AWS AI Practitioner vs Azure AI Fundamentals
Which certification is right for your career? Here's the full breakdown.
Amazon Web Services
AWS AI Practitioner
AIF-C01
Entry-level AWS certification validating foundational knowledge of AI, ML, and generative AI concepts on AWS.
Full guide →Microsoft
Azure AI Fundamentals
AI-900
Microsoft's entry-level AI certification covering machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and generative AI on Azure.
Full guide →Side-by-side comparison
| Category | AWS AI Practitioner | Azure AI Fundamentals |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | ✓$100 USD | $165 USD |
| Avg salary uplift | ✓+$8,000/yr | +$7,000/yr |
| Exam duration | 90 min | 65 min |
| Renewal period | Every 3 years | Every 2 years |
| Issued by | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft |
| Difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
AWS AI Practitioner — Prerequisites
None required
Azure AI Fundamentals — Prerequisites
None required
Get AWS AI Practitioner if…
- •You're entering cybersecurity and need a recognised entry point
- •You want a +$8,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Amazon Web Services
Get Azure AI Fundamentals if…
- •You're entering cybersecurity and need a recognised entry point
- •You want a +$7,000/yr salary boost
- •You prefer credentials from Microsoft
Best AWS AI Practitioner courses
Best Azure AI Fundamentals courses
Frequently asked questions
Is AWS AI Practitioner harder than Azure AI Fundamentals?
Both AWS AI Practitioner and Azure AI Fundamentals are rated beginner difficulty.
Which pays more — AWS AI Practitioner or Azure AI Fundamentals?
AWS AI Practitioner has an average salary uplift of +$8,000/yr, while Azure AI Fundamentals has +$7,000/yr. AWS AI Practitioner has the higher salary impact.
Which should I get first — AWS AI Practitioner or Azure AI Fundamentals?
AWS AI Practitioner is the better starting point — it's rated beginner and costs less. Use it as a stepping stone toward Azure AI Fundamentals.