Microsoft's New AB Certifications: Which One Is Right for You?
- Alfredo Iorio
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Microsoft has introduced a new series of certifications built around AI, Copilot, and agentic systems. If you work with Dynamics 365 or Power Platform, these affect your certification path. The skills they cover are becoming part of the job.
There are four: AB-900, AB-730, AB-731, and AB-100.
This post explains what each one covers and helps you work out which is right for you.
For the broader picture of what changed in Microsoft's certification landscape, my guide to Microsoft certifications for Dynamics consultants covers the full context.
Why the new series exists
Microsoft has moved away from product-based Fundamentals credentials toward role-based AI certifications. The old exams tested whether you knew a product. The new ones test whether you can deploy, govern, and architect AI solutions using the Microsoft ecosystem.
That is a meaningful shift. Copilot is no longer optional infrastructure in enterprise Microsoft environments. Someone needs to be accountable for how it is managed.
MB-910 and MB-920, the Dynamics 365 Fundamentals certifications, retired on 31 December 2025. MS-900 follows on 31 March 2026. If you were planning to sit in any of those, they are gone.
AB-900: Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals
This is the entry-level credential. Do not let that mislead you.
Vlad Catrinescu, an MCT who sat the beta at Microsoft Ignite, and The CRM Ninja, a Dynamics 365 MCT who has written about the exam in detail, both describe it as the hardest fundamentals exam Microsoft has produced. I agree, and I think the difficulty is justified.
AB-900 is a governance exam. Most questions cover security, compliance, and administration: Microsoft Purview, Defender, data loss prevention, conditional access policies, data retention, and licensing controls. The CRM Ninja noted that Purview questions were so prominent that guessing would not get you through. Catrinescu described the breadth as significant — you need to know what each product does, where to manage it, and when to apply specific controls.
Deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot without understanding how to govern it is a liability. AB-900 certifies the person who owns that responsibility.
Who it is for: IT administrators and Microsoft 365 professionals responsible for Copilot deployment and governance.
AB-730: AI Business Professional
This is an associate-level certification aimed at business users, not IT administrators. The target is anyone whose job involves identifying where AI can improve workflows and translating that into practical use cases: business analysts, product owners, and functional consultants.
For D365 consultants, this one is directly relevant. If your clients are asking how Copilot fits into their processes, AB-730 gives you a structured framework to answer that question. It covers AI opportunity identification, workflow mapping, and working with technical teams to implement Copilot solutions across the Microsoft ecosystem.
Vlad Catrinescu has covered AB-730 alongside the other AB exams in a breakdown with Microsoft MVP Tiago Costa.
Who it is for: Functional consultants and business analysts advising clients on AI adoption and Copilot use cases.
AB-731: AI Transformation Leader
AB-731 is not a technical certification. It targets business leaders and managers accountable for AI adoption across an organisation: AI strategy, change management, governance, ethics, and measuring business impact.
This is the cert your clients may be sitting. A client holding AB-731 has been trained to think about AI governance, operating models, and measurable outcomes. That changes the conversation you can have with them.
If you work with SMBs navigating AI adoption, our training for SMBs covers how organisations at that scale can build the capability to use these tools effectively.
Who it is for: Business leaders and managers driving organisation-wide AI adoption.
AB-100: Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect
AB-100 is the expert-level credential. It validates your ability to design and deliver end-to-end AI business solutions using Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform, including agentic and multi-agent architectures.
To sit AB-100, you must hold an active associate-level certification from a defined list. That list includes MB-310, MB-330, MB-230, MB-240, MB-280, and AI-102. If you are already certified in Dynamics, you may already qualify.
The CRM Ninja has written about the AB-100 exam from first-hand experience. Prepare properly. This is not an exam you pass on familiarity with the Microsoft ecosystem alone.
Who it is for: Experienced D365 and Power Platform architects designing enterprise AI solutions.
Which one is right for you?
The four certifications target different roles. Your starting point depends on what you do, not how technical you are. Pick the one that matches your current responsibilities.
You manage Microsoft 365 and are responsible for Copilot governance: AB-900. If your organisation has deployed or is planning to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot, someone needs to own the governance of it. That means managing access controls, data retention policies, sensitivity labels, and compliance configurations. If that person is you, AB-900 is the certification that validates those skills. Do not approach it as a quick fundamentals pass. Treat it as a serious governance exam and prepare accordingly.
You advise clients on where AI fits in their business processes: AB-730. D365 functional consultants are increasingly being asked questions that go beyond system configuration. Clients want to know how Copilot integrates with their workflows, where it adds value, and how to build a case for it internally. AB-730 gives you the framework to answer those questions with confidence. It also signals to clients that you understand the business side of AI adoption, not just the technical implementation.
You lead AI adoption programmes or work with clients who do: AB-731. Change management is where most AI projects struggle. The technology works. Getting people to use it consistently and measuring whether it is delivering value is harder. AB-731 covers exactly that territory. If you are advising a client whose leadership team is driving an AI programme, understanding what this certification covers helps you align your recommendations to how they are thinking about governance, risk, and ROI.
You already hold a D365 associate cert and design solutions at architect level: AB-100. Check the prerequisite list before anything else. If you hold MB-310, MB-330, MB-230, MB-240, or MB-280, you already meet the entry requirement.
AB-100 then tests your ability to design agentic AI solutions across the full Microsoft stack. It is the most demanding of the four and the most differentiated. Architects who can design multi-agent systems using Copilot Studio, Azure AI, and Dynamics 365 are not common.
If you have identified the certification that fits your role, the next step is preparation. Browse instructor-led courses for all four AB certifications at https://www.d365training.com/instructor-led/ai-certifications.