AZ-900 vs AZ-104: differences and which one to study first

If you're getting started with Azure, you've probably already found the AZ-900 as the entry point. But you've also likely seen the AZ-104 in job postings and wondered: what's the real difference, and which one should I take first?

Straight answer: the AZ-900 first, always. But let's explain why and what to expect from each one.

What is the AZ-900?

The AZ-900 (Azure Fundamentals) is Microsoft Azure's foundational-level certification. It assesses general cloud computing concepts and a basic understanding of Azure services. It requires no prior technical experience.

It's the equivalent of learning the vocabulary before speaking the language.

What is the AZ-104?

The AZ-104 (Azure Administrator Associate) is an associate-level certification that validates real technical skills for managing Azure environments in production. It covers:

• ▸Identity and governance management (Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory, and RBAC)
• ▸Implementing and managing storage
• ▸Configuring and managing virtual networks
• ▸Deploying and managing compute (virtual machines, containers, App Service)
• ▸Monitoring and backing up Azure resources

In addition, the exam can include labs where you perform tasks in an Azure environment: recognizing the answer isn't enough; you have to know how to do it.

It's the equivalent of speaking the language with technical fluency.

Side-by-side comparison

Why the AZ-900 first?

Although the AZ-900 isn't an official prerequisite for the AZ-104, attempting the AZ-104 without going through the fundamentals is a common mistake that costs time and money.

The AZ-104 assumes you already understand concepts such as:

• ▸What an Azure subscription is and how the resource hierarchy works
• ▸The difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
• ▸What the basic services are for (VMs, Storage, VNets)
• ▸How the shared responsibility model works

If you get to the AZ-104 without that context, the technical scenario questions become much harder to interpret.

💡 Microsoft doesn't require the AZ-900 to take the AZ-104, but the certification community agrees: people who take the AZ-900 first pass the AZ-104 faster and with better understanding.

Does the AZ-900 help with the AZ-104?

Directly, yes. Roughly 20–25% of the AZ-900 content overlaps with the AZ-104, especially in:

• ▸Virtual network concepts
• ▸Storage types
• ▸Identity and access fundamentals
• ▸Pricing models and subscriptions

People who already have the AZ-900 start the AZ-104 with a solid foundation that cuts preparation time.

How much time between one and the other?

The most effective path we keep seeing in the community:

1. ▸Weeks 1–4: prepare for and pass the AZ-900
2. ▸Weeks 5–6: real practice in the Azure portal (creating VMs and networks, configuring permissions)
3. ▸Weeks 7–16: prepare for the AZ-104 with in-depth technical material
4. ▸Week 17+: pass the AZ-104

In total, from zero to a passed AZ-104: 4–5 months with consistent dedication.

Which one does the job market ask for?

It depends on the role:

• ▸Technical support / cloud helpdesk role: the AZ-900 is usually enough to get in
• ▸Azure administrator / cloud engineer role: the AZ-104 is almost always required or highly valued
• ▸Architect or DevOps role: the AZ-104 is the minimum, plus the AZ-305 (architecture) or the AZ-400 (DevOps)

If your goal is to land a job as an Azure administrator, the AZ-900 is the first step — but don't stop there.

Full Azure certification path

AZ-900 (Fundamentals)
    ↓
AZ-104 (Administrator) → AZ-305 (Architect)
    ↓
AZ-500 (Security)
    ↓
AZ-400 (DevOps)

The AZ-900 opens every door. From there you choose the path based on your target role. If your background is in development, keep in mind that the AZ-204 was retired on July 31, 2026; its replacement is the AI-200 (Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate).

Start with the AZ-900 today Brains4Cloud has full AZ-900 practice exams, along with the AZ-900 guide and interactive labs. When you take the next step, the AZ-104 guide is waiting for you. Create your free account and assess your current level.