Microsoft calls these credentials certifications, not certificates. The four strongest beginner options in 2026 are Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900), Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900), and Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901).
Each can demonstrate foundational knowledge in a growing technology area, but none guarantees employment. The most effective formula is certification plus a practical project plus applications to realistic first roles. This guide reflects Microsoft’s current certification lineup as of August 2026, including the replacement of AI-900 by AI-901.
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Quick comparison
| Certification | Best for | Possible first-step roles | Important caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals |
Cloud, infrastructure and IT support | Cloud-support technician, IT support specialist, junior infrastructure technician | Broad and conceptual; does not prove independent Azure administration |
| SC-900 Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals |
Identity, Microsoft 365 and cybersecurity foundations | Microsoft 365 support specialist, identity trainee, access-support technician | Not enough by itself for most security analyst positions |
| PL-900 Power Platform Fundamentals |
Low-code apps, automation and business operations | Power Platform app maker, junior business analyst, automation analyst | Portfolio evidence and employer use of Power Platform matter greatly |
| AI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals |
Applied AI and Microsoft Azure AI services | AI solutions trainee, technical customer-success associate, AI adoption analyst | Requires more technical preparation than the other fundamentals options |
All four are beginner or foundational credentials, but “beginner exam” does not mean “automatic qualification for a job.” Microsoft describes fundamentals certifications as starting points for students and early-career professionals; employers may still expect projects, troubleshooting ability, communication skills, experience or a degree.
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AZ-900 is the broadest choice if you are new to cloud computing or are unsure which technical specialization to pursue. It covers cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance.
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Microsoft’s current exam objectives allocate approximately:
- 25–30% to cloud concepts;
- 35–40% to Azure architecture and services; and
- 30–35% to Azure management and governance.
That knowledge can support applications for cloud-support technician, IT support, junior systems, infrastructure and Azure operations trainee roles. It may also help a general technical-support candidate explain cloud services during interviews.
What AZ-900 does not prove
Passing AZ-900 does not show that you can independently deploy, secure, monitor or troubleshoot a production Azure environment. To create stronger job evidence, build a small lab containing an Azure resource group, storage account, virtual machine or container demonstration, network diagram, and basic cost-management or governance walkthrough. Then choose a more specialized Azure administration, development, data or security path.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteAZ-900 is generally a 45-minute exam. A Microsoft page retrieved for one regional listing showed a $59 USD price signal, but Microsoft says exam pricing varies by country or region. Verify the amount during registration.
2. Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals: SC-900
SC-900 is the best starting point for identity, Microsoft 365 security, compliance and introductory cybersecurity work. It covers security, compliance and identity concepts; Microsoft Entra; Microsoft security solutions; and Microsoft compliance solutions.
The current study guide, updated for the English exam on July 28, 2026, weights the domains approximately as follows:
- 10–15%: security, compliance and identity concepts;
- 25–30%: Microsoft Entra;
- 35–40%: Microsoft security solutions; and
- 20–25%: Microsoft compliance solutions.
Possible first-step roles include Microsoft 365 support specialist, identity and access-management trainee, Entra ID support technician, compliance coordinator and help-desk technician handling authentication and permissions.
SC-900 is beginner level, but Microsoft recommends familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365. It is not evidence that you can investigate alerts, analyze logs, operate a SIEM, respond to incidents, harden endpoints or write security scripts.
Why the security distinction matters
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections show information security analyst employment growing 28.5% from 2024 to 2034. That supports the relevance of security skills, not the claim that SC-900 holders automatically qualify for security analyst jobs. BLS lists a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry education for that occupation. See the BLS information security analyst outlook.
After SC-900, create an Entra identity-and-access diagram, explain a sample conditional-access policy, document a least-privilege scenario, and complete a fictional incident-response exercise. Then consider a role-specific identity, security operations or Microsoft 365 certification.
3. Power Platform Fundamentals: PL-900
PL-900 may be the strongest option for an office professional moving into technology. It is designed around Microsoft Power Platform’s business applications, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, connectors, environment management and Copilot Studio.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsPotential pathways include Power Platform app maker, junior business analyst, workflow or process-automation specialist, operations analyst, Microsoft 365 business-applications support and low-code solutions consultant trainee.
This certification is particularly suitable for people in operations, finance, HR, project management, sales or administration who understand business processes but do not want to become traditional software developers. It can help you explain how technology could reduce repetitive work, standardize approvals or improve data collection.
Build proof, not just a badge
For PL-900, a portfolio can demonstrate value unusually clearly. Build:
- a Power Automate approval workflow;
- a Power App connected to a legitimate practice data source;
- a small Dataverse data model;
- a before-and-after process map; and
- a short explanation of the time, errors or manual steps the process could reduce.
Include screenshots or a brief demonstration, while removing confidential company information. PL-900 is not a prerequisite for role-based certifications, according to Microsoft, but it can provide a useful foundation for them.
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The main trade-off is ecosystem dependence. PL-900 is most useful when target employers use Power Platform, Microsoft 365 or related Microsoft business applications. It is less strategic for an employer centered on Salesforce or another business platform.
4. Azure AI Fundamentals: AI-901
AI-901 is the current Azure AI fundamentals exam. Do not follow older advice recommending AI-900: Microsoft retired AI-900 on June 30, 2026, and replaced it with AI-901.
AI-901 covers AI concepts and capabilities, machine-learning principles on Azure, computer vision, natural-language processing, generative AI and AI-solution implementation using Microsoft Foundry. Its current objectives allocate approximately:
- 40–45% to identifying AI concepts and capabilities; and
- 55–60% to implementing AI solutions using Microsoft Foundry.
Possible pathways include AI-support or solutions-consulting trainee, technical customer-success roles involving AI products, data or automation analyst, AI-adoption specialist and junior Azure AI solutions roles.
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Although it is a fundamentals certification, Microsoft says candidates should have conceptual knowledge of Azure AI solutions, foundational technical skills, familiarity with Azure resources, and knowledge of Python syntax and programming techniques. That makes AI-901 a less suitable first exam for someone with no cloud or programming exposure.
A useful project could combine a small Azure AI or Microsoft Foundry demonstration with prompt-evaluation comparisons, a text or language-processing workflow, a responsible-AI risk assessment and a basic Python-backed experiment.
AI-901 will not qualify you by itself for a data scientist or AI engineer role. BLS projects U.S. data-scientist employment to grow 33.5% from 2024 to 2034, but those jobs generally require deeper statistics, programming, data handling and model-development skills. The projection describes occupational demand, not the hiring effect of one certification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which certification should you choose?
- Choose AZ-900 if you want broad cloud knowledge, IT support, infrastructure or Azure administration and do not yet know your specialization.
- Choose SC-900 if you are interested in identity, Microsoft 365, compliance or cybersecurity and already understand basic cloud concepts.
- Choose PL-900 if you work with business processes and want to build low-code apps or automate repetitive work.
- Choose AI-901 if you already have some Azure or programming familiarity and want an applied-AI direction.
Do not choose solely based on which subject is most fashionable. Check job descriptions in your target location. If the employers you want use AWS, Google Cloud, Salesforce or another ecosystem, a Microsoft certification may not be the most efficient first investment. Alternatives include AWS Cloud Practitioner, Google Cloud Digital Leader, CompTIA Security+, Salesforce Administrator or vendor-neutral Python and data training, depending on the target role.
How to turn a certification into job evidence
- Select a target role. Search for realistic first jobs such as cloud-support technician, Microsoft 365 support specialist, junior identity technician, Power Platform app maker or automation analyst.
- Study the official objectives. Use the relevant Microsoft Learn material, study guide, practice assessment and exam sandbox. Do not rely on memorized practice questions alone.
- Complete one relevant project. The project should demonstrate the work associated with the role, not merely repeat definitions from the exam.
- Document the result. Add the tools used, your decisions, screenshots or diagrams, and a measurable or clearly explained business outcome to a portfolio.
- Write targeted résumé bullets. For example: “Built a Power Automate approval workflow connected to a practice data source and documented the process from intake through notification.”
- Apply to adjacent roles. A certification can support a job search for entry-level and trainee positions, but you may need help-desk, business operations, customer support or internship experience as a bridge.
- Continue selectively. After identifying a role, pursue the next role-based certification or technical skill instead of collecting unrelated fundamentals badges.
Exam logistics and current-status notes
These Microsoft exams are proctored and generally listed as 45-minute exams where specified by Microsoft. Practice assessments and exam sandboxes are available through the certification pages. Microsoft’s retake policy generally allows a failed exam to be retaken after 24 hours, with later attempts governed by the current policy; verify the rules before scheduling.
Use a personal Microsoft account when registering so your certification record is not tied solely to an employer account. Exam prices vary by region. The retrieved official pages showed a $59 USD signal for AZ-900 in one listed market and $99 USD for AI-901 on the retrieved U.S. page; SC-900 and PL-900 prices should be confirmed at checkout.
For preparation, start with Microsoft Learn and the official certification page. General candidates typically schedule through Pearson VUE; students and educators may use Certiport where their institution supports it.
The bottom line
AZ-900 is the safest broad starting point, SC-900 fits identity and security interests, PL-900 is especially practical for business professionals, and AI-901 is the most specialized and technically demanding option. The best choice is the one connected to a realistic target role and followed by a project that shows what you can actually do.
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