MS-102 certification: exam, cost and the 30 November 2026 retirement
Microsoft will retire Exam MS-102 and the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification on 30 November 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time. After that date you can no longer earn or renew it, and Microsoft names no replacement. Until then the exam costs typically US$165, needs a score of 700 to pass, and you also need one of four associate certifications to receive the Expert title.
- Certification
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert, earned through Exam MS-102: Microsoft 365 AdministratorMicrosoft Learn certification page, checked 10 October 2026
- Status
- Retires 30 November 2026, 11:59 PM CST — no earning or renewal after that; no successor namedMicrosoft Learn exam page and retirement list, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam cost
- Typically US$165, priced by country or regionMicrosoft Learn exam FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
- Questions
- Not published for MS-102; Microsoft says most exams have 40–60Microsoft Learn exam duration page, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 100 minutes for expert exams without labs, 120 with labs; Microsoft does not say which appliesMicrosoft Learn exam duration page, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 700 or greaterMicrosoft Learn MS-102 study guide, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisite
- One of: Endpoint Administrator, Teams Administrator, Identity and Access Administrator or Information Security Administrator AssociateMicrosoft Learn certification page, checked 10 October 2026
- Delivery
- Pearson VUE, online from home or office or at a test centreMicrosoft Learn online exams page, checked 10 October 2026
- Renewal
- Annual free online assessment — only until the retirement dateMicrosoft Learn study guide and retirement page, checked 10 October 2026
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MS-102 is retiring on 30 November 2026
Microsoft has announced that Exam MS-102 and the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification will retire on 30 November 2026. The exam closes at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time on that day. After it, Microsoft says, you will no longer be able to earn or renew the certification.
If you are preparing now, Microsoft’s advice is to take the exam before the retirement date. If you already hold the certification and are eligible to renew before 30 November, Microsoft recommends doing so, because there is no renewal option afterwards. A certification earned or renewed before retirement stays in the Active section of your Microsoft Learn transcript until it expires, then moves to Historical.
Microsoft names no successor certification on the certification page, the exam page or its retirement list. Any claim that a specific new exam “replaces” MS-102 does not come from Microsoft’s own pages as of 10 October 2026.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam and assessment lab retirement. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is the MS-102 certification?
The MS-102 certification is shorthand for Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert (MS-102). It is aimed at administrators who deploy and manage Microsoft 365 and handle tenant-level implementation and administration of cloud and hybrid environments. Microsoft describes the role as the integrating hub for all Microsoft 365 workloads, working with the people responsible for identity, security, compliance, endpoints and applications.
The exam behind it is Exam MS-102: Microsoft 365 Administrator. Microsoft expects candidates to have functional experience with all Microsoft 365 workloads and Microsoft Entra ID, and a working knowledge of networking, Active Directory Domain Services, DNS and PowerShell.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 certification path
Passing MS-102 alone does not make you an Expert. The MS-102 certification path needs two things: the MS-102 exam and at least one of four associate certifications. Because the Expert certification retires on 30 November 2026, both parts must be complete by then.
If you hold none of the four, the associate exam comes first — and you now have to fit both into the time left before the retirement date. The Endpoint Administrator Associate (exam MD-102) is not retiring and remains a credential in its own right.
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Information Security Administrator Associate
Source: Microsoft Learn — Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 exam format and passing score
Microsoft states that associate and expert exams typically cost US$165, priced according to currency values in each country or region, with taxes added in some places; the MS-102 exam page shows the binding price for the country where you are proctored, and retakes are paid again.
You need a score of 700 or greater to pass the MS-102 exam. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions for MS-102; its general guidance is that most certification exams have 40 to 60 questions, and it does not reveal question types in advance.
For time, Microsoft lists 100 minutes for associate and expert exams without labs (120 minutes seat time) and 120 minutes for those that may contain labs (140 minutes seat time). It does not say which exams contain labs; you see your exam time when you register. If MS-102 is not offered in your language, you can request 30 extra minutes.
The exam is delivered by Pearson VUE, online at home or in the office with a remote proctor, or at a test centre. It is offered in English, Chinese (Simplified), German, Spanish, French, Japanese and Portuguese (Brazil). After a failed attempt you wait 24 hours, then 14 days between later attempts, with at most five attempts in 12 months.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam duration and exam experience. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the MS-102 exam?
The skills measured were last updated on 28 April 2026, with only minor changes inside the four areas. Security carries the most weight: Microsoft Defender XDR alone is 30–35% of the exam.
- Deploy and manage a Microsoft 365 tenant — 25–30%
- Implement and manage Microsoft Entra identity and access — 25–30%
- Manage security and threats by using Microsoft Defender XDR — 30–35%
- Manage compliance by using Microsoft Purview — 10–15%
Source: Microsoft Learn — Study guide for Exam MS-102. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 study guide and training
The official MS-102 study guide is Microsoft’s own page for the exam. It lists the skills measured with every sub-objective, the audience profile, a change log and links to documentation for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview.
For MS-102 training, note the state of Microsoft’s offer as the retirement approaches: the certification page currently says that learning paths or modules are not yet available and that no current courses are listed for this certification. The documentation links in the study guide and hands-on work in a Microsoft 365 tenant are therefore the core of preparation, alongside any instructor-led course you can still find.
Microsoft also offers an exam sandbox to try the exam interface before test day.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Study guide for Exam MS-102. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 practice exam and practice test
Microsoft offers a free MS-102 practice assessment on the study guide page. Microsoft’s FAQ says practice assessments are free for every learner and can be taken as many times as you want, which makes it the natural first MS-102 practice test.
Use it the way you would a full MS-102 practice exam: take it once early to see which of the four areas is weak, then again shortly before your booking. With Defender XDR worth 30–35%, a weak result there matters more than anywhere else.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 dumps and exam dumps
MS-102 dumps are not a shortcut. Microsoft defines a brain dump as exam content that was fraudulently obtained to be shared or sold, and states that using such material to prepare for or during an exam constitutes cheating. Candidates found doing so may be permanently banned from future Microsoft credentials and have certifications and scores revoked.
MS-102 exam dumps carry an extra risk now: with the exam retiring, a revoked certification cannot be re-earned after 30 November 2026.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam and assessment lab security policies. Checked 10 October 2026.
Is the MS-102 certification worth it now?
Microsoft publishes no salary figures for this certification, and this page does not quote anyone else’s. The real question in October 2026 is timing. A certification earned before 30 November stays active on your transcript until it expires — Microsoft’s associate and expert certifications expire annually — but it cannot be renewed after the retirement date.
If you already hold one of the four associate certifications and are close to ready, sitting MS-102 before the deadline still gives you the Expert title for its remaining validity. If you are starting from zero, weigh whether two exams in the time left are realistic.
Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam and assessment lab retirement. Checked 10 October 2026.
MS-102 practice questions
Certsqill’s MS-102 practice questions are expert-developed: every question explains each answer option, and you see a readiness score for each of the four skill areas before the exam retires on 30 November 2026.
MS-102 questions people ask
Is the MS-102 exam retiring?
Yes. Exam MS-102 and the Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert certification retire on 30 November 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 10 October 2026.
What replaces MS-102?
Microsoft names no successor on its certification, exam or retirement pages, checked 10 October 2026.
What happens to my MS-102 certification after retirement?
It stays in the Active section of your transcript until it expires, then moves to Historical. You cannot renew it after 30 November 2026. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the MS-102 exam cost?
Typically US$165, priced by country or region. Source: Microsoft Learn exam FAQ, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the MS-102 passing score?
700 or greater. Source: Microsoft Learn MS-102 study guide, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the MS-102 exam?
Microsoft does not publish a figure for MS-102; it says most certification exams have 40 to 60 questions.
What do I need besides MS-102 to become a Microsoft 365 Administrator Expert?
One of four associate certifications: Endpoint Administrator, Teams Administrator, Identity and Access Administrator or Information Security Administrator. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 10 October 2026.
Is there a free MS-102 practice test?
Yes. Microsoft offers a free practice assessment for MS-102 on the study guide page, which you can repeat as often as you like.
Is MS-102 worth it in late 2026?
Only if you can finish before 30 November 2026. The certification then stays active until it expires but cannot be renewed. Microsoft publishes no salary data for it.
