and data pros to business professionals. These new Certifications reflect the major industry drivers shaping today’s workplace, including the rise of generative AI and autonomous agents and the emergence of integrated cloud and AI systems. They also highlight how business professionals are evolving into orchestrators of AI‑powered workflows and innovation. And because AI is ultimately a force that amplifies human capability, these Certifications can help ensure that your skills stay relevant, practical, and aligned with the real‑world work of 2026 and beyond. What’s new in cloud, AI, and security Certifications The new Certification exams roll out in beta beginning this month, with additional releases following over the next few months and are expected to go live later this year. The Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate Certification is ideal for professionals who deploy, operationalize, and maintain machine learning and generative AI solutions in production to automate, govern, deploy, monitor, and optimize performance. Exam AI-300 beta and training available in March 2026; exam expected to go live in May 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification covers designing and implementing scalable, secure data pipelines by using Azure Databricks. It’s intended for data professionals who want to build real-time analytics and AI-ready data foundations in the cloud. Exam DP-750 beta and training available in March 2026; exam expected to go live in May 2026. The Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate Certification validates your ability to integrate AI into modern database solutions with governance and DevOps practices. It’s designed for developers who want to build intelligent, AI-augmented database applications. Exam DP-800 beta and training available in March 2026; exam expected to go live in May 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification explores how you can build modern AI apps and agents by using Microsoft Foundry. It’s ideal for beginners who want to build AI applications on Microsoft platforms. Exam AI-901 beta available in April 2026; training expected to be available in March 2026; exam expected to go live in June 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate Certification aligns with today’s generative and agentic architectures for planning and managing AI resources in Microsoft Foundry, building generative apps and multistep reasoning workflows, and developing production‑ready agents with multi‑agent orchestration capabilities. Exam AI-103 beta available in April 2026; training expected to be available in March 2026; exam expected to go live in June 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Business Professional Certification validates your ability to recognize security risks, apply secure practices, and make informed business decisions that reduce organizational exposure while enabling productivity and AI adoption. Exam SC-730 beta available in April 2026; training expected to be available in May 2026; exam expected to go live in July 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate Certification is designed for developers who want to validate their ability to build, integrate, and monitor AI solutions on Azure by using containerized compute, vector-enabled databases, event-driven AI pipelines, serverless functions, secret management, and distributed observability. Exam AI-200 beta and training expected to be available in April 2026; exam expected to go live in July 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate Certification expands the security role to include cloud and AI model protection. Prove that you can design and implement secure environments for building and running AI solutions by using current security patterns and controls in enterprise deployments. Exam SC-500 beta available in May 2026; training and exam expected to be available in July 2026. The Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Certification combines previous hybrid infrastructure tracks to validate skills across Azure and on-premises environments. Exam AZ-802 beta available in June 2026; training and exam expected to be available in August 2026. Retiring Certifications: What you need to know As we introduce new Certifications aligned to evolving AI roles, we’re also retiring several existing ones. The following table itemizes what’s changing and provides key dates for Certification and training retirements in 2026. If your Certification is eligible for renewal, please renew it before the retirement date. Retiring Microsoft Certification Certification retirement date Training retirement date* Replacement Certification Azure Data Scientist Associate (Exam DP-100) June 1, 2026 April 2026 Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate (Exam AI-300) Azure AI Fundamentals (Exam AI-900) June 30, 2026 April 2026 Azure AI Fundamentals (Exam AI-901) Azure AI Engineer Associate (Exam AI-102) June 30, 2026 April 2026 Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (Exam AI-103) Azure Developer Associate (Exam AZ-204) July 31, 2026 May 2026 Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (Exam AI-200) Azure Security Engineer Associate (Exam AZ-500) August 31, 2026 August 2026 Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (Exam SC-500) Windows Server Hybrid Administrator (Exam AZ-800 and Exam AZ-801) September 2026* September 2026 Windows Server Hybrid Administrator (Exam AZ-802) * Planned dates Navigating the transition: FAQs The following questions and answers can help you determine how these retirements and expanded portfolio could impact your learning journey: Q. I’ve already earned one of the retiring Certifications. What happens now? A. If you’ve already earned any of the retiring Certifications, your credential remains valid and, on your transcript, until it expires. Retirement does not revoke or invalidate Certifications that were earned. Q. Can I still renew a soon-to-retire Certification? A. Yes, as long as it’s eligible for renewal and you renew it before the Certification officially retires. Fundamentals Certifications don’t expire. Q. I’m preparing for an exam that’s retiring. What should I do? If you’re actively preparing for an exam that’s retiring: If you’ve already registered for the exam, you may continue preparing for it and take it while it’s still available. Keep in mind that after the exam retires, you won’t be able to retake it if you don’t pass, and you won’t be able to renew it. If you haven’t registered for the exam, we strongly recommend that you prepare for and take the new exam instead, as noted in the following table. If you’re not close to testing for this exam Prepare for and take this exam instead Learning path and instructor-led training expected to be available in Exam DP-100 Exam AI-300 March 2026 Exam AI-900 Exam AI-901 March 2026 Exam AI-102 Exam AI-103 March 2026 Exam AZ-204 Exam AI-200 April 2026 Exam AZ-500 Exam SC-500 July 2026 Exam AZ-800 and Exam AZ-801 Exam AZ-802 August 2026 Take the next step: Build your AI-ready skill set Technology is changing fast, and AI is accelerating that change. Our Certifications are built to help you and your organization stay ahead with job‑ready skills. Earning one isn’t just a milestone, it’s a signal that you’re ready to grow with the future of work. We’ll share updates for each new Certification, including beta exams and go live dates, on The Skills Hub Blog. Stay tuned for an announcement of new Certifications focused on AI business solutions in the coming month. Explore more Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.Design and implement production-ready, multi-agent AI solutions Blueprint Survey Opportunity
Greetings! Microsoft is considering a credential for Design and implement production-ready, multi-agent AI solutions, and we need your input through our exam blueprinting survey. The blueprint determines how many questions each skill in the exam will be assigned. Please complete the online survey by May 13, 2026. Please also feel free to forward the survey to any colleagues you consider subject matter experts for this certification. If you have any questions, feel free to contact John Sowles at josowles@microsoft.com or Don Tanedo at dtanedo@microsoft.com. Design and implement production-ready, multi-agent AI solutions blueprint survey link: https://www.starttest.com/starttest2/startsurvey?programid=187&guid=34E74253-ACA4-4E29-A2A3-D675399594CB
Sleep and PNP Fails on ARM
Issue Summary I'm trying to certify a https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/ifs/ driver with HLK tests where the client is ARM64. Because Microsoft's documentation states that physical hardware must be used, I purchased a https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/configure/surface-laptop-13-inch/8mzbmmcjzqv3. All the tests pass fine, except the https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/test/hlk/testref/6bd51c1b-3dad-4a5e-b46d-98c2fe91d1aa test. Parameters used Parameter Name Value DQ DriverBinaryNames='myDriver.sys' Wpa2skAesSsid kistestssid Wpa2PskPassword password ResumeDelay 10 WDTFREMOTESYSTEM TestCycles 4 IOPeriod 1 DriverVerifierAdditionalDrivers MSDMFilt.sys FSMFApiTest TRUE LogDriverVerifierEventsAsFailure FALSE Key Observations - This test passes fine when certifying for x86_64. - For ARM64 Virtual Machine, test passes. - For ARM64 (Physical device), the test fails every time. - When targeting another driver (not my own) `WDFILTER.sys` the test fails with the same symptoms - When targeting Microsoft's sample driver [passThrough](https://github.com/microsoft/Windows-driver-samples/tree/main/filesys/miniFilter/passThrough) the test fails with the same symptoms - The tests will pass fine with the TestCycle parameter set to `3`. It always fails when set to the default `4` cycles. Errors/Warnings - HLK Studio typically states that the test failed due to an unexpected reboot - The client device's event viewer system logs show several instances of this log: Windows successfully diagnosed a low virtual memory condition. The following programs consumed the most virtual memory: TE.ProcessHost.exe (6136) consumed 63349456896 bytes, MsMpEng.exe (5332) consumed 301400064 bytes, and HLKAcmengine.exe (6944) consumed 116539392 bytes. - There are more logs regarding memory usage such as: `The Client License Service (ClipSVC) failed to start due to insufficient memory resources.` - Right before the test fails, an error appears on the client where the `TE.ProcessHost.exe` process says: breakpoint reached - The CMD prompt on the client right before the test fails will often show: `crash with exception code 0xC000027B occurred in module "TextInputHost.exe"` Question The above observations and errors/warnings seem to point to either the device or the test itself being the issue. I've factory reset the laptop already and also created a fresh .vhlk to use in Hyper-V but the outcome is the same. What is the root cause of the error? Is this a known problem? Can I workaround the problem? Is the problem the test or my device?Windows Server Administrator Blueprint Survey Opportunity
Greetings! Microsoft is updating the certification for Windows Server Administrator, and we need your input through our exam blueprinting survey. The blueprint determines how many questions each skill in the exam will be assigned. Please complete the online survey by May 5, 2026. Please also feel free to forward the survey to any colleagues you consider subject matter experts for this certification. You may send this to people external to Microsoft as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact John Sowles at josowles@microsoft.com or Don Tanedo at dtanedo@microsoft.com. Windows Server Administrator blueprint survey link: https://www.starttest.com/starttest2/startsurvey?programid=187&guid=98E35C02-CD72-4A40-9F0E-66E83D4016F1
Admin login issues on SC-300 Labs
hi, I recently took SC-300 test at a PearsonVue branch. I had 10 Labs questions to be completed after signing in with a described admin id and password. The problem was that it kept asking me to get through MFA with Microsoft Authenticator app. How could I use the app when I am not supposed to keep my mobile with me during the test, and there was no guidance in the test description about how to handle this issue. I had to waste quite a time and somehow the problem was solved, only then I could start to work on my test questions. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time and failed the exam. Can anyone let me know what I should do on my next exam? Has anyone experienced the same issue? Please help.Endpoint Administrator Blueprint Survey Opportunity
Greetings! Microsoft is considering a certification for Endpoint Administrator, and we need your input through our exam blueprinting survey. The blueprint determines how many questions each skill in the exam will be assigned. Please complete the online survey by May 12, 2026. Please also feel free to forward the survey to any colleagues you consider subject matter experts for this certification. You may send this to people external to Microsoft as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact John Sowles at josowles@microsoft.com or Don Tanedo at dtanedo@microsoft.com. Endpoint Administrator blueprint survey link: https://www.starttest.com/starttest2/startsurvey?programid=187&guid=E1B38241-4E1B-45AE-A017-E4F8C3C3C0ADEvolving the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification
As AI cloud solution adoption accelerates, demonstrate your readiness to build modern, responsible Azure AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry and Python with the new Exam AI‑901 (beta). AI is no longer a distant, abstract idea. Organizations around the world are adopting it right now to streamline workflows and strengthen operational efficiency. As a result, the demand for AI solution developers is accelerating. To support this shift, we’re evolving the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification. The updated Microsoft Certification validates your knowledge of AI concepts and capabilities and your ability to implement AI solutions by using Azure and Microsoft Foundry. After June 30, 2026, to earn this Certification, you’ll need to pass Exam AI-901: Azure AI Fundamentals, currently in beta. The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification is designed for people who are beginning their journey in AI solution development, and it validates that you can apply responsible AI principles in real‑world scenarios. It also provides a strong foundation for pursuing more advanced role‑based Certifications in Azure AI and machine learning. Is this the right Certification for you? The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Certification focuses on the practical skills needed to build modern AI apps and agents by using Foundry. By preparing to earn the Certification, you build practical, job‑relevant skills. Exam AI-901 validates your ability to: Describe AI concepts and capabilities, including principles of responsible AI, along with AI workloads, model components, and configurations. Implement AI solutions with Foundry, including generative AI apps and agents, in addition to AI solutions for text and speech, computer vision and image-generation capabilities, and information extraction. As a candidate for this Certification, you should have conceptual knowledge of AI solutions in Azure and the foundational technical skills to work with them. You also need knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques, and you should be familiar with provisioning Azure resources. With its expanded focus, Exam AI-901 replaces Exam AI-900, which is being retired on June 30, 2026. The new exam addresses: Generative AI and agents, with updated coverage of the Foundry portal, tools, and models. AI workloads, responsible AI principles, and solution patterns. Simple approaches to implementing AI solutions using Foundry. Area Exam AI‑900 (old) Exam AI‑901 (new) Audience Nontechnical or technical beginners Technical beginners planning to build AI solutions Skills tested Understanding AI and machine learning concepts; identifying when to use Azure AI services Understanding AI concepts; implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry Required coding knowledge None Basic Python syntax and programming concepts Knowledge level Introductory, conceptual understanding of Azure AI services (classic approach) Foundational understanding of Azure resources, plus implementation with Foundry, provisioning Azure resources, and modern AI development tooling Focus What is AI? How do I build an AI app by using Foundry? NOTE: We’re not retiring the Azure AI Fundamentals Certification; we’re refreshing the requirements to earn it, with a new exam that better reflects modern AI solution development skills. If you already hold this Certification, no action is required; however, you may take the new Exam AI-901 if you would like to showcase your ability with a wider skill set. For more details on the retirement of Exam AI-900 and the latest cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Ready to prove your Azure AI skills? Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam AI-901 (beta) on or before May 6, 2026, can get 80% off. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code AI901Medford. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before May 6, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. How to prepare Get ready to take Exam AI-901 (beta): Review the Exam AI-901 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam AI-901 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Work through the self-paced Course AI-901: Introduction to AI in Azure. Connect with Microsoft Training Services Partners in your area for in-person offerings. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? Ready to get started? You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Get the details in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% off Exam AI-901 (beta) with code AI901Medford on or before May 6, 2026. Beta exam rescoring begins when the exam goes live, with final results released approximately 10 days later. For more details, read Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in June 2026. Additional information For more cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Follow our credentials news on The Skills Hub blog as we roll out additional new Certifications in April, May, and June 2026. Join our Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials on LinkedIn for beta exam alerts and opportunities to help shape future Microsoft learning and assessments. Explore Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.New Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification
As a data engineer, you understand that AI performance depends directly on the quality of its data. If the data isn’t clean, well-managed, and accessible at scale, even the most sophisticated AI models won’t perform as expected. Introducing the Microsoft Certified: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification, designed to prove that you have the skills required to build and operate reliable data systems by using Azure Databricks. To earn the Certification, you need to pass Exam DP-750: Implementing Data Engineering Solutions Using Azure Databricks, currently in beta. Is this Certification right for you? This Certification offers you the opportunity to prove your skills and validate your expertise in the following areas: Core technical skills Ingesting, transforming, and modeling data using SQL and Python Building production data pipelines on Azure Databricks Implementing software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices with Git-based workflows Integrating Azure Databricks with key Microsoft services, such as Azure Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault, and Microsoft Entra ID Governance and security Securing and governing data with Unity Catalog and Microsoft Purview Applying workspace, cluster, and data-level security best practices Performance and reliability Optimizing compute, caching, partitioning, and Delta Lake design patterns Troubleshooting and resolving issues with jobs and pipelines Managing workloads across development, staging, and production For engineers already familiar with Azure Databricks, this Certification bridges the gap between general Azure Databricks skills and the Azure‑specific architecture, security, and operational patterns that employers increasingly expect. Ready to prove your skills? The first 300 candidates can save 80% Take advantage of the discounted beta exam offer. The first 300 people who take Exam DP-750 (beta) on or before April 2, 2026, can get 80% off. To receive the discount, when you register for the exam and are prompted for payment, use code DP750Deltona. This is not a private access code. The seats are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. As noted, you must take the exam on or before April 2, 2026. Please note that this discount is not available in Turkey, Pakistan, India, or China. How to prepare Get ready to take Exam DP-750 (beta): Review the Exam DP-750 (beta) exam page for details. The Exam DP-750 study guide explores key topics covered in the exam. Work through the Plan on Microsoft Learn: Get Exam‑Ready for DP‑750: Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate Certification. Need other preparation ideas? Check out Just How Does One Prepare for Beta Exams? You can take Certification exams online, from your home or office. Learn what to expect in Online proctored exams: What to expect and how to prepare. Interested in unlocking more Azure Databricks expertise? Grow your skills and take the next step by exploring Databricks credentials and show what you can do with Azure Databricks. Ready to get started? Remember, only the first 300 candidates can get 80% Exam DP-750 (beta) with code DP750Deltona on or before April 2, 2026. Beta exam rescoring begins when the exam goes live, with final results released approximately 10 days later. For more details, read Creating high-quality exams: The path from beta to live. Stay tuned for general availability of this Certification in early May 2026. Get involved: Help shape future Microsoft Credentials Join our Microsoft Worldwide Learning SME Group for Credentials on LinkedIn for beta exam alerts and opportunities to help shape future Microsoft learning and assessments. Additional information For more cloud and AI Certification updates, read our recent blog post, The AI job boom is here. Are you ready to showcase your skills? Explore Microsoft Credentials on AI Skills Navigator.AI-Enhanced Contact Center Solutions Engineer Blueprint Survey Opportunity
Greetings! Microsoft is considering a credential for AI-Enhanced Contact Center Solutions Engineer, and we need your input through our exam blueprinting survey. The blueprint determines how many questions each skill in the exam will be assigned. Please complete the online survey by March 26, 2026. Please also feel free to forward the survey to any colleagues you consider subject matter experts for this certification. You may send this to people external to Microsoft as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact John Sowles at josowles@microsoft.com or Don Tanedo at dtanedo@microsoft.com. AI-Enhanced Contact Center Solutions Engineer blueprint survey link: https://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5vSBzYkpE9FYpts
