CertifyDeck2026 has more Microsoft exam retirements than any recent year: well-known certifications disappear and new ones centred on AI and agents arrive. This page gathers the dates from Microsoft's official list, updated on 31 August 2026, and the closest current path for each exam. Microsoft does not publish a mapping table, so where there is no clear replacement we say so.
Exams you can still take, with a deadline
AZ-800 and AZ-801 (Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate) retire on 30 September 2026. The current Windows Server administration exam in Microsoft's catalog is AZ-802.
PL-400 (Power Platform Developer) closes registration on 16 October 2026 and, once booked, can be taken through 30 October. It is replaced by AB-400, which earns the same certification and launches in English only. Both are explained in PL-400 is becoming AB-400, and you can practise both PL-400 and AB-400.
MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert) retires on 30 November 2026. The closest current path is AB-650, still in beta. Deadlines are in MS-102 retires and the new exam in AB-650: taking over from MS-102.
Retired in 2026: AI and data
DP-100 (Azure Data Scientist Associate) retired on 1 June. The current path is AI-300, focused on machine learning operations: details in DP-100 retired, and you can practise AI-300.
AI-102 (Azure AI Engineer Associate) retired on 30 June. The current path is AI-103, with more weight on Microsoft Foundry and agents: see AI-103 vs AI-102 and the AI-103 questions. AI-900 (Azure AI Fundamentals) retired the same day and the current fundamentals exam is AI-901.
Retired in 2026: Azure and security
AZ-204 (Azure Developer Associate) retired on 31 July. The path Microsoft proposes for developers is AI-200, Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate: see AZ-204 retired.
AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer Associate) retired on 31 August and has no one-to-one replacement. Depending on your job, the continuation is SC-300 for identity or SC-200 for security operations: we explain it in AZ-500 retired, and SC-300 can be practised here. AZ-104, Azure Administrator, remains current.
Retired in 2026: Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Dynamics 365
MS-900 (Microsoft 365 Fundamentals) retired on 31 March and the closest current path is AB-900: see what replaces MS-900. In Power Platform, PL-500 and PL-600 retired on 30 June and PL-200 on 31 August. For PL-200 and PL-600 the active paths depend on your profile, development with AB-400 or agents with AB-620, and are covered in PL-200 retired and PL-600 retired.
In Dynamics 365, MB-240, MB-335 and MB-700 retired on 30 June and MB-280 on 31 July. The official list gives no replacement for them.
What happens to a certification you already hold
It stays on your Microsoft Learn transcript with the date you earned it. What disappears is renewal: if you can renew before the retirement date, Microsoft recommends doing so, because afterwards there is no assessment.
For Microsoft partners, certifications earned before retirement keep counting toward program requirements for one year after the retirement date.
How to decide what to prepare
If the exam is still open and you are well into your preparation, finish: the certification counts the same on your transcript. If you are starting now, choose a current one. There is no credit transfer between the retired certification and the new one, so time spent on an exam you never sit is not recovered.
Before committing, open the exam's official study guide and check the outline date and the change log. And measure your starting point with questions: on CertifyDeck you can start free with any certification in the catalog.
Frequently asked questions
Which Microsoft exams retire in the rest of 2026?
According to the official list updated on 31 August 2026: AZ-800 and AZ-801 on 30 September and MS-102 on 30 November. In addition, PL-400 closes registration on 16 October and can be taken through 30 October, replaced by AB-400.
Do I lose my certification when the exam retires?
No. It stays on your Microsoft Learn transcript with its date. What you can no longer do is renew it once it is retired.
Is a retired certification converted into the new one?
No. There is no automatic migration: to earn the new certification you have to pass its exam.
What replaces MS-900, AI-102 and AZ-204?
The closest current paths are AB-900 for MS-900, AI-103 for AI-102 and AI-200 for AZ-204. In all three cases the new outline adds AI and agents rather than repeating the old one.
Where does Microsoft publish retirements?
On the "Exam and assessment lab retirement" page on Microsoft Learn, which lists exams retiring in the next twelve months and those retired in the last year. The information is subject to change.