Microsoft Certifications for Dynamics Applications: A Consultant’s Guide

Microsoft's Dynamics certifications cover three main categories: Customer Engagement (CRM), Finance and Operations (ERP), and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMB), which covers Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Business Central has always been an exception. Even though it is an ERP, its architecture and capabilities differ significantly from the F&O applications, so its certification track sits separately from the Finance and Operations group.

In addition to the Dynamics-specific certifications, Microsoft provides related certifications closely tied to Dynamics applications, covering Azure, the Power Platform, and — as of 2025 and 2026 — Microsoft AI and Copilot.

Certification badges

As Copilot is now embedded directly in Business Central, D365 Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain, the boundary between Dynamics and these adjacent platforms is narrowing, and I expect it to narrow further.

Each certification level reflects a different stage of experience and role:

Fundamentals: The entry point for beginners and for consultants already specialising in one area who want to understand adjacent applications. Fundamentals exams are also useful for pre-sales and account management roles that need credible product knowledge without deep technical depth.

Associate: For consultants and professionals with hands-on project experience. I recommend targeting the associate level after a couple of years of real-world work. These are not exclusively for Microsoft partner consultants; business analysts, IT support roles, and power users in enterprise IT teams all benefit, because the content maps directly to real workplace scenarios.

Expert: Not all applications have an expert level. Those that do are designed for solution and technical architects, IT managers, and senior developers delivering complex, multi-workload implementations. Expert certifications require holding the relevant associate first.

I always tell my clients that a certification does not guarantee a job as a consultant, and not having one does not limit your chances either. What it does is demonstrate your commitment to keeping current with the platform, and that matters to clients and employers comparing candidates.

The Current Microsoft Certification Landscape

Microsoft updates its portfolio regularly. Below is the current picture as of 2026, arranged by level and category.

Fundamentals

Microsoft retired both the MB-910 (Dynamics 365 Fundamentals CRM) and MB-920 (Dynamics 365 Fundamentals ERP) on 31 December 2025. As of now, there is no direct replacement aimed at Dynamics beginners. Microsoft has signalled that new AI-focused beginner-level training for functional roles in sales, finance, supply chain, and service is coming, but no specific new Dynamics fundamentals exam has been announced yet. I will update this post when that changes.

If you already hold MB-910 or MB-920, the good news is that fundamentals certifications never expire; they will remain on your Microsoft Learn transcript permanently.

AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals and PL-900: Power Platform Fundamentals remain active and are still relevant for any Dynamics consultant working with cloud deployments or Power Platform automation.

AB-900: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals is Microsoft's new fundamentals-level certification for IT professionals administering Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI agents. It covers configuring, securing, and governing Copilot and agents across Microsoft 365, including data protection with Microsoft Purview and agent lifecycle management. It is not a Dynamics certification, but for consultants who advise clients on AI adoption and governance in Dynamics environments, it is increasingly relevant context.

SC-900: Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals is worth considering for Dynamics consultants working with enterprise clients where data governance and compliance are project requirements, not background knowledge.

Associate

MB-280: Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst is the current certification for CRM consultants specialising in D365 Sales and D365 Customer Insights. Released in 2025, it replaced the older MB-210, MB-220, and MB-260 paths, consolidating them into a single broader credential. It is now the natural next step for CRM consultants.

MB-240: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant covers D365 Field Service and is part of the Customer Engagement stack.

MB-310: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant is the F&O certification for D365 Finance consultants. The MB-300 prerequisite was retired in 2024; MB-310 is now a standalone exam.

MB-330: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant covers D365 SCM and is the associate step before the expert-level MB-335.

MB-500: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Developer is one of the few certifications designed for developers rather than functional consultants. It is also a useful credential for F&O solution architects who need to understand the technical architecture of the platform.

MB-800: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant is the core Business Central certification, covering functional configuration and implementation. It is our flagship course at D365 Training; check availability here: d365training.com/mb-800.

MB-820: Dynamics 365 Business Central Developer is the technical companion to MB-800, covering AL development, extension building, and application lifecycle management for Business Central. Released in 2024, it is essential for BC developers and technical architects.

Microsoft AI Certifications (AB Series)

Microsoft's new AI-focused certifications sit outside the traditional Fundamentals, Associate, and Expert structure. They are role-based credentials for business professionals and leaders working with Copilot and agentic AI.

AB-730: AI Business Professional validates practical, hands-on use of Microsoft 365 Copilot in daily business operations across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It is aimed at business users who want to use AI to improve their work, not build or code AI systems. No formal prerequisites are required.

AB-731: AI Transformation Leader is for managers and executives leading AI adoption initiatives, covering AI strategy, change management, governance, and organisational transformation. Like AB-730, it requires no prior certification. It is less technical and more strategic in focus.

AB-900: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals (also listed above under Fundamentals) sits at the entry level for IT administrators managing Copilot and agents across Microsoft 365.

Expert

MB-335: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert is the advanced step after MB-330, for supply chain specialists delivering complex implementations.

MB-700 + MB-701: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert covers the full F&O architecture and is the primary certification for solution architects on large-scale F&O programmes. Both exams are required.

AB-100: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect is the expert-level AI certification, covering multi-agent orchestration, generative AI solution design, and integration of Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, and Dynamics 365. To sit AB-100 you must already hold at least one qualifying certification, which includes any of the Dynamics or Power Platform associate credentials such as MB-800, MB-820, MB-280, MB-310, MB-330, or MB-500. AB-100 is currently in beta; the instructor-led course (AB-100T00) is expected in early 2026. It is the one to watch for anyone positioning themselves as an AI-first architect in the Microsoft ecosystem.

What Changed and When

MB-910 and MB-920 retired (31 December 2025): Both Dynamics fundamentals certifications are gone. If you already hold them, they stay on your transcript. The window to sit them has closed.

MB-300 retired (February 2024): The shared F&O prerequisite was removed. MB-310 and MB-330 are now standalone certifications.

MB-820 launched (January 2024): The first dedicated certification for Business Central developers, filling a long-standing gap in the BC track.

MB-280 launched (2025): Consolidated the MB-210, MB-220, and MB-260 CRM paths into a single credential covering Sales and Customer Insights.

AB series launched (2025–2026): Microsoft's new AI-focused certification family, AB-900, AB-730, AB-731, and AB-100, is now available. This is a new track rather than a direct replacement for the retired Dynamics fundamentals, but it reflects where Microsoft is taking the platform and where client conversations are heading.

What Microsoft Certifications Do Not Cover

A common misconception is that passing a certification means you know everything about the application. That is not how Microsoft exams are designed.

Associate and expert certifications cover the core skills expected of a certified professional, the pillars of each application. They do not cover every feature. You can pass the MB-800 for Business Central without ever studying the advanced warehouse management, manufacturing, or project modules.

Country-specific requirements such as VAT, GST, or local reporting standards are outside the scope of most exams, because the same test is delivered globally.

Certifications validate a baseline. Real-world depth comes from project experience, which is why I consistently recommend getting hands-on time before attempting the associate level, not after.

My Recommendations

With the MB-910 and MB-920 gone, the entry path for someone brand new to Dynamics is less obvious than it used to be. My practical advice in the meantime: start with the associate-level certification for your specialisation, use the free Microsoft Learn paths to build context, and do not wait for a fundamentals exam that may or may not arrive.

If your work is on Business Central, MB-800 is the right first certification. If you are on the F&O side, MB-310 or MB-330 depending on your track. If you work across both CRM and ERP, starting with MB-280 and then MB-800 gives you solid coverage of the most commonly combined areas.

Wait until you have real project experience before sitting the associate exams. The questions are scenario-based and draw on the kind of judgment that only comes from having actually configured the system under real business constraints.

If you are in a technical or architect role, MB-820 for BC or MB-500 for F&O are now important credentials alongside the functional certifications.

AB-730 is the most accessible starting point for consultants already using Copilot day to day. AB-100 is the long-term credential for anyone wanting to position themselves as an AI architect across the Microsoft business applications stack.

I update this guide when Microsoft makes changes to the certification landscape. If you spot something that has changed since this was last updated, let me know in the comments.

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