CertifyDeckAB-400 (Extending Microsoft Power Platform Solutions with Code and AI) is the new Power Platform developer exam. It replaces PL-400 and earns exactly the same certification: Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate. It is available from 16 October 2026, in English only for now, and can already be booked. This article sums up what Microsoft has published so far, without guesswork: what it is, who it is for, what is known about the exam and what is not.
What AB-400 is and which certification it earns
AB-400 is an associate-level exam for Microsoft Power Platform developers. Its full title in the study guide is Extending Microsoft Power Platform Solutions with Code and AI, and the Microsoft Learn exam page lists it as Exam AB-400: Power Platform Developer Associate. Passing it earns Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate, the same credential PL-400 has granted until now.
The new code comes from Microsoft's catalog reorganization: the AB prefix groups the business applications and agents exams, such as AB-620, AB-730 or AB-900. It is more than a rename: the outline has been rewritten to include generative AI and agents as part of a solution's logic.
Who it is for
According to the official profile, the candidate designs, develops, tests and troubleshoots solution components using the extension points of Power Platform and generative AI: custom user experiences, business logic, system integrations, data conversions, custom process automation, Power Automate workflow expressions and agentic AI as part of the solution.
Microsoft assumes development experience with Power Platform services, JavaScript, JSON, TypeScript and Power Fx, C#, Python, HTML and YAML, RESTful web APIs, Azure, Microsoft Foundry and Copilot Studio. It also expects you to work with Power Platform CLI, Visual Studio or VS Code, the platform's authentication, security and ALM practices, and AI-assisted tools for development and troubleshooting.
If your job is configuring apps and flows without writing code, this is not your exam: it requires programming. If you build no-code agents in Copilot Studio, look at AB-620.
What is known about the exam (and what is not)
Confirmed in the official documentation: available from 16 October 2026, with booking already open; English; 700 to pass; four domains (build Power Platform solutions, 15–20%; extend the user experience, 25–30%; extend Power Platform, 35–40%; develop integrations, 10–15%). The detail is in the AB-400 skills outline by domain.
Not published as of today: the exam page states no duration and no single price (it depends on the country where you sit), there are no learning paths or instructor-led courses specific to AB-400, and the study guide still links to the free PL-400 practice assessment. There is no date for other languages either; as a general rule Microsoft says localized versions, when they exist, are updated about eight weeks after the English one.
As with other Microsoft exams, most questions cover generally available features, but questions on preview features can appear if they are commonly used. With this much new material in the outline, keep that in mind.
If you already hold PL-400 or are preparing it
If you are already certified, nothing changes: the credential is the same and renews every twelve months through the free online assessment on Microsoft Learn. You do not need to sit AB-400.
If you are preparing PL-400, the calendar is tight: registration closes on 16 October 2026 and, having registered by then, you can sit it through 30 October. If you miss those dates your preparation is not wasted: the technical core (Dataverse, plug-ins, PCF, Web API, connectors, ALM) is still most of AB-400. We compare both in PL-400 is becoming AB-400.
How to start preparing
Start with the shared core, which carries the most weight. The AB-400 practice questions follow the four domains of the new outline: plug-ins, Dataverse APIs, PCF, client scripting, connectors, events and integrations, plus the new areas on code apps, agents and MCP. Start free and measure your level by domain. The questions on the new areas are written from the official documentation; since the exam is not live yet, pair them with hands-on practice.
The full plan, with what to study for each new block, is in how to prepare for AB-400.
Frequently asked questions
Is AB-400 the same as PL-400?
It is its replacement. It earns the same certification (Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate), but the outline has been reorganized into four domains and adds generative AI, agents, code apps, MCP and Python.
When can I take AB-400?
From 16 October 2026. Booking is already open on the official exam page on Microsoft Learn.
Which languages is AB-400 available in?
English only at launch, according to the official exam page. Microsoft has not announced dates for other languages.
What is the passing score for AB-400?
700, as with other Microsoft certification exams.
Do I need to take AB-400 if I already passed PL-400?
No. The certification is the same and renews every year through the free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, with no exam retake.