Skip to content
ExamCup

Exam prep

Is AZ-900 worth it? How hard it is and who should take it

Updated · 6 min read

AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) is the exam most people take to start with Azure. Is it worth your time and money, and how hard is it? Here is an honest look, based on what Microsoft publishes about the exam and on how beginners usually find it.

The short verdict

AZ-900 is worth it if you are new to cloud and want a structured first step, a conversation starter on your resume, or a base for AZ-104 and other Azure exams. It is a poor use of time if you already run Azure workloads every day and are aiming at a technical job, where a role-based certification carries more weight.

Who it is worth it for

  • Career changers moving into IT or cloud, who need a recognised first credential and a clear study path.
  • Non-technical roles such as sales, project management, procurement and finance that work with cloud teams and need to follow the conversation.
  • Students and graduates who want to show initiative alongside a degree.
  • IT staff new to Azure who want a quick map of the platform before a role-based exam.

Who can skip it

  • Experienced Azure administrators, who can go straight to a role-based exam.
  • Anyone who needs a certificate only because a job ad mentions "certifications": check what the role actually asks for first.

How hard is AZ-900?

Microsoft's own audience description says the exam suits people who are just beginning to work with cloud services and Azure, and that no prior experience is required. In practice that makes it one of the gentler entries in the Azure line-up, with some caveats:

  • It is broad. Microsoft's study guide has three skill areas: cloud concepts (25–30%), Azure architecture and services (35–40%) and management and governance (30–35%). That is a lot of vocabulary.
  • Options are similar. Many questions ask you to pick between services that sound alike, such as Azure Monitor, Service Health and Advisor, so you need to know what each is for.
  • It is not configuration. You do not need to click through the portal from memory. You need to know what things are, when to use them and who is responsible.
  • The pass mark is 700 on a scaled score, according to Microsoft.

A realistic plan for a beginner is two to four weeks at about an hour a day. Our AZ-900 study guide sets out a two-week version built on Microsoft's outline.

What you actually get from it

  • A shared vocabulary. Regions, availability zones, resource groups, shared responsibility and cost models appear in every Azure conversation afterwards.
  • A clear next step. It shows whether Azure interests you before you spend months on a harder exam.
  • A signal, not a guarantee. It shows initiative and a baseline, and it can help you get interviews for entry-level and support roles. It does not replace projects or experience.

Be wary of articles that quote exact salary increases or pass rates for AZ-900. Those figures are rarely sourced, and they vary by country, role and employer.

Make it count

  1. Study from Microsoft's official outline: the AZ-900 study guide.
  2. Test yourself with practice questions and read every explanation. The free AZ-900 questions on ExamCup are a good place to start.
  3. Rehearse with a timed practice exam in one sitting before the real day.
  4. Plan your next step: see AZ-900 vs AZ-104 if you are heading for an administrator role.

Frequently asked questions

Is AZ-900 worth it?

For most beginners, yes: it is a low-cost, well-defined way to learn Azure's vocabulary and to show you have taken the first step. It is worth less if you are already experienced, because employers who hire for technical roles usually look for role-based certifications and real projects.

Is AZ-900 hard?

It is one of the more approachable cloud exams. It tests concepts and recognising services, not configuring them, and Microsoft says no experience is required. It still takes real study, because the exam covers many services and the wording of options can be close.

Will AZ-900 get me a job?

Not on its own. It shows initiative and a baseline, which can help for entry-level, support or non-technical roles around cloud teams. Pair it with projects, hands-on practice and a role-based certification such as AZ-104 for technical jobs.

What is the passing score?

Microsoft states that a score of 700 or greater is required to pass. Scores are reported on a scale, so 700 is not 70% of the questions.

What should I take after AZ-900?

It depends on your goal. Administrators often move on to AZ-104. Other Microsoft fundamentals exams cover data, security or AI. See our comparison of AZ-900 and AZ-104.

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 audience description are taken from Microsoft's published AZ-900 study guide, checked on November 4, 2026, and may have changed since. The rest is general advice.

Try the free questions

Pick your exam and start with the free questions, answers and explanations. Create a free account for 50% more.

Find your exam

Keep reading