AI-900 vs AI-102: Which Microsoft AI Certification Should You Choose?

The short answer: AI-900 is for understanding AI concepts (everyone), while AI-102 is for building AI solutions (developers). Choose AI-900 if you want to speak intelligently about artificial intelligence in business settings. Choose AI-102 if you're ready to code production-grade AI applications in Python or C#.

With over 82% of New Zealand businesses now using AI in some capacity according to research from NewZealand.AI, understanding this technology is no longer optional. The government's first AI Strategy, released in July 2025, projects that AI could add NZ$76 billion to the economy by 2038 according to highly regarded government research from MBIE. These certifications offer two different paths into this growing field.

What is the AI-900 certification and who is it designed for?

The Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900) certification validates your foundational knowledge of machine learning and AI concepts, along with related Microsoft Azure services. It costs approximately $99 USD and requires no programming experience or technical prerequisites.

This certification suits you if you're a:

• Business professional wanting to make informed AI decisions

• Project manager working with technical teams

• Marketing specialist exploring AI-powered tools

• Career changer curious about the AI industry

• Student building foundational tech knowledge

Microsoft's official certification page describes AI-900 as intended for candidates with "both technical and non-technical backgrounds" and specifically states that "data science and software engineering experience are not required" according to Microsoft Learn.

The exam covers five key domains:

• Describing AI workloads and considerations (15-20%)

• Fundamental machine learning principles on Azure (15-20%)

• Computer vision workloads on Azure (15-20%)

• Natural Language Processing workloads on Azure (15-20%)

• Generative AI workloads on Azure (15-20%)

The 2025 exam update places particular emphasis on Azure OpenAI Service, GPT models, and responsible AI practices, reflecting the explosion of generative AI in business applications.

What is the AI-102 certification and what skills does it validate?

The Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) certification proves you can design, implement, and deploy AI solutions using Azure AI services, Azure AI Search, and Azure OpenAI. The exam costs approximately $165 USD and requires hands-on coding experience.

According to the official study guide from Microsoft Learn, candidates should "have experience developing solutions that use languages such as Python or C#" and "be able to use Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs and SDKs to build secure image processing, video processing, natural language processing, knowledge mining, and generative AI solutions on Azure."

This certification targets:

• Software developers building AI-powered applications

• Machine learning engineers operationalising models

• Data engineers integrating AI into pipelines

• Solutions architects designing AI infrastructure

• Technical leads overseeing AI implementation

The AI-102 exam domains reflect production-level complexity:

• Plan and manage an Azure AI solution (25-30%)

• Implement decision support solutions (10-15%)

• Implement Azure AI Vision solutions (15-20%)

• Implement natural language processing solutions (25-30%)

• Implement generative AI solutions (10-15%)

A passing score of 700 out of 1000 is required, and the certification must be renewed annually.

How do the exam difficulty and preparation time compare?

AI-900 typically requires two to four weeks of preparation for candidates with basic technology familiarity. You can complete it alongside a full-time job by studying for an hour or two each evening. Microsoft's free learning paths on Microsoft Learn provide all the material needed to pass.

AI-102 demands significantly more preparation. Most candidates report needing eight to twelve weeks of focused study, with extensive hands-on lab time according to exam preparation resources from PassITExams. Unlike AI-900's conceptual multiple-choice format, AI-102 expects you to understand implementation details at the code level.

The 2025 exam objectives for AI-102 focus heavily on Azure AI Foundry (formerly Azure AI Studio), agentic AI solutions, and Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) patterns. Candidates without current Python or C# experience should factor in additional time for programming fundamentals.

Feature	AI-900 (Fundamentals)	AI-102 (Engineer Associate)
Target Audience	Business professionals, managers, career explorers	Software developers, ML engineers, solutions architects
Exam Cost (USD)	$99	$165
Prerequisites	None required	Python or C# coding experience
Typical Preparation Time	2-4 weeks	8-12 weeks
Difficulty Level	Beginner-friendly	Intermediate to advanced
Coding Required	No	Yes (Python/C#)
Certification Validity	Lifetime (no expiry)	Annual renewal required
Focus	Understanding AI concepts and use cases	Building and deploying AI solutions
Key Topics	ML concepts, computer vision, NLP, responsible AI, generative AI basics	Azure AI services, SDKs, APIs, RAG patterns, agentic AI, production deployment
Passing Score	700/1000	700/1000
NZ Career Relevance	Essential AI literacy for any professional	Direct path to AI Engineer roles (avg. NZ$147k)

What career opportunities does each certification unlock in New Zealand?

AI-900 opens doors to roles where AI understanding enhances your primary function rather than defining it. You'll find it valuable for positions such as:

• Business analyst with AI literacy

• Digital transformation consultant

• Product manager for AI-enabled products

• Technology sales representative

• Innovation lead within traditional industries

AI-102 qualifies you for dedicated technical roles in the AI space. Salary data from ERI Economic Research Institute indicates that AI Engineers in New Zealand earn an average of NZ$147,064 annually, with entry-level positions (1-3 years experience) starting around NZ$100,000 and senior roles (8+ years) reaching NZ$176,000 or higher.

Glassdoor NZ reports similar figures, showing AI Engineer salaries averaging around NZ$169,000 with top earners exceeding NZ$175,000.

Machine Learning Engineers command strong salaries as well, with ERI reporting an average of NZ$155,077 annually.

Technical roles suited to AI-102 holders include:

• Junior AI Engineer

• Azure AI Solutions Developer

• Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer

• Conversational AI Developer

• Computer Vision Specialist

Can AI-900 serve as a stepping stone to AI-102?

Yes, though it's not a prerequisite. Microsoft explicitly states that "Azure AI Fundamentals can be used to prepare for other Azure role-based certifications like Azure Data Scientist Associate or Azure AI Engineer Associate, but it's not a prerequisite for any of them."

The strategic value of starting with AI-900 lies in building confidence and vocabulary. If you're transitioning from a non-technical background, AI-900 helps you understand what AI actually is before diving into how to build it. This foundation makes the AI-102 content less overwhelming when you eventually tackle it.

For experienced developers already comfortable with Python or C#, skipping directly to AI-102 makes sense. The fundamentals content might feel redundant if you've already worked with APIs and cloud services.

A practical pathway for career changers:

1. Complete AI-900 to validate basic AI literacy (2-4 weeks)

2. Build Python fundamentals if needed (4-8 weeks)

3. Pursue AI-102 when ready for implementation (8-12 weeks)

4. Consider Azure Data Scientist Associate (DP-100) for specialisation

What is the total investment required for each certification?

AI-900 costs approximately $99 USD for the exam. With free Microsoft Learn modules providing comprehensive preparation, your only additional cost might be a practice test (around $50-100) if you want extra confidence before sitting the exam.

AI-102 costs approximately $165 USD for the exam. Preparation costs tend to be higher because hands-on labs require Azure subscription credits (though free tiers often suffice for learning), and many candidates invest in paid courses from platforms like Udemy or Pluralsight ($50-300).

Both certifications offer potential discounts through:

• Student verification (academic pricing available)

• Microsoft Virtual Training Days (sometimes include free exam vouchers)

• Employer sponsorship programmes

• Enterprise Skills Initiative (check with your organisation)

The Fundamentals certifications (including AI-900) do not expire, providing lifetime validation of that credential. Associate-level certifications like AI-102 require annual renewal through a free online assessment.

How does the New Zealand job market value these certifications?

New Zealand's AI adoption rates have accelerated dramatically. According to the comprehensive analysis from NewZealand.AI, business AI usage jumped from 48% in 2023 to 82-87% in 2025. Among large enterprises with over 200 employees, adoption reaches 92%.

This surge creates demand at both ends of the certification spectrum. Organisations need technically proficient AI engineers (AI-102 territory), but they equally need business professionals who can evaluate AI solutions, communicate with technical teams, and make informed purchasing decisions (AI-900 territory).

The government's investment in AI capability reflects this dual need. Budget 2025 allocated $213 million for tuition and training subsidies, with $64 million specifically for STEM and priority skills according to research published by NewZealand.AI.

Highly regarded government resource business.govt.nz notes that the AI Strategy "encourages businesses to explore AI tools that can save time and improve efficiency." Microsoft has committed to upskilling 100,000 New Zealanders to take advantage of the digital economy by 2027, signalling strong institutional support for AI credentials.

Which certification should you choose based on your current role?

Choose AI-900 if you:

• Work in business, marketing, sales, or management

• Need to evaluate AI tools and vendors for your organisation

• Want to communicate effectively with technical AI teams

• Are exploring whether AI is the right career direction

• Have no programming background and want to test the waters

Choose AI-102 if you:

• Write code professionally in Python, C#, or similar languages

• Build applications that will incorporate AI capabilities

• Work as a software developer, data engineer, or solutions architect

• Want to specialise in AI/ML engineering roles

• Have hands-on experience with cloud platforms and APIs

Consider both (AI-900 first, then AI-102) if you:

• Are career switching from non-technical to technical roles

• Want comprehensive credentialing across the AI spectrum

• Need to demonstrate both strategic understanding and implementation capability

• Are building a consulting practice around AI services

How do I prepare for these exams in New Zealand?

For AI-900, Microsoft Learn provides a free, structured learning path that covers all exam objectives. Plan for 10-15 hours of study time spread across two to four weeks. The content is self-paced and accessible from any device.

For AI-102, preparation demands more structure:

1. Complete Microsoft Learn modules covering all five exam domains

2. Build practical projects using Azure AI services (free tier accounts available)

3. Review official documentation for Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, and related services

4. Practice with sample code from Microsoft's GitHub repositories

5. Take a practice assessment to identify knowledge gaps

Both exams can be taken online from home through Pearson VUE proctoring, with sessions available at convenient times for New Zealand candidates.

Take your first step into AI certification

The demand for AI-literate professionals in New Zealand has never been higher. Whether you choose AI-900 to enhance your business acumen or AI-102 to build production AI systems, you're investing in skills that align with the country's economic priorities.

The Microsoft Certified Fundamentals bundle from NZIQ includes comprehensive learning materials through LearnKey, GMetrix practice tests to build exam confidence, and your exam voucher with a retake included. This combination gives you everything needed to earn your certification, with the safety net of a second attempt if needed.

Explore our Microsoft certification bundles to find the right starting point for your AI career.