Microsoft · Professional Certification · Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103)
Crydd Score 56
Demand High
Career Value High
Recognition Strong
AI-103 at a glance
- Provider
- Microsoft
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- AI Engineer
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $165
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 2–4 months
- Validity
- 1 year (free online renewal)
- Format
- Proctored exam, 120 minutes
- Prerequisites
- None required; Microsoft expects Python app development experience and familiarity with generative AI and Azure services
What is AI-103?
Microsoft's associate certification for building AI applications on Azure: planning AI solutions, and implementing generative AI and agents, computer vision, text analysis and information extraction. It replaced the Azure AI Engineer certification (AI-102) in 2026.
Skills it covers
- Azure AI solution planning
- Generative AI and agentic solutions
- Computer vision
- Text analysis
- Information extraction
Is AI-103 worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 56Choose it if
You are a developer building AI features or agents on Azure, or you planned AI-102: AI-103 is its replacement.
Consider alternatives if
You build on AWS: the AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional is the counterpart. For a platform-neutral start, the DataCamp AI Engineer track.
Why we say so
Applied AI engineering is among the fastest-growing developer specialisms, and this is Microsoft's credential for exactly that work.
Market demand
Demand for developers who can build generative AI and agents into products is high. Many postings still name AI-102, which Microsoft retired on 30 June 2026 in favour of AI-103.
Where AI-103 takes you
- AI Engineer
- Generative AI Developer
- AI Application Developer
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to AI-103, so you know why it’s here.
CS 83
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901)
Microsoft · Foundational
A more foundational start
CS 70
AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional
AWS · Professional
Higher-level progression
CS 63
Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate
Databricks · Associate
Comparable alternative
Careers AI-103 leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where AI-103 sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Recommended next after AI-103
A step up on a shared path
