Microsoft 365 Administrator (MS-102) closes on November 30, 2026: what to take instead

By Alexander Shick · Updated November 5, 2026

From tenant hub to Copilot and agents: who the two credentials describe

Microsoft describes the MS-102 candidate as “the integrating hub for all Microsoft 365 workloads”, with functional experience of every workload and Microsoft Entra ID and working knowledge of networking, Active Directory Domain Services, DNS and PowerShell. AB-650 keeps the tenant, identity and security work and adds the governance of Microsoft 365 Copilot, agents and connected AI services. Microsoft expects AB-650 candidates to know Microsoft 365 workloads and Entra ID, understand Defender XDR and be familiar with Microsoft Graph PowerShell.

MS-102 and AB-650 side by side

Eligibility. The MS-102 exam has no eligibility rule, but the expert certification only appears once you also hold a qualifying associate. Microsoft's certification page lists four (Endpoint Administrator, Teams Administrator, Identity and Access Administrator and Information Security Administrator); the exam page and study guide list only the first three, so check your Learn profile before you book. AB-650 has no prerequisite: Microsoft lists it as the only exam for its associate certification. Experience expectations for both are recommendations, not entry rules.

Format. Both need 700 to pass, and both are proctored role-based exams on which you can open Microsoft Learn. Microsoft does not print a length on either exam page; its policy gives associate and expert exams 100 minutes, or 120 when they contain labs. MS-102 runs in seven languages; AB-650 runs in English only. The current MS-102 outline dates from April 28, 2026.

* MS-102 weights are from Microsoft's study guide, which dates its outline April 28, 2026. The MS-102 exam page, read the same day, lists different weights: tenant 10–15%, identity 25–30%, Defender XDR 35–40% and Purview 15–20%. We use the dated study guide; whichever is right, security and identity together make up more than half of the exam.

More than a third of AB-650 is about AI services, so time spent on Copilot settings, agent identities and data access controls counts for more than it did on MS-102.

Studying for AB-650 while the materials are new

Microsoft Learn has three free AB-650 learning paths of 5, 5 and 7 modules. The official instructor-led course is AB-650T00, Administer Microsoft 365 and AI services, listed at 3 days; Microsoft says it becomes available on November 13, 2026. The AB-650 Practice Assessment is not out yet: Microsoft says practice assessments arrive within about 8 weeks of an exam leaving beta, and the exam sandbox shows the question formats in the meantime. Practice in a test tenant where you can switch Copilot and agent settings on and off. The MS-102T00 course still exists as a 5-day listing, but neither ONLC nor Global Knowledge listed any MS-102 class dates when we checked.

AB-650 prices, from free paths to a three-day class

Beyond the table: a failed attempt is paid again at the full fee, with a 24-hour wait before the second attempt and 14 days between later ones, up to five in 12 months. Microsoft's Exam Replay bundles an exam with one retake, but its price did not appear on the page we read. Renewal of AB-650 is free.

Before you book an AB-650 class

• Is the voucher in the price? None of the three classes in our table lists an exam voucher, so add $165 to each.
• Which courseware will it use? Microsoft's AB-650T00 course goes live on November 13, 2026. Ask whether the class teaches that official course or the provider's own material.
• Recordings and labs. Interface Technical Training lists labs and class recordings. Ask ONLC and Global Knowledge whether they give you a lab tenant with Copilot licensing, and for how long.
• Dates. ONLC's first class runs December 9 to 11, 2026; the other two list January 2027 as their first dates.

Renewal before and after the retirement

Associate and expert certifications expire after a year and renew through a free, open-book online assessment during a six-month window before expiry. For MS-102 that ends with the retirement: Microsoft says you cannot renew the Administrator Expert after November 30, 2026, and an earned certification stays active until its expiry date, then moves to the historical section of your transcript. AB-650 renews on the normal yearly cycle at no cost.

For IT teams with several Microsoft 365 admins

Anyone on your team who holds the Administrator Expert keeps it until it expires, so there is no rush to replace it. Plan new certifications around AB-650, and check whether your Microsoft agreement includes exam vouchers or training days before paying list price.

MS-102 questions after the retirement notice

Can I still take MS-102?

Yes, until 11:59 PM Central Standard Time on November 30, 2026. The expert title also needs a qualifying associate certification held by that date, so the exam alone is not enough.

Is my Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert still valid?

Yes, until its current expiry date. You cannot renew it after November 30, 2026.

Does AB-650 need a prerequisite?

No. It is the only exam for the Microsoft 365 and AI Services Administrator Associate.

How much is AB-650?

$165 in the US as of November 2026, the same as MS-102.

Next step

If you are deciding between a last MS-102 attempt and AB-650 for yourself or your team, send us the details.

Ask for help choosing MS-102 or AB-650 training