SC-900: is a Microsoft security, compliance and identity primer worth $99 to you?
SC-900 costs $99 in the US as of November 2026. With Microsoft Learn's free training the whole cost is $99; with a one-day class a first attempt runs $594 to $794. The exam lasts 45 minutes, 700 passes, and the certification does not expire. If you already know Azure or Microsoft 365 at a user level, we estimate 1 to 2 weeks of part-time study; allow longer if security terms are new to you.
Key facts
- The SC-900 exam costs $99 where it is proctored in the US; Microsoft prices exams by country or region. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
- Candidates have 45 minutes for the exam, and a score of 700 or more passes. (Microsoft Learn study guide, checked November 5, 2026)
- The current skills outline is dated October 21, 2026; Microsoft lists only minor changes from the previous version. (Microsoft Learn study guide, checked November 5, 2026)
- Fundamentals certifications do not expire, so SC-900 has no renewal assessment. (Microsoft Learn, checked November 5, 2026)
Who Microsoft writes SC-900 for
Microsoft aims SC-900 at anyone who wants to be familiar with “the fundamentals of security, compliance, and identity (SCI) across cloud-based and related Microsoft services,” and names business stakeholders, new or existing IT professionals and students. It expects familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365. The credential shows you can describe what Microsoft's identity, security and compliance products do; it does not show that you can configure them.
A good fit if
- You sell, buy, audit or manage around Microsoft 365 security and need the product vocabulary
- You work in compliance, risk or privacy and want to know what Purview and Entra cover
- You are an IT generalist or student and want a low-cost first look at Microsoft security before SC-200 or SC-500
Think twice if
- You already run Defender or Sentinel day to day: SC-900 tests descriptions, not configuration
- Your organization does not use Azure or Microsoft 365, so the product names will not transfer
- You want a vendor-neutral security credential that employers outside Microsoft shops recognize
Consider instead: SC-200 if you work in a security operations team, SC-500 (which replaced AZ-500) if you secure Azure and AI workloads, AZ-900 for Azure itself, or Security+ or ISC2 CC for vendor-neutral security basics.
The SC-900 exam and its four skill areas
There is no prerequisite exam and no required experience. Microsoft recommends familiarity with Azure and Microsoft 365. Candidates get 45 minutes, and 700 is the passing score; Microsoft does not publish a question count. The exam is proctored, offered in 13 languages, and can be booked through Pearson VUE, or through Certiport for students and educators. Fundamentals exams do not give you access to Microsoft Learn during the test. Skills measured as of October 21, 2026:
| Area | Weight |
|---|---|
| Security, compliance and identity concepts | 10–15% |
| Microsoft Entra capabilities | 25–30% |
| Microsoft security solutions (Defender, Sentinel and related tools) | 35–40% |
| Microsoft compliance solutions (Purview and related tools) | 20–25% |
The security solutions area carries the most weight, so spend the most time on what each Defender product and Sentinel are for and how they differ.
Getting ready without paying for a course
Microsoft's official instructor-led course is SC-900T00, Introduction to Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity, listed as one day. The same material is free and self-paced on Microsoft Learn. Microsoft also offers a free Practice Assessment on AI Skills Navigator (you need to sign in) and an exam sandbox that shows the question formats. For most people the free paths plus the Practice Assessment are enough. A paid practice set such as Tutorials Dojo's adds more questions with explanations. A one-day class suits people who learn better with an instructor or whose employer pays.
SC-900 prices, from free to a one-day class
| Route | Provider and course | Published price | Exam fee | First attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free official training | Microsoft Learn, SC-900T00 learning paths, self-paced. Checked November 5, 2026. | $0 | + $99 exam | $99 |
| Practice exams | Tutorials Dojo, SC-900 practice exams, 120+ questions, list price (on sale for $9.09 when checked). Checked November 5, 2026. | $12.99 | + $99 exam | $111.99 |
| One-day class | ONLC Training Centers, SC-900 Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity Fundamentals; $545 when you register on or after the early date for the November 25 class; voucher not mentioned. Checked November 5, 2026. | $495 | + $99 exam | $594 |
| One-day class | New Horizons, SC-900T00 Introduction to Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity, virtual instructor-led; exam voucher offered as an add-on. Checked November 5, 2026. | $695 | + $99 exam | $794 |
Costs people miss: a retake is paid at the full exam price, and you wait 24 hours before a second attempt. Microsoft limits you to five attempts at one exam in 12 months. Microsoft sells Exam Replay, a voucher bundled with one retake; its price did not show on the page we read. There is no renewal fee.
Questions to put to an SC-900 class provider
- Is the voucher included? New Horizons sells it as an add-on; ONLC's page does not mention one. Adding the $99 voucher is the difference between the published price and your total.
- Does the class follow the October 21, 2026 outline? Microsoft's changes were minor, so a course built on SC-900T00 still fits, but ask.
- What does a day buy that the free paths do not? New Horizons lists official Microsoft courseware, labs and class recordings for 90 days where available. Ask ONLC what its one day includes.
- Price by registration date. ONLC charges $495 before its early-registration date and $545 after it.
Does SC-900 need renewing?
No. Microsoft says Fundamentals certifications do not expire, so once you pass SC-900 there is no annual assessment and no fee. Microsoft's role-based certifications, such as SC-200 and SC-500, do expire each year and renew through a free online assessment.
Using SC-900 across a team
Because the exam is short and the training free, SC-900 works as a shared baseline for a mixed group: compliance staff, account managers and new IT hires can learn the same product names in a week or two. Ask whether your organization's Microsoft agreement includes exam vouchers before buying them at list price.
SC-900 questions people ask
- How much does SC-900 cost?
- $99 in the US as of November 2026; prices differ by country.
- Does SC-900 expire?
- No. Microsoft Fundamentals certifications do not expire.
- Is SC-900 required before SC-200 or SC-500?
- No. Microsoft lists no prerequisite for either; SC-900 is optional background.
- How long is the SC-900 exam?
- 45 minutes, with 700 as the passing score.
Next step
If you are choosing between free study and a class for yourself or a team, send us your situation.
Ask for help choosing SC-900 training
Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (price, length, audience, languages, Practice Assessment), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: SC-900 study guide (skills and weights, passing score, change log), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: course SC-900T00, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: certification renewal (Fundamentals do not expire), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: exam retake policy, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: exam duration and experience, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Exam Replay offer, checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500 retired August 31, 2026), checked November 5, 2026
- Microsoft Learn: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (exam SC-500), checked November 5, 2026
- Tutorials Dojo: SC-900 practice exams, checked November 5, 2026
- ONLC: SC-900 course, checked November 5, 2026
- New Horizons: SC-900T00 course, checked November 5, 2026
Prices are published list prices we recorded on the dates shown, not quotes. How we research.