Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103)

No. Microsoft answers this question itself, as shown in the United States on 11 October 2026: "No. The only way to renew a Microsoft Certification is by passing the free, online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn."

That covers this credential. Its name ends in "Associate", and the AI-103 study guide says: "Microsoft associate, expert, and specialty certifications expire annually. You can renew by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn."

Routes that don't count. Microsoft's FAQ asks "Can I renew my certification by passing a beta exam or by retaking an exam before my certification expires?" and answers: "No. You must pass the renewal assessment for your certification on Microsoft Learn before your certification expires; no alternative paths are available to renew your certification. There are no exceptions to this policy." An expert certification and the associate certification it requires are renewed apart, too: "Each certification must be renewed separately by passing the associated renewal assessment."

How the one route works (as shown in the United States on 11 October 2026).

• When: "The renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn is only available once you're eligible six months before your certification expires (expiration dates and times are in UTC)."
• Cost: "Certification renewal is free to anyone with a valid Microsoft associate, specialty, and expert certification."
• Format: "Assessments focus on recent technological and industry updates, so they’re shorter than the original exam(s) and are open book." The FAQ adds: "Renewal assessments take about 45 minutes to complete." Microsoft points you to "the learning modules on the certification’s renewal page on Microsoft Learn" to prepare.
• Retakes: "There is no limit to renewal assessment retakes." "After the second try, you'll need to wait at least 24 hours between future attempts."
• Result: "Once you pass, your certification will be extended one year from the expiration date." The FAQ adds that the new date shows on your Learn profile immediately.

If it lapses. Microsoft's expiration policy: "After the Certification expires, you will no longer be able to renew that Certification and will need to re-earn the Certification by passing all the required exam(s)." For this credential that means exam AI-103 again, a paid exam: "Price based on the country or region in which the exam is proctored." The fee we observed, with its date, is in this page's facts and price section.

What we couldn't find. The FAQ limits renewal to certifications "that have been available for more than six months". The AI-103 pages we read on 11 October 2026 show "Skills measured as of April 16, 2026", but not the date the credential became available, so they don't tell us whether AI-103 has a renewal assessment yet. The renewal list the FAQ links to doesn't name it; that list was last updated on 27 November 2023, so its silence is bounded to that date.

What you can do.

1. Look for the button on your own profile. Microsoft's steps: "Sign into your Learn profile, select the photo avatar, and choose Profile from the dropdown menu. Choose Certifications inside the profile menu and look for the blue Renew button as you scroll through your certifications."
2. Don't wait for the last week. Microsoft's own advice: "We recommend taking the renewal assessment well before expiration to allow time for any unforeseen events, such as medical emergencies, technical issues, or multiple retakes."
3. If you're inside six months of expiry and see no Renew button, ask Microsoft through its credentials support forums: "My Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate certification expires on [date]. My Learn profile shows no Renew button. Is there a renewal assessment for it, and if not, how do I keep it active?"

The same renewal rule is summarized on our pages for exam AI-300 (https://academies.ai/programs/microsoft-ai-300/) and exam AB-100 (https://academies.ai/programs/microsoft-ab-100/).