Specialization skilling updates

On this page5 sections

1. Certifications retiring with replacements
2. Certification retiring without a direct replacement
3. Certifications being added
4. Which offerings do these retirements affect
5. Next steps

Microsoft is retiring specialization certifications and introducing new AI-focused replacements. Review what's changing and the updated skilling needs.

Impacted audience

Partners earning or renewing the Solutions Partner designation for AI Business Solutions (through the Business Applications solution path), Solutions Partner designation for Cloud & AI Platforms (through the Digital & App Innovation solution path), Solutions Partner designation for Security, or any affected specialization noted here.

Microsoft is retiring multiple certifications between June 30 and August 31, 2026, as part of evolving certification requirements for AI-related skills. Many of these certifications have direct replacements that focus on building, deploying, and operating AI solutions.

If you complete a retiring certification before its retirement date, your certification remains valid for one year.

Certifications retiring with replacements

• Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) retires July 31, 2026. It's replaced by Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (AI-200), available July 9, 2026.
• Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate (MB-280) retires July 31, 2026. It's replaced by Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate (AB-210), available July 9, 2026.
• Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) retires August 31, 2026. It's replaced by Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500), available July 21, 2026.
• Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) retires August 31, 2026. It's replaced by Intelligent Applications Builder Associate (AB-410), available July 30, 2026.

Certification retiring without a direct replacement

• Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate (MB-240) retired on June 30, 2026. Though not a direct replacement, Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate (AB-250) is being added to account for this retirement.

Certifications being added

• GitHub Certified: Agentic AI Developer (GH-600)
• SQL AI Developer Associate (DP-800)

Which offerings do these retirements affect

• Solutions Partner designation for AI Business Solutions (through the Business Applications solution path)
• Solutions Partner designation for Cloud & AI Platforms (through the Digital & App Innovation solution path)
• Solutions Partner designation for Security

Affected specializations: AI Apps; Azure Virtual Desktop; Business Intelligence; Cloud Security; Infra and Database Migration; Intelligent Automation; Kubernetes; Low Code Application Development; Migrate Enterprise Applications; Sales; Service

Some of these specializations—AI Apps, Sales, Low Code, and Intelligent Automation — were included in the June announcement and continue to be updated as additional certifications retire.

Skilling requirements on each affected specialization page are being updated to reflect these changes. Additional certification retirements are coming soon and will be announced as they are confirmed.

Next steps

Go to your Partner Center dashboard to review your skilling progress.

Review the updated skilling requirements on the affected specialization pages:

• Service
• Kubernetes
• Migrate Enterprise Applications
• AI Apps
• Azure Virtual Desktop
• Cloud Security
• Infra and Database Migration
• Intelligent Automation
• Low Code
• Sales