AI-103 Exam Guide: Developing AI Apps and Agents on Azure
AI-103 is Microsoft's exam for the Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate certification, the replacement for the retired AI-102 path. Here is what Microsoft Learn lists for the format, scoring, skills measured, retakes and renewal, with a study plan and three sample questions from our video.
Exam AI-103: Developing AI Apps and Agents on Azure is a proctored, 120-minute exam that may include interactive components. You need a scaled score of 700 or more on a 1 to 1,000 scale. Microsoft does not publish a question count. Implementing generative AI and agentic solutions is the largest skill area at 30 to 35%. The price varies by country and is shown when you schedule; Microsoft's FAQ says associate exams typically cost US$165.
AI-103 facts at a glance
| Time limit | 120 min: proctored; may include interactive components |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 700: scaled, on a 1 to 1,000 scale; not the same as 70% correct |
| Questions | Not published: some items may be unscored; there is no penalty for guessing |
| Price | Varies: shown at scheduling; Microsoft says associate exams typically cost US$165 |
| Level | Associate: intermediate; Python experience expected |
| Languages | 10: extra 30 minutes can be requested if yours isn't offered |
| Prerequisites | None listed: Azure AI Fundamentals is not required for associate certifications |
| Renewal | Every year: free, unproctored online assessment |
Checked against the official Microsoft page and the sources listed at the end of this page on 2026-10-26.
Watch: AI-103 video
AI-103 Exam 2026: Microsoft Azure AI Certification Guide, Skills Measured & Study Plan
AI-103 skills measured
Microsoft's study guide lists five skill areas, with weights given as ranges (skills measured as of April 16, 2026).
| Skill area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Plan and manage an Azure AI solution | 25–30% |
| Implement generative AI and agentic solutions | 30–35% |
| Implement computer vision solutions | 10–15% |
| Implement text analysis solutions | 10–15% |
| Implement information extraction solutions | 10–15% |
What AI-103 is and who it's for
Microsoft describes the candidate as an Azure AI engineer who builds, manages and deploys agents and AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry, with experience building apps in Python and familiarity with generative AI and Azure services.
Inside the two big areas, expect retrieval-augmented generation, agents with function calling, orchestration, evaluation, and security basics such as managed identity, content safety and responsible AI. Use the study guide's bullet lists as your checklist.
AI-103 vs AI-102 and AI-900
Microsoft announced that the Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) retired on June 30, 2026 and is replaced by the Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103). The AI-900 fundamentals exam also retired on June 30, 2026, replaced by AI-901.
A fundamentals certification is not a prerequisite for Azure role-based associate certifications, so you can go straight to AI-103.
Scoring, price and registration
Scores run from 1 to 1,000 and 700 passes. Microsoft scales scores, so 700 does not necessarily mean 70% of questions correct, and some questions may be unscored.
The price depends on the country or region where you test and is shown when you schedule; Microsoft's FAQ says associate exams typically cost US$165. You schedule through Pearson VUE from the certification page. Microsoft strongly recommends using a personal Microsoft account, because records tied to a work or school account can be lost if you leave the organization.
Microsoft offers a free practice assessment (sign-in required) and an exam sandbox where you can try the interface and question types before test day.
Retakes and renewal
If you don't pass, Microsoft's retake policy requires 24 hours before a second attempt and 14 days between later attempts, with at most five attempts in 12 months from your first. Each retake is paid where fees apply.
Associate certifications expire annually. You renew for free with an unproctored, open-book online assessment on Microsoft Learn during a six-month window before expiration.
A six-week AI-103 study plan
This is our planning estimate for someone who already codes in Python, not a Microsoft timeline.
- Weeks 1 and 2: planning and managing an Azure AI solution: models, deployments, security and responsible AI.
- Weeks 3 and 4: generative AI and agentic solutions, the largest area. Build a small retrieval app and a small agent in Foundry.
- Week 5: computer vision, text analysis and information extraction.
- Week 6: Microsoft's free practice assessment and the sandbox, then review every miss by skill area.
Three AI-103 style sample questions
These are the original sample questions from our AI-103 video. They are not from a Microsoft exam.
An app in Foundry must call a model deployment, and your company forbids storing keys in code or settings. Which approach fits best?
- A key in an environment variable
- Managed identity with a role assignment
- A shared key in a config file
- A key typed in at startup
Show answer
B. Managed identity with a role assignment
Managed identity gives keyless access, and the role assignment controls what the app may do. The other options all still involve handling a secret.
A support bot must answer from your product manuals, including exact product codes, and also handle questions worded in different ways. Which retrieval approach fits best?
- Keyword search only
- Fine-tuning on the manuals
- Vector search only
- Hybrid search
Show answer
D. Hybrid search
Hybrid search combines keyword matching for exact codes with vector search for meaning. Keyword search alone misses paraphrases, vector search alone can miss exact codes, and fine-tuning is a poor way to keep facts current.
An agent can issue refunds through a custom function, and the company wants a person to approve large refunds. What should you add?
- An approval step before the function runs
- A lower temperature setting
- Longer instructions that say be careful
- A larger token limit
Show answer
A. An approval step before the function runs
An approval step puts a human decision in front of a risky tool call. Temperature, wording and token limits don't enforce anything.
AI-103 FAQ
What is the AI-103 exam?
Exam AI-103: Developing AI Apps and Agents on Azure, the exam for the Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate certification.
What is the AI-103 passing score?
700 on a scale of 1 to 1,000. It is a scaled score, so it does not necessarily equal 70% of questions correct.
How many questions are on AI-103?
Microsoft does not publish a question count. It lists a 120-minute proctored exam that may include interactive components.
How much does AI-103 cost?
The price depends on your country or region and is shown when you schedule. Microsoft's FAQ says associate exams typically cost US$165.
Did AI-103 replace AI-102?
Yes. Microsoft announced that the Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) retired on June 30, 2026, replaced by the Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103).
How do I renew the AI-103 certification?
Associate certifications expire annually. Renew for free by passing an unproctored online assessment on Microsoft Learn in the six months before expiry.
Related practice and guides
Sources
Exam facts on this page were checked against these official pages on 2026-10-26.
- Microsoft Learn: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate
- Microsoft Learn: Study guide for Exam AI-103
- Microsoft Learn: Exam scoring and score reports
- Microsoft Learn: Exam retake policy
- Microsoft Learn: Renew your Microsoft Certification
- Microsoft Learn: Certification FAQ (pricing)
- Microsoft Learn: Exam AI-900 (retired)
- Microsoft Skills Hub Blog: The AI job boom is here
OpenExamHub is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with Microsoft or Pearson VUE. Microsoft and Azure are trademarks of Microsoft. The sample questions are original, not from a real exam. Exam details are set by Microsoft and can change; confirm them on Microsoft Learn before you schedule.