What’s New in Cloud, AI & Security Certifications

Microsoft is rolling out a new wave of Certifications that reflect today’s rapidly evolving cloud, AI, and security landscape. The first beta exams begin this month, with more releases over the next few months, and all new Certifications expected to become generally available later this year.

New Microsoft Certification Beta Timeline (2026)

Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate
Perfect for professionals who deploy and manage machine learning and generative AI solutions in production.

Exam: AI‑300 (beta) — March 2026
Training: Available March 2026
Go-live: May 2026

Azure Databricks Data Engineer Associate
Ideal for data engineers who design secure, scalable pipelines using Azure Databricks to support real‑time analytics and AI.

Exam: DP‑750 (beta) — March 2026
Training: Available March 2026
Go-live: May 2026

SQL AI Developer Associate
Validates your ability to build AI‑powered, modern database applications using best‑practice governance and DevOps approaches.

Exam: DP‑800 (beta) — March 2026
Training: Available March 2026
Go-live: May 2026

Azure AI Fundamentals
A refreshed Fundamentals Certification focused on building modern AI apps and agents using Microsoft Foundry — great for beginners.

Exam: AI‑901 (beta) — April 2026
Training: March 2026
Go-live: June 2026

Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate
Aligned with generative and agentic architectures. Covers building generative apps, multistep reasoning workflows, and production‑ready agent solutions.

Exam: AI‑103 (beta) — April 2026
Training: March 2026
Go-live: June 2026

Cybersecurity Business Professional
Validates your ability to recognize risks, apply secure-by-design practices, and support business decision‑making that enables secure AI adoption.

Exam: SC‑730 (beta) — April 2026
Training: May 2026
Go-live: July 2026

Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate
Designed for developers building and monitoring AI solutions on Azure using containers, vector databases, serverless components, and distributed observability.

Exam: AI‑200 (beta) — April 2026
Training: April 2026
Go-live: July 2026

Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate
Focuses on securing cloud and AI workloads, protecting models, and applying enterprise‑grade security patterns.

Exam: SC‑500 (beta) — May 2026
Training: July 2026
Go-live: July 2026

Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
A unified Certification covering both Azure and on‑premises hybrid administration.

Exam: AZ‑802 (beta) — June 2026
Training: August 2026
Go-live: August 2026

Retiring Certifications: Key Dates & What Replaces Them

As Microsoft updates its Certification portfolio for modern AI‑driven roles, several existing Certifications are scheduled for retirement in 2026. If you hold one of these, make sure you renew it before the retirement date if renewal is available.