AZ-104 Azure Administrator: the job it certifies and how to get ready
Microsoft charges $165 in the US for the AZ-104 Azure Administrator exam (November 2026); the certification expires after a year, but renewal is a free online assessment. Microsoft Learn's training is free too, so a first attempt can cost $165; a four-day class brings it to $2,560 to $2,660, or $2,395 if ONLC grants its free Exam Pak. AZ-104 is for people who manage Azure subscriptions, identities, storage, compute and networks. If you already administer servers or networks, we estimate 6 to 10 weeks with hands-on lab time.
Key facts
- The AZ-104 exam costs $165 in the US, lasts 100 minutes and has a passing score of 700. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
- Associate certifications expire after a year; renewal is a free, open-book online assessment taken before expiry. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
The work AZ-104 certifies, and who takes it
AZ-104 certifies the day-to-day work of an Azure administrator: managing subscriptions and identities, storage, virtual machines and other compute, virtual networks and monitoring. People usually take it when their job already includes running Azure, or when they administer servers or networks and their organization is moving to Azure. Microsoft expects you to know operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization before you start.
A good fit if
- You already administer Windows or Linux servers, or networks, and your organization is moving to Azure
- You manage Azure subscriptions, identities or virtual networks as part of your job
- You can practise in your own Azure subscription most weeks
- You already script with PowerShell or the Azure CLI, or deploy from templates
Think twice if
- You have not yet worked with servers, networking or PowerShell: Microsoft expects all of them, plus the Azure CLI
- You need cloud literacy for a non-technical role rather than administration skill
- Your organization runs mainly on AWS or Google Cloud
Consider instead: AZ-900 for an overview of Azure without administration; AWS Solutions Architect Associate if your organization uses AWS, or Google Associate Cloud Engineer if it uses Google Cloud.
Exam and renewal
The exam lasts 100 minutes, and 700 is the passing score. Microsoft does not publish an exact question count. It expects candidates to know operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization, and to use PowerShell, the Azure CLI, the portal and templates. Its study guide lists skills measured as of October 26, 2023:
| Area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Identities and governance | 20–25% |
| Storage | 15–20% |
| Compute | 20–25% |
| Virtual networking | 15–20% |
| Monitoring and maintenance | 10–15% |
Associate certifications expire after a year, but renewal costs nothing: you pass a free, open-book online assessment once you become eligible, before the certification expires.
Free training versus a class
AZ-104 rewards hands-on practice more than lectures. Work through the Microsoft Learn paths with your own Azure subscription, then use practice exams to find weak areas. Microsoft offers a Practice Assessment for AZ-104: the newer version runs on AI Skills Navigator and needs you to sign in, and the legacy version on Microsoft Learn is no longer updated. A class helps when an employer pays, or when you want an instructor to walk through networking and identity scenarios live.
Preparation prices
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free official training | Microsoft Learn, AZ-104T00 learning paths, self-paced. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $165 exam | $165 |
| Practice exams | Tutorials Dojo, AZ-104 practice exams, list price (on sale for $11.24 when checked). Checked November 5, 2026. | $14.99 | + $165 exam | $179.99 |
| Live class, 4 days | ONLC Training Centers, AZ-104 Azure Administrator, live online; ask by phone at registration for the free Exam Pak (a voucher and a retake voucher, released after an 85% practice score); if granted, your total is $2,395. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,395 | + $165 exam | $2,560 |
| Live class, 4 days | New Horizons, AZ-104T00 Microsoft Azure Administrator, virtual live; exam voucher offered as an add-on. Checked November 5, 2026. | $2,495 | + $165 exam | $2,660 |
Comparing AZ-104 classes
- Voucher and retake. ONLC's free Exam Pak includes a voucher and a retake voucher, but you ask for it by phone at registration and it is released after an 85% practice score. New Horizons offers the voucher as an add-on.
- What you get beyond the free course. New Horizons teaches Microsoft's official AZ-104T00 course, and the self-paced learning paths that match it are free on Microsoft Learn, so the class price buys four days with an instructor.
- Where you will do the labs. Ask whether the class provides an Azure lab environment or expects you to use your own subscription, and whether access continues after the class.
- Which skills outline it follows. Microsoft's study guide lists skills measured as of October 26, 2023; ask the provider to confirm its material matches the current study guide.
For IT teams
Because renewal is free, AZ-104 has a low ongoing cost for a team. Ask whether your organization's Microsoft agreement includes training days or exam vouchers before paying list price.
FAQ
- How much is the AZ-104 exam?
- $165 in the US as of November 2026.
- How do I renew AZ-104?
- Pass Microsoft's free online renewal assessment before your certification expires each year.
- What is the AZ-104 passing score?
- 700.
- Do I need AZ-900 first?
- No. AZ-900 is optional.
Next step
Ask for help choosing AZ-104 training
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Administrator Associate (price, length, experience, Practice Assessment), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: AZ-104 study guide (skills and weights, passing score, renewal), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: renew your certification, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.