About the Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) Exam

Quick Answer: The AI-900 exam has 40-60 questions, a 45-minute time limit, and requires 700/1000 to pass. It covers five domains spanning AI workloads, machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and generative AI on Azure. The exam costs $165 USD with no prerequisite certifications required. It retires on June 30, 2026.

The Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) certification validates your foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts, as well as related Microsoft Azure services. Unlike associate-level certifications such as the AI-102, the AI-900 is a conceptual exam — it tests your understanding of what AI services do and when to use them, not your ability to write code or build solutions.

This certification is ideal for both technical and non-technical professionals who work with or around AI-powered solutions. Whether you are a business analyst evaluating AI capabilities, a project manager overseeing an AI initiative, or a developer beginning your AI journey, the AI-900 establishes your foundational AI knowledge on the Microsoft platform.

Exam Format at a Glance

Domain Breakdown

On the Exam: Machine Learning (20-25%) is the heaviest single domain, closely followed by Generative AI (15-20%). Combined, these two domains can account for 35-45% of the exam. Computer Vision and NLP together form another 30-40%. Responsible AI principles appear across ALL domains, not just Domain 1.

Exam Retirement Notice

Important: Microsoft has announced that the AI-900 exam will retire on June 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time. After this date, you will not be able to take the exam or earn the certification. The replacement exam is the AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals Refreshed), which launched in beta in April 2026 with general availability expected in mid-2026.

If you are planning to earn this certification:

• Complete the AI-900 before June 30, 2026
• Your earned certification remains valid through its 12-month renewal cycle
• You can renew using the AI-901 renewal assessment once available
• If you miss the deadline, take the AI-901 instead

Question Types Explained

Multiple-Choice (Single Select)

You are presented with a question and four answer options. One answer is correct. These often test your ability to identify the correct Azure AI service or concept for a given scenario.

Multiple-Answer (Multi-Select)

You are given a question with five or more options and asked to select two or three correct answers. Common for questions asking you to identify multiple responsible AI principles or Azure AI service capabilities.

Drag-and-Drop (Matching)

You may need to match AI concepts to their definitions, Azure services to their capabilities, or machine learning types to their use cases.

Yes/No Statement Groups

A set of related statements where you must evaluate each as true or false. These test your ability to distinguish between similar concepts.

Scenario-Based

A short scenario (1-2 paragraphs) followed by a question. These test your ability to identify the appropriate AI approach, Azure service, or responsible AI consideration for a business scenario.

Tip: Unlike the AI-102, the AI-900 does NOT include case studies. All questions are standalone, and you can navigate back and forth between questions. Use this to your advantage — flag uncertain questions and return to them.

Who Should Take This Exam?

The AI-900 is designed for professionals who:

• Business stakeholders evaluating AI opportunities and understanding AI terminology
• Project managers overseeing AI-related projects who need foundational AI knowledge
• IT professionals beginning their AI and cloud journey
• Sales and marketing professionals working with AI-powered products
• Students pursuing a career in AI, data science, or cloud computing
• Developers who want a broad understanding of AI before specializing
• Anyone curious about AI and how Azure implements AI services

Prerequisites

Microsoft states there are no formal prerequisite certifications for the AI-900. The exam is designed for both technical and non-technical audiences. However, familiarity with the following is helpful:

• Basic understanding of cloud computing — what cloud services are and how they differ from on-premises solutions
• General awareness of AI concepts — what AI, ML, and deep learning mean at a high level
• Ability to navigate the Azure portal — understanding how to find and explore Azure services (helpful but not required)
• No programming required — unlike the AI-102, the AI-900 does not test coding skills

On the Exam: The AI-900 intentionally avoids code-level questions. You will never need to write Python, C#, or API calls. Questions focus on concepts, service selection, and responsible AI principles.

How to Register

1. Visit Microsoft Learn Certifications
2. Click Schedule exam and sign in with your Microsoft account
3. Select Pearson VUE as the exam delivery provider
4. Choose a test center near you or select online proctoring
5. Pick your preferred date and time
6. Pay $165 USD (or equivalent in your currency)

Discounts and Vouchers

• Microsoft Enterprise Skills Initiative: Employees at participating organizations may receive free exam vouchers
• Microsoft Learn Cloud Skills Challenges: Periodic challenges that award exam vouchers upon completion
• Student discounts: Students with a verified .edu email may receive discounted pricing
• Microsoft Virtual Training Days: Free one-day events that sometimes include a free exam voucher for AI-900
• Employer reimbursement: Many employers reimburse certification exam costs

What to Expect on Exam Day

At a Pearson VUE test center:

• Arrive 15 minutes early
• Bring two forms of valid identification (one must be government-issued photo ID)
• All personal items are stored in a locker
• No notes, phones, or smartwatches allowed in the testing room
• A whiteboard or erasable notepad may be provided for scratch work

For online proctoring:

• Government-issued photo ID required
• A quiet, private room with a clear desk
• Webcam and microphone are mandatory
• Stable internet connection
• No secondary monitors, phones, or reference materials
• A proctor monitors you via webcam throughout the exam

Scoring

The exam uses a scaled scoring model ranging from 100 to 1,000. The passing score is 700. The scaled score does not translate directly to a percentage — a score of 700 does not mean you answered 70% of questions correctly. After completing the exam, you receive a pass/fail notification on screen immediately. Your detailed score report showing performance by domain is available in your Microsoft Learn profile within minutes.

Certification Renewal

The Azure AI Fundamentals certification is valid for 12 months. To maintain your certification, you must complete a free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before the expiration date. The renewal assessment covers the latest updates to the exam objectives and does not require visiting a test center.

Career Path

Career Tip: The AI-900 is an excellent entry point, but to demonstrate hands-on skills to employers, pursue the AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) or DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) as your next certification. The AI-900 alone signals awareness; associate-level certs signal capability.