Many lists of “best AI certifications” are out of date. Microsoft retired AI-900, AI-102 and DP-100 in June 2026. This guide shows what you can still take, what it costs, and which exam fits your level. Every line was checked on official pages on 2 November 2026.
In short: beginners can look at AWS Certified AI Practitioner or Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901). Data analysts can look at Power BI PL-300. Engineers can choose AI-103, AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate or Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer. A certification proves you can use a platform. It complements a degree and real projects, and does not replace them.
Retired AI certifications: check before you study
Vendor exams change quickly. If a guide still recommends one of these, it is out of date:
| Exam or certification | Status | What to look at instead |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft AI-900 exam | Retired 30 June 2026 | AI-901, same certification name: Azure AI Fundamentals |
| Microsoft AI-102, Azure AI Engineer Associate | Retired 30 June 2026 | AI-103, Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate |
| Microsoft DP-100, Azure Data Scientist Associate | Retired 1 June 2026 | AI-300, Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate (a different focus) |
| TensorFlow Developer Certificate | Closed: last exam 31 May 2024 | No direct successor from TensorFlow |
If you already hold one of these Microsoft certifications, it stays on your Microsoft Learn transcript, but it can no longer be renewed. AI-901 leads to the same Azure AI Fundamentals certification, while AI-300 is a separate certification with a stronger focus on operations.
AI certifications you can take in 2027
All details below come from official vendor pages, checked on 2 November 2026. Prices exclude taxes and can change.
| Certification | Level | Exam | Cost | Validity and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) | Beginner | Proctored | By country | Expects basic Python syntax |
| AWS Certified AI Practitioner | Beginner | 90 minutes, 65 questions | $100 | 3 years. For people who use AI, not only those who build it |
| Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) | Intermediate | 100 minutes | By country | Renewed free online every 12 months |
| Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103) | Intermediate | 120 minutes | By country | Python and Microsoft Foundry |
| Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate (AI-300) | Intermediate | 120 minutes, English only | By country | Needs a data science background and basic DevOps |
| AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate (MLA-C01) | Intermediate | 130 minutes, 65 questions | $150 | 3 years. At least 1 year on AWS recommended. A new version was in beta on 2 November 2026 |
| Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer | Advanced | 2 hours, 50 to 60 questions | $200 | English and Japanese. 3+ years of experience recommended, no formal prerequisite |
Which certification should you choose?
- Complete beginner. Start with free courses before you pay for an exam. See free AI courses with certificates.
- Business user or manager. AWS Certified AI Practitioner covers AI concepts without asking you to build models.
- Student who codes a little. Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) gives a first technical base.
- Data analyst. PL-300 is tied to a widely used tool. Read our guide to data analyst skills.
- Developer building AI applications. AI-103 on Azure, or the AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate on AWS.
- Machine learning engineer with experience. Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer or Microsoft AI-300.
A simple rule: look at ten job adverts you want, note the cloud they mention, and choose that vendor.
Certification, or a degree?
| Vendor certification | Degree with an RNCP title | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | Skill on one platform | The skills of a whole job, assessed in blocks |
| Time | Days to months | Usually 1 to 3 years |
| Lasts | Often 1 to 3 years, and exams can close | A qualification that stays yours |
| Best use | Add to a profile, keep skills current | Build a career, and qualify for roles that ask for a degree |
For an engineering role, recruiters usually look for a five-year level. A certification alone rarely gets you there. It works best on top of a degree and projects. Read which degree is best for an AI career and how hard it is to become an AI engineer.
Before you pay: a four-point check
- Open the vendor’s own page and look for a retirement notice.
- Check the recommended experience, not only the price.
- Check the language: AI-300 is in English only, and Google’s exam is in English and Japanese.
- Check the renewal rule, so you know how long the certificate stays valid.
Going further at AI2
AI2 (Applied Institute of Artificial Intelligence) is a French school of applied AI and data science at Écouen, 22 minutes from Paris Gare du Nord. Its degree programmes are taught 100% in English and prepare RNCP titles at Levels 6 and 7, recognised by the French State. For a shorter start, AI2 also issues certificates of completion for online courses of 40, 60 or 100 hours. The RNCP Level 7 guide explains how the French qualification system works.
| Programme | Who it is for | Tuition | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Applied AI, Years 1 and 2 | After secondary school | €9,000 a year | February, May or September 2027 |
| MSc, Year 1 | After a bachelor’s degree | €12,500, from €10,500 with scholarship | February, May or September 2027 |
| MSc, 18-month direct entry | Direct entry, subject to your academic record | €13,000 single fee, from €11,300 with scholarship | See tuition fees |
| Fast-Track Data Science, 11 months | Engineering or scientific profiles | €12,500, or €11,000 before 15 November 2026 | February 2027 |
| Paris AI Summer School, 10 days | Anyone curious about applied AI | From €1,990 | 2027 sessions from 14 March |
Frequently asked questions
Which AI certification is best for beginners?
AWS Certified AI Practitioner and Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (exam AI-901) are both entry-level. AI-901 now expects basic knowledge of Python syntax, which the old AI-900 did not. If you have never coded, start with a free course first.
Is AI-900 still available?
No. Exam AI-900 was retired on 30 June 2026. The Azure AI Fundamentals certification continues, and exam AI-901 now leads to it.
Is AI-102 still available?
No. Microsoft retired AI-102 and the Azure AI Engineer Associate certification on 30 June 2026. The current related certification is Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate, exam AI-103.
What replaced DP-100?
DP-100 and the Azure Data Scientist Associate certification were retired on 1 June 2026. The closest current option from Microsoft is Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate, exam AI-300, which focuses more on operations than on data science.
Are AI certifications worth it?
Yes, as a complement. They prove you can use a specific platform and help you pass CV filters. They do not replace a degree, real projects or experience, and some disappear: Microsoft and TensorFlow have both closed well-known exams.
Which certification should a machine learning engineer take?
It depends on the cloud your target employers use. AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer Associate suits people with about a year of AWS experience. Google’s Professional Machine Learning Engineer is more advanced and recommends more than three years of experience.
Can I get a free AI certificate?
Free course certificates and badges exist, but most recognised vendor exams are paid. Our guide to free AI courses with certificates lists what is really free and what you receive at the end.
Sources checked on 2 November 2026: Microsoft: retired exams · Microsoft: Azure AI Fundamentals · Microsoft: AI-103 · Microsoft: AI-300 · Microsoft: PL-300 · AWS: AI Practitioner · AWS: Machine Learning Engineer Associate · Google Cloud: Professional ML Engineer · TensorFlow: certificate closure
Send your file to AI2: admissions reviews it, holds an online interview and confirms your programme, tuition and scholarship in writing.
