Gen AI certification compared: AWS, Google Gen AI Leader, AI-901
Pick the gen AI certification for the cloud you use: AWS AI Practitioner for AWS, Generative AI Leader for Google Cloud, AI-901 for Azure. All three are entry-level exams you can book yourself.
Which gen AI certification should you take?
- Take AWS Certified AI Practitioner if you work on AWS and want a 100 USD exam that lasts 3 years.
- Take Google Cloud's Generative AI Leader if you aren't technical: it's open to anyone in any job role, with no prerequisites.
- Take Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals if you code in Python on Azure and want a credential that never expires.
The catch: the only one that never expires, Azure AI Fundamentals, is also the only one that expects you to know Python.
Take Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals instead if you run Microsoft 365 and want a 45-minute exam that also never expires.
How do they compare, fact by fact?
| Fact | AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) | Generative AI Leader | Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud | Microsoft |
| Exam code | AIF-C01 | Not stated by Google Cloud | AI-901 |
| TypeSame for all | Exam | Exam | Exam |
| Proctoring | Online proctoring offered | Proctored online or at a test center | Not stated by Microsoft |
| Price as shown | $100; AUD 150 | $99 plus tax | $99 plus tax |
| Length | 90 minutes | 90 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Questions | 65 | 50 to 60 | Not stated by Microsoft |
| Passing score | 700 | Not stated by Google Cloud | 700 |
| Valid for | 3 years | 3 years | Does not expire |
| Who can take it | Individuals who want to validate foundational knowledge of AI/ML concepts and generative AI on AWS | This certification is for anyone in any job role, with or without hands-on technical experience. | In Microsoft's wordsFor this exam, you should have conceptual knowledge of AI solutions in Azure and the foundational technical skills to work with them. You also need knowledge of Python coding syntax and programming techniques, and you should be familiar with Azure resources. |
| Delivery | Pearson VUE testing center or online proctored exam | Online-proctored or onsite-proctored | Not stated by Microsoft |
| Languages | Arabic, English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese | English, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese | English, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Indonesian (Indonesia), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish |
| Status | Active | Active | Active |
| Checked against the issuer on | October 26, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | October 24, 2026 |
What don't the issuers publish?
- Generative AI Leader: Google Cloud doesn't state the exam code or passing score on the pages checked.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901): Microsoft doesn't state the proctoring, number of questions or delivery method on the pages checked.
Questions people ask
Which one does not expire?
AI-901 (Azure AI Fundamentals): Microsoft says "Fundamentals certifications do not expire."
What has changed?
AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01)
· Languages
AWS retires the Italian and German versions of the AI Practitioner exam after October 15, 2026.
"The AWS Certified AI Practitioner exam in Italian and German will be retired after October 15, 2026." Amazon Web Services
Sources
- Amazon Web Services: aws.amazon.com, certified ai practitioner, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Amazon Web Services: aws.amazon.com, before testing, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Amazon Web Services: docs.aws.amazon.com, ai practitioner, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Google Cloud: cloud.google.com, generative ai leader, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Google Cloud: services.google.com, generative ai leader exam guide english, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, azure ai fundamentals, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, AI-901 exam, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, renew your microsoft certification, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, AI-901 study guide, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, ai 901t00, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, ai concepts, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, get started ai apps agents, accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Microsoft: learn.microsoft.com, exam duration exam experience, accessed Oct 26, 2026