AI-103 exam: cost, duration, format, languages and how to book

The certification page states 120 minutes to complete the assessment. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions; its exams usually have 40 to 60. Scoring is scaled and you pass with 700 out of 1,000, which is not the same as 70% correct because questions can be weighted differently.

Format: single answer, multiple choice, case scenarios and possibly interactive items such as ordering steps or drag and drop; the page warns that interactive components may appear. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer everything. Most questions cover generally available features, although commonly used preview features can show up. You can see the real interface in Microsoft's exam sandbox.

Microsoft says the price depends on the country or region where the exam is proctored. The reference for role-based exams is USD 165; in the euro area it is usually the same figure in euros plus tax, and in countries such as India it is considerably lower. The exact price appears when you start booking on Pearson VUE, before you pay.

Legitimate ways to pay less: vouchers Microsoft hands out at events and Microsoft Learn challenges, discounts for verified students, vouchers many partner companies hold for their staff, and Exam Replay, which bundles a retake at a reduced price. Be wary of vouchers from doubtful sources: if the voucher turns out to be invalid, Microsoft can void the result.

AI-103 is offered in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese. The English version is updated first and localized versions about eight weeks later, so there can be a gap after an outline change. If the exam is not available in your preferred language you can request an extra 30 minutes.

To book: open the certification page on Microsoft Learn with a personal Microsoft account (Microsoft explicitly recommends it: with a work account you lose your records if you change jobs), choose schedule exam, pick Pearson VUE, test centre or online from home, language, date, and pay. Online you need a room to yourself, a camera, a microphone and a system check beforehand.

You can retake the exam 24 hours after the first attempt. For later attempts the wait is longer and there is a yearly cap under Microsoft's retake policy. The score report shows your performance by domain, which is exactly what you need to decide what to review: on AI-103 people usually fall short in generative AI and agents or in planning and security, which together are more than half of the exam.

The certification expires after a year and renews for free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn, unproctored and with unlimited attempts within the renewal window. Before booking, check your level with a 120-minute AI-103 mock exam, free to start, and review the outline by domain.