AZ-104 exam: objectives, format and scheduling

AZ-104 exam objectives

Microsoft publishes the AZ-104 exam objectives in its study guide as “skills measured”, currently as of April 17, 2026. They fall into five skill areas, each with a weight that tells you roughly how much of the exam it represents:

• Manage Azure identities and governance — 20–25%
• Implement and manage storage — 15–20%
• Deploy and manage Azure compute resources — 20–25%
• Implement and manage virtual networking — 15–20%
• Monitor and maintain Azure resources — 10–15%

Source: Microsoft Learn — Study guide for Exam AZ-104. Checked 9 October 2026.

AZ-104 exam topics in detail

Under each skill area, the AZ-104 objectives list concrete tasks. The identity area covers Microsoft Entra users and groups, external users, self-service password reset, Azure role assignments at different scopes, Azure Policy, resource locks, tags, management groups and cost management. Storage covers access with SAS tokens, keys and firewalls, redundancy and replication, Azure Files and Blob Storage features such as tiers, soft delete and lifecycle management.

The compute area is the broadest: ARM templates and Bicep files, virtual machines and scale sets, Azure Container Registry, Container Instances and Container Apps, and App Service including deployment slots. Networking covers virtual networks, peering, user-defined routes, network security groups, Azure Bastion, service and private endpoints, Azure DNS and load balancers. Monitoring covers Azure Monitor metrics, logs and alerts, Network Watcher, Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery.

Microsoft notes that most questions cover generally available features, but the exam may include preview features that are commonly used — another reason to work from the live study guide rather than an old copy.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Study guide for Exam AZ-104. Checked 9 October 2026.

Exam format, timing and scoring

The certification page states that you have 100 minutes to complete the exam, that it is proctored and that it may have interactive components. Microsoft’s exam duration guidance adds 120 minutes of seat time for associate exams without labs, covering instructions, the candidate agreement and optional comments. Microsoft does not publish a question count for AZ-104; its general guidance is that most exams contain between 40 and 60 questions.

Scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 1,000, and 700 or greater is a pass. Microsoft notes that this is a scaled score that may not equal 70% of the points, and that some questions may be unscored. For most exams the result appears within minutes of finishing, along with a score report showing your performance per skill area.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam scoring and score reports. Checked 9 October 2026.

How to schedule the AZ-104 exam

To schedule the AZ-104 exam, open the Azure Administrator Associate certification page on Microsoft Learn and select the scheduling button in the “Schedule exam” section. You will be asked to sign in to your Learn profile; Microsoft recommends a personal Microsoft account. Your profile must carry your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, or you will not be able to sit the exam. You then complete the booking on Pearson VUE.

When you schedule AZ-104, exam delivery comes in two forms. A test center gives you a quiet, pre-configured environment. An online proctored exam lets you take it almost anywhere, but you are responsible for making sure your computer and room meet Microsoft’s security standards, and you need to run Pearson VUE’s system test on the same computer and in the same location beforehand.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Register and schedule an exam. Checked 9 October 2026.

AZ-104: schedule, exam day and rescheduling rules

Microsoft lets you schedule certification exams no more than 90 days in advance, and you can hold a maximum of two Microsoft exams scheduled at a time. Plan your AZ-104 exam schedule backwards from a date inside that window, leaving time for a full practice round after your last study block.

Rescheduling and cancelling are done from your Learn profile, which is also where you start a scheduled online exam. For an online exam, you can check in from 30 minutes before to 15 minutes after your appointment time; run the system test again on exam day on the equipment and connection you will use.

Source: Microsoft Learn — About online exams with Pearson VUE. Checked 9 October 2026.

How long to study for AZ-104

Microsoft sets no study-hours figure, so any number you see is someone’s estimate. What Microsoft does set is the expected starting point: subject matter expertise in implementing, managing and monitoring an Azure environment, familiarity with operating systems, networking, servers and virtualization, and experience with PowerShell, the Azure CLI, the Azure portal, ARM templates or Bicep, and Microsoft Entra ID.

The honest way to decide is to measure rather than guess. Work through the objectives, then take Microsoft’s free practice assessment and a set of practice questions with a score per skill area. Certsqill’s expert-developed AZ-104 practice questions explain every answer option and show a readiness score per domain, so the date you book is based on evidence. Access comes with a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Azure Administrator Associate certification. Checked 9 October 2026.

Retakes

If you do not pass, Microsoft requires a 24-hour wait before the second attempt and 14 days between later attempts, with a limit of five attempts in 12 months from the first. Each retake has to be paid for. You cannot retake an exam you have passed unless the certification has expired.

Source: Microsoft Learn — Exam retake policy. Checked 9 October 2026.

AZ-104 exam: questions people ask

How do I schedule the AZ-104 exam?

From the Azure Administrator Associate page on Microsoft Learn: select the button under “Schedule exam”, sign in to your Learn profile with your legal name, and finish the booking on Pearson VUE, either online or at a test center. Checked 9 October 2026.

How far ahead can I book the AZ-104 exam?

Up to 90 days in advance, with no more than two Microsoft exams scheduled at a time. Source: Microsoft Learn, checked 9 October 2026.

Where do I find the AZ-104 exam topics?

In Microsoft’s AZ-104 study guide on Microsoft Learn, under “skills measured”. The current version lists skills measured as of April 17, 2026.

How long is the AZ-104 exam?

100 minutes of exam time. Microsoft’s guidance for associate exams without labs is 120 minutes of seat time in total.

Can I take AZ-104 online?

Yes. Microsoft offers online proctored exams through Pearson VUE as well as test centers. For online delivery you must pass Pearson VUE’s system test on the computer and in the location you will use.