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Microsoft · Cloud · Associate

Microsoft Azure Developer Associate exam guide

Exam AI-200 (replaced AZ-204, retired July 31, 2026)

AZ-204 (Azure Developer Associate) retired on July 31, 2026 and Microsoft replaced it with AI-200: Developing AI Cloud Solutions on Azure, which earns Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate. The new exam keeps the core Azure developer skills (containers, data services, integration, security) but builds them around AI-enabled applications.

QuestionsSee official page
Time limit100 minutes
Passing score700 (1-1000 scale)
Exam fee$165 USD
Valid for1 years
DeliveryPearson VUE test center or online proctored

Format: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, hot area, build list and case studies; may include labs (120 minutes if labs are included). Fee note: US price; varies by country. Student and Microsoft Learn challenge discounts sometimes available.

Who it's for

Developers who build and deploy cloud applications on Azure and now need to connect them to Azure data and AI services. Existing AZ-204 holders keep their credential on their transcript.

What the exam covers

Develop containerized solutions on Azure (20-25%)—
Develop AI solutions by using Azure data management services (25-30%)—
Connect to and consume Azure services (20-25%)—
Secure, monitor, and troubleshoot Azure solutions (20-25%)—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: Hands-on experience developing Azure solutions in at least one language (C#, Python or JavaScript), with familiarity in Azure CLI/PowerShell, containers, data services and Azure AI services.

Keeping it active

Role-based certifications are valid 1 year. Renew free by passing an unproctored online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn in the 180 days before expiry; no fee and no retest required.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Building and deploying containers to Azure Container Apps, ACR and AKS
  • Using Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL and storage for AI-enabled apps, including vector search
  • Integrating Azure services through APIs, Event Grid, Service Bus and API Management
  • Calling Azure OpenAI/Foundry models from application code
  • Securing apps with Microsoft Entra ID, managed identities and Key Vault
  • Monitoring and troubleshooting with Application Insights and Azure Monitor

Job roles

Azure DeveloperCloud Application DeveloperAI Application DeveloperBackend EngineerSoftware Engineer (Azure)Solutions Developer

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read the AI-200 study guide; set up an Azure free/sandbox subscription and the Azure CLI
  2. Week 2: Containers - Dockerfiles, Azure Container Registry, Container Apps, AKS basics
  3. Week 3: Data services for AI - Cosmos DB (including vector search), Azure SQL, Blob Storage, embeddings workflow
  4. Week 4: Integration - API Management, Event Grid, Service Bus, Functions triggers and bindings, calling Foundry/Azure OpenAI
  5. Week 5: Security and monitoring - managed identities, Key Vault, Entra app registrations, Application Insights
  6. Week 6: Microsoft practice assessment on AI Skills Navigator and the exam sandbox; fill gaps hands-on

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • Most prep material online is still AZ-204; check that every resource you use names AI-200
  • Data management for AI is the heaviest domain (25-30%) - practice Cosmos DB modeling and vector queries
  • Prefer managed identities over connection strings or keys whenever a question allows
  • Role-based exams allow Microsoft Learn access during the test, but searching is slow - use it only to confirm syntax
  • Case studies cannot be revisited after you leave them; answer all their questions before moving on

Key terms for this exam

All 47 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

Is AZ-204 still available?

No. AZ-204 retired July 31, 2026. AI-200 is the replacement exam, earning Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate.

Does my AZ-204 certification still count?

It stays on your Microsoft Learn transcript. Check the DevOps Engineer Expert page for whether it still satisfies the AZ-400 prerequisite in your case.

How much does AI-200 cost?

$165 USD in the United States; pricing varies by country.

Is AI-200 harder than AZ-204?

Scope is similar in size, but AI-200 adds AI data patterns and model integration, so pure web/API developers need extra study on Azure AI services.

How do I renew?

Free each year by passing the online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn.

Official page: learn.microsoft.com. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.