AI-300: Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate
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Interactive Study Guide
Each module covers one exam topic with plain-English explanations, real-world scenarios, and built-in practice. Everything you need to understand and retain the material — no tab-switching required.
Domain 1: Design and Implement an MLOps Infrastructure ›
Domain 2: Implement Machine Learning Model Lifecycle and Operations ›
Domain 3: Design and Implement a GenAIOps Infrastructure ›
Domain 4: Implement Generative AI Quality Assurance and Observability ›
Domain 5: Optimize Generative AI Systems and Model Performance ›
Exam Resources
Official learning paths, exam details, skills measured, and community resources to supplement your study.
Exam Quick Facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | AI-300 |
| Title | Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate |
| Level | Associate |
| Pass Score | 700 / 1000 |
| Duration | 100 minutes |
| Questions | ~40-60 |
| Cost | $165 USD (varies by region) |
| Scheduling | Pearson VUE |
Study Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Exam Page | Microsoft Learn — AI-300 |
| Exam Sandbox | Try the exam interface |
Who is this exam for?
This Microsoft AI certification covers artificial intelligence concepts and Azure AI services. It tests your understanding of AI workloads, machine learning, and how to implement AI solutions using Azure. This is an associate-level exam that expects hands-on experience. You should have practical knowledge of the technologies covered.
Skills Measured
Skills measured have not been published yet for this beta exam. Check the official exam page for updates.
What to Study Next
Based on this exam, here are related certifications to consider:
- AI-200: Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate — Associate 🧪 Beta
- DP-100: Designing and Implementing a Data Science Solution on Azure — Associate ⚠️ Retiring
- AI-103: Azure AI App and Agent Developer Associate — Associate 🧪 Beta
Quick Links
Frequently asked questions
The AI-300 questions I get most — usually from people who held off on DP-100 and now want the new MLOps-focused exam instead.
Is AI-300 replacing DP-100? #
Is AI-300 still in beta? #
What's the difference between AI-300 and AI-200? #
How do I prepare for AI-300 if the skills list isn't published? #
Do I need DP-100 background to take AI-300? #
Compare AI-300 across AWS & Google Cloud → Cert Compass
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is AI-300 replacing DP-100?
Yes. AI-300 is the Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer Associate exam and replaces [DP-100](/cert-tracker/dp-100/), which Microsoft is retiring. If you were planning to take DP-100, switch to AI-300 — DP-100 results will renew into AI-300 anyway. AI-300 went into beta in March 2026 and is expected to GA later in 2026.
2. Is AI-300 still in beta?
Yes, AI-300 entered beta in March 2026 and Microsoft hasn't announced a GA date yet. Beta sittings are typically discounted to around $33 (80% off the GA price of $165). The credential and your score band carry over to GA when you pass — the only catch is the result wait, usually 4–6 weeks while the beta cohort completes.
3. What's the difference between AI-300 and AI-200?
[AI-200](/cert-tracker/ai-200/) is for back-end developers wiring AI into Azure apps — containers, Cosmos DB vectors, Service Bus, Key Vault. AI-300 is for MLOps engineers operating ML models end-to-end — training, deployment, monitoring, drift detection, retraining pipelines. AI-200 is about *integrating* AI services. AI-300 is about *running* ML models in production. Different jobs.
4. How do I prepare for AI-300 if the skills list isn't published?
Microsoft hasn't published the SC list yet, but the role is well-defined: MLOps Engineer Associate. Solid ground to cover: Azure ML pipelines, model registry, endpoints (real-time + batch), MLflow integration, Azure Monitor + Application Insights for models, responsible AI dashboards, and CI/CD for ML with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions. We'll refresh this page the moment the official skills measured drops.
5. Do I need DP-100 background to take AI-300?
Not formally — no exam is enforced as prerequisite. But the MLOps role assumes you can already build and train an ML model on Azure (the DP-100 / data scientist skill set). If model training is genuinely new, do an Azure ML fundamentals path first. If you already train models and just don't operate them in production, AI-300 is the right next step.