The worst case adds up quickly. Five attempts at US$99 each is US$495. Three 14-day waits sit between the second, third, fourth and fifth sittings. That is about 42 days of forced waiting on top of your study time.
| Scenario | Exam cost | Wait before the next attempt |
|---|
| Attempt 1 | US$99 | 24 hours if you fail |
| Attempt 2 | US$99 | 14 days |
| Attempts 3 to 5 | US$99 each | 14 days between each |
| All 5 attempts in 12 months | US$495 | About 42 days of mandatory waiting |
| Reschedule 6 or more business days out | US$0 | No wait |
| Reschedule close to the exam date | About US$25 | A fee may apply |
| No-show or cancellation within 24 hours | US$99 forfeited | Seat is lost |
Can you take the AZ-900 exam for free?
Sometimes the fee is zero. Microsoft Virtual Training Days can include a 100 percent off voucher for the AZ-900. The voucher appears as a credit on your Microsoft Learn profile. Availability and eligibility vary by event. When a voucher applies, the AZ-900 exam cost drops from US$99 to nothing.
Student pricing lowers the fee in most countries, but not in India or China.
Your employer may also cover the exam fee. Ask whether the learning and development budget already includes Microsoft certifications. If it does, the exam can cost you nothing.
What does it really cost to prepare for the AZ-900?
Official preparation costs nothing. Microsoft Learn offers self-paced study paths and documentation built for this exam. A free AZ-900 Practice Assessment sits beside the official study guide.
Practice labs can cost nothing too. An Azure free account includes US$200 of credit for up to 30 days. It adds 12 months of free allowances on more than 20 services. More than 65 services are free to use at all times. Together they cover the labs that this exam asks about.
Paid courses and extra practice tests sit on top of the fee rather than replacing it. Our guide to Azure certification cost in 2026 covers the full fee breakdown for the wider Microsoft track. The Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 certification follows the same free study model.
Here are the routes that cut the total.
- Microsoft Learn modules - official prep at US$0
- Free practice assessment - a mock test on Microsoft Learn at US$0
- Azure free account - US$200 credit for 30 days plus 65 or more always-free services
- Virtual Training Days voucher - 100 percent off, so US$0 when one is available
- Student or academic pricing - a discount in most countries, excluded in India and China
- Employer funding - US$0 to you when your employer pays
Is the AZ-900 worth it, or should you start with AZ-104?
Price is only one part of the AZ-900 exam cost. AZ-900 is a fundamentals credential, and it does not expire. There is no renewal exam, no renewal fee and no continuing education requirement. Role-based credentials work on a different clock. AZ-104 renews each year, and that renewal costs nothing.
| Point of comparison | AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
|---|
| Exam code | AZ-900 | AZ-104 |
| Credential type | Fundamentals credential | Role-based associate credential |
| Price tier in Canada and Australia | US$84 | US$140 |
| Price in India | INR 3,691 | INR 4,865 |
| Retakes | Paid, up to 5 attempts in 12 months | Paid, up to 5 attempts in 12 months |
| Renewal | No renewal exam, no renewal fee | Renews each year at no charge |
Other clouds price their entry exams close to Microsoft. Google's Cloud Digital Leader page lists a US$99 fee, the same as the AZ-900, plus tax where it applies. Google's Associate Cloud Engineer exam lists US$125. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, code CLF-C02, is listed at US$100 in one published price list. That is one dollar more than the AZ-900.
Price will not decide between the three entry exams. Pick the cloud you plan to work on. Only the AZ-900 names Azure. Our Azure certification path guide compares the Microsoft options side by side. Our list of best Microsoft certifications in 2026 covers the wider track. The AZ-104 certification guide shows what the associate exam adds.
What should you do next?
Open the official country price list and confirm your local amount at Pearson VUE checkout. Read the study guide and take the free practice assessment to see where you stand. Use an Azure free account for practice labs. Use a 100 percent off voucher if one sits on your profile. The credential does not expire, so the exam fee is a one-time cost you can plan for.
Photo: Tumisu, Pixabay Content License, via Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/cloud-computing-technology-network-4373407/)
Fazlur Rahman
