Training guide

Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901): Exam and Career Guide

A plain guide to Azure AI Fundamentals: the AI-901 exam that replaced AI-900, the two skill areas, who it suits and how to prepare.

EU Job Hub Editorial Team · Updated 1 October 2026 · Based on Microsoft Learn certification and exam pages

Introduction

Azure AI Fundamentals is Microsoft’s entry-level AI certification. You earn it by passing one exam. That exam changed in 2026, so older guides about AI-900 are now out of date.

This guide explains what Azure AI Fundamentals covers today and how the new AI-901 exam differs from AI-900. The facts come from Microsoft Learn and are checked against its study guide. Always read the official exam page before you book.

Quick Information

Provider	Microsoft
Certification	Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
Current exam	AI-901: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals
Replaced exam	AI-900 retired on 30 June 2026
Level	Fundamentals, start of an AI career
Exam fee	Paid. Confirm the price with the exam provider.

Key Points at a Glance

• AI-901 replaced AI-900 for this certification.
• Microsoft says the AI-900 exam retired on 30 June 2026.
• The new exam has two domains, with more weight on hands-on work.
• It suits people at the start of a career in AI solutions.
• The exam is paid, so the course is not free.

What Changed From AI-900

Microsoft’s page says the AI-900 exam retired on 30 June 2026. AI-901 replaced it. You can still earn the same certification by passing the new exam.

AI-900 was mostly conceptual. It tested whether you could describe AI workloads such as machine learning, computer vision and language. AI-901 goes further. It adds hands-on skills with Microsoft Foundry.

Any guide that lists five concept areas and no Foundry work describes the old exam.

The Two Skill Areas

Independent study guides report that AI-901 has two domains. The first is about identifying AI concepts and capabilities. It carries roughly 40 to 45 percent of the exam.

The second is about implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry. It carries roughly 55 to 60 percent. These weightings can change, so confirm them in the official study guide.

The shift matters. More than half the exam now rewards people who have actually used the tools.

What You Should Know First

Microsoft says candidates should have foundational technical skills for working with AI solutions in Azure. You should understand AI concepts at a basic level. You should also be familiar with Python syntax and programming ideas, and with Azure resources.

That is a higher starting point than AI-900 needed. A complete beginner can still prepare, but should plan time to learn some Python.

How to Prepare

Start with the official skills measured list. Turn each line into a question you can answer in your own words.

Then practise in a real environment. Microsoft offers learning content and a free practice assessment for its exams. Use them, and create a small project that calls an AI model from code.

Keep notes on responsible AI. Questions often ask which principle applies to a situation.

Is It Worth Doing

The certificate shows that you understand the basics of Azure AI. It will not replace a degree or work experience. It works best as one line on a CV next to a small project.

It also leads on to role-based paths, such as the Azure AI Engineer or Data Scientist certifications. Microsoft’s earlier fundamentals page says the certification is not a prerequisite for them.

A Short Study Plan

Give yourself four to six weeks. In the first week, read the skills measured and mark the topics you cannot explain. In the second week, study the AI concept topics and write one-line definitions.

In weeks three and four, work on the hands-on topics. Create a Foundry project, send prompts to a model and read the responses. Note the settings you changed and what effect each one had.

Use the final week for practice questions. Review every wrong answer and write down why the correct one fits. Book the exam only when you score well on several practice sets.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not rely on old AI-900 notes. They miss the hands-on Foundry material, which now carries more than half the exam.

Do not skip Python basics. Even small code samples can appear in questions.

Do not book the exam until you can explain each skill in your own words.

Using It in Europe

AI-related job titles in Europe include junior AI engineer, data analyst and AI solutions assistant. Employers usually ask for projects and some programming skill.

Add your certificate to your Europass CV and your professional profile. Keep a short list of the AI tools you have used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AI-900 still available?

No. Microsoft says the AI-900 exam retired on 30 June 2026.

What replaced it?

AI-901, which leads to the same Azure AI Fundamentals certification.

Do I need to code?

Microsoft expects familiarity with Python syntax and programming ideas.

Is the exam free?

No. Confirm the current fee with the exam provider.

Does it expire?

Check the certification page for current renewal rules.

Find Jobs

Titles to search for include junior AI engineer, data analyst and cloud support associate. Search current vacancies on the EURES portal.

Official Course Page

Read the current details on Microsoft Learn’s Azure AI Fundamentals page.

Disclaimer

This guide is independent and is not affiliated with the course provider. Prices, course lists and exam rules change, so check the official page before you enrol. A certificate does not give you the right to work in any country.