Specialization skilling updates

On this page5 sections

1. Details
2. Retiring certifications and their replacements
3. Offerings impacted by these updates
4. Next steps
5. Questions

Several Microsoft specialization certifications are retiring and being replaced by new AI-focused criteria.

• Announcement date: June 30, 2026
• Workspace: General
• Impacted audience: Partners earning/renewing Business Apps or Data & AI designation - or AI Apps, AI Platform, Finance, Intelligent Automation, Low Code, Sales, Service, or Supply Chain specializations

Details

Microsoft is retiring multiple certifications between June 1 and August 31, 2026, as part of the shift to AI-era skilling. Many of these certifications will have a direct replacement that focuses on building, deploying, and operating AI solutions. If you complete a retiring certification before its retirement date, your certification remains valid for one year.

Retiring certifications and their replacements

• Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) retired as of June 30, 2026. It was replaced by Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103) on June 19, 2026.
• Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) retired as of June 1, 2026. It was replaced by Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate (AI-300) on May 12, 2026.
• Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate (MB-240) retired as of June 30, 2026. It will be replaced by Dynamics 365 Contact Center AI Engineer Associate (AB-250) once the new certification becomes generally available in July 2026.
• The following certifications have collectively been replaced by Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect (AB-100):
• Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert (MB-335) retired as of June 30, 2026.
• Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (MB-700) retired as of June 30, 2026.
• Power Automate Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Developer Associate (PL-500) retired as of June 30, 2026.
• Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (PL-600) retired as of June 30, 2026.

Offerings impacted by these updates

• Solutions Partner designations: Business Applications, Data & AI
• Specializations:
• AI Apps on Microsoft Azure
• AI Platform on Microsoft Azure
• Finance
• Intelligent Automation
• Low Code Application Development
• Sales
• Service
• Supply Chain

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

Next steps

Review the refined skilling requirements.

Questions

For more details, contact your PDM or submit a support request in Partner Center.