MCT New and Renewing MCTs - Update July 26
Updated July 26, 2025 As we step into FY26 on July 1st, 2025, I want to share some important updates regarding the MCT Program—especially for those planning to renew. New Fees Coming October 2025, no exact date and the cost will be shared at a later date. Starting July 1st, 2025, we will introduce: A renewal fee (ecommerce tool will be available in October 2025 for everyone to renew) A new MCT enrollment fee (ecommerce tool will be available in October 2025 for new MCTs) Our systems are currently being updated to support this change, with the new tool expected to launch in October 2025. More to come on costs. Pricing will be region supported. Session Requirement for Renewal Effective January 1st, 2026, MCTs will be required to complete six (6) sessions or six (6) days of training per calendar year to qualify for renewal. For clarity on what qualifies as a session, please refer to the attached PDF: Mandatory Use of MTM We will be enforcing stricter requirements for using Metrics That Matter (MTM) to log sessions with your Training Services Partner (TSP). Please coordinate with your TSPs to ensure MTM is being used correctly. What to Expect Next More details on program costs will be shared closer to the tool’s release. All MCTs that were MCTs before manual enrollment have been extended through January 1st, 2026, with full benefits. You’ll see this extension reflected in your profile in your MCT Trainer History NOT active certification. All current MCTs will be able to renew when the tool is available in October 2025 and the requirement to renew will be to have an active certification and have taught one class since your last renewal and pay the renewal fee (costs to come later). We will be checking that you have taught the one class using MTM. New MCTs will need ISC certificate, one role-based active certification and pay the MCT new enrollment fee. New MCT Enrollment Process | Microsoft Learn 🙏 Thank you for your continued support and patience as we enhance our systems. Here’s to a successful and impactful FY26!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 App and Agent 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 App and Agent 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.Practice Tests released on Microsoft Learn
Working on your certification goals and looking for practice tests? Take the online assessment directly from Microsoft Learn. Keep an eye out for the practice assessment link on the exam pages! For example it is now available for the SC-900 exam. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/certifications/exams/sc-900/Earn the new Azure Network Engineer Associate certification. Exam AZ-700 out of beta
We’re happy to announce that Exam AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions, is now live. Passing this exam is the only requirement to earn the new Azure Network Engineer Associate certification. If you passed the beta exam, the certification and exam will be reflected on your online transcript approximately 10 business days from today. Check your Microsoft Certification Dashboard, where you’ll also find your new digital badge. Don’t forget to celebrate and share your achievement. Add your newly acquired skills and badge to your LinkedIn profile to stand out in your network. Follow the instructions in the congratulations email you will receive. Or find your badge on your Certification Dashboard, and follow the instructions there to share it. Considering this certification? To help you prepare, check out the three-day Course AZ-700T00: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions. This instructor-led training teaches network engineers how to design, implement, and maintain Azure networking solutions. To discuss training solutions customized to your project plans and goals, connect with a Microsoft Learning Partner. If you prefer to learn on your own, explore the Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions learning path on Microsoft Learn. For exam details, review the exam page. The Exam AZ-700 skills outline alerts you to the key topics covered. Gear up with the AZ-700 Study Guide created by Microsoft Cloud Advocate @thomasmaurer. Get hands-on guidance for using Azure networking services in the free Azure Networking Cookbook from Packt. Get started now Are you ready to let the world know that you have the Azure networking experience and skills that enable you to plan, implement, and maintain your organization’s Azure networking solutions? Get started learning about the Azure Network Engineer Associate certification today, and prepare to take your career to the next level.AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide provides a thorough overview of the topics covered in the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) exam, including Artificial Intelligence workloads, fundamental principles of machine learning, computer vision and natural language processing workloads. Learn about the exam's intended audience, how to earn the certification, and the skills measured as of April 2022. Discover the important considerations for responsible AI, the capabilities of Azure Machine Learning Studio and more. Get ready to demonstrate your knowledge of AI and ML concepts and related Microsoft Azure services with this helpful study guide.Now live: Exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
Start or continue your journey to become a Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert. We’re happy to announce that Exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions is now live. Candidates who want to achieve Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification must earn the Azure Administrator Associate certification and pass this exam. If you passed Exam AZ-305 while it was in beta, that will be reflected on your Microsoft Certification Dashboard online transcript approximately 10 business days from today. If you already earned the Azure Administrator Associate certification, the new certification badge for Azure Solutions Architect Expert will also be there. Don’t forget to celebrate and share your achievement. To add your newly acquired skills and badges to your LinkedIn profile and to help you stand out in your network, follow the instructions in your congratulations email. Or, to share your badge, follow the instructions in your Certification Dashboard. Considering this certification? Regardless of where you are on your journey, there’s a path for you to earn the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification. Choose one of the following options: If you’re just starting out, earn the Azure Administrator Associate certification and pass Exam AZ-305. If you have a current Azure Administrator Associate certification, you’re halfway there—just pass Exam AZ-305. If you’ve already passed Exam AZ-303, pass the new Exam AZ-305. If you’ve already passed Exam AZ-304, be sure to pass Exam AZ-303 before it retires on March 31, 2022. Pass both Exam AZ-303 and Exam AZ-304 before they retire on March 31, 2022. If you’ve already earned the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification and it’s time to renew it, don’t take Exam AZ-305. Instead, renew your certification by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. For instructions, check out this short video. Get ready to take Exam AZ-305 Review the Exam AZ-305 page for details. The Exam AZ-305 skills outline details the key topics covered on the exam. Refresh your solutions architecture design skills with this Microsoft Learn collection of learning paths. Want more in-depth training? Take Course AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions. Connect with Microsoft Learning Partners in your area for in-person training. Gear up with the AZ-305 Study Guide created by Microsoft Cloud Advocate Thomas Maurer. Are you ready to let the world know that you have the experience and skills which enable you to design cloud and hybrid solutions that run on Azure, including compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security? It’s time to spotlight your solution architecture design and implementation skills and strengths with Exam AZ-305 and the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.
