AI Certifications Compared: AWS vs Microsoft vs Google, India 2026

By Ravindra Bagale, trainer · LinkedIn · Last updated: 19 October 2026

Generative AI course · Chapter 50 · Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

1. Suppose three friends ask the same question

Suppose three people ask Ravindra which AI certificate to take:

• Asha, a support engineer whose company runs on AWS.
• Imran, a final-year student who writes Python and wants to build AI apps.
• Leena, an operations manager who does not code but must lead an AI project.

One answer cannot fit all three. The right first certificate depends on which cloud you will work with, whether you code, and your role. Those 3 questions are the whole method.

2. The 3 certifications in plain words

• AWS Certified AI Practitioner (exam AIF-C01): foundational, no coding. Covers AI and ML basics, generative AI, using foundation models, responsible AI and security on AWS. The widest beginner start.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals (exam AI-901): the AI-900 exam was retired on 30 June 2026 and replaced by AI-901. Microsoft now says you need knowledge of Python coding syntax and familiarity with Azure resources. It tests 2 areas: AI concepts, and implementing AI solutions with Microsoft Foundry. If you passed AI-900 earlier, your certification still counts; Fundamentals certifications do not expire.
• Google Cloud Certified Generative AI Leader: for any role, with or without hands-on technical skills. It tests gen AI fundamentals, Google Cloud's gen AI offerings, ways to improve model output, and business strategy for gen AI.

3. Worked example 1: 3 profiles, 3 first certificates

We turned the 3 questions into a small script:

CERTS = {
  "AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01)": "AWS, no coding, 65 questions, 90 min, 100 USD",
  "Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901)": "Azure, basic Python expected, 99 USD in the US",
  "Google Cloud Generative AI Leader": "Google Cloud, business focus, no coding, 50-60 questions, 99 USD",
}
def pick(cloud_at_work, codes, role):
    if cloud_at_work in ("aws", "azure", "google"):
        name = {"aws": 0, "azure": 1, "google": 2}[cloud_at_work]
        why = "your company already uses this cloud"
    elif role == "manager":
        name, why = 2, "it tests business use of GenAI, not set-up"
    elif codes:
        name, why = 1, "it includes hands-on building with Python"
    else:
        name, why = 0, "it needs no coding and covers AI, ML and GenAI basics"
    title = list(CERTS)[name]
    return title, CERTS[title], why
for person, args in [("Asha, support engineer at an AWS shop", ("aws", False, "engineer")),
                     ("Imran, final-year student who codes in Python", (None, True, "student")),
                     ("Leena, operations manager, no coding", (None, False, "manager"))]:
    title, facts, why = pick(*args)
    print(f"{person}\n  -> {title}\n     ({facts}); because {why}")

Real output (19 October 2026):

Asha, support engineer at an AWS shop
  -> AWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01)
     (AWS, no coding, 65 questions, 90 min, 100 USD); because your company already uses this cloud
Imran, final-year student who codes in Python
  -> Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901)
     (Azure, basic Python expected, 99 USD in the US); because it includes hands-on building with Python
Leena, operations manager, no coding
  -> Google Cloud Generative AI Leader
     (Google Cloud, business focus, no coding, 50-60 questions, 99 USD); because it tests business use of GenAI, not set-up

The script is a starting point, not a rule. Imran could just as well take the AWS exam if the jobs he wants list AWS. Look at 10 job posts for the role you want and count which cloud they name. That count beats any general advice.

4. Worked example 2: cost and format side by side

Prices change. AWS updates local prices at least once a year; Microsoft and Google can change theirs too. Always confirm on the official page on the day you book. If your company pays, ask HR about vouchers first.

A prompt to compare total cost for your situation:

I live in India and want one beginner AI certification in the next 2 months.
Here are the official fees I found today: [paste the 3 fees].
Make a table of total cost including one retake for each, the time I need to
prepare at 1 hour a day, and which one fits [your role and cloud]. Show your working.

Expected output (yours will be similar, not the same): a table that doubles each fee for a possible retake, estimates a few weeks of preparation for each, and recommends one with a short reason. Check its arithmetic and the fees yourself; AI often gets currency details wrong.

5. Worked example 3: a free study path for each

All three companies publish free official material:

AWS AI Practitioner:

1. Read the official AIF-C01 exam guide (the 5 domains and in-scope services).
2. Follow the free AI Practitioner learning plan and the official practice question set on AWS Skill Builder.
3. Revise with this course: the Gen AI basics, prompting, RAG and Bedrock chapters, plus the 20 practice questions in the previous chapter.

Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901):

1. Read the AI-901 study guide linked from the exam page (updated 15 April 2026).
2. Work through the free Microsoft Learn training on AI concepts and on building AI apps and agents.
3. Take the free Practice Assessment on AI Skills Navigator (you must be signed in).

Google Generative AI Leader:

1. Read the exam guide and its 4 sections.
2. Follow the Generative AI Leader learning path on Google Cloud Skills Boost and the study guide.
3. Try the official sample questions (untimed, as many times as you like).

A prompt to turn any path into a weekly plan:

Make a 4-week study plan, 1 hour a day on weekdays and 2 hours on Saturday, for the
[certificate name]. Use only these official resources: [paste the 3 steps above].
Put a practice test at the end of week 2 and week 4, and a revision day before the exam.

Expected output (yours will be similar, not the same): a 4-week table with daily topics, two practice-test days and a revision day. Check that the topics match the official exam guide.

6. Make a certificate count

• Add one project per certificate: for AWS, the Bedrock knowledge base from this module; for Microsoft, a small Foundry app; for Google, a written gen AI use-case plan for a real business.
• Put the certificate and the project together on LinkedIn and in your resume: "AWS Certified AI Practitioner; built an HR policy bot with Bedrock Knowledge Bases and cited answers."
• Do not stop at foundational: after one, the next step is usually an associate-level exam on the same cloud, when your job needs it.

7. Beginner mistakes and quick fixes

8. Try at home

Recap

Choose the certificate that matches the jobs you want, prepare with official free material, and pair it with a project you can show. That combination is what employers remember.

Previous chapter: AWS AI Practitioner (AIF-C01): 20 Practice Questions by Domain

Next chapter: AI Jobs in India for Freshers: Roles, Skills and 3 Portfolio Projects

Ravindra Bagale, trainer: linkedin.com/in/ravindra-bagale. Asha, Imran and Leena are made up for learning. Certification facts were checked on the AWS Certified AI Practitioner page, Microsoft Learn's Azure AI Fundamentals and AI-901 pages, and Google Cloud's Generative AI Leader page on 19 October 2026; the AWS India voucher price is from the Pearson VUE AWS Store India on the same day, and the Microsoft India price is from an independent price tracker dated 18 October 2026. The Python output was produced on 19 October 2026. AI output changes every time, so your output will be similar, not the same.