PL-900 is being refreshed in June 2026, and the official Microsoft training course is moving from a two-day format back to a streamlined one-day “Introduction to Microsoft Power Platform” course. The most significant content change is that Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder are being removed as dedicated modules from the official course, with the overall structure shifting to a Copilot-first design centered on business value, Dataverse and governance, Power Pages, Power Apps, and Power Automate. If your PL-900 study plan still allocates significant time to Power BI dashboards or deep Copilot Studio configuration, it needs updating. The exam itself has not been formally re-released with a new exam code or new objectives as of this writing, but the training realignment signals where Microsoft expects the exam content to move.
This guide explains exactly what changed, why it is confusing if you read multiple sources, and what to actually study right now.
PL-900 Update Timeline: Why You Might Be Seeing Conflicting Information
This is the most important section if you have already started researching PL-900 changes, because different sources describe what looks like opposite changes. Here is the actual timeline that resolves the confusion.
| Date | Change | What It Means |
| June 21, 2024 | PL-900 exam objectives updated | Earlier content revision, Copilot AI content added to objectives |
| June 27, 2025 | Course expanded from one day to two days | New Power Pages module added, Copilot functionality integrated across modules, course renamed “Introduction to Microsoft Power Platform” |
| April 2026 | Course content realigned, Copilot-first redesign | Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder removed as dedicated modules, structure reorganized around five core areas |
| June 2026 | Course streamlined to one day | Course consolidated back to a single day reflecting the leaner five-area structure |
The pattern: The course did not simply get shorter. It expanded in 2025 to add Copilot and Power Pages content, then was reorganized in early 2026 to remove standalone Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder modules, and is now being delivered in a more compact one-day format because the content scope itself was reduced, not because material was cut without replacement. The net effect for PL-900 candidates is a narrower, more focused fundamentals exam than the 2025 two-day version suggested.
What the Updated PL-900 Course Now Covers
The current official course structure is organized around five core areas:
| Area | What It Covers |
| Business value of Power Platform | Why organizations adopt Power Platform, ROI framing, integration with Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 |
| Dataverse and governance | Data modeling fundamentals, security roles, environments, administration and governance basics |
| Power Pages | Building and customizing external-facing websites and portals |
| Power Apps | Canvas apps and model-driven apps, separated into distinct modules covering their different design approaches |
| Power Automate | Building flows, automating business processes |
What Was Removed as Dedicated Modules
| Removed Topic | Where It Went |
| Power BI | No longer a standalone module — referenced only where it intersects with other Power Platform components |
| Copilot Studio | No longer a dedicated deep-dive module — high-level Copilot awareness is integrated into the Copilot-first framing of other modules |
| AI Builder | No longer a standalone module — basic AI Builder awareness folded into broader AI capability discussion |
What “Copilot-first design” actually means: Rather than teaching Copilot Studio as a separate tool with its own configuration module, the updated course frames every Power Platform component — Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages — through the lens of how Copilot and AI capabilities are now embedded throughout the platform. You learn Copilot’s role inside Power Apps and Power Automate as part of learning those tools, rather than as a separate subject.
Does This Mean the PL-900 Exam Content Has Changed?
This is the question every candidate actually wants answered, and the honest answer requires separating two things that are related but not identical: the official training course and the exam itself.
| Component | Status |
| Official Microsoft Learn training course | Confirmed updated — one-day format, Copilot-first, five-area structure, June 2026 |
| PL-900 exam objectives document | Last formally dated update was June 21, 2024 — no new dated exam objectives release confirmed as of this writing |
| PL-900 exam code | PL-900 — unchanged, no new exam code issued |
| Certification name | Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals — unchanged |
The practical interpretation: Microsoft’s training course updates frequently precede formal exam objective updates, and they are also Microsoft’s clearest signal of where exam content emphasis is shifting. When Microsoft restructures its official course to de-emphasize Power BI, Copilot Studio configuration, and AI Builder as standalone topics, this reflects either a content shift that has already occurred in the exam’s question pool, or one that is coming. Candidates studying right now should align with the current course structure rather than older study guides that allocate significant preparation time to deep Power BI dashboard-building or Copilot Studio agent configuration, since these topics carry reduced standalone emphasis in the current direction Microsoft has set for PL-900.
How This Affects Your PL-900 Study Plan
If You Are Just Starting PL-900 Preparation
Allocate your study time according to the current five-area structure: business value of Power Platform, Dataverse and governance fundamentals, Power Pages, Power Apps (canvas and model-driven as distinct topics), and Power Automate. Maintain general awareness of Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder at a conceptual level — know what they are and how they fit into the Power Platform ecosystem — but do not over-invest in deep configuration knowledge of these three areas specifically.
If You Already Have Older PL-900 Study Materials
Materials based on the June 2024 exam objectives remain largely relevant for the core Power Platform concepts: Dataverse, connectors, Power Apps fundamentals, Power Automate fundamentals, and Power Virtual Agents basics. The shift is in emphasis and depth, not in whether these topics appear at all. Treat older materials as your foundation and supplement with current Microsoft Learn content for Power Pages specifically, since this is the area that received the most substantial new coverage in the 2025 to 2026 updates and is least likely to be covered in pre-2025 study materials.
If You Are Deciding Between PL-900 and a Newer AB-Series Certification
Microsoft’s broader 2026 certification strategy is expanding AI-focused business application credentials including AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect), AB-410 (AI Agent Builder Associate), and AB-900 (Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals). PL-900 remains the correct starting point if you are new to Power Platform entirely, because it establishes the foundational vocabulary and conceptual framework that the AB-series certifications build upon. For the complete breakdown of how PL-900, PL-200, and the new AB-series certifications relate to each other, our PL-200 vs AB-410 guide covers the full transition pathway.
Is Your Existing PL-900 Certification Still Valid?
Yes, with no action required. PL-900 is a Fundamentals-level certification, and Fundamentals certifications from Microsoft never expire. If you already hold PL-900, this update does not affect your existing credential in any way. There is no retesting requirement and no renewal action needed.
This update affects only candidates who have not yet taken the PL-900 exam and are currently preparing or planning to prepare.
PL-900 Update vs Other 2026 Power Platform Certification Changes
PL-900’s refresh is happening alongside a broader restructuring of Microsoft’s Power Platform and Dynamics 365 certification portfolio in 2026.
| Certification | 2026 Status |
| PL-900 | Refreshed — streamlined one-day course, Copilot-first redesign, June 2026 |
| PL-200 | Retiring in 2026 |
| PL-500 | Retiring in 2026 |
| PL-600 | Retiring in 2026 |
| AB-100, AB-900, AB-730, AB-731 | New certifications introduced earlier in 2026 |
| AB-210, AB-410, AB-250, AB-620 | New certifications in beta during 2026, going live through the year |
The bigger picture: PL-900 is not being retired or replaced. It is being refreshed to remain the entry point into Power Platform while the certifications built on top of it (PL-200, PL-500, PL-600) are being retired in favor of the new AB-series. This means PL-900 is becoming more important, not less, as the stable foundational credential that the entire new AB-series certification track assumes candidates already understand. For the complete picture of which Power Platform and Dynamics 365 certifications are retiring and what replaces them, our Microsoft AB-series certifications guide covers every transition.
FAQS
What is changing with PL-900 in June 2026?
The official Microsoft training course for PL-900 is moving to a streamlined one-day format called “Introduction to Microsoft Power Platform,” reorganized around five core areas: business value, Dataverse and governance, Power Pages, Power Apps, and Power Automate. Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder are no longer dedicated standalone modules in the course.
Is the PL-900 exam getting a new exam code?
No. The exam code remains PL-900 and the certification name remains Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals. There is no new exam code associated with this update.
Do I need to retake PL-900 if I already passed it?
No. PL-900 is a Fundamentals-level certification and Fundamentals certifications never expire. If you already hold PL-900, your certification remains valid permanently with no action required.
Are Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder removed from the PL-900 exam entirely?
They are removed as dedicated standalone modules in the official training course, with the structure shifting to a Copilot-first design where AI capabilities are integrated throughout other modules rather than taught separately. General conceptual awareness of these tools remains relevant, but deep standalone preparation for them is no longer the priority the previous course structure suggested.
What should I study for PL-900 right now?
Focus on the current five-area structure: business value of Power Platform, Dataverse and governance fundamentals, Power Pages, Power Apps (covering both canvas and model-driven apps as distinct topics), and Power Automate. Maintain general conceptual familiarity with Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder without over-investing study time in their detailed configuration.
Why do different sources describe PL-900 changes differently?
PL-900’s training course went through two changes close together. In June 2025 it expanded from one day to two days with new Copilot and Power Pages content. In early 2026 it was reorganized into a five-area structure that removed Power BI, Copilot Studio, and AI Builder as standalone modules, and the course was then streamlined back to one day in June 2026 reflecting this narrower scope. Sources describing the 2025 expansion and sources describing the 2026 streamlining are both accurate, but they describe different points in the same evolving timeline.
Is PL-900 being retired?
No. PL-900 is being refreshed, not retired. Several certifications built on top of PL-900 including PL-200, PL-500, and PL-600 are retiring in 2026 in favor of new AB-series certifications, but PL-900 itself remains the entry-level credential and is becoming more important as the foundational starting point for the new certification track.
Should I wait to take PL-900 until the update is fully rolled out?
No specific benefit to waiting has been identified. The core Power Platform concepts tested by PL-900 — Dataverse, connectors, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents — remain consistent. The update represents a shift in emphasis and course structure rather than a fundamental change to what PL-900 validates. Candidates ready to test should proceed using current study materials aligned to the five-area structure.
How does the PL-900 update relate to the new AB-series certifications?
PL-900 remains the recommended starting point before pursuing AB-series certifications like AB-410 (AI Agent Builder Associate) or AB-100 (Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect). PL-900 provides the foundational Power Platform vocabulary and conceptual framework that these newer AI-focused certifications build upon.
