Does AZ-900 Expire? (Short Answer: No)

Does the AZ-900 certification expire?

No. AZ-900 (Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals) is a fundamentals certification, and Microsoft fundamentals certifications do not expire. Once you pass, it's yours for life — no renewal exams, no fees, no annual requirements.

Which Microsoft certifications DO expire?

Role-based and specialty certifications expire and must be renewed:

How renewal works for role-based certs

• Renewal is free — you take a short online assessment (~15–30 minutes) on Microsoft Learn during the final 6 months of validity.
• If you don't renew, the certification expires and you must retake the full exam.
• Passing a higher-level exam can also renew lower certs automatically in some cases.

Why fundamentals certs never expire

Fundamentals certifications validate conceptual knowledge rather than current hands-on skills. Because the concepts are stable (what is cloud computing, what are Azure services), Microsoft doesn't require renewal. That's one more reason AZ-900 is a great first certification — one-time effort, lifetime credential.

Does your Azure certification badge expire?

No — your Credly badge and certification record remain valid for life for fundamentals certs. For role-based certs, the badge shows the renewal status and expiry date.