IT Certification Exam Retirements and Replacements: AWS, Microsoft and CompTIA Tracker (October 2026)
Last checked: 2026-10-10
As of October 10, 2026, eight of the exams we cover have announced retirement dates in the next 12 months. The closest is Microsoft PL-400, which stops taking new registrations on October 16. Below is every one of them in a single table, with the last day to test, the replacement exam and a link to the vendor's own announcement. We re-check these pages whenever we audit our exam catalog; dates do move, so confirm on the vendor page before you book.
Exams retiring in the next 12 months
| Exam | Last day to test | Replacement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer | October 30, 2026, only if you registered by October 16 | AB-400 (available from October 16, 2026) | Microsoft Learn |
| SAP-C02 AWS Solutions Architect – Professional | November 16, 2026 | SAP-C03 (GA November 17, 2026) | AWS |
| DVA-C02 AWS Developer – Associate | November 30, 2026 | DVA-C03 (GA December 1, 2026) | AWS |
| MS-102 Microsoft 365 Administrator | November 30, 2026 | None announced | Microsoft Learn |
| CS0-003 CompTIA CySA+ V3 | December 22, 2026 (English); March 23, 2027 (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish) | CySA+ V4, CS0-004 (available now) | CompTIA |
| ANS-C01 AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty | December 31, 2026 | None announced | AWS |
| MLA-C01 AWS Machine Learning Engineer – Associate | January 14, 2027 (English ended September 28, 2026; Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese until January 14) | MLA-C02 (beta since September 29, 2026; GA January 14, 2027) | AWS |
| SY0-701 CompTIA Security+ V7 | June 11, 2027 (English); August 13, 2027 (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai) | Security+ V8, SY0-801 (CompTIA says it is coming in November) | CompTIA |
What to do if your exam is on this list
- Check the registration cutoff, not only the last test date. PL-400 is the trap here: the exam runs until October 30, but only for people who registered by October 16.
- More than halfway through your prep and able to book in time? Finish the old exam. Study material is mature and the certification stays valid for its full term.
- Just starting? Study for the replacement. For AWS the two versions test the same role, so most of your work carries over; read the new exam guide for what changed.
- Holding the certification already? Nothing happens to it. For Microsoft, renew before the certification itself retires if your renewal window is open, because you can't renew afterwards.
Retired in 2026
These exams can no longer be taken. Where the vendor or the new exam's page names a successor, it's listed.
| Exam | Retired | Successor |
|---|---|---|
| MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals | March 31, 2026 | — |
| DP-100 Azure Data Scientist Associate | June 1, 2026 | AI-300 (Machine Learning Operations Engineer) |
| AI-102 Azure AI Engineer Associate | June 30, 2026 | AI-103 (Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer) |
| AI-900 Azure AI Fundamentals | June 30, 2026 | AI-901 (same certification) |
| PL-500, PL-600, MB-240, MB-335, MB-700 | June 30, 2026 | — |
| AZ-204 Azure Developer Associate | July 31, 2026 | AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer) |
| MB-280 Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst | July 31, 2026 | — |
| AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer Associate | August 31, 2026 | SC-500 (Cloud and AI Security Engineer) |
| PL-200 Power Platform Functional Consultant | August 31, 2026 | — |
| AZ-800 and AZ-801 Windows Server Hybrid Administrator | September 30, 2026 | AZ-802 (Administering Windows Server) |
Source: Microsoft's exam retirement list (updated September 30, 2026). For the background on the Microsoft changes, see our breakdown of the 2026 Microsoft retirement wave.
New exams launched in 2026
| Exam | Vendor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AB-400 Power Platform Developer Associate | Microsoft | Available from October 16, 2026 (replaces PL-400) |
| MLA-C02 Machine Learning Engineer – Associate | AWS | Beta since September 29, 2026; GA January 14, 2027 |
| AIB-C01 AI Business Strategist | AWS | Beta since September 29, 2026 |
| CS0-004 CySA+ V4 | CompTIA | Launched June 23, 2026 |
| AT0-001 AutoOps+ | CompTIA | Launched June 2, 2026 |
| CY0-001 SecAI+ | CompTIA | Launched February 17, 2026 |
| SC-500 Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate | Microsoft | Available (replaced AZ-500) |
| AI-103 Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer | Microsoft | Available (replaced AI-102) |
| AB-410 Intelligent Applications Builder Associate | Microsoft | Available |
| AB-210, AB-250, AB-620, AB-650, AI-500 | Microsoft | New AI-focused exams; some still in beta |
Sources: AWS September 2026 certification updates, CompTIA certification catalog, Microsoft credentials browser. Google Cloud's retirement policy page lists no upcoming exam retirements.
How we keep this page current
We re-read each vendor's retirement pages when we audit the exams we cover, and update this page and the date in its title when anything changes. Last checked: October 10, 2026. If you spot a date that has moved, the contact page reaches us directly.
Frequently asked questions
When does PL-400 retire?
Registration for PL-400 closes on October 16, 2026, when AB-400 opens. Candidates who register for PL-400 on or before October 16 can still take it until October 30, 2026. The certification (Power Platform Developer Associate) stays the same; AB-400 is its new exam.
What replaces AWS SAP-C02 and DVA-C02?
SAP-C03 replaces SAP-C02: the last day to take SAP-C02 is November 16, 2026 and SAP-C03 becomes generally available on November 17, 2026. DVA-C03 replaces DVA-C02: the last day for DVA-C02 is November 30, 2026 and DVA-C03 is available from December 1, 2026. Registration for both new exams opens on October 27, 2026.
Is MS-102 being replaced?
Microsoft lists MS-102 (Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert) as retiring on November 30, 2026. As of October 10, 2026 its retirement list names no direct replacement exam.
When does CompTIA CySA+ CS0-003 retire?
The English CS0-003 exam (CySA+ V3) retires on December 22, 2026. The Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish versions retire on March 23, 2027. CySA+ V4 (CS0-004) is already available.
Does my certification expire when its exam retires?
No. A certification you have already earned stays valid for its normal period. Microsoft keeps it on your transcript, AWS keeps it active for its standard three years, and CompTIA certifications don't name the exam version. What you lose is the chance to earn it through the old exam, and for Microsoft, the option to renew once the certification itself retires.