decision faq
Which Microsoft certifications are retiring in 2026?
Direct answer
What to do
As checked August 28, Microsoft lists three certifications still scheduled to retire in 2026: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) and Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) on August 31, and Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert on November 30. Microsoft also lists ten role-based certifications that retired earlier in 2026. Finish an August 31 path only if you are already ready and can test by the deadline; otherwise check Microsoft's current credential options before buying material or a voucher.
Official sources: Microsoft credential retirement list
Finish the retiring path when
- You are already prepared and have a confirmed exam appointment before the published retirement deadline.
- The credential still matches work you do or a requirement you can name.
- You have checked how retirement affects earning, renewal, and your existing credential in Microsoft Learn.
Switch plans or recheck when
- You are only starting AZ-500 or PL-200 preparation with the August 31 deadline days away.
- Your realistic study or scheduling window extends beyond the published retirement date.
- You are relying on a remembered replacement map instead of Microsoft's current catalog and retirement page.
Reviewed 2026-08-28
Certification details change. Always confirm final pricing, availability, and credential terms on the official provider page linked in the sources below before you pay for anything.
Detailed evidence, examples, and source notes
As checked August 28, 2026, Microsoft lists three certifications still scheduled to retire in 2026: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) and Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) on August 31, and Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert on November 30. Microsoft also lists ten role-based certifications that retired earlier in 2026. If you are not already ready and scheduled for an August 31 exam, do not start that path now; check Microsoft's current credential options before buying material or a voucher.
Still scheduled to retire
| Retirement date | Certification | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2026 | Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) | Finish only if you are already prepared and can test by the deadline. Microsoft says you cannot earn or renew it after retirement. |
| August 31, 2026 | Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) | Do not begin a new study plan this late. Verify the live exam page and Microsoft's current credential options. |
| November 30, 2026 | Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102 path) | Continue only if the role, prerequisite, and remaining schedule still fit. Microsoft says the certification and related exam retire on this date. |
Already retired in 2026
Microsoft's current retirement page lists these role-based certifications as already retired:
- March 31: Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals.
- June 1: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate.
- June 30: Azure AI Engineer Associate; Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert; Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant Expert; Power Platform Solution Architect Expert; Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate; and Power Automate RPA Developer Associate.
- July 31: Azure Developer Associate and Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate.
If you already hold one
Microsoft says a certification earned or renewed before retirement remains in the Active Certifications section of your transcript until it expires, then moves to Historical Certifications. Check your own expiration and renewal eligibility in Microsoft Learn rather than assuming retirement immediately removes an earned credential.
Use the deadline as a decision boundary
A retirement date is not a reason to rush into an exam you are not ready to take. Finish a retiring path only when the certification still fits the work, your preparation is already credible, and you can secure an appointment before the deadline. Otherwise, use Microsoft's live retirement page and current credential catalog before choosing the replacement or buying training.
What we don't know
Microsoft says its scheduled-retirement list is subject to change. This page does not claim a replacement for every retired credential, a guaranteed exam appointment before a deadline, or that old course material maps cleanly to a successor. We checked the official retirement list and the three still-active credential or exam pages on 2026-08-28; verify them again before booking or paying.
Related
Core source records
This table lists the page’s core content records and when they were checked. Claim-specific citations appear beside the relevant text and may not be repeated here.
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Answer to: Which Microsoft certifications are retiring in 2026? | Microsoft - Credential retirement, read 2026-08-28 | 2026-08-28 |
| CIT-02 | Answer to: Which Microsoft certifications are retiring in 2026? | Microsoft - Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500), read 2026-08-28 | 2026-08-28 |
| CIT-03 | Answer to: Which Microsoft certifications are retiring in 2026? | Microsoft - Exam PL-200, read 2026-08-28 | 2026-08-28 |
| CIT-04 | Answer to: Which Microsoft certifications are retiring in 2026? | Microsoft - Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert, read 2026-08-28 | 2026-08-28 |