AZ-900 Exam Guide 2026 — Azure Fundamentals Certification Overview
AZ-900 exam guide 2026: what Azure Fundamentals covers, exam format, passing score (700/1000), study timeline, and how to pass first try.
What Is the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals Certification?
The AZ-900 is Microsoft's foundational cloud certification. It validates that a candidate understands basic cloud computing concepts, core Azure services, Azure pricing, support options, and governance features. It does not require hands-on technical experience with Azure — it is intentionally accessible to non-technical professionals, business decision makers, and IT beginners.
Key facts about AZ-900:
- Issued by Microsoft — one of the most recognized names in enterprise technology
- Entry-level: no prerequisites, no prior Azure experience required
- Counts as a Microsoft Certified credential upon passing
- Highly valued for professionals moving into cloud roles, IT support, or Azure-adjacent positions
- Common prerequisite or complementary certification for associate-level Azure certs (AZ-104, AZ-204)
For hands-on exam preparation, use our free az-900 practice test questions aligned to the current Microsoft exam objectives.
AZ-900 Exam at a Glance
- Questions: 40–60 (varies by attempt)
- Time: 45–65 minutes
- Types: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, scenario
- Passing score: 700 out of 1000
- Scale: Scaled score, not percentage
- Result: Pass/Fail shown immediately
- Exam fee: $165 USD (US pricing)
- Retake: Available — 24hr wait for 1st retake
- Vouchers: Free via Microsoft Virtual Training Days
- Beginner: 4–8 weeks
- With IT background: 1–3 weeks
- Free prep: Microsoft Learn + practice tests
AZ-900 Exam Topics and Format
Microsoft publishes the official AZ-900 exam skills outline, which defines the domains and their approximate weighting. As of 2026–2026, the AZ-900 covers:
1. Cloud Concepts (25–30%)
Define cloud computing and its key characteristics. Describe the shared responsibility model. Compare cloud service types: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS. Describe the differences between public, private, and hybrid clouds. Describe cloud benefits: scalability, reliability, predictability, security, governance, manageability.
2. Azure Architecture and Services (35–40%)
Describe core Azure architectural components: regions, region pairs, availability zones, resource groups, subscriptions, management groups. Describe core Azure compute services (virtual machines, containers, Azure Functions). Describe Azure networking (virtual networks, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, DNS). Describe Azure storage services (blobs, disks, queues, tables). Describe Azure identity, access, and security services (Microsoft Entra ID, role-based access control, Zero Trust).
3. Azure Management and Governance (30–35%)
Describe Azure cost management tools (pricing calculator, cost management, tags). Describe Azure governance features (Azure Policy, resource locks, Microsoft Purview). Describe monitoring tools (Azure Advisor, Azure Monitor, Azure Service Health).
Our how to pass az-900 exam guide provides domain-by-domain strategies, and our az-900 practice test covers all three domains with realistic questions.
Get AZ-900 for Free via Microsoft Virtual Training Days
Microsoft regularly offers free AZ-900 exam vouchers through its Microsoft Virtual Training Days program. These are free online instructor-led training events covering Azure Fundamentals content — attendees who complete the event receive a voucher for a free AZ-900 exam attempt ($165 value). Register at Microsoft's events page and search for 'Azure Fundamentals Virtual Training Day.' Vouchers are typically issued within 5 business days after completing the training. This is the most cost-effective way to take the AZ-900 — essentially free preparation and exam. Combine the free training with our az-900 practice test questions and the official az-900 overview for comprehensive preparation.
AZ-900 Study Checklist
AZ-900 Exam Questions and Answers
More AZ-900 Resources
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.