Comparisons
AZ-900 vs AZ-104: which Azure exam should you take first?
Updated · 6 min read
AZ-900 and AZ-104 are often mentioned together, and it is easy to wonder if you need both. They are built for different people. AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) is an entry point that teaches what Azure is. AZ-104 (Azure Administrator) checks that you can run an Azure environment. This guide compares them so you can choose where to start, using Microsoft's own published study guides.
The short answer
- Take AZ-900 first if you are new to cloud or Azure, come from a non-technical role, or want a confident first certification.
- Go straight to AZ-104 if you already work with servers, networks or virtual machines and want a certification that matches an administrator's job.
- You do not need AZ-900 to book AZ-104. It is a stepping stone, not a requirement.
AZ-900 and AZ-104 side by side
| AZ-900 | AZ-104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Fundamentals | Associate (role-based) |
| Aimed at | Anyone new to cloud or Azure, technical or not | Azure administrators: people who implement, manage and monitor an Azure environment |
| Experience Microsoft expects | None required | Familiarity with operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization, plus PowerShell, Azure CLI, the portal, ARM templates or Bicep, and Microsoft Entra ID |
| What it tests | Recognising concepts and services | Configuring and managing resources: storage, compute, networking, identity, monitoring, backup |
| Passing score | 700 or greater | 700 or greater |
| Certification renewal | See Microsoft's AZ-900 page | Every 12 months, with a free online assessment |
Microsoft's pages cover details such as price, which depends on the country where you take the exam, and the time you are given, which can change. Check the AZ-900 study guide, the AZ-104 study guide and the Azure Administrator certification page before you book.
What each exam covers
AZ-900: three broad areas
Microsoft's AZ-900 study guide splits the exam into cloud concepts (25–30%), Azure architecture and services (35–40%) and Azure management and governance (30–35%). You describe ideas such as regions, availability zones, shared responsibility, identity and cost management. The questions ask what a service is for, not how to set it up. Our AZ-900 study guide turns that outline into a two-week plan.
AZ-104: five areas, all hands-on
AZ-104 is organised around tasks an administrator does. Microsoft lists five skill areas, with these weights:
- Manage Azure identities and governance: 20–25%
- Deploy and manage Azure compute resources: 20–25%
- Implement and manage storage: 15–20%
- Implement and manage virtual networking: 15–20%
- Monitor and maintain Azure resources: 10–15%
Topics include role assignments and Azure Policy, storage redundancy and shared access signatures, virtual machines and App Service, ARM templates and Bicep, network security groups, private endpoints, load balancers, Azure Monitor, backup and Site Recovery. These are skills you practise in a real subscription, not just read about.
Where they overlap
Several topics appear in both exams, at different depths. AZ-900 asks what Azure Policy, resource locks, tags, management groups, role-based access control and Microsoft Entra ID are. AZ-104 asks how to configure them and how they interact. If you have studied AZ-900, you already know the names and the reasons for them, which makes the first AZ-104 domain easier. Storage redundancy, availability zones and virtual networks work the same way: ideas in AZ-900, configuration in AZ-104.
Which one should you take first?
Choose AZ-900 first if…
- You are changing careers or work in sales, project management, finance or another non-technical role.
- You have never used Azure or any cloud platform.
- You want a lower-stakes first exam and a clear sense of the platform before specialising.
Choose AZ-104 first if…
- You already administer servers, networks, virtualization or another cloud.
- You are comfortable with PowerShell or the command line and want a certificate for an administrator role.
- You can spend regular hands-on time in an Azure subscription before the exam.
Do both if…
You are starting out but aiming at an administrator role. Use AZ-900 to learn the vocabulary in a couple of weeks, then spend your longer study time on AZ-104.
How to prepare for each
For both exams, learn a topic first, then test yourself. For AZ-900, practice questions and a timed run-through are usually enough alongside Microsoft Learn. For AZ-104, add hands-on work: build the resources in a free or trial subscription, break them on purpose and fix them. Then use practice questions to find gaps.
ExamCup has free questions with answers and written explanations for both exams, and a timed practice exam with full access:
See what is included and how to know you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pass AZ-900 before AZ-104?
No. Microsoft does not list AZ-900 as a prerequisite for AZ-104. It is a common first step because it teaches the vocabulary, but you can book AZ-104 directly if you already have the background.
Is AZ-104 much harder than AZ-900?
Yes, for most people. AZ-900 asks you to recognise and describe services, while AZ-104 expects you to know how to configure and manage them, including storage access, virtual networks, virtual machines, templates and monitoring. Hands-on time matters far more for AZ-104.
Which one should a complete beginner take?
AZ-900. It gives you the shared language and shows whether Azure suits you before you invest in a role-based exam.
Can I skip AZ-900 if I work in IT?
Often, yes. If you already administer servers, networks or another cloud, you may be ready for AZ-104 after targeted study and some hands-on practice with Azure. Check the skills outline against what you do today.
Do both exams use the same passing score?
Microsoft states that a score of 700 or greater is required to pass both. Scores are reported on a scale, so 700 is not 70% of the questions.
ExamCup is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. Exam names and codes are trademarks of their owners. Skill areas, weights, the passing score and the renewal period are taken from Microsoft's published AZ-900 and AZ-104 study guides and certification pages, checked on November 4, 2026, and may have changed since.
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