AZ-900 vs AZ-104 — Which Azure Certification Should You Take?

Overview of Both Certifications

Microsoft offers two popular Azure certifications that often get compared: AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) and AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator). While both are part of the Azure certification ecosystem, they serve very different purposes and target very different candidates.

What Is AZ-900?

AZ-900 is an entry-level, vendor-neutral certification designed to prove foundational knowledge of cloud concepts and Azure services. It is intended for anyone curious about the cloud — sales professionals, project managers, students, and non-technical stakeholders — as well as those just starting their cloud journey.

• Exam cost: approximately $165 USD
• Format: 40–60 multiple-choice questions
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Passing score: 700 out of 1000
• No prerequisites required

AZ-900 covers broad concepts: cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), Azure core services, pricing, support, and governance basics. It does not require hands-on Azure experience. You can follow a structured AZ-900 study guide and be exam-ready in 2–4 weeks. To get a feel for the exam content, explore our cloud concepts practice questions.

What Is AZ-104?

AZ-104 is an associate-level certification for IT professionals who actively manage Azure infrastructure. It validates skills in deploying virtual machines, configuring virtual networks, managing storage, administering identities, and monitoring Azure resources.

• Exam cost: approximately $165 USD
• Format: 40–60 questions (including case studies and drag-and-drop tasks)
• Duration: 100–120 minutes
• Passing score: 700 out of 1000
• Prerequisites: 6+ months of hands-on Azure experience recommended

AZ-104 is significantly harder than AZ-900. Candidates need practical experience configuring Azure services — not just conceptual knowledge. Review our Azure services overview to understand the scope of services you'll need to master for AZ-104.

Which Azure Certification Should You Take?

Choosing between AZ-900 and AZ-104 comes down to your background, goals, and how you plan to use the certification.

Choose AZ-900 If…

• You are new to cloud computing and want to build foundational knowledge
• You work in a non-technical role (sales, finance, management) but need to understand Azure
• You want a quick confidence boost before studying for a harder certification
• You are exploring whether a cloud career is right for you
• Your employer requires basic Azure literacy but not deep technical skills

AZ-900 is also a great starting point if you plan to eventually pursue AZ-104 — it gives you the vocabulary and conceptual framework you'll need. Check out our AZ-900 practice strategies to see how candidates approach the exam efficiently.

Choose AZ-104 If…

• You already manage or have managed cloud or on-premises infrastructure
• You want a role as a Cloud Administrator, DevOps Engineer, or Solutions Architect
• You have hands-on experience with Azure (virtual machines, networking, storage, IAM)
• Your organization needs someone who can deploy and maintain Azure resources — not just explain them
• You are targeting Microsoft's associate or expert-level certification tracks

If you have no Azure experience at all, going straight to AZ-104 is possible but very challenging. Most successful AZ-104 candidates have spent significant time in the Azure portal or via Azure CLI/PowerShell before the exam. Our complete AZ-900 guide can help you build that baseline knowledge first.

If You Are Completely New to Azure

Start with AZ-900. It is designed exactly for you. Once you pass AZ-900 and gain real Azure experience through labs, free-tier exploration, or work projects, you will be far better prepared for AZ-104. The two certifications are not sequential requirements — but the knowledge path they represent is logical and widely followed. Our Microsoft Certified Azure overview covers the full certification ladder so you can plan your path.