No. Microsoft Fundamentals certifications do not expire. Role-based and specialty credentials such as AZ-104 are different: they are valid for one year and renew through a free online assessment. Microsoft does reserve the right to retire a credential.

What score do I need to pass?

700 on a scale of 1 to 1000. Microsoft states explicitly that this is a scaled score and may not equal 70% of the points, so treat any percentage (including on practice exams) as an approximation rather than a threshold.

How long is the exam?

45 minutes of exam time, within a 65-minute seat time that also covers instructions and the candidate agreement.

Do I need hands-on Azure experience?

No. It is designed to be passable from study alone. That said, an hour in the portal creating a resource group and a storage account makes the architecture questions much more concrete.

Should I take AZ-900 before AZ-104?

It is not required. If you already administer Azure, go straight to AZ-104. AZ-900 is a vocabulary and confidence builder, not a gate.

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

AZ-900· Fundamentals· Beginner

Azure Fundamentals is the entry point to the Microsoft Azure certification track. It is a broad, non-engineering exam covering cloud concepts, core Azure services and architecture, and the management and governance tooling around them. Most people take it as their first Azure credential, especially those who need to discuss Azure credibly without building on it: sales, procurement, project managers and analysts.

Typically 40 to 60
Questions: 45 min
Duration: 700 on a 1 to 1000 scaled score
Passing score: About US$99
Exam cost

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Exam facts reviewed July 2026 · Independent study resource, not affiliated with Microsoft

Who should take it

Anyone who needs a working vocabulary for Azure without being an engineer, plus technologists who want a low-risk first certification before AZ-104 or AZ-204. There are no prerequisites and no enforced experience requirement. Microsoft suggests familiarity with an area of IT such as infrastructure, databases or software development, but the exam is designed to be reachable without hands-on Azure work.

Skills measured

Domains and weightings as published by Microsoft. Full objectives →

28%Describe cloud concepts
39%Describe Azure architecture and services
33%Describe Azure management and governance

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Frequently asked questions

Does AZ-900 expire?: No. Microsoft Fundamentals certifications do not expire. Role-based and specialty credentials such as AZ-104 are different: they are valid for one year and renew through a free online assessment. Microsoft does reserve the right to retire a credential.
What score do I need to pass?: 700 on a scale of 1 to 1000. Microsoft states explicitly that this is a scaled score and may not equal 70% of the points, so treat any percentage (including on practice exams) as an approximation rather than a threshold.
How long is the exam?: 45 minutes of exam time, within a 65-minute seat time that also covers instructions and the candidate agreement.
Do I need hands-on Azure experience?: No. It is designed to be passable from study alone. That said, an hour in the portal creating a resource group and a storage account makes the architecture questions much more concrete.
Should I take AZ-900 before AZ-104?: It is not required. If you already administer Azure, go straight to AZ-104. AZ-900 is a vocabulary and confidence builder, not a gate.

Related certifications

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02): The equivalent foundational exam on AWS
Google Cloud Digital Leader: The equivalent business-facing foundational exam on Google Cloud