Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) exam in New Zealand
In New Zealand, the Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) exam costs US$84, about NZ$150 at the 15 October 2026 rate. You can sit it online or at a Pearson VUE test centre. Square1 Ai's practice for it is free: a 20-question diagnostic, 195 questions in the exam's own domain weights and timed mocks, each answer explained.
Fee as Microsoft lists it for New Zealand, checked 29 October 2026. Prices exclude tax. Check the price when you book.
Booking AI-901 in New Zealand
What Microsoft charges a candidate in New Zealand, how you sit the exam, and what it asks of you. Each line links to its source.
| Exam fee in New Zealand | US$84, about NZ$150 at the 15 October 2026 rate.Microsoft, checked 29 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tax | Microsoft's prices do not include tax, which may be added at checkout. The fee is charged in US dollars, so your bank may add a foreign-exchange fee.Microsoft |
| How you sit it | Online with Pearson VUE in most countries, or at a Pearson VUE test centre. Microsoft shows the options open in your country when you book.Pearson VUE |
| The exam | 45 minutes of exam time; Microsoft does not publish the question count.Microsoft |
| Pass mark | 700.Microsoft |
| Valid for | Does not expire.Microsoft |
| Languages | English, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German and 7 more.Microsoft |
| Discounts | Academic pricing; Exam Replay.Microsoft |
From Microsoft's and Pearson VUE's own pages, checked 29 October 2026. Rules change: check them when you book.
What roles that ask for AI-901 pay in New Zealand
Annual base salary in New Zealand, from Payscale (read 29 October 2026). The range is the middle half of reported salaries, and each row shows how many salary profiles it rests on.
| Role | Median a year | Middle half | Train for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data scientistPayscale35 salary profiles | NZ$83,200 | NZ$67,200 to NZ$119,300 | Data Science |
| Data analystPayscale144 salary profiles | NZ$73,000 | NZ$65,800 to NZ$84,600 | Data Analyst with AI, Analytics Engineer |
| Business analystPayscale92 salary profiles | NZ$92,000 | NZ$80,100 to NZ$102,200 | Data Analyst with AI |
Salaries are what employers in New Zealand report paying, not what Square1 Ai students earn: the first cohorts have not graduated.
AI-901 prep in New Zealand, side by side
Courses for this exam you can take in New Zealand, with their length, how they are taught and the fee each provider lists.
| Course | Length | How it is taught | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft AI-901T00 - Introduction to AI in AzureLumify Work | 1 day | Live online only | NZD 1005 exc GST |
| AI-901 practice: 195 questions, diagnostic and timed mocksSquare1 Ai | At your own pace | Online, an explanation on every answer | Free |
Fees and lengths as each provider lists them on its own site, checked 29 October 2026. Ask whether the exam voucher is included before you pay.
Four ways to prepare for AI-901 in New Zealand
Each fits a different person. The right one depends on how you learn, what you can spend and what you want after the exam.
- Route 1
Microsoft's own free prep
Fits when You learn well on your own and want the vendor's words: AI-901 study guide, Practice Assessment (AI Skills Navigator, sign-in required).
Watch for It teaches the material; it does not tell you which domains you are weak in.
- Route 2
A prep course in New Zealand
Fits when You want a teacher and a timetable; Lumify Work lists Microsoft AI-901T00 - Introduction to AI in Azure at NZD 1005 exc GST.
Watch for The course often costs more than the exam itself; ask whether the voucher is included.
- Route 3
Practice questions and timed mocks
Fits when You have studied and want to know where you stand, domain by domain, before you book.
Watch for Practice is not the real exam: Square1 Ai's questions are original, written against the exam guide, not copied from it.
- Route 4
A live bootcamp after the exam
Fits when You want projects an employer in New Zealand can open and check, not only a certificate.
Watch for Square1 Ai's bootcamps are new and not accredited; the first cohorts have not graduated.
After AI-901: build the work it points to.
Twelve weeks each, live on New Zealand time, 10 projects you keep. Founding price, half the NZ$499 standard, until 1 December.
Questions people in New Zealand ask about AI-901
How much does the AI-901 exam cost in New Zealand?
US$84, about NZ$150 at the 15 October 2026 rate. Microsoft's prices do not include tax, which may be added at checkout. The fee is charged in US dollars, so your bank may add a foreign-exchange fee. Check the current price on Microsoft's exam page when you book.
Can I take the AI-901 exam online from New Zealand?
Online with Pearson VUE in most countries, or at a Pearson VUE test centre. Microsoft shows the options open in your country when you book. Online exams need a quiet room, a webcam and a government photo ID.
How do I prepare for AI-901 for free in New Zealand?
Microsoft publishes free prep: AI-901 study guide, Practice Assessment (AI Skills Navigator, sign-in required). Square1 Ai's practice is free too: a 20-question diagnostic shows where you stand by domain, then 195 original questions in the exam's own weights and timed mocks the length of the real exam, each answer explained.
What score do I need to pass AI-901?
700. You have 45 minutes; Microsoft does not publish the question count.
How long is AI-901 valid?
Does not expire.
Is there a Microsoft student discount on the exam in New Zealand?
Yes. Microsoft offers academic exam pricing in New Zealand; verify your student status in your Microsoft Learn profile before you book.
Is the AI-901 certification worth it in New Zealand?
It is a first step, not a job on its own. It suits people who want to show they understand AI workloads on Azure: students, analysts, developers new to AI and business staff. Employers in New Zealand report a median of NZ$83,200 for a data scientist (a year, Payscale); pair the certificate with projects you can show.
Find out where you stand on AI-901 in twenty questions.
The diagnostic is free and draws questions in the exam's own domain weights. You see your score by domain the moment you finish.