DP-800: Design with SQL and AI.
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Practise secure SQL application design, optimisation, deployment, and AI integration. Your results point to the engineering decision that needs another pass.
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DP-800SQL AI Developer
DP-800 · 30 days left ›
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DP-800 Practice Questions & Exam Prep — Microsoft SQL AI Developer
Prepare for DP-800 (Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate) on iPhone or iPad by connecting SQL implementation choices with secure deployment and AI-enabled application patterns. Readiness evidence spans all three domains and turns gaps into a focused follow-up on design, optimisation, operations, or AI integration. Core study works offline on your device; optional sync uses your private iCloud account.
The exam
What is the DP-800 exam?
DP-800 is the exam that earns the Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate credential (exam title: "Developing AI-Enabled Database Solutions") — the credential Microsoft introduced for the role hiring managers now post as "SQL AI Developer", "Database Developer (AI)", or "Fabric Data & AI Developer".
It's the natural next step after DP-900 for SQL developers whose day job has expanded from classical schema work into shipping embeddings, vector search, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) directly inside SQL Server, Azure SQL, and SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric. DP-800 is the only Microsoft Associate cert dedicated to AI-enabled data-tier development.
DP-800 is code-first and developer-focused. It validates that you can:
Design tables and indexes — including column store, in-memory, temporal, ledger, external, and graph — and choose the right constraints, sequences, and partitioning
Secure data with Always Encrypted, Dynamic Data Masking, Row-Level Security, and Managed Identity passwordless access
Tune workloads via Query Store and DMVs
Deploy with SQL Database Projects and Data API Builder
Bring AI into SQL itself — generating embeddings, building vector indexes, designing RAG flows with sp_invoke_external_rest_endpoint, structuring outputs with JSON
Expect scenario questions that show a snippet of T-SQL or a chunking strategy and ask what's wrong, what's better, or what's required.
Microsoft published the DP-800 skills outline on 12 March 2026. Every question in Azure Mastery's DP-800 bank is mapped to the current outline — no questions on retired services or pre-AI SQL-only patterns. Read the official outline at learn.microsoft.com.
Questions40–60 mixed format
Duration100 minutes (120 min seat)
Pass score700 / 1000
CostUSD $165 (≈ £128 UK)
ValidityRenew annually (Associate)
FormatOnline or test centre
Skills measured · 12 March 2026
DP-800 exam objectives
Three domains, skills measured as of 12 March 2026 on the official skills outline. Every domain below lists Microsoft's own skill groups verbatim, so you always know which domain you're being tested on and where your weak spots cluster.
Data skill mapSourcesTransformStoreAnalyse
Design and develop database solutionsPublished weight 35–40%
146 exam-scoped practice questions in the app
Explore Design topics
Design and implement database objects
Implement programmability objects
Write advanced T-SQL code
Design and implement SQL solutions by using AI-assisted tools
Tests matching a specialised table type or T-SQL feature to a stated schema or query requirement.
Candidates reach for a scalar function out of habit when a scenario's row count actually rules it out.
Learn which programmability object is the anti-pattern before assuming any working query is the right answer.
Secure, optimize, and deploy database solutionsPublished weight 35–40%
153 exam-scoped practice questions in the app
Explore Secure topics
Implement data security and compliance
Optimize database performance
Implement CI/CD by using SQL Database Projects
Integrate SQL solutions with Azure services
Matching an encryption, performance, or deployment control to a stated production requirement is the core test.
Dynamic Data Masking often gets applied when a scenario actually needs Always Encrypted to hide data from a DBA.
Check whether the requirement is hiding values from ordinary users or from every privileged role before answering.
Implement AI capabilities in database solutionsPublished weight 25–30%
114 exam-scoped practice questions in the app
Explore AI topics
Design and implement models and embeddings
Design and implement intelligent search
Design and implement retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
Choosing a vector-search metric, index, or RAG step order that fits the described embedding pipeline is what's graded here.
This domain gets under-revised relative to its weight, since it feels newer than the SQL fundamentals.
Learn the RAG sequence—retrieve, augment, generate—and recognise grounding as the use of retrieved context in the augmented prompt.
Common traps
Where DP-800 candidates slip
Five recurring misconceptions that trip up otherwise well-prepared DP-800 candidates, grounded in the current skills outline.
Dynamic Data Masking hides values from ordinary users; Always Encrypted hides them from the DBA too.
A requirement that administrators must not see the data points at Always Encrypted specifically, not masking.
Check whether the requirement excludes a privileged role before picking a masking or encryption feature.
The vector-search metric has to match how the embeddings were actually built.
Cosine, Euclidean, and dot product each suit a different embedding pipeline, and picking the wrong one is the trap.
Name whether the vectors are normalised before choosing a similarity metric.
ANN trades recall for latency; ENN guarantees the true nearest matches at a compute cost.
A requirement for guaranteed-correct results over speed points at ENN, not a tuned ANN index.
Read for a stated latency or correctness priority before choosing between the two search modes.
Row counts rule out a scalar UDF before you even read the rest of the question.
A scenario citing millions of rows is what should point you toward a set-based rewrite.
Replace a per-row scalar function with a set-based expression once the scenario names a large row count.
A RAG flow follows three core steps: retrieve, augment, generate.
A language-model call with no retrieval step first is missing the "R" in RAG entirely.
Check the scenario names all four RAG steps in order before assuming the flow is complete.
Designed for DP-800
How Azure Mastery helps you pass DP-800
Exam-specific practice
413 DP-800 practice questions, each written against the current 12 March 2026 skills outline.
Every question is tagged to one of DP-800's three official domains.
Practise reading T-SQL, JSON shaping, and RAG call snippets, the exam's actual scenario style.
Predicted score
Exam IQ forecasts your DP-800 score on-device after roughly 30 questions, with a confidence range attached.
It names the specific security, performance, or vector-search topic dragging your score down.
See exactly which of the three domains is holding your score back before you book.
Adaptive study plan
Your plan leans hardest on the two design and security domains Microsoft weights heaviest at 35–40% each.
Miss a Dynamic Data Masking vs Always Encrypted question and the next session surfaces that distinction again.
String together three accurate sessions on a topic and the plan lets it go.
Knowledge decay
The AI domain gets under-revised relative to its weight, so decayed vector-search topics resurface first.
A padlock marks a fading topic on the Today screen before you forget it.
A Focus Weak Spots session always starts with whatever's decayed most.
Exam rehearsal
The simulator runs a full 100-minute clock with no flag-and-review, same as the real sitting.
Every question in the set is original and weighted to the published domain split.
The live DP-800 interface and question mix are Microsoft's to control, not ours.
Answer Coach
Untangles DP-800's near-identical calls: Dynamic Data Masking vs Always Encrypted, ANN vs ENN vector search.
Every note names the rule you missed, ready for the next similar scenario.
Where the device supports it, a note can be reworded locally, after the source guidance is checked.
Aura guidance
Aura adjusts what it suggests as your first week of DP-800 sessions goes on.
Each session wraps with a short recap: what changed, what to revisit, what's next.
Private by design
Your DP-800 answer history, readiness gauge, and Answer Coach notes stay private by default.
There's no account and no server involved in any of it.
Optional sync uses your private iCloud account.
6-week study plan
Suggested DP-800 study plan
Move from SQL design and programming to security, deployment and AI integration. Use the final study blocks of this six-week route for targeted review and rehearsal.
Tables and indexes
Compare columnstore, memory-optimised, temporal and ledger tables.
Review external and graph tables.
Explore JSON columns, indexes and validation functions.
Database programmability
Review constraints, sequences and partitioning.
Compare views, functions and stored procedures.
Explore triggers, parameter sniffing and recompilation.
Advanced T-SQL
Practise recursive and non-recursive CTEs.
Use ranking, offset and aggregate window functions.
Shape JSON with SQL functions.
Queries and AI-assisted development
Explore regex, fuzzy matching, graph and correlated queries.
Practise error handling with TRY/CATCH and error statements.
Review Copilot, MCP tools, instruction files and their security implications.
Data security
Compare Always Encrypted with and without secure enclaves.
Review masking and row-level security.
Configure object permissions and auditing.
Identity and keys
Review passwordless managed-identity access.
Manage keys with Azure Key Vault.
Compare authentication across SQL Server, Azure SQL and Fabric SQL.
Performance diagnosis
Use DMVs, Query Store and Query Performance Insight.
Analyse execution plans and regressions.
Review isolation levels and blocking.
Deployment and integration
Use SQL Database Projects and GitHub CI/CD; manage schema drift and secrets.
Explore Data API Builder, Application Insights and Log Analytics.
Compare change tracking, CDC and event streaming with Functions or Logic Apps.
Vectors and embeddings
Register external AI models from SQL.
Generate embeddings and compare chunking strategies.
Build vector indexes for nearest-neighbour search.
Search and RAG
Compare full-text, vector and hybrid search.
Review reciprocal rank fusion.
Build RAG calls and parse structured outputs with REST endpoints and JSON.
Target weaker topics
Run Focus Weak Spots sessions.
Balance database design with security, optimisation and deployment.
Review AI-integration gaps alongside those core areas.
Timed rehearsal
Complete two 100-minute Exam Simulator sessions.
Review the reasoning behind missed answers.
Plan further practice where needed.
Inside the app
Nine interactive practice formats, on iPhone
Explore DP-800 through nine interactive formats spanning application design, SQL security, performance, deployment, and AI capabilities. The examples below are original questions from Azure Mastery on iPhone and iPad. Timed simulations follow the published domain weights; Microsoft's live interface and question mix may differ.
Which HTTP method does a RAG procedure use to invoke a chat-completions endpoint?
DELETE
POST
PATCH
GET
Multiple choice
An original DP-800 practice question with one correct answer. The app explains every option after you answer.
Exam-specific sample
Which two features help you retain and review historical changes to rows over time? (Select two.)
Change data capture (CDC)
System-versioned temporal tables
A check constraint on a numeric range
A nonclustered index on the primary key
A computed column that uppercases a name
Multi-select
An original DP-800 multi-select question. Select all the correct options to earn the mark.
All-or-nothing
Order the steps to build an in-database retrieval-augmented generation pipeline in Azure SQL.
⋮⋮1Register the embedding model with CREATE EXTERNAL MODEL
⋮⋮2Chunk the source text and generate embeddings for each chunk
⋮⋮3Create a vector index on the embedding column
⋮⋮4Run VECTOR_SEARCH to retrieve the most similar chunks
⋮⋮5Pass the retrieved chunks to a chat model to compose the answer
Drag-and-drop
An original DP-800 ordering question you can answer by touch on iPhone and iPad.
Interactive item
On the Azure SQL logical server's Microsoft Entra settings, which option should you enable so that SQL authentication logins can no longer connect and only Entra…
Hotspot
An original DP-800 question with a visual prompt, designed for touch on iPhone and iPad.
Tap target
Contoso Health — Securing a regulated SQL AI application Contoso Health runs a patient-records application on Azure SQL Database and is adding AI features that summarize visit notes. Regulators require that sensitive…
1Which feature keeps the national-identifier column unreadable even to database…
2How can the database ensure each clinician queries only their own patients' rows?
3Which feature shows support staff a masked identifier without altering the…
4How should the App Service tier connect to Azure SQL without a stored database…
Case studies
An original DP-800 case study with several questions about the same requirements and environment.
Multi-question
✕Your answer: DELETE
✨ Answer Coach:DELETE is used to remove a resource, not to request a generated completion.
— grounded in authored certification guidance
Answer Coach
Answer Coach explains why the answer is correct and, where available, why each option is right or wrong. It helps you understand a mistake and remember the distinction. Read explanations after each question or at the end of a practice test. On supported devices, optional AI can reword a note on your device after checking it against the written guidance.
App exclusive
Frequently asked
DP-800 FAQs
DP-800 vs DP-300 — which should I take?
Different jobs. DP-300 (Database Administrator Associate) runs, secures, tunes, and recovers Azure SQL workloads — HA/DR, performance, automation. DP-800 is for SQL developers bringing AI primitives, embeddings, vector search, RAG, into the data tier through T-SQL. DP-300 administers; DP-800 develops. Many SQL pros take both.
Dynamic Data Masking or Always Encrypted — which does DP-800 want for a given scenario?
Dynamic Data Masking hides column values from ordinary users at query time, but a DBA can still see plaintext. Always Encrypted keeps data encrypted client-side, so even a DBA with full access cannot read it. Masking suits ordinary users; Always Encrypted suits protecting data from privileged insiders.
What question formats appear on DP-800?
Microsoft's own guidance states 40–60 questions with formats that vary by sitting. Azure Mastery's bank runs a similar mix: mostly single-answer multiple choice, a real slice of drag-to-match and dropdown-select items, and a smaller mix of yes/no, drag-and-drop, and hotspot questions.
What's the DP-800 exam fee, and is renewal extra?
The DP-800 voucher is USD $165 in the United States, or around £128 in the UK. Microsoft sometimes runs free-voucher promotions around events like Build or Ignite, so check your Learn profile before booking. Renewal itself is free, but it happens every year.
Does a DP-800 pass need renewing, or is it permanent?
It needs renewing. Associate certifications including DP-800 expire annually; renewal is a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn within the six months before expiry. Fundamentals certs such as DP-900 are different — those don't expire at all.
Vector index or full-text index — how does DP-800 test the choice?
A vector index suits semantic retrieval, finding rows whose embeddings are close even when the wording differs. A full-text index suits keyword and phrase matching where exact terms matter. DP-800 checks whether you can name the single index type a stated requirement calls for.
DP-800 vs PL-300 — different data roles?
They sit on opposite ends of the data stack. DP-800 brings AI primitives, embeddings, vector search, RAG, into the data tier through T-SQL. PL-300 (Power BI Data Analyst) models and publishes data with Power BI and DAX. Choose based on whether your role writes the data layer or reports on it.
I failed DP-800 — how soon can I book a retake?
Every attempt needs its own voucher, and the wait grows the more times you've sat it.
First retake: after 24 hours.
Second and third retakes: a 14-day wait each.
Cap: five attempts per rolling 12 months.
Can I try Azure Mastery's DP-800 bank before paying?
Yes — the app is free to download, with a free allowance of DP-800 questions so you can try every feature. The full bank of 413 DP-800 practice questions unlocks with a one-time exam-pack purchase, or unlock every exam with a subscription or lifetime upgrade.
Can I revise DP-800 with no data connection?
Yes. Practice, scoring, and the readiness prediction all run on-device rather than depending on a connection, so travel or dead zones aren't a problem. No account is required, and your study data stays local unless you turn on private iCloud sync.
Free study guides
Free guides that pair with DP-800
Where DP-800 fits
Certification paths that include DP-800
DP-800 is the SQL AI Developer Associate cert — the developer counterpart to DP-300's DBA track. It pairs with DP-900 as the recommended fundamentals, and bridges into application and agent-layer AI work via AI-103. Tap any linked exam below to see its dedicated study app page.
DP-800 sits at the data-platform Associate tier as the developer counterpart to DP-300. DP-900 builds the data fundamentals it leans on; DP-300 (DBA) and AI-103 (generative AI apps and agents) provide adjacent role coverage.
Ready to pass DP-800?
Download Azure Mastery free for 413 DP-800 practice questions across SQL application design, secure optimisation and deployment, and AI capabilities. Build readiness with timed simulations and focused follow-up on iPhone or iPad.
