The AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) costs more than the fundamentals exams and, unlike them, expires every year. Before you book it, it helps to know how much you'll pay, how to pay less, what happens if you don't pass, and how to keep the certification without paying again. All based on Microsoft's official pages.
How much does the AZ-104 cost?
The reference price is USD 165, the price of Microsoft's associate-level exams. But Microsoft charges based on the country where you take the exam, so the price is different in many countries, and some charge in local currency.
To see the exact price for yours:
- Go to the Azure Administrator certification page on Microsoft Learn.
- Under Schedule exam, choose your country.
- The price shown is what you pay, plus any local taxes.
If you pay in US dollars with a card from another country, your bank may add international purchase fees. Check the final price right before you pay.
| AZ-900 | AZ-104 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Fundamentals | Associate |
| Reference price | USD 99 | USD 165 |
| Duration | 45 minutes | 100 minutes |
| Does it expire? | No | Every 12 months (free renewal) |
How to pay less
1. Student pricing
Microsoft offers academic pricing in most countries (except India and China). To get it:
- Go to your Microsoft Learn profile and open the interest survey.
- Under Career Paths, choose Student.
- Verify your student status. Once verified, the discount applies when you book.
2. Exam Replay
It's a bundle sold through Pearson VUE: it includes the exam and one retake if you don't pass. You must take both within 12 months of purchase. It makes more sense for the AZ-104 than for a fundamentals exam, because a regular retake costs you another USD 165 at the reference price.
3. Your employer
Many companies, especially Microsoft partners, pay for associate-level certifications or have vouchers. If you manage Azure at work, it's the first thing worth asking.
4. Microsoft events
Virtual Training Days with an exam discount are usually for fundamentals exams (AZ-900, AI-901). They're less common for the AZ-104, but it's worth checking whether one is running.
How to book the exam
- Sign in to Microsoft Learn with a personal account (Outlook, Hotmail, or similar). Microsoft recommends it: if you use your work account and leave the company, you can lose your certification history.
- Go to the certification page and click Schedule exam.
- Choose whether to take it online from home or at a Pearson VUE test center, and pick a date.
The AZ-104 is available in English, Spanish, and several other languages. If it isn't available in your preferred language, you can request 30 extra minutes.
Rescheduling, canceling, and failing
- Reschedule or cancel: do it at least 24 hours before your appointment. Otherwise, you lose what you paid.
- If you fail: you can try again after 24 hours. From the third attempt on, you wait 14 days between attempts, with a maximum of 5 attempts in 12 months. Each retake costs the full price.
- To pass you need 700 points on a scale of 1 to 1000.
- The exam may include interactive components, meaning tasks you complete in an Azure environment. Recognizing the right answer isn't enough.
With one retake, the AZ-104 costs you USD 330 at the reference price. Walking in prepared is the most effective way to save.
Renewing it every year, for free
This is the part most people don't know. The Azure Administrator Associate certification expires after 12 months, but renewing it costs nothing:
- It's an online assessment on Microsoft Learn, unproctored, with no Pearson VUE booking.
- You can take it in the 6 months before it expires. Microsoft emails you a reminder.
- If you don't pass, you can try again, with no limit on attempts.
- If you let it lapse, you have to take and pay for the full exam again.
Write down your certification's expiration date as soon as you pass. Letting it lapse is the most expensive way to keep the AZ-104.
Is it worth paying for?
If you work, or want to work, managing Azure, yes. The AZ-104 is the most requested associate-level certification for cloud administrator roles, and it's the foundation for the AZ-305 (Solutions Architect Expert). If you've never used Azure, start with the AZ-900: it costs less and gives you the foundation.
Measure your level before you pay Review the AZ-104 guide, the deep dive, and the cheat sheet, practice in the labs, and create your free account to take the practice exam demo. If you don't reach 70% on the demo, it's not time to book yet.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AZ-104 cost in my country? USD 165 is the reference price. The exact price for your country shows up on Microsoft Learn when you choose your country under Schedule exam.
Does the AZ-104 expire? Yes, after 12 months. You renew it for free with an online assessment on Microsoft Learn, in the 6 months before it expires.
Which languages is it available in? English, Spanish, and several others. If yours isn't available, you can request 30 extra minutes.
Do I need the AZ-900 to take the AZ-104? No, it isn't a requirement. But if you've never worked with Azure, it's a good place to start. We explain the differences in AZ-900 vs AZ-104.
How long do I need to prepare? It depends on your experience. Here's a 6-week AZ-104 study plan.
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