The Microsoft Azure certification path is organized into six role-based tracks: Administrator, Security, Developer/AI, Data, DevOps, and the new Copilot/AI Agent series, each with its own entry point, progression sequence, and expert-level destination. Every Azure role-based certification costs $165 per exam, renews annually for free through Microsoft Learn, and stacks toward higher credentials without mandatory prerequisites enforced by Microsoft.
This guide covers every active track in 2026, including the major retirement changes that make most existing Azure path guides inaccurate, and tells you exactly which certification to start with based on your job title and career target.
2026 Retirements and Replacements: Read This First
Several Azure certifications changed significantly in 2026. Any guide that does not reflect these changes is sending candidates toward the wrong exam.
| Retiring Certification | Retirement Date | Replacement |
| AZ-204 Azure Developer Associate | June 30, 2026 | AI-200 Azure AI Cloud Developer |
| AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer | September 30, 2026 | SC-500 Cloud and AI Security Engineer |
| AI-900 Azure AI Fundamentals | June 30, 2026 | AI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals (updated) |
| AI-102 Azure AI Engineer Associate | June 30, 2026 | AI-103 Azure AI App and Agent Developer |
| DP-100 Azure Data Scientist | June 30, 2026 | DP-750 Azure Databricks Data Engineer |
| MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals | March 31, 2026 | AB-900 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals |
| PL-600 Power Platform Solution Architect | June 30, 2026 | No direct replacement (AB-100 recommended) |
See our complete Microsoft Certifications Retiring 2026 guide for the full list and dates. Every track section below accounts for these retirements.
The Three Levels That Apply to Every Track
| Level | What it signals | Cost | Renewal |
| Fundamentals | Broad awareness, no hands-on required | $165 | Never expires |
| Associate | Role-specific technical implementation | $165 | Annually (free online assessment) |
| Expert | Cross-role architecture and leadership | $165 | Annually (free online assessment) |
Fundamentals certifications (AZ-900, DP-900, SC-900, AB-900, AI-901) never expire. Every role-based Associate and Expert certification renews annually for free — no retaking the paid exam.
Track 1: Azure Administrator
The Administrator track is the most widely held Azure path and the prerequisite for multiple other expert-level credentials. It is the right starting point for IT professionals who manage, monitor, and operate Azure infrastructure.
| Stage | Certification | Exam | Target role |
| Optional foundation | Azure Fundamentals | AZ-900 | Cloud newcomers only |
| Core credential | Azure Administrator Associate | AZ-104 | Azure Administrator, Cloud Engineer |
| Expert (requires AZ-104) | Azure Solutions Architect Expert | AZ-305 | Solutions Architect, Cloud Architect |
AZ-104 is the foundation for multiple other expert credentials. AZ-305 requires AZ-104 to be active. AZ-400 (DevOps Engineer Expert) requires either AZ-104 or the now-retired AZ-204.
Salary context: AZ-104 administrators average $110,000 to $135,000 in the US. Solutions Architects with AZ-305 average $140,000 to $185,000.
Track 2: Azure Security
The Security track saw the biggest structural change in 2026. AZ-500 retires September 30, 2026 and is replaced by SC-500 (Cloud and AI Security Engineer), which adds AI system security to the existing infrastructure security scope.
| Stage | Certification | Exam | Status |
| Foundation | Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals | SC-900 | Active, never expires |
| Admin prerequisite | Azure Administrator Associate | AZ-104 | Recommended before security track |
| Current security cert | Azure Security Engineer Associate | AZ-500 | Retires September 30, 2026 |
| Replacement | Cloud and AI Security Engineer | SC-500 | GA expected late 2026 |
| Identity (active) | Identity and Access Administrator | SC-300 | Active |
| SOC analyst (active) | Security Operations Analyst | SC-200 | Active |
| Expert | Cybersecurity Architect Expert | SC-100 | Requires Associate-level prereqs |
If your exam date falls before September 30, 2026, AZ-500 is still a valid and recognized credential. If you are starting fresh in security and cannot sit before September 30, target SC-500 once materials are available. See our AZ-500 vs SC-500 guide for the full transition analysis. For the SC-200 and SC-300 comparison, see our SC-200 vs SC-300 guide.
Track 3: Azure Developer and AI Developer
This track changed fundamentally in 2026. AZ-204 (Azure Developer) retired June 30, 2026 and its replacement AI-200 reflects Microsoft’s shift to AI-integrated cloud development as the new baseline for Azure developers.
| Stage | Certification | Exam | Notes |
| Foundation | Azure Fundamentals | AZ-900 | Optional for experienced developers |
| Current developer (retiring) | Azure Developer Associate | AZ-204 | Retired June 30, 2026 |
| New developer credential | Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate | AI-200 | GA expected mid-2026 |
| AI Engineer (retiring) | Azure AI Engineer Associate | AI-102 | Retired June 30, 2026 |
| New AI Engineer | Azure AI App and Agent Developer | AI-103 | GA expected June 2026 |
| Expert path | DevOps Engineer Expert | AZ-400 | Requires AZ-104 or AZ-204 |
The developer track shift is significant: AI-200 and AI-103 both focus on generative AI, RAG architectures, Azure AI Foundry, and agentic AI development rather than traditional cloud application patterns. If your day-to-day development involves Azure OpenAI, AI Foundry, or building AI-powered applications, the new track is a stronger credential. See our AZ-204 vs AI-200 guide and AI-102 vs AI-103 guide for the full transition details.
Track 4: Azure Data and AI
The Data track covers two parallel paths: data engineering (building pipelines) and data science (building ML models). Both paths went through significant changes in 2026.
| Role | Certification | Exam | Notes |
| Data foundation | Azure Data Fundamentals | DP-900 | Entry point, never expires |
| Data engineering | Fabric Data Engineer Associate | DP-700 | Microsoft Fabric-native path |
| Data analytics | Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate | DP-600 | Power BI + Fabric analytics |
| Data science (retiring) | Azure Data Scientist Associate | DP-100 | Retired June 30, 2026 |
| Data science replacement | Azure Databricks Data Engineer | DP-750 | Replaces DP-100 |
| Data engineering (legacy) | Azure Data Engineer Associate | DP-203 | Still active, Synapse/ADF focus |
| Database admin | Azure Database Administrator | DP-300 | SQL Server and Azure SQL |
For Microsoft Fabric environments, DP-700 and DP-600 are the current path. For traditional Azure analytics with Synapse and Azure Data Factory, DP-203 remains active. See our DP-600 vs DP-700 guide for a full comparison of the Fabric credentials.
Track 5: Azure DevOps
The DevOps track is a single expert credential requiring prior Associate-level knowledge.
| Stage | Certification | Exam | Prerequisite |
| Foundation path | Azure Fundamentals | AZ-900 | None |
| Admin prerequisite | Azure Administrator Associate | AZ-104 | Recommended |
| Developer prerequisite | Azure Developer (retiring June 30) | AZ-204 | Alternative prerequisite |
| Expert credential | DevOps Engineer Expert | AZ-400 | AZ-104 or AZ-204 must be active |
AZ-400 covers CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, source control strategy, security in DevOps (DevSecOps), and monitoring and feedback. With AZ-204 retired, new candidates pursuing AZ-400 should hold AZ-104 as their associate-level prerequisite.
Track 6: Microsoft Copilot and AI Agent Series (New in 2026)
The AB series is Microsoft’s entirely new certification family for Copilot, Power Platform AI, and enterprise-scale AI agent deployment. It launched in early 2026 and is the fastest-growing track in the Microsoft certification ecosystem.
| Certification | Exam | Role |
| Copilot Fundamentals | AB-900 | Microsoft 365 IT admins (replaced MS-900) |
| Copilot AI Practitioner | AB-730 | Business users working with Microsoft 365 Copilot |
| Copilot AI Lead | AB-731 | Change managers, AI adoption leads |
| AI Builder Fundamentals | AB-100 | Power Platform AI and business app developers |
| Agentic AI Developer | AB-620 | Technical developers building enterprise Copilot agents |
| Copilot Studio Architect | AB-210 | Power Platform solution architects building agents |
AB-900 replaced MS-900 (retired March 31, 2026) and adds Copilot administration and Microsoft Purview governance to the foundational M365 knowledge base. For professionals who held or were pursuing PL-600 (retired June 30, 2026), AB-100 is the recommended next credential. See our AB-900 guide, AB-730 vs AB-731 guide, and Microsoft AB Series complete guide for full coverage.
How to Choose Your Starting Certification
| Your current role | Start here | Target next |
| No IT background | AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
| IT support or sysadmin | AZ-104 (skip AZ-900) | AZ-305 or AZ-500 |
| Network or infrastructure engineer | AZ-104 | AZ-700, AZ-305 |
| Software developer | AI-200 or AI-103 | AZ-400 |
| Cybersecurity professional | SC-900, then AZ-104 | SC-500 (when available) or SC-300 |
| Data engineer | DP-900 (optional), then DP-700 | DP-600 or DP-203 |
| Power Platform developer | AB-100 | AB-210 or AB-620 |
| Microsoft 365 admin | AB-900 | MS-102, SC-300 |
| DevOps engineer | AZ-104, then AZ-400 | AZ-305 |
| Cloud architect | AZ-104 + AZ-305 | SC-100 |
Salary by Role and Track
| Track | Typical US Salary Range |
| AZ-900 alone | Minimal salary impact |
| AZ-104 Azure Administrator | $110,000-$135,000 |
| AZ-305 Solutions Architect Expert | $140,000-$185,000 |
| AZ-500/SC-500 Security Engineer | $125,000-$165,000 |
| SC-300 Identity Administrator | $100,000-$135,000 |
| AZ-400 DevOps Engineer Expert | $120,000-$160,000 |
| DP-700/DP-600 Fabric Engineer | $120,000-$155,000 |
| AI-103/AI-200 AI Developer | $130,000-$175,000 |
| SC-100 Cybersecurity Architect | $150,000-$200,000+ |
FAQs
Do I need AZ-900 before any Azure certification?
No. AZ-900 has no mandatory role in the Azure path and Microsoft enforces no prerequisites on any certification. Skip AZ-900 if you already have cloud or IT experience.
Do Azure certifications expire?
Fundamentals certifications (AZ-900, SC-900, DP-900, AI-901, AB-900) never expire. All Associate and Expert certifications expire after one year but renew for free through Microsoft Learn’s online renewal assessment.
Is AZ-500 still worth pursuing in 2026?
Yes if you can sit before September 30, 2026. It remains a well-recognized credential for that window. If you cannot sit before retirement, target SC-500 once exam materials are available.
What replaced AZ-204?
AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate) is the official replacement, GA expected mid-2026. It shifts the focus from traditional cloud app development to AI-integrated application development using Azure OpenAI and AI Foundry.
What is the AZ-700 certification for?
AZ-700 is the Azure Network Engineer Associate credential for professionals implementing Azure networking solutions — VNets, ExpressRoute, VPN gateways, and hybrid connectivity. It is a specialty path that pairs with AZ-305 for architects who specialize in networking.
How does the AB series relate to the traditional Azure path?
The AB series is a separate track for Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform AI, and enterprise AI agent deployment. It does not replace or require any Azure certifications, though AB-100 requires a qualifying Dynamics 365 or Power Platform credential as a prerequisite.
Can I take AZ-305 without AZ-104?
You can sit the AZ-305 exam without AZ-104, but you cannot earn the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification without an active AZ-104. Both must be active simultaneously to receive the Expert designation.
Which Azure certification has the highest salary?
SC-100 (Cybersecurity Architect Expert) and AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert) consistently correlate with the highest salaries, both typically above $150,000 in the US. AI developer certifications (AI-103, AI-200) are trending toward comparable figures in 2026 due to AI talent demand.
What is the fastest Azure certification to earn?
AZ-900 is achievable in 2 to 4 weeks for candidates with no prior cloud experience. For role-based credentials, SC-900 and DP-900 are the fastest Associate-adjacent credentials. AZ-104 is achievable in 8 to 10 weeks for IT professionals with 6 or more months of Azure experience.
What should I do if my certification is retiring?
Check the retirement date and decide whether to finish the current exam or switch to the replacement. As a rule, if you are more than 60 percent through your preparation, finish the existing certification — the knowledge transfers. See our Microsoft Certifications Retiring 2026 guide for specific guidance on each affected certification.
