Choosing between AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals) and AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) is one of the most common dilemmas for aspiring cloud professionals. AZ-900 is an entry-level certification with no prerequisites, designed for anyone who wants to understand Azure at a conceptual level. AZ-104 is an associate-level certification requiring real hands-on Azure administration experience and significantly more preparation time. Both cost approximately $165 USD, but they serve very different purposes and audiences. This guide breaks down every key difference so you can make the right choice for your career.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Choosing between AZ-900 and AZ-104 comes down to your background, goals, and how you plan to use the certification.
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.
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.
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.