AZ-900 vs AZ-104: Which Azure Certification First? (2026)

AZ-900 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals) is the entry-level exam that covers core cloud and Azure concepts with no prerequisites, while AZ-104 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate) is a harder, hands-on exam that tests your ability to actually manage Azure resources — and most candidates should take AZ-900 first. They are not competing options for the same job; they sit at different levels of the same Azure certification path.

If you're new to Azure and trying to decide where to start, the short version is this: AZ-900 builds your vocabulary and mental model of the cloud, and AZ-104 proves you can operate it. Skipping straight to AZ-104 is possible, but only makes sense if you already have real Azure experience.

What is AZ-900?

AZ-900 is Microsoft's foundational cloud certification. It confirms you understand cloud computing concepts (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), core Azure services (compute, networking, storage), and Azure's approach to pricing, support, and governance. It is deliberately non-technical — you are not expected to configure anything, just to understand what exists and why you'd use it.

It's aimed at people who are new to Azure entirely: students, career-changers, salespeople, project managers, and anyone in a non-technical role who needs to talk credibly about cloud services. It's also the standard on-ramp for IT professionals before they specialize.

What is AZ-104?

AZ-104 is the associate-level exam behind the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential. It tests whether you can actually do the job: manage Azure identities and governance, deploy and manage storage, deploy and manage compute resources (VMs, containers, App Service), configure and manage virtual networking, and monitor and back up Azure resources.

Unlike AZ-900, AZ-104 assumes hands-on experience. Microsoft doesn't enforce a formal prerequisite, but its own exam guidance recommends six months or more of hands-on experience administering Azure before you sit it — configuring VMs, virtual networks, storage accounts, and identity in a real or sandbox environment. Reading alone won't get you through it.

AZ-900 vs AZ-104 at a glance

As of 2026, per Microsoft Learn:

A few notes on that table: Microsoft doesn't publish an exact per-exam question count for either exam — the ranges above reflect Microsoft's general guidance and consistent candidate reporting, not an official fixed number. Pricing varies by country; the figures above are standard US list prices. Confirm both against Microsoft's official Azure Fundamentals and Azure Administrator Associate certification pages before you register, since Microsoft updates objectives and pricing periodically (most recently AZ-900's skills outline in January 2026).

Should I take AZ-900 before AZ-104?

For most people, yes. AZ-900 gives you the shared vocabulary — resource groups, regions, availability zones, IaaS vs. PaaS, the shared responsibility model — that AZ-104 assumes you already know. Without it, you'll spend your AZ-104 study time relearning basic cloud concepts instead of practicing the hands-on administration tasks the exam actually tests.

There's also a practical study-sequencing argument: AZ-900 typically takes a few weeks of part-time study, even with zero cloud background, because it's conceptual rather than hands-on. That makes it a low-cost way to confirm Azure is the right path for you before you invest the much larger time commitment AZ-104 demands.

Can I skip AZ-900 and go straight to AZ-104?

Yes — nothing technically blocks it, since AZ-104 has no enforced prerequisite. It's a reasonable choice if you already have real hands-on Azure administration experience (from a job, an internship, or serious personal-lab practice) and are comfortable with core cloud terminology already. In that case, AZ-900 would mostly be testing things you already know, and your study time is better spent directly on AZ-104's administration domains.

If you're not sure whether you're "experienced enough" to skip it, that uncertainty is itself a signal: take AZ-900 first. It's inexpensive, short, and removes any doubt about your foundation before you tackle a harder, hands-on exam.

How do the exams differ in content and difficulty?

AZ-900 is knowledge-based: you're recognizing and describing services and concepts, not configuring them. Most of its questions are standard multiple-choice or multiple-select, and a strong week or two of focused study is usually enough for someone with general IT familiarity.

AZ-104 is scenario-based: expect case studies, "given this environment, what would you configure" questions, and content that assumes you've actually clicked through the Azure portal or used the CLI/PowerShell to manage resources. Its five core domains — identity/governance, storage, compute, networking, and monitoring — each require practical familiarity, not just definitions. Most candidates spend several weeks to a few months preparing, depending on how much real Azure administration experience they're bringing in.

For a domain-by-domain breakdown of what to study for AZ-104 specifically, see our AZ-104 study guide.

Does either certification expire?

This is one of the sharpest differences between the two. AZ-900 does not expire — once you pass it, it's yours permanently, with no renewal requirement. AZ-104 does expire, and Microsoft requires a free, unproctored online renewal assessment through Microsoft Learn to extend it another year. You become eligible for that renewal assessment within six months of your certification's expiration date, and it's shorter than the original exam, focused on what's changed since you certified.

If you're weighing the two purely as "which credential requires less long-term upkeep," AZ-900 wins by design — it's meant to be a one-time foundational credential, while AZ-104 is meant to certify current, maintained skill.

Which one should I take for my career goals?

• You're new to IT or cloud entirely, or in a non-technical role (sales, PM, support) that touches Azure: AZ-900 alone is often enough, and it's the right starting point regardless.
• You want to work as, or move into, an Azure administrator, sysadmin, or cloud support role: take AZ-900 first if you're new to Azure, then AZ-104 — the associate credential is the one employers actually screen for in admin job postings.
• You already administer Azure resources day-to-day: you can likely go straight to AZ-104, using AZ-900's objectives as a quick self-check rather than a formal exam.

Start practicing for AZ-900 or AZ-104

Both exams reward practicing with realistic, exam-style questions far more than passive reading of documentation. Cert Climb offers a free 30-question trial for each exam — no card required — with rationales explaining why each answer is right or wrong, so you can gauge your readiness before you book anything.

Try Azure AZ-900 practice questions or start with a free AZ-900 practice test, and when you're ready for the administrator exam, work through Azure AZ-104 practice questions.

Frequently asked questions

Is AZ-900 a prerequisite for AZ-104?

No. Microsoft does not enforce AZ-900 as a formal prerequisite for AZ-104 — you can register for AZ-104 without ever taking AZ-900. It's recommended as a starting point for people new to Azure because it builds the conceptual foundation AZ-104 assumes, not because it's required.

Is AZ-104 much harder than AZ-900?

Yes, meaningfully. AZ-900 tests recognition of cloud concepts and services; AZ-104 tests hands-on ability to configure and manage them through scenario-based questions and case studies. Most candidates need real Azure administration practice, not just reading, to pass AZ-104.

How much does it cost to get both AZ-900 and AZ-104?

At current US list pricing, AZ-900 costs about $99 and AZ-104 costs about $165, for a combined total of roughly $264 before any discounts or regional adjustments. Confirm current pricing on Microsoft's official certification pages, since Microsoft periodically adjusts exam fees.

Does AZ-900 count toward AZ-104 renewal?

No. AZ-900 doesn't expire and has no renewal process, so it isn't part of AZ-104's renewal cycle. AZ-104's annual renewal is a separate, free online assessment tied specifically to the Azure Administrator Associate certification.