PrepWhat is AZ-104?
AZ-104 is Microsoft's Azure Administrator exam, leading to the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification. It tests whether you can manage Azure identities and governance, storage, compute, virtual networking, and monitoring in a real environment. It is a 100-minute proctored exam with a pass mark of 700, and the certification is renewed free every 12 months through an online assessment.
How hard is AZ-104?
AZ-104 is an intermediate, hands-on exam and much harder than AZ-900. Many questions describe a configuration problem and expect you to know how Azure actually behaves, which is hard to learn from reading alone. Microsoft expects experience with PowerShell, Azure CLI, the Azure portal, ARM templates and Microsoft Entra ID. Building labs in your own subscription is the best preparation.
AZ-104 study guide: an 8-week plan for the Azure Administrator exam
Is AZ-104 open book?
Partly. On associate exams such as AZ-104, Microsoft lets you open Microsoft Learn during the exam, but the clock keeps running and no extra time is added. You have 100 minutes of exam time, so looking things up is slow: use it to check a detail, not to learn a topic. Fundamentals exams such as AZ-900 do not allow Learn access.
How long should I study for AZ-104?
About 8 weeks at 8 to 10 hours a week if you already know Azure basics. Experienced Azure users may need 4 to 6 weeks, while people new to IT should start with AZ-900. Spend much of that time doing the tasks in your own Azure subscription rather than only reading or watching videos.
AZ-104 study guide: an 8-week plan for the Azure Administrator exam
How do I pass AZ-104?
Pass AZ-104 by studying Microsoft's skills measured list, doing every task hands-on and practising until your scores are consistent. Build core labs: RBAC at different scopes, Azure Policy and locks, storage with SAS and lifecycle rules, VMs from ARM and Bicep templates, peered VNets with NSGs, and VM backup. Then take Microsoft's free practice assessment and try the exam sandbox before you book.
AZ-104 study guide: an 8-week plan for the Azure Administrator exam
Which is better, AZ-900 or AZ-104?
AZ-104 carries more weight for technical roles because it shows you can administer Azure, while AZ-900 shows foundational knowledge and suits non-technical roles or people at the very start. They are different levels rather than competitors: AZ-900 is a 45-minute fundamentals exam whose certification never expires, AZ-104 a 100-minute associate exam renewed every 12 months.
AZ-104 vs AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals or Azure Administrator first?
Do I need AZ-900 before AZ-104?
No. AZ-104 has no formal prerequisites, and AZ-900 is not required. AZ-900 helps if you are new to Azure, because AZ-104 assumes the vocabulary and concepts it covers, but experienced administrators often go straight to AZ-104. Our AZ-900 FAQ covers the fundamentals exam.
AZ-104 vs AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals or Azure Administrator first?
What is Azure certification?
Azure certifications are Microsoft's credentials for its Azure cloud platform, at fundamentals, associate and expert levels. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) is the entry-level exam, and its certification never expires. AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) is a role-based associate certification for people who run Azure environments; associate certifications must be renewed every 12 months with a free online assessment.
How much does AZ-104 cost?
AZ-104 costs about US$165 in the United States, according to third-party price trackers. Microsoft prices the exam by the country or region where it is proctored and shows the amount only on the exam page, so select your country there to see your local price. Renewing the certification each year is free.
What is the AZ-104 passing score?
You need 700 or greater on a scale of 1 to 1000. It is a scaled score, so 700 does not necessarily mean 70% of the points, and you cannot work out the pass mark by counting questions. Microsoft does not publish the number of AZ-104 questions, so aim for comfortable margins on practice tests.
How many questions are on AZ-104?
Microsoft does not publish the number of questions for AZ-104. It says most of its certification exams have 40 to 60 questions, and the number can vary. You get 100 minutes of exam time and 120 minutes of seat time, and the exam may include interactive question types, which you can try in Microsoft's exam sandbox.
Does AZ-104 expire?
Yes. The Azure Administrator Associate certification is valid for 12 months. You can renew it at no cost by passing an online renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn before the expiry date. If you want an Azure certification that never expires, AZ-900 is the option, though it proves far less.
Is AZ-104 worth it?
AZ-104 is worth it if you run, or want to run, workloads on Azure, because it is Microsoft's core credential for Azure administrators and shows hands-on skills. It is also a common base for later Azure architecture, security or networking certifications. Pay depends on your role, experience and location rather than the certificate alone, so pair it with real lab or work experience.
Is there a free AZ-104 practice test?
Yes. Microsoft offers a free practice assessment for AZ-104 and an exam sandbox to try the question formats. Our free AZ-104 practice test adds original scenario questions with explanations. Use them to find weak domains, then close the gaps with hands-on labs.