The short version
Choose by cloud, not by difficulty. Take AIF-C01 if your work runs on AWS, and AI-901 if it runs on Microsoft Azure. If you have no platform yet, AIF-C01 suits you better when you want concepts and decision-making, and AI-901 suits you better when you want to build small things with some Python. Take both only if you work across both clouds. One difference worth knowing right away: the AWS credential lasts three years, while Microsoft says its fundamentals credentials do not expire.
Side by side
| AIF-C01 (AWS) | AI-901 (Microsoft) | |
|---|---|---|
| Credential | AWS AI Practitioner | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals |
| Level | Foundational | Fundamentals; beginning of a career in AI solution development |
| Audience | Users of AI/ML on AWS who do not necessarily build it | Aspiring AI solution developers |
| Coding | Out of scope: developing models and building pipelines | Python syntax and programming techniques expected |
| Content split | 5 domains: AI/ML 20%, GenAI 24%, Foundation Model applications 28%, Responsible AI 14%, Security and governance 14% | 2 domains: AI concepts and capabilities 40-45%, AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry 55-60% |
| Format | 65 questions (50 scored), 90 minutes, four question types | Question count not published for this exam; Microsoft lists 45 minutes for fundamentals exams |
| Passing score | 700 of 1,000 | 700 of 1,000 |
| Languages | 12 listed (Italian and German retired after October 15, 2026) | 13 listed |
| Validity | 3 years | Does not expire |
| Retakes | 14 calendar days, no attempt limit | 24 hours, then 14 days, at most five in 12 months |
| Status | Current, guide version 1.2 (October 29, 2026) | Current; replaced AI-900, which retired June 30, 2026 |
Facts checked on the AWS and Microsoft pages on October 22, 2026; the AIF-C01 guide version was updated on October 29, 2026. Fees are not listed here because both vendors price by country.
What each exam is about
AIF-C01 is a “which tool and why” exam. It covers AI and ML basics, generative AI, choosing and customizing foundation models, responsible AI, and security and governance, all through AWS services such as Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker AI. You do not build anything; you decide.
AI-901 is half concepts and half building. The concepts part covers responsible AI principles, how generative models work, and AI workloads such as text analysis, speech, and vision. The larger part is about implementing solutions with Microsoft Foundry: deploying models, writing prompts, creating agents, and calling services from small apps. Microsoft says you should be familiar with REST APIs, SDKs, and CLIs.
Where they overlap
- Core ideas: models, prompts, generative AI, responsible use, and the limits of AI.
- Entry level: neither expects deep experience.
- Same pass mark number on a 1 to 1,000 scale, though each vendor scales its own exam, so scores do not compare.
- Both reward knowing what a service is for, not memorizing screens.
Where they differ
- Cloud and vocabulary. Service names, portals, and pricing ideas differ. Amazon Bedrock and Microsoft Foundry play similar roles, but you cannot swap one for the other on an exam.
- Hands-on weight. AI-901 puts 55-60% of its weight on implementation. AIF-C01 keeps building out of scope.
- Governance depth. AIF-C01 gives responsible AI and security a combined 28%, including AWS tools for access, logging, and compliance.
- Lifespan. An AIF-C01 renewal means a new pass every three years. AI-901 has no renewal. See renewal and retakes.
How to choose
- Your employer, client, or project is on AWS: AIF-C01.
- It is on Azure or Microsoft 365 with Foundry: AI-901.
- You have no platform and no coding background: AIF-C01 is the gentler start, because it does not ask you to read code.
- You have some Python and want to build: AI-901 gives you more hands-on content.
- You work across both clouds: take the one you use most first, then the other. Much of the vocabulary carries over.
Is one harder?
Neither exam publishes pass rates we could cite. AIF-C01 is harder if you lack AWS vocabulary and trip on neighboring services. AI-901 is harder if you have never read code. Our difficulty pages say more: is AIF-C01 hard and is AI-901 hard.
More guides for AIF-C01
- AIF-C01 Exam Format, Scoring and Retakes
- AIF-C01 Study Plan: 4-Week and 8-Week
- AIF-C01 Domains Explained With Weightings
- AIF-C01 Sample Questions With Answers
- AIF-C01 Prerequisites and Experience
- Is AIF-C01 Worth It? An Honest Look
- AIF-C01 Cheat Sheet: Key Facts to Review
- AIF-C01 vs MLA-C02: Which First?
Next step
Open both overviews, AIF-C01 and AI-901, then check the vendor pages: AWS AIF-C01 exam guide and Microsoft AI-901 page. Practice sets: AIF-C01 practice tests and AI-901 practice tests.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take AI-901 instead of AIF-C01?
They are separate credentials from different vendors. One does not count toward the other, so choose the one that fits your platform.
Do I need to code for AIF-C01?
No. AWS lists developing models and building pipelines as outside the exam. AI-901 expects Python reading skills.
Which one should a beginner take first?
If you have no platform preference, AIF-C01 is the lower-coding start. If you want to build small apps right away, AI-901 fits better.