PrepWhat is AZ-900?
AZ-900 is Microsoft's entry-level Azure exam, leading to the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification. It checks that you can describe cloud concepts (25-30%), Azure architecture and services (35-40%), and Azure management and governance (30-35%). It is a 45-minute proctored exam with a pass mark of 700, and the certification does not expire. It suits beginners and business roles as well as IT staff new to Azure.
Is AZ-900 worth it?
AZ-900 is worth it if you are new to cloud or work in a sales, project or business role that deals with Azure, because it gives you a structured first look at Azure and a certification that never expires. It is worth less for experienced administrators, who often skip it and go straight to AZ-104. On its own it rarely lands a technical job; treat it as a starting point.
Does AZ-900 expire?
No. Microsoft states that Fundamentals certifications such as Azure Fundamentals do not expire, so there is no renewal assessment. That is different from associate certifications such as the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104), which must be renewed every 12 months with a free online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
How hard is AZ-900?
AZ-900 is a beginner-level exam. Questions test whether you can describe concepts and pick the right Azure service for a situation, not whether you can configure it in depth. Common traps are close pairs such as IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS, regions vs availability zones, and Azure Policy vs resource locks vs RBAC. You need 700 on a scale of 1 to 1000.
AZ-900 study guide: a 3-week plan mapped to Microsoft's skills measured
How long should I study for AZ-900?
Most people with some IT background need 2 to 3 weeks at 5 to 7 hours a week; allow 4 to 5 weeks if you are new to IT. Microsoft's free Learn training path for AZ-900 and its free practice assessment cover the skills measured. Book the exam once your practice scores are consistently good.
AZ-900 study guide: a 3-week plan mapped to Microsoft's skills measured
Is AZ-900 open book?
No. Microsoft does not allow access to Microsoft Learn during Fundamentals exams such as AZ-900. That is different from associate exams like AZ-104, where you can open Microsoft Learn while the clock keeps running. For AZ-900 you get 45 minutes of exam time and 65 minutes of total seat time.
How do I schedule the AZ-900 exam?
You schedule AZ-900 from its exam page on Microsoft Learn, which books the proctored exam through Pearson VUE; students and educators can schedule through Certiport instead. The price shown depends on the country or region where the exam is proctored, so select yours before you book. Microsoft also offers an exam sandbox where you can try the question formats beforehand.
How much is the AZ-900 exam?
AZ-900 costs about US$99 in the United States, according to prep sites and a Microsoft Learn Q&A community post. 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 before you book.
How many questions are on AZ-900, and how long is it?
Microsoft does not publish the number of questions for AZ-900. It says most of its certification exams have 40 to 60 questions, and some may be unscored. You get 45 minutes to answer and 65 minutes of total seat time. The exam may include interactive question types, which you can try in Microsoft's exam sandbox.
Can I get AZ-900 for free?
The training is free, but the exam is normally paid. Microsoft's Learn path for AZ-900 and its practice assessment cost nothing, and you can check your level with our free AZ-900 practice test. Microsoft has at times offered free or discounted exam vouchers through training events and student programs, so check its current offers before you pay.
Can I learn Azure on my own?
Yes. Microsoft Learn has a free, self-paced training path for AZ-900, and a free or trial Azure account lets you click through the portal: create a resource group, a storage account and a small VM, then delete them. Use the official study guide's skills measured (as of July 20, 2026) as your checklist, and set a budget alert so experiments do not run up a bill.
AZ-900 study guide: a 3-week plan mapped to Microsoft's skills measured
What is the AZ-900 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. Because Microsoft does not publish the number of AZ-900 questions, aim for comfortable margins on practice tests.
Should I take AZ-900 or AZ-104 first?
Take AZ-900 first if you are new to cloud or Azure; go straight to AZ-104 if you already administer Azure. AZ-900 is not a prerequisite for AZ-104 or other role-based Azure certifications. AZ-104 is much harder: a 100-minute, hands-on administrator exam whose certification must be renewed every 12 months, while AZ-900 never expires.
AZ-104 vs AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals or Azure Administrator first?