FY27 August skilling updates
Two Microsoft certifications retired on August 31 and have new, AI-focused replacements. Review the updated specialization skilling requirements.
- Impacted audience
- Partners earning or renewing the Solutions Partner designation for Security, the Solutions Partner designation for AI Business Solutions (through the Business Applications solution path), or any affected specialization noted here.
Microsoft retired two certifications on August 31, 2026, as part of evolving certification requirements for AI-related skills. Each certification has a direct replacement that focuses on building, deploying, and operating AI solutions. If you completed a retiring certification before its retirement date, your certification remains valid for one year.
- Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) retired on August 31, 2026. It was replaced by Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500), available as of July 21, 2026.
- Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) retired on August 31, 2026. It was replaced by Intelligent Applications Builder Associate (AB-410), available as of July 30, 2026.
Which offerings this affects
- Solutions Partner designation for Security
- Solutions Partner designation for AI Business Solutions (through the Business Applications solution path)
Specializations: Agentic Business Solutions, Azure Virtual Desktop, Cloud Security, and Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure.
These retirements were initially announced in the July Partner Center announcement so partners could act before the deadline. The skilling requirements on each affected specialization page have been updated to reflect these changes.
Next steps
- Check your skilling progress in your Partner Center dashboard.
- Review the updated skilling requirements on the affected specialization pages: Agentic Business Solutions, Azure Virtual Desktop, Cloud Security, and Infra and Database Migration to Microsoft Azure.