DP-800 certification: Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate

What is the DP-800 certification?

DP-800 is the exam for Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate. Microsoft expects candidates to have subject matter expertise in designing and developing AI-enabled database solutions across Microsoft SQL platforms: Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric.

The role combines classic database development with AI features. Microsoft lists four responsibilities: designing database solutions with structured and semi-structured data, integrating AI features into scalable enterprise applications, securing, optimising and deploying database solutions, and implementing AI capabilities in the database itself.

You are expected to write T-SQL, know CI/CD practices in GitHub, use AI-assisted development tools, and understand AI concepts such as embeddings, vectors and models. The certification is rated Intermediate and tagged for the Developer role.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 exam status: beta and the October 2026 update

On 14 October 2026 the Microsoft Learn certification page carries no beta label in its title or heading, and the exam can be scheduled.

Microsoft announces that the English language version will be updated on 19 October 2026, and the study guide already shows the skills measured as of that date. The change log marks four objective groups as minor changes: database objects, SQL solutions with AI-assisted tools, models and embeddings, and intelligent search. The three skill areas and their weights stay the same. Localized versions follow the English update later.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Study Guide for Exam DP-800. Checked 14 October 2026.

How much does the DP-800 exam cost?

Microsoft does not publish one global DP-800 price. The certification page states that the price is based on the country or region in which the exam is proctored, and the binding figure appears when you schedule.

Microsoft also lists no separate DP-800 voucher price on the certification page. Whatever route you book through, the reference point is the country-based exam price shown at booking.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 exam format and passing score

You have 120 minutes. The exam is proctored, and Microsoft notes that you may have interactive components to complete. The number of questions is not published.

A score of 700 or greater is required to pass, according to the DP-800 study guide. It is a scaled score, not a percentage.

The exam is offered in 10 languages: English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, German, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. If your preferred language is not available, you can request an additional 30 minutes. If you fail, you can retake the exam after 24 hours; later retakes have varying waiting times.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate. Checked 14 October 2026.

What is on the DP-800 exam?

The study guide divides DP-800 into three skill areas. Database development and the secure-optimise-deploy area each carry 35–40%, so most of the exam is solid SQL engineering. The AI-specific area is 25–30% — smaller, but it is where the newest T-SQL features appear.

• Design and develop database solutions (35–40%) — tables, columnstore, in-memory, temporal, ledger and graph tables, JSON columns, constraints, partitioning, views, functions, stored procedures, triggers, CTEs, window functions, JSON and regular expression functions, fuzzy matching, GitHub Copilot and Copilot in Fabric, MCP server endpoints
• Secure, optimize, and deploy database solutions (35–40%) — Always Encrypted, Dynamic Data Masking, Row-Level Security, auditing, managed identity, isolation levels, execution plans and Query Store, SQL Database Projects and CI/CD, schema drift, Data API builder for REST and GraphQL, change data capture and change event streaming
• Implement AI capabilities in database solutions (25–30%) — external models, embeddings and chunking, full-text, vector and hybrid search, VECTOR_DISTANCE and VECTOR_SEARCH, ANN versus KNN, reciprocal rank fusion, retrieval-augmented generation with sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint

Source: Microsoft Learn — Study Guide for Exam DP-800. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 prerequisites

Microsoft lists no formal prerequisite certification. The audience profile is the practical bar: experience writing T-SQL and developing databases on Microsoft SQL platforms, familiarity with CI/CD in GitHub and AI-assisted development tools, and an understanding of embeddings, vectors and models.

Microsoft also notes that you work closely with application developers, DBAs, architects, AI engineers, DevSecOps engineers and security and compliance administrators. Security, deployment and application integration all appear in the skills outline, so expect to reason about where your database work meets theirs.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Study Guide for Exam DP-800. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 course and study materials

The DP-800 study guide on Microsoft Learn is the authoritative list of skills measured, including the change log for the 19 October 2026 update. Build a test database and try each function and feature it names, especially the newer JSON, regular expression and vector functions.

Microsoft’s official course is DP-800T00-A, Develop AI-enabled database solutions: three days, Intermediate, for data professionals working across SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric. Microsoft states you can prepare through instructor-led training or self-paced study.

Microsoft lists a free DP-800 practice assessment; practice assessments are available at no cost and can be attempted as many times as you like. The exam sandbox lets you try the question types in the exam interface.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Course DP-800T00-A. Checked 14 October 2026.

How do you renew the DP-800 certification?

Microsoft associate certifications expire annually, and SQL AI Developer Associate is one. You renew by passing a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn.

The renewal assessment opens in a six-month eligibility window before expiry, can be retaken as often as needed while the certification is valid, and extends it by one year from the expiration date when you pass.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Renew your Microsoft Certification. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 vs DP-300

DP-300 leads to Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate. Both are Intermediate SQL credentials, but they target different jobs: DP-300 is tagged for the Database Administrator role and runs 100 minutes, while DP-800 is tagged for the Developer role and runs 120 minutes.

Choose by the work you do. If you run, secure and tune Azure SQL estates, DP-300 is the fit. If you write the T-SQL, build CI/CD for database projects and add vector search or RAG to applications, DP-800 matches your work. Note that the English DP-300 exam is also being updated, on 27 October 2026.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 dumps and exam questions

DP-800 dumps break Microsoft’s rules. Microsoft defines a brain dump as a source containing fraudulently obtained exam questions and states that using such material to prepare for or during an exam constitutes cheating. Candidates can be permanently banned from future credentials and have certifications and scores revoked.

Certsqill’s DP-800 exam questions are expert-developed and follow the three skill areas above. Every answer option comes with an explanation, and your results feed a readiness score per domain, so you can see whether the AI capabilities area or the security and deployment area needs more work before exam day. A 7-day money-back guarantee applies.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam and assessment security policies. Checked 14 October 2026.

DP-800 questions people ask

What is the DP-800 certification?

Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate, earned by passing Exam DP-800, Developing AI-Enabled Database Solutions. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 14 October 2026.

How long is the DP-800 exam?

120 minutes. Source: Microsoft Learn certification page, checked 14 October 2026.

What is the DP-800 passing score?

A score of 700 or greater. Source: Microsoft Learn DP-800 study guide, checked 14 October 2026.

How many questions are on the DP-800 exam?

Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. The exam may include interactive components. Checked 14 October 2026.

How much does the DP-800 exam cost?

The price depends on the country or region where the exam is proctored; Microsoft publishes no single figure or voucher price. Checked 14 October 2026.

Is DP-800 still a beta exam?

The Microsoft Learn certification page shows no beta label on 14 October 2026. The English version is updated on 19 October 2026 with minor changes.

Which SQL platforms does DP-800 cover?

Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 14 October 2026.

Does the DP-800 certification expire?

Yes, annually, like other Microsoft associate certifications. Renewal is a free online assessment. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 14 October 2026.

Is there an official DP-800 course?

Yes. Course DP-800T00-A is a three-day Intermediate course, instructor-led or self-paced. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 14 October 2026.