Yes. An active Azure AI Engineer Associate (AI-102) certification satisfies the prerequisite for the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect certification when combined with passing AB-100.
The key distinction is that AB-100 is the exam, while the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect credential is the certification. Microsoft Q&A moderator guidance explicitly states that AB-100 alone does not grant the certification and that one of the prerequisite certifications is also required. That guidance specifically lists Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate as one of the accepted prerequisite certifications.
The fact that AI-102 retired on June 30, 2026 for new candidate offerings does not change the status of a certification that was already earned and is still active. Microsoft states that if a retiring certification is completed before its retirement date, the certification remains valid for one year. Since the credential was earned on March 31, 2026 and remains active until April 1, 2027, it is still an active certification at the time of the scheduled AB-100 exam on September 16, 2026.
Supported pointers:
- AI-102 retired as of June 30, 2026 and was replaced by AI-103.
- Retiring certifications remain valid for one year if completed before retirement.
- Azure AI Engineer Associate is listed in Microsoft Q&A moderator guidance as an accepted prerequisite for the Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect certification.
- Passing AB-100 plus holding a prerequisite certification is required to receive the certification.
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