The short version
Take AB-620 first if you build agents in Copilot Studio and want a hands-on associate credential. Take AB-100 first only if you already hold a qualifying associate certification or plan to earn one soon, because the expert credential needs both. Take both if you want to move from builder to architect: Microsoft lists AB-620 among the associate certifications that qualify alongside AB-100. Facts below come from Microsoft Learn pages checked on October 22, 2026.
The two exams in one line each
AB-100 is the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect exam. It is about designing, governing, and deploying AI and agent solutions across Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Copilot Studio, and Microsoft Foundry.
AB-620 is the exam on designing and building integrated AI agent solutions in Copilot Studio. It is about building, extending, and connecting agents, then testing and managing them.
Think of AB-100 as “which design and why” and AB-620 as “how to build it and make it work”.
Side-by-side table
| Item | AB-100 | AB-620 |
|---|---|---|
| Credential | Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect Expert | AI Agent Builder Associate |
| Level | Expert | Intermediate, associate |
| Audience | Solution architects across several Microsoft services | Developers and advanced builders working in Copilot Studio |
| Main focus | Strategy, design, lifecycle, security, governance | Flows, topics, tools, knowledge, multi-agent, testing, ALM |
| Domains | Plan, Design, Deploy | Plan and configure; Integrate and extend; Test and manage |
| Weightings | From November 16, 2026: 35-40%, 30-35%, 20-25% (earlier outline: 25-30%, 25-30%, 40-45%) | 30-35%, 40-45%, 20-25% |
| Passing score | 700 of 1,000 | 700 of 1,000 |
| Time | Not published for AB-100 | 120 minutes, per Microsoft |
| Delivery | Proctored per Microsoft’s general rules; confirm at booking | Proctored, scheduled through Pearson VUE; may have interactive components |
| Languages | 13 | 13 |
| Prerequisite | Also needs one qualifying associate certification | None listed |
| Renewal | Yearly free assessment | Yearly free assessment |
| Planned change | English exam updates November 16, 2026 | None stated on pages we read |
The credential name for AB-620 is “AI Agent Builder Associate”. Microsoft’s general rule is that associate, expert, and specialty certifications expire unless renewed. Details are on the AB-100 renewal and retakes page.
Where they overlap
- Both name Microsoft Copilot Studio, Microsoft Foundry, and the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
- Both cover agent testing, application lifecycle management, and responsible use.
- Both mention multi-agent designs and the Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol in their profiles.
- Both are scored the same way: a scaled 700 passes.
If you study one, you will meet vocabulary for the other.
Where they differ
Depth versus breadth. AB-620 asks how a specific setting behaves: how a flow becomes a tool, how variables pass between topics, which evaluation method checks which behavior. AB-100 asks which approach fits a business case, including cost, build or buy, and governance.
Platforms. AB-620 stays inside Copilot Studio and what it connects to. AB-100 also covers Dynamics 365 apps, Microsoft 365 agents, and Power Platform AI features.
Weight on testing and ALM. AB-620 gives testing and management 20-25%. AB-100’s Deploy domain carried 40-45% in the earlier outline and moves to 20-25% from November 16, 2026.
Experience assumed. AB-620 expects you to have configured agents with knowledge sources, instructions, tools, and topics. AB-100 expects architecture-level experience across several products.
How to choose
- You build agents daily in Copilot Studio. Start with AB-620. It matches your work and counts toward the AB-100 credential.
- You are a Dynamics 365 or Power Platform consultant who designs, not builds. Check whether you already hold a qualifying associate certification from the list in the prerequisites page. If you do, AB-100 may be your next step.
- You hold no associate certification and want the expert credential. AB-620 is a sensible choice for the associate piece, as long as your work involves agents. Other listed associates may suit your role better.
- You are new to Copilot Studio. Learn the product first. Neither exam rewards reading alone. See our AB-100 hardness page.
- You want both. Microsoft does not say whether AB-100 can be taken before the associate exam, so confirm the order on its certification page. Many people would likely build first, then design, but that is our view, not Microsoft’s.
Time matters too. If your AB-100 date falls near or after November 16, 2026, follow the new outline. Our cheat sheet lists both versions of the weightings.
What each credential asks of you later
Both renew yearly through a free, open-book assessment, and each is renewed separately. Microsoft states that an expert certification does not expire automatically if its associate prerequisite does. You still must renew each one on its own date. That means holding both credentials gives you two dates to track.
More guides for AB-100
- AB-100 Exam Format, Scoring and Retakes
- AB-100 Study Plan: 4-Week and 8-Week
- AB-100 Domains Explained: Plan, Design, Deploy
- AB-100 Sample Questions With Answers
- Is AB-100 Worth It? An Honest Look
Next step
Read the AB-100 overview and the AB-620 overview side by side, then pick the one that matches your role. When you want to test your readiness, we have original sets for both: AB-100 practice tests and AB-620 practice tests. For the vendor’s own details, see the AB-100 exam page.
Frequently asked questions
Is AB-620 harder than AB-100?
They are hard in different ways. AB-620 tests how features behave, and AB-100 tests design judgment. Which is harder depends on your background.
Does AB-620 count toward the AB-100 credential?
Microsoft lists AB-620 among the associate certifications that qualify. You must still pass AB-100.
Can I skip AB-620 and take another associate exam?
Yes. Microsoft lists several other qualifying associates, including Power Platform and Dynamics 365 ones.
Which one has more questions?
Microsoft does not publish a question count for either. Its general range is 40 to 60.