Apr 22 (edited) • Microsoft Updates
Big changes coming to Microsoft certifications in 2026 - AI Everything!
If you hold any Power Platform or Dynamics 365 certifications, or you're planning to take one, this is worth reading. Microsoft is retiring several key credentials this year and replacing them with AI-focused alternatives.
Here's the full picture:
Retiring 30 June 2026
- PL-500: Power Automate RPA Developer Associate. No direct replacement announced.
- MB-240: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate. No direct replacement announced.
- PL-600: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert. No direct replacement, but see AB-100 below.
- MB-335: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert. No direct replacement, but see AB-100 below.
- MB-700: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert. No direct replacement, but see AB-100 below.
- Applied Skills: Create and manage model-driven apps with Power Apps and Dataverse. Replaced by the new Applied Skills: Build an agent-first app credential.
Retiring 31 July 2026
- MB-280: Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate. Replaced by AB-210: Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate.
Retiring 31 August 2026
- PL-200: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate. Replaced by AB-410: Intelligent Applications Builder Associate.
They are being replaced by new AI-focused certifications launching from April 2026:
- AB-410: Intelligent Applications Builder Associate. Replaces PL-200. Beta and training available April 2026, exam live June 2026.
- AB-210: Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate. Replaces MB-280. Beta May 2026, exam live June 2026.
- AB-620: AI Agent Builder Associate. For developers and architects building production-ready Copilot Studio agents and multi-agent solutions. Beta April 2026, exam live June 2026.
- AB-250: Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate. For contact centre engineers working with Dynamics 365 Contact Center. Beta June 2026, exam live August 2026.
- AB-100: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert. Microsoft's new flagship expert-level certification covering agentic architectures and AI-driven solution design. Already available. Not a direct replacement for retiring expert certs, but Microsoft specifically recommends it as the next step for anyone holding or working towards PL-600, MB-700, MB-335, MB-240, or PL-500. Note: you also need a current associate-level certification to earn AB-100.
Already launched earlier this year:
- AB-730: AI Business Professional
- AB-731: AI Transformation Leader
- AB-900: Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals (replaces the retired MS-900)
Your credential stays valid until it expires. Retirement does not revoke anything you've already earned. If renewal is due before the retirement date, renew it now while you still can.
This is the largest overhaul of Microsoft's certification portfolio in years. AI is being embedded into every track rather than treated as a separate specialism. If you're planning your exams and certifications for the rest of 2026, it's worth mapping out where you sit against these changes sooner rather than later.
The official update from Microsoft: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/skills-hub-blog/the-ai-job-boom-continues-build-the-skills-that-move-business-forward/4494139
Any questions about which path makes sense for your situation? Drop them below.
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Big changes coming to Microsoft certifications in 2026 - AI Everything!
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