After You Pass: Which AI Certifications Expire and What Renewal Costs

This guide compares AWS Certified AI Practitioner, AWS Machine Learning Engineer - Associate, Google Cloud Generative AI Leader, Microsoft AI-901, Microsoft AI-103, NVIDIA NCA-GENL, and Databricks Generative AI Engineer Associate. See also vendor AI certifications compared, certificate costs, and registration rules.

Expiry and renewal at a glance

Across the table below, 6 certifications carry a stated validity period of 1, 2, or 3 years, while 1 certification, Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901), does not expire, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Only 1 provider in this comparison, Microsoft, states that its renewal is free.

In the last column, "the exam again" means recertification is by retaking or taking the current exam, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Compare AWS AIF-C01 vs Google Generative AI Leader, NVIDIA NCA-GENL vs Databricks Generative AI Engineer Associate, and Microsoft AI-901 vs AWS AIF-C01.

AWS: 3 years, then the latest exam again

AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) and AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C01) are each valid for 3 years, with initial exam fees of 100 USD and 150 USD, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Holders recertify before expiry and can access a 50% exam discount voucher.

The AIF-C01 exam page lists 100 USD per attempt for a 90-minute, 65-question exam and points to an exam pricing page for other currencies, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Before its 3-year validity ends, holders recertify by passing the latest AIF-C01 exam or earning AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate, which automatically recertifies it.

AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate is valid for 3 years and recertified before expiry by passing the latest exam version, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Its page lists MLA-C01 at 150 USD (130 minutes, 65 questions) beside beta exam ME1-C02 at 75 USD beta pricing (170 minutes, 85 questions); 75 USD applies only to ME1-C02.

AWS states that renewing an active certification adds 3 more years, while maintaining adds 1 more year where listed on its per-exam table, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Validity extends from completion, so retaking an exam adds 3 years from that exam date. Holders recertify every 3 years and pay the full registration fee per attempt; separately, recertifying or upgrading grants a 50% discount voucher on additional exams in the AWS Certification Account Benefits section.

Google Cloud: 3 years for Generative AI Leader, with a renewal window

Google Cloud Generative AI Leader costs $99 plus tax where applicable for a 90-minute exam and remains valid for 3 years, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Certified holders receive a 50% off renewal discount code upon initial certification and can renew within the renewal eligibility period.

Alongside Generative AI Leader ($99 plus tax where applicable, 90 minutes, 3-year validity), the Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer page lists a $200 registration fee (plus tax where applicable) and renewal within the renewal eligibility period, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026.

Google Cloud holders can renew by taking a shorter renewal exam where available or the standard certification exam, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Renewal cost varies by exam, a 50% off renewal discount code is received on initial certification, and passing a beta exam counts toward renewal for an already certified holder.

Google Cloud's continuing-education renewal lets eligible holders extend validity by 1 year through designated learning instead of testing, with a window opening 1 year before inactivity, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026; the named eligible certifications are Cloud Digital Leader, Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect, and Professional Data Engineer (Generative AI Leader and Professional Machine Learning Engineer are not in that named list). Google Cloud sends notifications 180 or 90 days before expiry, depending on the certification, then every 30 days until the certification is renewed or expired. It separately allows renewal up to 30 days after the inactive date while keeping the Series ID.

Microsoft: free yearly renewal, fundamentals never expire

Microsoft role-based associate, expert, and specialty certifications are valid for 1 year, whereas Microsoft fundamentals certifications do not expire, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Holders of valid expiring credentials renew for free through an unproctored online assessment on Microsoft Learn taking about 45 minutes.

Under Microsoft's expiration policy, role-based (associate and expert) and specialty certifications last 1 year from when all requirements are met, while fundamentals do not expire, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (exam AI-901) is the 1 certification in the table that does not expire, whereas AI-103 (Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate) lasts 1 year. Both pages state pricing is by country or region where proctored, with no US figure shown.

Microsoft is the 1 provider here that states its renewal is free: for valid associate, specialty, and expert certifications, the only route is the free online assessment on Microsoft Learn, available six months before expiry with unlimited retakes and taking about 45 minutes, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Passing that unproctored assessment adds 1 year from the expiration date. A beta exam or exam retake is not a renewal route, and expired certifications must be re-earned by passing the required exams.

NVIDIA and Databricks: 2 years, then the exam again

Both NVIDIA-Certified Associate Generative AI LLMs (NCA-GENL), priced at $125, and Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate, priced at $200, are valid for 2 years, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. For both, holders recertify by taking the exam again.

NVIDIA states on its certification hub FAQ that its certifications are valid for 2 years, after which the exam must be retaken to recertify, and an expired certification also requires passing the exam again, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. NCA-GENL lists a 1-hour exam, $125 price, 50 to 60 multiple-choice questions, and 2-year validity from issuance.

Databricks states that a certification is valid for 2 years from the award date, holders are notified in advance, and recertifying requires taking the full current live exam, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate lists a $200 registration fee, 90 minutes, 45 scored questions, and 2-year validity.

Hidden costs and failure points

The two risks to plan for are the renewal deadline and the fee for each exam attempt, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. While Google Cloud allows renewal up to 30 days after an inactive date, AWS requires an active credential to renew and Microsoft requires lapsed holders to re-earn by exam.

• Active-only renewal at AWS: A certification must be active to renew for 3 more years, and time extends from completion, so retaking an exam adds 3 years from that exam date, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026.
• Full fee per AWS attempt: AWS charges the full registration fee for each exam attempt, stated separately from the 50% discount voucher in the AWS Certification Account Benefits section.
• Hard Microsoft lapse: Once a 1-year Microsoft certification expires, it can no longer be renewed online and must be re-earned by passing the required exams.
• Google Cloud 30-day grace and variable pricing: Google Cloud allows renewal up to 30 days after the inactive date to keep the Series ID, and exam renewal cost varies by exam alongside the 50% off renewal discount code.

FAQ

Across the 6 expiring AI certifications and 1 non-expiring fundamentals exam in the table above, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026, renewal rules vary by provider tier and deadline. The 4 questions below summarize how expiration clocks, free online assessments, discount codes, and exam retakes work.

Does AWS Certified AI Practitioner expire?

Yes. AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) is valid for 3 years, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Before the certification expires, the holder can recertify through one of two routes stated on the exam page: passing the latest version of the AIF-C01 exam, or earning the AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate certification, which automatically recertifies AIF-C01.

Is renewing a Microsoft certification free?

Yes, for valid associate, specialty, and expert certifications, which are valid for 1 year, while Microsoft fundamentals certifications do not expire, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. The only renewal route is the free online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn, available starting six months before expiry, taking about 45 minutes, with no limit on retakes before the credential expires.

What happens when an NVIDIA or Databricks certification expires?

Both NVIDIA and Databricks certifications are valid for 2 years, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. NVIDIA states that after 2 years the exam must be retaken to recertify, and an expired certification also requires passing the exam again. Databricks states that holders are notified in advance and recertifying means taking the full current live exam.

What does Google Cloud renewal cost?

Google Cloud states that exam renewal cost varies by exam, whether you take a shorter renewal exam where available or the standard certification exam, and holders receive a 50% off renewal discount code upon initial certification, as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Separately, four named certifications (Cloud Digital Leader, Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect, and Professional Data Engineer) can renew through designated learning activities that add 1 year of validity.

Sources

The 16 official provider pages listed below support all facts and figures for the 6 expiring certifications and 1 non-expiring fundamentals exam compared in this guide, each as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026. Every link points directly to the vendor's published certification or policy page.

1. AWS Recertification (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
2. AWS Certified AI Practitioner (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
3. AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
4. AWS Certification FAQs (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
5. Google Cloud Generative AI Leader (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
6. Google Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
7. Google Cloud Certification Renewal Options (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
8. Microsoft Certification Renewal FAQ (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
9. Renew Your Microsoft Certification (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
10. Microsoft Credential Expiration Policy (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
11. Exam AI-901: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
12. Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
13. NVIDIA Certification Hub and FAQ (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
14. NVIDIA-Certified Associate Generative AI LLMs (NCA-GENL) (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
15. Databricks Certification FAQ (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)
16. Databricks Certified Generative AI Engineer Associate (as shown in the United States on 21 October 2026)

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Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. See the editorial policy.

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