AZ-900

What Is the AZ-900

The AZ-900 is Microsoft’s Azure Fundamentals exam. Passing it earns the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification, which shows you understand cloud computing and the core services, security and governance features of Microsoft Azure.

The exam has no prerequisites and suits students, career changers, and people in sales, finance, project and support roles who work alongside cloud teams. It is also the usual first step before role-based Azure certifications such as Azure Administrator. Unlike most Microsoft certifications, fundamentals certifications do not expire and never need renewal.

If you are choosing between cloud providers, compare it with the AWS Cloud Practitioner, the AWS equivalent. Both are foundational, vendor-specific certifications. Our overview of IT certifications puts them alongside the CompTIA and Cisco options.

AZ-900 Fundamentals Explained

AZ-900 fundamentals means concepts, not configuration. You will not deploy a virtual machine during the exam, but you need to know when you would choose a virtual machine instead of Azure App Service or Azure Functions, and who is responsible for patching it.

The exam covers why organizations move to the cloud, how Azure is organized into regions, resource groups and subscriptions, which services handle compute, networking, storage and identity, and how cost management and governance tools keep cloud use under control. Microsoft also offers a separate AI-900 exam for Azure AI fundamentals; AZ-900 touches AI only in passing.

AZ-900 Exam Format and How Many Questions

The AZ-900 exam gives you 45 minutes of exam time within a 65-minute seat time. The extra 20 minutes cover the instructions, the candidate agreement and an optional survey. Microsoft does not publish a fixed AZ-900 question count, so the exact number can vary from one exam form to another.

Microsoft exams can use several item formats, including standard multiple choice, multiple selection, drag-and-drop ordering and “yes or no” statement sets. Read each instruction carefully, because some sets do not let you go back once you answer.

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Skill Areas

The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam measures three skill areas, according to the study guide updated July 20, 2026:

• Describe cloud concepts (25–30%): cloud computing, the shared responsibility model, public, private and hybrid cloud, benefits of the cloud and IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
• Describe Azure architecture and services (35–40%): regions, region pairs and availability zones, compute, networking, storage, and identity, access and security.
• Describe Azure management and governance (30–35%): cost management, governance and compliance features, tools for managing and deploying resources, and monitoring.

Architecture and services is the largest area, so plan the most study time for it.

Azure Cloud Concepts

Azure cloud concepts form the foundation of the exam. You need to explain the shared responsibility model, compare public, private and hybrid clouds, and describe benefits such as high availability, scalability, reliability, predictability, security, governance and manageability.

Know the service models well. In IaaS the customer manages the operating system and applications, in PaaS the provider manages the platform and in SaaS the provider runs almost everything. Consumption-based pricing and the difference between capital and operational expenditure also appear regularly.

AZ-900 Scoring

AZ-900 is scored on a scale of 1 to 1,000, and you need 700 or greater to pass. The score is scaled, so 700 does not necessarily mean you answered 70% of the questions correctly. Some questions may be weighted differently, and Microsoft adjusts for differences between exam forms.

Your score report shows pass or fail, your overall score and a bar chart of your performance in each skill area. Use that breakdown if you need to retake the exam, because it shows which area pulled you down. On our AZ-900 practice test, a 70% readiness benchmark gives you a simple target to beat consistently before you book.

AZ-900 Retake Policy

If you fail AZ-900, you can retake it after 24 hours. After a second attempt you must wait 14 days between attempts, you can take the exam at most 5 times in 12 months, and you pay the exam fee for each retake.

AZ-900 Registration and Fees

You register for AZ-900 from the official Microsoft Learn exam page, which links to Pearson VUE scheduling. Microsoft sets the exam price by country or region, so check the official Azure Fundamentals page for the current fee where you live.

Follow these steps to book:

1. Sign in to Microsoft Learn with a personal Microsoft account and complete your certification profile.
2. Open the Azure Fundamentals certification page and choose Schedule exam.
3. Pick an online proctored exam or a test center appointment.
4. Choose a date and time, then pay or apply a voucher or discount code.
5. Run the system test in advance if you are testing online.

Students and people attending some Microsoft training events may be eligible for discounted or free vouchers, so check the exam page for current offers before you pay.

AZ-900 Test Prep and Study Plan

Effective AZ-900 test prep combines the free Microsoft Learn path with regular practice questions. Most beginners are ready in two to three weeks at around five hours a week.

Build your own schedule with the study planner and keep your exam date in view with the exam countdown.

AZ-900 Exam Tips

These AZ-900 exam tips address the mistakes beginners make most often:

• Learn the differences between similar services, such as Azure Policy vs role-based access control, and resource locks vs tags.
• Memorize which responsibilities move to the provider as you go from IaaS to PaaS to SaaS.
• Know the hierarchy: management groups, subscriptions, resource groups and resources.
• Read every option in a “yes or no” set independently; each statement is judged on its own.
• Turn service names and definitions into a deck and make flashcards online for daily five-minute reviews.

Microsoft Learn Practice Assessment

Microsoft Learn offers a free official practice assessment for AZ-900. It is short, reflects the style of the real questions and explains answers with links back to the Learn modules.

Take it once early to set a baseline and again near the end of your preparation. Because its question pool is limited, use an independent AZ-900 practice test with answers for most of your repetition.

AZ-900 Test Day Checklist

A smooth test day starts the night before. Check these points for a Microsoft AZ-900 exam:

• Have a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID with a name that matches your certification profile.
• For online exams, test your computer, webcam and network on the same setup, and clear your desk and room.
• Close all other applications, and once online check-in is complete, keep your phone out of reach.
• For a test center, arrive early and expect to store personal items in a locker.
• Use the review screen to revisit flagged questions before the time runs out.
• Answer every question; unanswered questions are scored as incorrect.

Results usually appear on screen when you finish, and the full score report is added to your Microsoft Learn profile.

AZ 900 Practice Assessment vs Exam

The AZ-900 practice assessment and the real exam test the same skill areas, but they differ in purpose and conditions. The practice assessment is a learning tool; the exam is proctored and scaled.

AZ 900 Practice Test vs Real Test

An AZ-900 practice test vs the real test is mostly a difference in pressure, not content. Practice questions let you pause, read explanations and retry; the real test gives you a fixed 45 minutes and no feedback until the end. Simulate that by taking at least two practice tests in timed mode without checking answers along the way.

Compare entry paths before you commit: if you are drawn to hands-on support work, the CompTIA A+ or the Google IT Support Certificate may suit you better than a cloud-only start.

AZ-900 FAQ

What Is the AZ-900 Exam?

The AZ-900 exam is Microsoft's Azure Fundamentals certification exam. It checks foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance. It is designed for beginners in technical and non-technical roles, has no prerequisites and leads to the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification, which does not expire.

How Hard Is the AZ-900 Exam?

AZ-900 is one of the easier Microsoft exams because it tests understanding rather than hands-on configuration. Candidates new to IT still need to learn a lot of terminology, from availability zones to Azure Policy. With one to three weeks of steady study and a few practice tests, most beginners are well prepared.

How Many Questions Are There in the AZ-900 Exam?

Microsoft does not publish a fixed number of questions for AZ-900, and the count can vary between exam forms. What is fixed is the time: 45 minutes of exam time within a 65-minute seat time. Practice at a steady pace of about a minute per question so the count never surprises you.

Is Microsoft's AZ-900 Practice Test Enough to Pass?

Microsoft's free practice assessment is an excellent check, but on its own it is usually not enough. It has a limited question pool, so repeat attempts soon test memory rather than understanding. Pair it with Microsoft Learn modules and a second, independent AZ-900 practice test with explanations to cover every skill area.